"How's the pressure? It shouldn't hurt, right?" The angel's movements were incredibly gentle, and her tone was equally soft.
"Mm, it doesn't hurt... It's actually quite pleasant," Natsukawa Kanade murmured, closing his eyes and enjoying the sensation.
"Is that so? I'm glad to hear that." Shiina Mahiru's face lit up with a satisfied smile. "I heard this is something romantic for boys... So, has Kanade-kun's romantic side been satisfied?"
"Uh... maybe..."
"As expected, Kanade is still a boy, after all." Shiina Mahiru's expression grew even softer as her fingers unconsciously brushed against his cheek.
"Well, what else would I be?" Kanade teased lightly.
If he weren't a guy, he wouldn't be feeling this inner turmoil right now. Nor would he have been so thrilled by the softness earlier.
Boys really are simple creatures. If a cute girl takes the initiative to get close, it's hard for anyone to resist—especially when that girl is someone like the angelic Mahiru, who already shares a subtle, delicate bond with him and, perhaps... a small mutual affection. It would be impossible not to feel a little flustered.
"Hehe, since Kanade is always such a gentleman, I thought you might not be that interested..." Mahiru's tone took on a slightly wistful edge as she spoke.
After all, she'd heard all those stories about how boys are supposedly "predatory creatures, quick to act on any hint of affection." Yet Kanade showed no such tendencies, and over time, her attempts to convince herself otherwise left her feeling a bit dejected.
But today, she was lucky enough to glimpse a slightly different side of him.
"Even if I am a gentleman, in situations like this, it's hard for my actions and feelings to stay perfectly aligned," Kanade muttered, opening his eyes. The angel seemed to misunderstand him deeply, always assuming he was completely indifferent. "Having such a cute girl offering me a lap pillow, not to mention ear-cleaning service—what guy wouldn't feel something?"
"So, Mahiru, you should really be more careful. Guys are like this: they might seem well-behaved on the surface, but when no one else is around, they might really lose control and make a move on you."
Coming from him, it was an especially convincing statement.
"Hmph." Instead of being concerned, the angel simply let out a soft huff. Then, as if venting her irritation, she abruptly stopped her gentle actions and tugged lightly on his ear. "This is your punishment. I wouldn't do this for anyone else."
"Is that the point here?" Kanade sighed, tempted to facepalm.
"Why wouldn't it be important?" Mahiru shot back.
Kanade found himself momentarily speechless. She had a point. After all, he definitely didn't want to see Mahiru being this close with anyone else... well, except maybe other girls.
Watching girls being affectionate with each other was a heartwarming sight.
But given his position, he couldn't openly agree with her. That would make it seem like he had improper thoughts about her—something he absolutely didn't want her to notice.
Unsure how to respond, Kanade simply fell silent for a while.
Mahiru didn't seem to mind and continued slowly cleaning his ears.
After a little more time passed, she gently reminded him, "Kanade, you can turn over now. I need to get to the other side."
Kanade instinctively rolled over but froze the moment he settled into his new position. He realized how awkward this angle was—his face was now directly level with Mahiru's stomach. And worse, just below that was...
Thanks to the warming weather and the fact they were at home, Mahiru wasn't wearing much—just a pair of shorts. If he let his gaze drift even a little lower, he'd see something he absolutely shouldn't. Hastily, he adjusted himself, propping his head up slightly.
But Mahiru quickly pushed him back down.
"Kanade, stop moving around," she chided, her tone slightly firmer. She was probably worried that his squirming might cause her to accidentally hurt his ear.
Seeing no way out, Kanade resigned himself and shut his eyes again.
But shutting his eyes only heightened his other senses. The warmth enveloping him became all the more noticeable. The softness of her thighs was one thing, but the delicate fragrance wafting from her body was intoxicating, far more intense than usual. It was like an invitation to sin!
Kanade felt like he was teetering between heaven and hell. It was an overwhelmingly pleasant experience, yet it tormented his willpower. For him, it was as if one foot was planted in paradise while the other hovered over the abyss.
"What's wrong? Your body's been trembling," Mahiru asked with gentle concern.
"D-Don't worry about it!" Kanade blurted out, snapping out of the dangerously alluring atmosphere. "I probably just feel a little cold..."
He tried to bluff his way out. There was no way he could confess what was really going through his mind. Forget whether Mahiru could handle such a confession—he'd die of embarrassment on the spot. So all he could do was close his eyes and accept her care quietly.
Mahiru tilted her head slightly, puzzled by his behavior. But after hearing his excuse, she paused her actions, reached for the small blanket she often used, and draped it over Kanade.
"There, that should help. You shouldn't feel cold anymore."
"...…" Kanade was at a loss for words.
If he claimed he wasn't cold, it would contradict his earlier statement. But accepting the blanket made him feel like a child being fussed over by his mother. And honestly, Mahiru's nurturing side was almost overwhelming—he might actually end up being pampered into a spoiled kid if this kept up.
Not knowing what to say, Kanade let out a half-hearted murmur of agreement. Mahiru, however, didn't seem to mind in the slightest.
No—her attention was elsewhere. She seemed to have her own agenda.
"Kanade, once we're done, can I stay a bit longer to have my head patted?" Mahiru asked softly, her tone almost like she was requesting a reward.
It was clear that Mahiru truly loved having her head stroked.
For Kanade, though, he'd do it without her offering anything in return. All she had to do was ask.
