Making up with Mahiru—or rather, there hadn't been any fight to begin with. The "angel" had simply been too shy to face Kanade these past few days, but today she'd finally started warming up to him again.
After dinner, Mahiru sat on the sofa as usual, hugging her favorite cushion while enjoying her downtime. Kanade sat beside her, and the two engaged in lighthearted chatter.
"If only we could chat this easily in the classroom…" Mahiru said wistfully, propping her chin on her hand and pouting slightly. The scenes of camaraderie in the drama playing on TV seemed to have stirred a longing in her. "We're finally in the same class, but it's already halfway through the term, and we've barely talked."
Kanade turned to look at her. "What's wrong? Are you feeling like we don't talk enough?"
"No, it's not that," Mahiru replied, shaking her head. "It's just… being at home and being at school, the atmosphere is different. And…"
"And?"
"Ugh… It's just different, okay?" Mahiru suddenly hit him lightly with her cushion. "Anyway, you're too thick-headed to understand even if I explain."
"I can't agree with that," Kanade countered, catching her next attempted cushion attack mid-swing.
In his view, Mahiru was the one who was more oblivious. At least he could sense the subtle shifts in mood among their classmates. Mahiru, on the other hand, seemed completely unaware of the growing curiosity—or outright suspicion—about their relationship. She still believed they'd done a good job hiding their connection.
Kanade couldn't help but let out a faintly exasperated sigh.
"I've told you before, haven't I? You don't need to hold back. If you want to talk, just come find me. Or would you rather I come to you?"
"No! You absolutely cannot come over!" Mahiru shook her head vigorously. "If you do, people will start saying weird things about you again. I can't make things harder for you."
"…" Kanade didn't know how to respond.
She'd always been like this, prioritizing his situation over her own feelings. If he told her now that their "closeness" had likely already been noticed by their classmates, it might make her feel terrible for a long time. It was better to let her figure it out on her own.
Besides, their classmates weren't exactly subtle. Back during the forest school trip, her act of waiting for him to wake up had already drawn attention. Somehow, Mahiru remained blissfully oblivious to all the looks they'd received.
When Kanade didn't reply, Mahiru pursed her lips and gave him a displeased look. "You're absolutely not allowed to come talk to me!"
She had to make herself clear because she knew full well that if Kanade approached her in class, her feelings would probably betray her. At that point, she wouldn't just be creating "trouble" for him—it'd be a full-blown disaster.
"Yes, yes, I get it," Kanade sighed in resignation.
"You're just humoring me," Mahiru grumbled, pouting.
"I'm not," Kanade said with a shake of his head. Noticing her slightly sulky expression, he reached out and gently patted her head.
Recently, Mahiru seemed to have grown fond of being petted. Ever since the time he'd helped her tidy her hair, she would sometimes subtly seek it out. Whenever he patted her, she'd melt into the touch like a contented kitten.
But this time, it didn't seem to be working.
"You think you can just pat my head to smooth things over?" Mahiru asked, tilting her face up to look at him. Despite her protest, the faint smile on her lips suggested she wasn't truly upset.
"Not at all," Kanade replied with a playful wink, continuing his motions.
"Well… I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let it slide," Mahiru said, closing her eyes and leaning into his hand.
"Thank you, my dear angel," Kanade chuckled softly.
It seemed Mahiru was starting to forgive him.
As he stroked her head, her expression softened into one of pure bliss. Her face glowed with a sweetness that warmed Kanade's heart and made him want to keep going, caught up in her visible happiness.
"I told you not to call me that…" she mumbled halfheartedly, making no effort to stop him.
Kanade ignored her. After all, he was unlikely to break that habit anytime soon.
"You really enjoy this, don't you?" Kanade asked, lowering the volume on the TV with his other hand.
"Well, your hands are so warm. It makes me feel safe," Mahiru murmured, nodding slightly.
"Maybe… It's because I run hot," Kanade said, scratching his head. It was probably due to his active metabolism—eating a lot and constantly exercising.
"Hmm… I want you to keep petting me," Mahiru said, almost in a whisper.
"Uh… Don't say stuff like that—it could be easily misunderstood," Kanade sighed. He lightly flicked her forehead as if to reprimand her. "But sure, as you wish…"
Her words could easily be taken the wrong way—Kanade thought they sounded almost like an invitation to touch her elsewhere. But since it was Mahiru, he chose to brush it off while gently cautioning her.
It didn't help that the sweet scent of her freshly washed hair filled the air around him, making it harder to stay composed. Being in such close proximity made his heart race, but he kept it under control, focusing instead on carefully brushing through her soft hair. He spoke occasionally to mask the sound of his own heartbeat.
As he continued, Mahiru's expression grew looser and more relaxed. She wrinkled her nose occasionally, giving off a ticklish vibe, before suddenly lifting her head to look directly at Kanade. Her serious expression hinted that she was deliberating something.
"…"
"What's wrong?" Kanade asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"It's not fair that you're the only one who gets to pet me. I want to pet your head too," Mahiru said earnestly, her gaze unwavering.
"Uh… What's fun about petting a guy's head?" Kanade leaned back slightly, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Did you just say 'fun'?" Mahiru muttered before looking up at him again. "I think it could be fun! Maybe… Petting you seems like it'd be fun?"
