"Fujimiya, just asking, are you on good terms with Shiina-san?"
Kadowaki organized a simply bonding session at the fast food restaurant, and Kuju was munching at a chicken nugget when he suddenly raised this question, as though he had just thought of it.
Amane did his best to show a stoic look as he stuffed fries into his mouth.
Kadowaki invited the four of them to prepare for the cavalry battle...or just a bonding session. Amane went along, but he never expected someone unrelated to him to ask such a question.
He glanced towards Kadowaki, and saw the latter's expression was clearly sayingI didn't say anything.It appeared Kuju too was quite the perspective one one.
He assumed he was trying his best not to show any expression.
"Why do you think so?"
"Well, the 5 of you often talk together, including Yuuta. I get the feeling that Shiina-san treats you differently from Itsuki and Yuuta."
"Really? I didn't notice it."
Hiiragi widened his eyes at Amane in surprise. It appeared he was just surprised.
"Well, it's not like you're slow, Kazuya...I think I'm the only one who noticed it. The others were just looking jealous."
"That's scary..."
"Guess I'm right from your reaction."
Kuju had a stoic look when he asked, so Amane gave Kadowaki a questioning look of what was going on.
*I trust them. They should be fine. *Kadowaki answered with a look of his own. Amane scratched his face.
It appeared Kuju was certain of it, but Amane hoped that he would not go about spreading it.
Nevertheless, Kadowaki might really have an eye for people, and Kuju's question simply seemed to be one of curiosity, rather than gossipy. There was no malice in his question.
"...Well, we're on good terms."
"It looks like Shiina-san's taking care of you. Guess I'm right."
"...Does it look that way?"
"Sorta."
"Nn, that'll be of great help. I don't want her to get into trouble."
Amane hoped to keep things under wraps, and was grateful that they would not say it out.
"She probably doesn't wants others to nitpick her choice of friends. I hope you guys can leave her alone for her sake."
Amane knew that if others learned of these, he would be reproached and envied, and steeled himself of it. There would surely be some who would ask Mahiru, albeit without malice, "Why Fujimiya?"
To the people at school, Mahiru was someone special, even if she was not a celestial being.
Just as how nobles would be criticized for interacting with plebeians, so would questioning voices reach Mahiru.
Such questions were to be expected, but Mahiru would probably feel displeased by it. At the very least, she hoped to have a choice on who she should date.
And...even if it was a guess, Amane had a feeling that Mahiru would be angry for his sake if he was belittled.
He did not want to rattle Mahiru's heart, and hoped that they would hide this fact.
...I don't know if it's just me, but it feels like Mahiru wants an overt relationship.
They had started interacting at school recently, and he felt the distance between them had shortened, but he merely dismissed this thought as him thinking too much.
"...Ah, ahh..."
"What's with you, Kuju?"
"...Nothing, just that I'm starting to understand. You have it tough."
Kuju looked towards Amane with a somewhat perturbed look, though it was more dumbfounded. Amane in turn looked confused.
"Yuuta, did you."
"Yeah."
"What, what are you talking about?"
"I don't think you'll understand, Kazuya. Don't mind."
Even though Kuju stated it so bluntly, "Guess I won't understand." Hiiragi did not seem to have his mood dampened. Such a response might be due to their trust and friendship.
Kadowaki and Kuju nodded in seemingly mutual understanding. Amane did not know what those two understood as he ate his fries, looking confused.
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