"Mm, of course... for as long as you want," Kanade murmured, his body still caught between the irresistible allure and torturous restraint of her care.
Even though running away immediately would save him from this torment, the unfortunate truth was that, as a healthy high school boy, his dizzy mind wanted to keep indulging, and his body had already surrendered. It felt as though the angel had drained even the strength needed to lift a finger.
Sigh, I really am a weak-willed person, Kanade thought bitterly.
While his mind was spiraling into endless thoughts, Shiina Mahiru's emotions were much simpler and more straightforward—her whole being radiated joy.
She loved the sensation of Kanade stroking her hair and could never get enough of it. If time froze in this moment, she wouldn't mind in the slightest. On the contrary, the idea thrilled her.
"Well, just a little longer, and we'll be done. Hang in there," she said softly.
"...…"
Hang in there, huh? Kanade echoed in his mind. He could feel Mahiru resuming her gentle movements, but this time, there was a slower, softer pace, as though she were reluctant for it to end. That feeling of bittersweetness seemed to seep into him as well. Suddenly, the remaining time felt more precious, and he found himself wondering when he might get to enjoy this kind of moment again.
"Alright, all done," Mahiru announced warmly.
The faint ticklish sensation lingered sweetly even after she removed the ear pick. But before he could fully register the relief, Mahiru's fingers ran through his hair, bringing a new wave of comfort.
"Uh…" Kanade suddenly realized something—when she had mentioned stroking hair earlier, she hadn't meant she wanted her head patted. She had meant she wanted to pat his.
"What's wrong?" Mahiru asked curiously.
"N-Nothing… go ahead," Kanade muttered, swallowing the complicated feelings that bubbled up inside.
For boys, especially at his age, getting their head patted wasn't exactly a thrill. It gave off an unpleasant vibe, as though they were being treated like a child. But that was just his pride speaking. Physically, he didn't actually mind.
At the moment, Mahiru's fingers were gently running through his hair in a way that felt nurturing rather than condescending. It didn't carry the sense of being looked down on; instead, it was pure affection, as if to say, Feel free to lean on me more.
Kanade found himself torn. If possible, he didn't want to be treated like a child. But at the same time, it seemed like this was the only way he could enjoy this level of care and indulgence from Mahiru.
At this point, Kanade was keenly aware of Mahiru's warmth and scent, far more so than he'd been during similar close encounters with other girls in the past. Back then, he hadn't let his mind wander into strange territories. Now, however, he was dangerously relaxed and struggling not to get lost in the atmosphere.
The soft caresses of her hands made the moment even more irresistible.
To be honest, this situation was immensely tempting. He had to fight the urge to say or do something impulsive multiple times. Part of him even thought, Wouldn't it be amazing if I could enjoy this every day?
Sure, it might turn him into a complete slacker eventually, but the tradeoff didn't seem entirely unreasonable for this level of comfort.
But that thought was quickly dismissed. Beyond the potential burden it would place on Mahiru, even joking about wanting this every day felt risky. She might misunderstand and think he was once again aiming to deepen their relationship, just like before. And while this time, his feelings were genuinely heartfelt, the circumstances weren't exactly pure.
With that in mind, Kanade chose not to let his impulses run wild. Perhaps it was a result of everything he'd been through recently; he had become more accustomed to carefully weighing his actions before making decisions. Sometimes, this led to delays and second-guessing, which helped cool his head before he acted rashly.
Lost in thought, Kanade unconsciously let out a soft sigh and adjusted his head slightly to find a more comfortable position on Mahiru's lap.
A small giggle broke the silence.
"Kanade, you're actually letting yourself be pampered for once," Mahiru said with a playful smile, clearly amused.
"...…" Kanade suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment crash over him.
When he came to his senses, he realized Mahiru's extra service had ended. He shifted to lie on his back, his gaze now able to meet hers, albeit with some awkwardness. With a mix of helplessness and resentment, he gave her a look that seemed to say, And whose fault do you think that is?
"Ah, I see. It's my fault," Mahiru said teasingly, as if reading his mind. She let out another sweet laugh and continued to stroke his hair gently. "When I look at Kanade, I just feel like pampering you. Your hair is so nice to the touch, you know?"
"Well, even if you say that…" Kanade sighed. Why was it so easy for her to throw out compliments like that?
"Boys don't care about hair, right? It's not like we rely on it to make a statement," he quipped, trying to deflect.
After all, they didn't live in some card game universe where flashy, gravity-defying hairstyles determined the protagonist. In their world, hair didn't carry that much weight.
"Mmhmm, I get it. But Kanade, your appearance is already so attractive that any hairstyle would suit you," Mahiru replied softly. However, her expression grew slightly troubled as she continued. "But… it does mean you attract too much attention from other girls, and that can be a bit... frustrating."
"...…"
"Well, if hair doesn't matter to you, how about we just shave it all off?" Mahiru asked with a serious look in her eyes.
"Wha—!?" Kanade's eyes widened in horror.
Sure, he'd said hair wasn't that important, but this was taking it way too far! That was definitely not an acceptable suggestion.
"Please spare me! I promise to take better care of my hair from now on!"
He had hoped that this dramatic plea would put an end to her playful teasing. But judging by her increasingly displeased pout, it seemed to have had the opposite effect.
He couldn't understand it. This was exactly why he often thought that girls were even more incomprehensible than philosophers.