Angel's Determination

"Itsuki, Fujimiya, let's eat together."

　During the lunch break at school, Amane was about to have lunch with Itsuki as usual when a familiar voice was heard recently.

　Looking at it, Kadowaki, who had the same refreshing yet friendly smile on his face, was raising one hand.

　After talking with Kadowaki the other day, he seemed to like Zhou, and he began to talk to me often. Even though it was just a greeting, it seemed different today and he approached with a wallet in one hand.

"I don't mind, but..."

"Isn't a tree good too?"

"What is the premise that I won't refuse.

　Kadowaki basically didn't actively care about Zhou, so it must be unusual for Itsuki. Zhou is the most surprised.

"Zhou, did you get used to Yuta?"

"Even if you get used to it...it's not a dog."

"Yuta is quite dog-like. Once you trust him and get used to him, he's the type to wag his tail and take a stance. He kind of looks like a golden retriever."

"Don't call me a dog in front of you guys."

　I put a thrust into the tree, but I can't help but laugh when I think that the atmosphere is definitely a golden retriever.

　Kadowaki noticed that Shuu's shoulders were shaking and looked a little dissatisfied, but it was more like he was being teased and was sulking on the surface rather than being offended.

"Don't laugh, Fujimiya."

"I, no, I'm sorry."

"Didn't Zhou also think so?"

"I think it's very strange..."

"Come on, Fujimiya. You know, I just wanted to get along with him because I thought he was a good guy."

"Well, it's a good thing that more people know about Zhou's good points, come on."

"How are you?"

　Kadowaki, who approached as he said it while thrusting with the back of his hand, met Zhou's gaze and gave a dazzling smile.

　Shuu's smile made him smile bitterly, as if he was sure he would be able to win over a girl if he targeted her.

"...Would you like one?"

"yeah?"

"Is it okay for a popular person like you to be with an ordinary guy like me? There's not much good to be gained."

　Kadowaki may be trying to get along with Shuu because he is interested in him and likes him as a friend, but Shuu doesn't feel like he has any merit for Kadowaki to go out of his way to befriend Shuu.

　He has a lot of friends, so why did he go out of his way to be friends with Shuu?

　Of course, I know that people don't make friendships based solely on profit and loss, and I decide on relationships based on my sensibilities without considering the merits and demerits, but I didn't understand why Kadowaki went out of his way to choose Shu. .

　Hearing Shu's words, Kadowaki had a strange look on his face.

"Fujimiya doesn't make friends because of profit and loss, right?"

"Yes, but"

"Then it's fine. I'm talking to Fujimiya because I want to get along with him."

　His smile was like the clear sky, and Shu narrowed her eyes, feeling dazzled by his presence.

"...Ou"

"Yeah yeah, it's good to be friends."

　Itsuki said that with a grin and quickly shifted his gaze to another place.

　In front of Itsuki's line of sight, there was Chitose, who was hugging Mahiru with a smile and saying, ``Mahirun is cute and cute,'' and Mahiru was just doing what he was doing.

　Chitose's physical contact was a regular thing, and even in class, perhaps because she had recently started to get used to it, it was seen as a interaction between beautiful girls, and she looked at her with a smile, or even envy.

　Shu also saw it as usual, but Itsuki gave a small smile as he watched the two play.

"What's wrong?"

"Hmm, anything."

　He laughed deceivingly and started walking to the dining room with the three of us, so Zhou and Kadowaki followed him.

"I decided."

　After returning home and having dinner, Zhou blinked repeatedly at Mahiru who suddenly mentioned such a thing.

"What happened suddenly?"

"I've decided. I won't hold back."

"Oh, oh, I don't really get it, but you're always patient, so I don't think you need to force yourself to hold back."

　It seems like he made up his mind for a reason, but I don't know why.

　Even so, Midday is a hardworking, patient, and selfish child, so if he stopped holding back, I would accept it, or rather, take the initiative to praise him.

"really?"

