The Day After White Day

"How was it, White Day?"

　The next day, when asked by Itsuki about his impressions, Zhou frowned.

　I didn't ask him at school out of consideration, but when I stopped by a fast food restaurant on the way home, he asked me with a smile as soon as I sat down.

　I only came here to eat potatoes because I wanted to pick something salty once in a while.

"What do you mean…I just gave it to you normally."

"Did you like it?"

"...oh dear"

　As for whether or not they were pleased, they were.

　It wasn't a smile that seemed to be innocently hilarious, but I think he was quite pleased with the sweet and indescribably sexy smile that was similar to shyness.

　Just remembering that beautiful smile makes me feel uncomfortable.

　When I replied in a calm voice as much as possible while suppressing the heat creeping up my cheeks from the inside, Itsuki crossed his arms and nodded as if he understood.

"Your reaction seems pretty good. I'm sure you were happy and saw your cute smile."

"What?"

"See? We're steadily getting better friends."

　His tone and voice were more teasing than teasing, and Zhou bit his lip.

　Itsuki doesn't step on things that I don't want him to step on, but other than that, he points out exactly as a close friend, so it's very difficult to do. I've been on good terms with Chitose from the beginning, so I don't have the means to retaliate.

　Gunu, Itsuki laughed gently at Zhou who was at a loss for words. I was annoyed by her slightly lukewarm gaze.

　Itsuki's wry smile reached Amane, who was helpless and turned away while picking up the french fries he ordered.

"I'm happy, you know? I wonder if spring will finally come to Zhou."

"It's not like that."

"You don't know what it's like for the other side, do you?"

"...No, that's not it."

　Indeed, I know firsthand that Mahiru deeply trusts Shu. After all, he thinks he's close enough to her to say that Zhou is the man she trusts the most in the middle of the day. At least, from what I can see right now, Shuu is the one who is being forgiven the most.

　However, if it were a feeling of love, it would be different.

　Sometimes I get embarrassed when I approach someone as a person of the opposite sex, but that's normal for people of the opposite sex. Although I am receiving favor, I don't think it is a favor in the sense of romantic love toward the opposite sex.

　Although Shu has improved his appearance a little recently, he is still a useless man. I don't really think he would like someone like Zhou.

"You're so servile about that sort of thing. Really, you're the kind of person who thinks it's impossible for you to be liked."

"Rather, I was given something by that heaven...or rather, it was just a matter of hard work, but do you think that someone who works hard, is cute, and is amazing will like me even though I have no merits?"

"If all the beautiful girls end up marrying talented handsome men, then some crazy people could cause a terrorist attack."

　I felt like that wasn't something that Itsuki, who is a handsome man, could say.

"Well, if you say so, it's fine for now.... Then let's make a prediction as a friend."

"what is it"

"You will eventually change. Or rather, there are signs of change.

"...Speak like you know."

"Hahaha, how many years do you think I've been your friend?"

"It hasn't even been a year."

　When I calmly confronted him, he let out a laugh and said, ``That's right.''

　It's a casual exchange like this, but Itsuki, who is a friend from high school, is a man who understands and cares about Zhou much more than a male friend who has spent time with Konaka in his hometown.

"Tsukasa"

"yeah?"

"You keep saying that you are not suitable for her, but the way you say it and the way you behave is like admitting that you like her."

"I'm going to shove the fries up your nose."

"Sorry"

　I was a little touched, but he said something unnecessary at the end, so I grabbed some fries, but I thought it was typical of Itsuki that he immediately apologized.

"You were late."

　When I got home about an hour later than usual, I was greeted by an apron-wearing midday.

　I guess it was because of the conversation I had with Itsuki that I unintentionally thought it was a new wife. She doesn't have that kind of feeling in the middle of the day, but she's delusional.

"Hmm, I was eating potatoes with Itsuki."

"...Even though it's before dinner."

"It's okay, eat without leaving anything behind."

　Midday food is a different meal, and since I chose small-sized fries to begin with, I'm not that full.

　I am confident that I can finish eating even if I am served the usual amount.

"Aren't you going to gain weight… I thought, but since Zhou-kun is thin, it might be okay to put on a little more meat."

"Isn't it better for you to put on a little more flesh? I'm afraid it will break."

"It's not soft enough to break."

"Really? Look, you're so thin."

　Midday has a delicate and girlish physique. She can exercise perfectly, so even though she's thin, it's not just thin, but she's toned and soft.

　It's true that it looks like it's going to break at a glance, and if you try to grab it by the wrist, it's so thin that your fingers can easily turn around. I can agree with my father's teaching that "girls should be treated kindly and respectfully" because it seems like it will break if you put too much force into it.

　I thought that when we held hands, but Mahiru is so fragile that I'm worried that she might get hurt somewhere I don't know.

　Even my delicate fingertips are likely to break with the slightest thing, and I wonder if it's okay to be so thin.

　As I ran my fingers over it to check for feel and sturdiness, I noticed that Mozori and Mahiru were moving.

　He turned his head slightly downwards, but his gaze was directed towards the hand that was holding him.

　I hurriedly let it go when I realized that I had touched her faintly colored cheeks without permission and without hesitation.

"... I'm sorry. I don't want to be touched without permission."

"No, no... I don't mind being touched by Zhou-kun."

　If you stare at the midday that spins words that make you doubt your ears for a moment, the midday suddenly raises your face as if you realized what you said.

　In addition to her cheeks becoming darker than before, her eyes were slightly moist, perhaps from embarrassment, and Shuu became extremely uncomfortable.

"Well, I'm not asking you to touch me. I just don't want other men to touch me."

"Oh, oh"

　Even though I was told that, my heart still couldn't stop pounding.

　I understand that Mahiru treats Zhou as a close friend, but I would like him to stop saying that because it seems to be a convenient interpretation.

"... th-that's right. You didn't wear it yesterday.

　When I asked to deceive my heart being noisy, midday looked at my wrist and gently traced the place where Zhou was holding it with my finger.

"...If you wear it while doing housework, it will get in the way and it will get damaged faster....I want to cherish it, so I wear it on my days off."

"...I see"

　Shuu almost sat down on the spot after being told such a ridiculous reason.

　I don't think there is a man who wouldn't be conscious of being told such a cute thing.

　I could tell that she valued the gift and that she intended to wear it properly, and it was painful for Zhou to feel all sorts of emotions welling up in her chest.

　Shuu slowly took a deep breath in an attempt to calm down as his dizzy head realized that his heart was beating noisily.

"...I'll be happy if you like it."

"I like it, and I'll cherish it. The bear, the key case, and the bracelet."

　"I don't hesitate to use the hand cream," Mahiru says with a shy tone, but Shuu can't help it anymore and hurriedly takes off his shoes from the standing position without even taking them off and goes into the hallway.

"... I'm going to change clothes."

"Yes. Have a good time, Zhou-kun."

　Even though he had returned home, Shu felt as if he was being sent away by his new wife, and his heart began to race again.He quickly entered his room and crouched down on the floor.