A Promise with an Angel

　When I went home after buying the requested ingredients at the supermarket, Mahiru was already sitting on the sofa at Shu's house, waiting for me.

　It's a pretty common sight and it's the same as usual, but if it's different, midday is holding a cushion and holding his knees on the sofa.

　It looks like it's taken when a child is pouting, but it's an expression that's embarrassed rather than pouting, and the cuteness makes it difficult for Zhou to look at various things.

　Shuu subtly looked away, thinking that the long skirt was a good thing, as she went to put some ingredients in the refrigerator, and when she returned to the living room, Mahiru was there looking at her.

　When I looked to the side while sitting next to me, midday was slightly averting my gaze.

"Mairu, thank you for yesterday. It was delicious."

"...It was good"

　I know he's probably worried about what happened yesterday, but I should thank him, so I tell him honestly, and Mahiru looks at me as well, slumping and burying his face half into the cushion.

"What would you like in return?"

"It's not like I was aiming to repay you."

"I know that, but after all, you should return sincerity, right? If you keep receiving things, you'll become a man."

　Shuu believes that you should give back what you have received, and since he went out of his way to make such delicious food, he has no intention of giving in and says that you should give back what you deserve.

　It seems that he didn't give it to the boys first, and it seems that he made it according to Zhou's taste, so it must be a hassle.

"…I receive a lot from Shuu-kun."

"In fact, I think I'm the one receiving it all the time. I'm always cooking for them, and I'm always taking care of them."

"That's what I like to do. … Zhou-kun probably doesn't realize that I gave him this.

　As for Zhou, I don't think there was anything like giving something in the middle of the day. Rather, I want to return it because it's been given to me, but it doesn't seem to be the case for midday.

"But that's it, this is this.

　Even if Zhou gave something unconsciously, it would be different from giving back on White Day.

　If you received chocolate on Valentine's Day, returning it on White Day is a form of courtesy and indispensable.

　I'm not going to give up, and when I stared at midday, he nodded while slightly wandering his gaze.

"For the time being, I have about a month left to decide what to give. I hope I can find something I like."

"... Do you have time? Starting next week, the end of the year exams will be over and the closing ceremony will be held in a little while."

　Midday pointed out with a slight exasperation, but it's true that the end of the school year exams will start next week.

　Valentine's day lingers throughout the school today, but the mood will soon shift to the tense mood before the exam.

　As for Zhou, it wasn't particularly rushed.

"If you take the exam as usual, you'll definitely be promoted, so there's no need to rush now. It'll be the same in the middle of the day."

"Yes, it's important to make efforts that you can afford."

　I usually do my homework and review properly and study seriously, so I have almost no trouble with exams.

　I think that I can maintain my usual grades without studying in a hurry, and I have actually done so. At most, I spend a little longer than usual at my desk before the test.

　In the middle of the day, it seems that he anticipates the contents of the class in the first place, and he is the type that doesn't miss preparation and review, so he can't even see his impatience. In fact, I think it would be easier for her if the exam ends early.

"Well, don't expect too much, just wait."

"...Yes. I will cherish everything Zhou-kun gave me."

"That's exaggerated."

"Kuma-san, I take good care of you."

　Apparently, he also cherishes the stuffed bear I sent him on his birthday.

　I had seen Mahiru using the key case, and he seemed to be using it beautifully. I was a bit worried about the stuffed bear, but... judging from how it looks in the middle of the day, he seems to like it quite a bit.

　Mr. Bear, I was about to loosen my mouth in the middle of the day when I called you cute, but I was about to be stared at, so I somehow managed to hold back.

　If we're going to be together like this this year, I don't know what to give you for your next birthday...I couldn't wait.

　In the middle of the day, if you reply with a smile and say, "That was good," suddenly, in the middle of the day, you will stare at me.

"...By the way, I don't know Shu-kun's birthday."

"Oh, is it me? I'm November 8th."

　Come to think of it, when I told him my birthday that I never told him, his eyes in the middle of the day suddenly narrowed….

　I've been with him for a few months now, so I've come to understand this expression when he's slightly angry.

"...Hey Zhou-kun"

"yeah?"

"At that time, we knew each other long ago, didn't we?"

"That's right."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you didn't ask me. You didn't tell me either, you just noticed when you saw your student ID."

"cormorant"

"In the first place, we didn't get along so well back then.

　Even if I said it was my birthday in the middle of the day, at that time in the middle of the day, he probably would have only replied, "Is that so?"

　As for Zhou, I didn't like how he seemed to be demanding things, and he wasn't that shameless.

　I just didn't say it because there was no need to say it and we didn't have a relationship of trust to say it.

"...but"

"You don't have to worry about it, okay?"

"...Then, I'll celebrate my birthday properly this year."

　Mahiru probably wasn't satisfied, but he turned to Shu and tightly grasped the sleeve of his clothes as he declared.

　I guess they don't like it if they keep doing that. Seeing the look in her eyes that seemed to be more serious than his own, Shuu smiled, unable to turn it into a wry smile.

　No matter what, I was happy to hear you say that... I couldn't help but smile normally.

　In the end, I was more than happy that Mahiru thought that she was going to do the same thing as Shuu and stay next to her from now on as well.

"You're promising to stay with me until that point."

　At the words that spilled out without thinking, Mahiru's translucent caramel-colored eyes rounded--then, her face instantly turned red and she tapped the area of the sleeve she was holding earlier with the cushion she was holding. .

　It seems like he was embarrassed to have been told this to his face.

　Being embarrassed was clearly hit, and Zhou was about to loosen his mouth again with a smile.

"...It's not that I don't like Shu-kun, I...I feel better when I'm with him."

"I see, thank you."

"... I don't mean anything else."

"I know that much"

　When he reminded me, I nodded, but for some reason he gave me a slightly displeased look.