The angel and the man

When I arrived at the school building, the number of eyes on me increased.

Although Chitose is by his side, if Zhou and Mahiru hold hands and walk down the hallway, it will naturally draw attention. Chitose leisurely says what she thinks of him, saying, ``Wow, you're the center of attention,'' but Shu is still not used to being stared at.

Mahiru walks confidently, probably because she's used to having people stare at her. As he walks with his hands firmly clasped, it may also serve as an unveiling.

As I passed through the hallway, I heard voices saying, ``There's an angel with a guy...'' ``Shiina-san looks different than usual...'' ``Was that guy even there?! He looks completely different from the guy from the sports festival the other day...'' Unfortunately, he is the man who was shown to be an important person at the sports festival.

Although she did not respond to that voice, Mahiru smiled like an angel with a sweet color and spread it around her.

"Zhou-kun"

"yeah?"

"I'll be heading to the classroom soon, are you okay?"

Midday asks when their classroom is approaching.

"It's okay because I'm already prepared to show it to you."

"...is that so"

"I think everyone will be surprised. After Mahirun's comment, Shuu got a makeover after the holidays."

I was surprised, too, Chitose said with a light smile, and I was slightly regretting that I should have contacted her, Itsuki, and Kadowaki.

I was embarrassed to announce that we had started dating, so I put it off until later, but I probably should have told them first because they've been watching over me.

"... Chitose"

"Yeah?"

"Sorry, um, I didn't report it."

"No, we started dating after the sports festival, right? They were probably busy flirting, and Shuu is probably the type who wants to talk to you face to face rather than texting, so I don't mind."

It's a complicated perception that they were messing around and busy, but it's true that the two of us spent the day together and didn't think about anything else.

Besides, as Chitose said, I wanted to actually meet Chitose and the others who had helped me in so many ways. Chitose guessed it before he said it, and she started teasing him, so it was more like a fact-check for her than a report.

"... Sankyu"

"You're welcome. Fufu, it's not an exaggeration to say that I was the one who brought the two of you together. Respect me more."

"Haha. Next time I'll bring Chitose-sama some of her favorite crepes from the station."

"Ummukuru no shuu."

Chitose was making fun of Chitose, and while Shu was having a conversation with him, he and Mahiru ducked into the door of their own classroom.

"Ah, good morning Shiina... Huh?"

The first thing I noticed was a few girls hanging out near the classroom entrance.

He seemed to be sitting at his desk and getting excited about something, but when he noticed Midday entering the room, he raised his gaze... and then, Midday seemed to notice Zhou holding his hand.

His gaze rose from their connected hands to Shu's face.

At that moment, what appeared on their faces was, ``Who is this person?''

Of course, Shuu had never shown this appearance to his classmates.

She may have been seen from time to time, but Shu Fujimiya has never attended school in this outfit, and she would appear to them as a stranger.

However, last week's sports festival, when Mahiru publicly revealed that Shu is an important person to him, is still fresh in the students' memories.

If you think about it for a moment, the young man who is currently holding hands should be tied to Zhou as an equal.

Before she can figure out the answer to the equation, Zhou lets go of her hand and goes to put his luggage on his seat.

To be easy to understand and to show who I am.

Before I knew it, the classroom had become quieter than usual.

Even his classmates, who were usually chatty, turned their attention to Shu.

"Good morning Fujimiya"

Kadowaki and Itsuki, with their usual smiles, approach Zhou in the silence that makes them feel awkward.

I am now very grateful to have these people who know me and still treat me as they normally would.

"Yes, both of you."

"What, did you finally come to terms with it?"

"I don't know what the concept is.... Well, I got caught and caught."

I had a lot of discussions with them, and Itsuki was the first to notice Zhou's feelings for Mahiru, so when Zhou entered the classroom holding hands in the usual man form, they started dating immediately. It seems to have started.

"Nn, congratulations. I've only recently become friends with Fujimiya, so I can't say it's been that long, but after all, I was impatient, so I finally feel like I'm here."

"I've been watching over you for half a year, you bastard."

"It's loud. I'm sorry."

As someone who actually watched Zhou and Mahiru walking together for about half a year, he must have been deeply moved, nodding deeply and muttering, "It's been a long time."

For better or for worse, Itsuki has taken care of me, pushed my back, no, kicked me, so I am grateful. Occasionally, he was too meddlesome, but he still supported and encouraged Zhou, who was struggling.

Of all the acquaintances, Itsuki is probably the one who celebrates this relationship the most.

"So, make up your mind and dress like that."

"Ou"

"No, it feels strange because it's something unfamiliar."

"That's right. I just showed it to you the other day."

It's been about a month since I showed it to Kadowaki since Golden Week. I've only shown it once, so it's only natural that I'm unfamiliar with it. I'm used to seeing it around noon.

