The Storm Has Passed

"I'm really sorry."

　After Itsuki and Chitose returned in the evening, Zhou apologized at noon, when he looked slightly tired.

　Suddenly being entwined with a stranger and knowing the secret, I would have been confused and tired even in the middle of the day.

　I feel like I had this kind of interaction with Shihoko as well.

"No, it was because I was careless."

"It was noisy, wasn't it?"

"...He was a lively person."

"You can honestly say you're noisy."

"He was a little energetic, but he was an interesting person."

"It's a little out of the way...... Well, it's fine if you don't mind."

　I think that definitely falls into the realm of being noisy, but the modest midday used a really mild expression to describe her.

　Luckily I didn't hate him that much, but I don't know if it was a good thing that I became friends with him.

　It's quite a different type from Mahiru...but it might be good in terms of freshness.

　Of course, if Mahiru is in too much trouble, I'll be careful, so I'd like to keep an eye on him.

"There are no people like that around me, so it was a little fun."

"Well, I don't think there are many people like Chitose... It's usually fine if you're persistent, right?"

"I-I won't be violent, so I'll do my best to stop you with words."

　I couldn't help but feel like we were both expecting her to go out of control, but in reality, Chitose often gets too excited and takes her passion in strange directions, so we had to be careful.

　Keeping in mind his vow to pay more attention to Chitose later, Amane turned to the window and stared at the falling snow.

　If it weren't for this weather, that couple wouldn't have found out...but maybe it was raining to bless the lovers, so I couldn't complain too much.

　Even in the middle of the day, she seems to like looking at the snow, and notices what Shuu is looking at and looks at it the same way.

　Since it's winter, the sun sets early and it's dark.

　It's already dark enough to be called night, and the snow is so light that you can barely see it with the lights of the house.

"It's a white Christmas, isn't it?"

"That's right. Well, it doesn't really matter to us."

"I guess it's okay because it's beautiful."

　I'm not in a relationship at all, so I honestly don't have anything to do with White Christmas, but... I'm happy in the middle of the day, so snow shouldn't be bad either.

　The small snowflakes falling give the darkened world a faint white make-up. Even if it continued to rain like this, it didn't seem like it would accumulate much.

"Well, if it rains too much, public transportation will be paralyzed, so I hope it's moderate."

"That's realistic."

"People can't live off romance alone."

"Most importantly."

　Perhaps this type of interaction is unique to snow.

　They both gave a small laugh and Mahiru stood up.

"Then I'll bring you some food."

"What, do you want me to bring it?"

"I was making beef stew over there earlier. I thought even if I roasted a whole turkey, the two of us wouldn't be able to eat it..."

"I have no idea how to make a roast using a whole bird."

"Shou-kun is just not good at cooking.…Let's have beef stew on omelet rice for lunch tomorrow."

"What a delicious thing..."

　You know it's going to be delicious even before you eat it, so you'll look forward to tomorrow's lunch rather than today's dinner.

"I like hard-cooked eggs."

"What a coincidence, I like the old-fashioned one too. Well, I'll bring you a pot."

　While looking vaguely at midday when he was temporarily returning home from Zhou's house, Zhou remembers the noisy daytime.

　Really, it was unexpected to find out.

　He had been suspected from the beginning, and it was to be expected that his suspicions would deepen, but...he never expected Mahiru to show his face at that timing.

　In the end, I was able to explain the situation, and I'm glad that I found someone who understood me, but...I also had a little bit of mixed feelings.

　Maybe it would have been better to keep it a secret between just the two of us for a little while longer.

(What am I thinking)

　Life would be much easier now that I didn't have to hide everything from them, but I still felt a little vague about it, and I was confused as to why.

　In the end, it wasn't too bad, but there was something wrong with it and it didn't feel right.

"What's happen?"

"...nothing"

　Mahiru, who came back with a pot, tilted his head in wonder at Zhou's state, but as expected, there was no way he could reveal to her his feelings that could not be expressed in words.

　While Shu was wearing a normal expression as if trying to make amends, Mahiru had a blank look on her face the entire time, as if she didn't understand why.