Even she didn't sound entirely sure.
"Don't use that questioning tone," Kanade said with a resigned sigh. Her suggestion already had him feeling strange. "And I'm not a toy… Whatever, it's just a head pat. It's fine, I guess. But there's really nothing fun about it, okay?"
He reminded her again, even though he figured it wouldn't matter. His hair was decently smooth and in good condition, but certainly nowhere near as luxurious as Mahiru's. Still, the idea of a "one-for-one" exchange didn't feel unfair—at least not to him.
With that thought in mind, he decided to ignore the faint sense of embarrassment. After all, nobody else could see them…
Nodding, Kanade said, "Alright, go ahead."
Mahiru patted her lap and gestured for him to lie down.
"Uh… what's this?" Kanade asked, momentarily stunned.
"Considering the height difference, this will keep your neck from getting sore. Or… would you rather crouch down instead?"
"Crouching sounds even worse…" Kanade rubbed his face, imagining how humiliating it'd feel to crouch like a dog. That wasn't happening.
"Well, since you insist…" he muttered before lying down without hesitation.
No boy could refuse the offer of a lap pillow from a beautiful girl. At least, Kanade couldn't.
Mahiru's slender frame translated to equally slim thighs, but they were soft in a way that felt just right. Her muscles weren't developed, giving her legs a supple texture that was both firm and delicate. Even through her clothes, the uniquely feminine softness was palpable. The combination of this heavenly sensation and the sweet scent wafting from her was simply divine.
And, of course, if he looked up, he'd be met with an unparalleled view. Mahiru's figure was petite yet perfectly proportioned. While she wasn't as endowed as someone like Kasumigaoka-senpai, she definitely had the upper hand over people like Kaguya or Yukino.
However, Kanade didn't dare keep his eyes open for too long. He didn't want to risk reacting inappropriately and embarrassing himself. Instead, he turned his head to face the TV, avoiding temptation entirely.
Completely unaware of Kanade's internal struggle, Mahiru began gently stroking his hair with her delicate hands.
Her slim fingers combed through his locks, occasionally brushing against his scalp. The sensation was incredibly soothing. No wonder Mahiru had looked so content whenever he petted her—it felt like pure bliss.
Compared to his own more straightforward motions, Mahiru's were far more careful and tender. Kanade couldn't see her expression, but he could easily imagine the serene look on her face.
"I heard that lap pillows are a romantic fantasy for boys… How does it feel for you?" Mahiru asked, her voice gentle and warm as she continued her ministrations.
"Who told you that? I'd like to thank them personally," Kanade replied with exaggerated seriousness.
"Hehe (^▽^), as long as you like it…" Mahiru said with a soft laugh.
"…" Kanade remained silent.
The sensation was so pleasant that he was starting to feel drowsy.
"Then… how about some additional service?" Mahiru teased, pinching his earlobe gently and giving it a small rub.
"Ad-Additional service…?" Kanade's breathing hitched slightly.
Mahiru's warm breath brushed against his cheek, her proximity making his heart race. Even without looking, he could tell she had leaned closer, her body bending over him as she moved nearer to his face. The heat of her exhalation danced across his ear and cheek.
"Like cleaning your ears?" she suggested casually.
"Ah… Ear cleaning…" Kanade couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment. For a moment, he'd imagined something more…
"Well, do you want it?" Mahiru asked, her hand still gently holding his earlobe.
"Yes… please," Kanade stammered, his words spilling out before he could think. Even ear cleaning was a luxurious experience when it came from Mahiru.
"Alright, I'll get started," Mahiru said with a cheerful smile. She reached for the ear cleaning tools and tissues she had conveniently prepared earlier.
"...?!"
Kanade's body tensed as a chill ran down his spine. Internally, he let out an indescribable cry of dismay.
But Mahiru remained blissfully unaware of his turmoil. She adjusted her posture slightly, leaning in closer to extend her reach.
She had no idea that Kanade had just brushed against her soft thighs, or how her subtle movements had pressed certain areas against his face. Nor did she realize how much his heart was racing.
At this point, Kanade's mind was no longer focused on the ear cleaning. Yet Mahiru pressed his head down gently and whispered, "Don't move, okay?"
He knew she meant it as a practical reminder—to stay still during the process. But at that moment, all Kanade wanted was to roll around on the floor to vent his inner turmoil.
Still, he forced himself to stay calm. A moment later, he felt the small ear pick carefully sliding into his ear canal.
His body shuddered involuntarily at the unexpected sensation. The ear was a sensitive area, after all. He'd never felt like this while cleaning his own ears, but with Mahiru handling it, the experience was surreal. There was something oddly intimate and thrilling about having a cute girl doing such a meticulous task.
No wonder people enjoyed professional ear cleaning services—it was unexpectedly delightful!
Mahiru's natural gentleness amplified the experience. Her soft, deliberate movements made his ear itch in a pleasant way, creating a sensation that was both soothing and oddly stimulating.
Kanade couldn't quite put his feelings into words. Was it relaxing? Exciting? Maybe a mix of both?
Either way, one thought rang clear in his mind:
This is heaven—an experience everyone should try at least once!