Angel and Gyu

"...Midday"

　After eating, Shu remembered what Itsuki had said and hesitantly called her name.

　Mahiru, who was sitting next to me, tilted his head and said, "Yes?"

"Ah, ah... what is it?"

"yes"

　Mahiru was quietly waiting for Zhou to say something, as if he had something to say, and Zhou wondered what he should say.

　There is a reason why when we broke up, he physically pushed me with all his might, telling me to have the courage and worth to hug him, but I also have an interest similar to curiosity, wondering if he would forgive me even if I really hugged him. There is

　Besides, midday is thin, soft and smells good, so as a man of my age, I wanted to touch it, not a little. These are the kind of impulses that all young people have.

　However, it would be wrong to just be honest and ask, ``Can I hug you?'' There is a possibility that people will look at him and wonder what he is thinking.

　On the other hand, even if I hugged him suddenly, it seemed like he would reject me.

"... Next week is a test."

　So I got discouraged and changed the topic.

　Mahiru seemed to know that this was obviously not the main topic, but she seemed to realize that Shuu had no intention of talking about it and gave a wry smile.

"That's right. Well, the range isn't that wide this time, so I'd say it's easy."

"Ou"

　Mahiru was able to respond to urgent topics, but my heart felt heavy as I felt like my own patheticness and lack of courage was being shown to me.

　Ah, I couldn't help but sigh.

"...What's wrong?"

"No... I'm really useless..."

"Why are you denying yourself? Did someone say something to you?"

"No, not this time."

　I was just in despair at my inadequacy.

"Excuse me. I don't really understand, but please take care of yourself."

　As he reaches out and strokes Zhou's head, Zhou lets him do as he pleases without any intention of refusing.

　Mahiru's touch is polite and gentle. It's soft enough to lull you into a slumber, and when you caress it, your body feels like it's going to lose its strength.

　The tension from just a while ago had completely dissipated, and I was left to let it be in the middle of the day.

"Ha... can I say..."

"What?"

"May I hug you?"

"I'm telling you."

　Pachi, when I blinked and looked at midday, the midday was also looking up at me.

"... what you didn't ask?"

"I can't."

　Don't say something unreasonable, Zhou felt his cheeks twitch as his eyes narrowed.

　I really didn't mean to talk.

　No matter how much I thought it would be bad for someone of the opposite sex to say something that I haven't been in a relationship with, I suppressed it due to my rationality and humbleness, but I let my guard down and let it slip out.

　I looked at Mahiru in horror, but Mahiru didn't look disgusted, but instead had a dumbfounded, surprised look on her face, so I was surprised.

"If it's just that much, I won't get angry. Zhou-kun is also a boy."

"... I don't like the way you're convinced..."

"Is it wrong?"

"It's not like anyone wants to touch it."

　If it's because he's a boy, then any woman will do.

　As for Shu, he wants to hold her in his arms because it's midday, and he wants to enjoy her softness... It sounds like a pervert if he says that, but he wants to touch her, and he has the confidence to say no no matter how glamorous a beautiful woman is. There is. Or rather, I don't want to touch the unknown woman's intentions in vain.

　Midday was hardened by Zhou's categorical denial.

　After that, the white porcelain skin began to faintly stain from the inside, and I realized that I had made another slip of the tongue.

　When this happened, I too became embarrassed and couldn't help but feel the heat rising in my cheeks and my gaze darted from place to place.

"Um, ah"

"... gyu, would you like to?"

　The question was asked timidly, and Shu was at a loss for words.

　I was the one who said I wanted to do it, or rather, I was the one who leaked it, but I don't think anyone would actually let me do it.

　Of course, Mahiru wouldn't make such an invitation to just anyone, and he knew that he trusted Shuu and said so, but--that offer was extremely bad for Shuu's heart.

　My cheeks were flushed and my eyes were slightly moist, and I was looked up at, and then someone said something like that to me, there was no way I could control my rationality.

　Timidly, I reached out to Mahiru and wrapped my arms around her slender body, wrapping my arms around her thin back.

　This is the second time they have hugged each other properly, but unlike that day when Mahiru cried, Mahiru is in Shu's arms of her own free will.

　How can I say it, I couldn't really confirm how it felt that day, but now that I'm hugging you like this, I feel like I'm thin and unreliable. His shoulders are narrow and his arms are so thin that they look like they might break.

　What can I say about that habit...the soft material that hits from the chest to the pigeon tail has a distinct mass, so I'm enjoying all the goodness of Mahiru's style.

　The strong sweet smell coming from the nape of my neck made me feel very uncomfortable.

　However, although it may be true to say that I feel moody, the truth is that it calms me down.

　I feel relieved that Mahiru is by my side, or rather, I feel happy when I touch it.

"... Zhou-kun, it seems that a 30-second hug can reduce stress by a third of the day."

　Mahiru, who was slightly unsteady in his arms, murmured a little.

"Will it all be gone in 90 seconds?"

"Okay...but I feel like today's stress is going away."

"Is that so?"

"I've been asked a lot of questions today."

　Those words reminded me of what Mahiru said to the girls in my class today.

"Ah... that... the most important person..."

　When I asked hesitantly, Mahiru, who had buried his face in Shu's chest, looked up.

　Her expression wasn't embarrassed, but rather a lonely smile.

"...For me, the world is small. Even the people I love can only fit in the palm of my hand. I live in a small mini-garden.... Shu-kun is the closest person to me. A person who is important to me.

"...Midday"

"So, Shu-kun, please have a little more confidence. Just be dignified."

　In the middle of the day, with a bitter smile on my face, my eyes got a little hot.

"Do you think it's okay?"

"Of course.

"...I see"

"If you ever feel unsure of yourself, I will always give you a push and give you strength.It will be reassuring."

"yeah"

　When Mahiru gave him such powerful words, Shu buried his face in Mahiru's shoulder to hide his expression.

　It wasn't funny that I was being supported even though I thought I was supporting her, but maybe that's just me.

"…Did your stress go away, Shuu-kun?"

"Give me a little more"

"Yes yes"

　I leant towards Mahiru as if to be a little pampered, and Mahiru laughed while replying in a way that seemed to have no choice but on purpose.