In the middle of the day, while Chitose clings to me and strokes my head, I am surrounded by other classmates.

I was a little far away, but the classroom was quiet so I could hear what was being asked. Even though she couldn't hear, she knew what was being asked.

"Um, Fujimiya-kun!"

When I was looking at it, it was Zhou's turn to speak to me.

When I turned towards the voice, several girls were trying to surround me while looking at the surroundings with eyes that didn't even try to hide their curiosity.

As Zhou, who is not very good at the opposite sex, this kind of situation is bad for his stomach, but he was prepared for this to happen from the beginning, so he looked at them without revealing his heart.

"...something?"

"Wow, it's really Fujimiya-kun! He's different from the Fujimiya-kun I know, so I was surprised!"

"My impression has changed tremendously."

"Really, really! Before, it was just plain!"

"I'm sorry for being a little plain"

"Ah, I'm sorry, Fujimiya-kun."

"Okay, it's definitely plain."

Although he felt like he was going to be carried away by the girls' momentum, he tried his best not to get carried away by their pace and smiled bitterly.

Their words seemed to be true, and I didn't feel like arguing or getting irritated with them.

I was the one who kept it low-key, and it was because of my personality that I didn't like to stand out, that's why I passed the class as a calm boy who was neither poison nor medicine.

Most likely, everyone in this class would have rated him as a plain and ordinary boy.

Since that suddenly changed, it's understandable to be confused.

"You've given yourself a makeover."

"Yes. Is it strange?"

"Nothing like that, I think it's gotten a lot better."

"In fact, I was surprised at how handsome he turned out to be."

"It was worth it to have you say that."

It was embarrassing to be praised so much face to face, but it can't be helped to deny it here, and I've learned that humility can be poisonous at times, so I accept it gratefully.

When I nodded while trying to keep my expression as soft as possible, they also laughed happily.

"Hey hey, can I ask you something?"

"If you can answer me, go ahead."

"I'm curious, but was it Fujimiya-kun who was walking with Mae Shiina-san?"

It's finally here, I thought.

It was a question that someone would ask me someday, so I thought I'd give a clear answer and express my intentions here.

It seems like my classmates are also listening closely to our conversation, and if I announce it here, it will probably spread throughout the school.

"Yes, it's me."

"T-Are you dating? It seems like you were holding hands today..."

"Oh. Thanks to you, we started dating last week."

When I clearly affirmed it, a yellow voice rose. I felt like I could hear the boys' voices of despair and resentment behind me, but I dared ignore them.

Anyway, the boys will be questioned after this, so I should accept it at that time.

"Eh, how did that Shiina-san..."

"We had a connection since last year.

"yes"

Rather than saying that he was done with the barrage of questions, he probably decided that it would be quicker to show him that he was interacting with Shuu, so he approached with a smile on his face.

Mahiru moved next to Shu and stood close enough to touch or not touch Shu, and showed a beautiful smile to the girls who were asking Shu questions.

"It's hard to explain, but a lot of things led us to start dating. He's always been my unrequited love, so I was really happy...and we ended up holding hands as if we were proud."

At noon, when I was going to school tightly, I put my hand on Zhou's hand, and Zhou smiled bitterly and held Midday's hand.

"No, I think you liked me first."

"I think I'm the first? Either way, Zhou-kun never confessed to me."

"I'm sorry. I confessed properly, so please forgive me."

"...I think it was from me."

"I'll do it properly this time."

"What are you doing?"

"...I do not know"

Since there is only one thing that lies beyond a lover, Mahiru should be able to figure it out if he thinks about it, but... Mahiru just looks puzzled.

As for Zhou, it's nothing to say here now, and I'm not old enough to take responsibility, so I'll keep it in my heart. Perhaps this word will remain unchanged even after many years.

When that time comes, I'm going to say it myself, so I'm going to leave it to you for now.

I was looking up at Zhou with a little dissatisfaction with the deceived Zhou, but when Zhou stroked my head, it also subsided.

"...You're going to mislead me again."

"I'll tell you someday, so please bear with me."

"already"

Even though he was dissatisfied with his words, his expression seemed to be satisfied.

However, she seems to have noticed something and hurriedly holds her cheek, causing her face to turn red.

When I looked around to see what was going on, I saw my classmates at a loss for words.

At the end of my line of sight, there are Shu and Mahiru.

(――I did it)

It was true that he was trying to solidify his position as Mahiru's boyfriend by showing off his relationship with Mahiru, but he had no intention of having a conversation like he usually had at home.

I ended up patting him on the head out of habit, but I knew what my classmates would think if I touched them like this.

"...Zhou, you guys are unconsciously flirting, so be careful."

Even Itsuki, who was holding on to the title of the original Bacouple, warned him about it, and Shuu hurriedly removed his palm from Mahiru's head, biting his lip to keep the heat from rising to his cheeks from showing.