"Ou"

"I took a pledge."

"What are you planning on doing...?"

"...Do you want to ask?"

"That's right"

"Aren't you angry?"

"Are you planning on getting angry?"

　At this rate, it seems like it's something that concerns me, so I guess I should ask.

　Mahiru rarely harms people, so she's not that worried, but what exactly is she planning to do?

　When I stared at her, my cheeks blushed slightly as if I had become embarrassed, and I intertwined my index fingers and showed a hesitant gesture.

"...I want to get along well with Shuu-kun at school."

　Stopping being patient probably means stopping pretending to be someone else.

"You know."

"I feel like I'm the only outcast."

"cormorant"

　When you say that with a slightly depressed look on your face, it makes you feel weak.

　Zhou has been talking to Chitose normally for a long time, so he can talk normally at school with two people who know the relationship between Zhou and Midday. However, she is unable to talk to Mahiru, and when Chitose comes to talk to Itsuki, Mahiru is left out of her group.

　It seems that there are other friends in the class, but they aren't as friendly as Chitose, so they can't help but look a little lonely. Of course, she's wrapped up in an angelic smile, but she still feels lonely around her accustomed surroundings.

　I understand that, and I want to do something about it, but I don't think it's possible.

"...But, isn't it weird for an angel to suddenly become friends with a plain secretive person like me?"

"That has already been factored in. I have an idea."

"We have taken measures against the unexpected."

"It's natural. . . Zhou-kun is more self-deprecating than I am, or rather, the problem is that he has a strong self-denial, but I'll do my best so that Zhou-kun can have confidence."

"What are you really thinking..."

　I had guessed that he was unexpectedly lonely, but I never thought that he would actively try to get involved.

　When I met him, I couldn't imagine how nostalgic he was. Should I be happy or should I smile wryly?

"...No? I'm going to talk to you at school..."

"Of course I don't hate it, but come on. Like me..."

"Zhou-kun"

　The voice that called my name as if to interrupt me was dignified and somehow reproachful.

"It's forbidden like me."

　Zhou-kun has a habit of demeaning himself, so midday poked Zhou's nose with his index finger, as if he was a little angry.

"Next time I say...umm, I'll do it."

"Meh"

"I-I'm going to punish you by patting my head persistently until I'm satisfied."

"It's more like a reward..."

"eh"

"Ah"

　I accidentally leaked my true intentions, and my cheeks twitched.

　It's obvious that being stroked in the middle of the day was a reward, but I shouldn't have said it.

　As proof of this, Mahiru froze when she looked at Shuu, then blushed slightly and looked timid.

　I guess he didn't think that punishment was a reward. It was like Mahiru that the punishment was so cute that it didn't actually amount to any kind of punishment.

　Zhou didn't open his mouth because his true intentions or a little greed came out of his mouth, and silence came.

　Their gazes wandered around each other, and they were swaying for a while without being busy, but with an expression that seemed to have made up their mind, Midday lightly spread his hands around him.

"... Do you want to?"

　This must mean that you should jump in there and be patted on the head.

　I can't do that because my head will definitely boil if I do that. No, I was very intrigued by the offer, but I don't think it's a good idea to approach him with guilt when he doesn't have any guilt and Zhou doesn't suspect anything else.

　Although I swallowed my saliva, I couldn't put it into action, and shook my head and replied in honorifics, "It's fine."

　As expected, it was impossible to enjoy the softness with an innocent face.

"You don't try to do that to a man. If you want to do it, do it to Chitose."

"...Chitose-san feels more in danger, right?"

"If he sexually harasses you, you can hit him. Also, if I try to do something lascivious, feel free to hit me."

"I won't doubt Zhou-kun when he says that. Anyway, if you say that next time, your hair will be fluffy!"

　In the end, Mahiru had no intention of changing the punishment, but Zhou realized that his shame and rationality would probably be in trouble if he accepted the punishment, so he swore to refrain from belittling himself in front of her as much as possible.