Visiting a friend's home

　Since that cleaning, I feel like the wall between me and Mahiru has gotten thinner, just a little, but it hasn't gotten any closer.

　At school, we have nothing to do with each other, and we only occasionally make small talk when we're being served dinner.

　The other day, I received a hint that the room should be properly maintained. She's kind of harsh with her words, but she's keenly aware that she's still a good looking girl.

　In addition to nailing the nails properly, he also gave advice on how to clean up the house, so Shu's house was kept exactly as it was when it was cleaned.

"Oh, you've become beautiful."

　Itsuki came over on a day off to find out that the room was now clean, and was amazed when she saw how much the room had changed for the better.

"I never expected it to be this clean. It was that dirty. I helped clean it up last time, but it made a mess right away."

"That's noisy."

"I don't like it. It's been a long time since I've had nothing on the floor."

"Don't worry, it's a new record. It's been going on for two weeks."

"Shouldn't you be ashamed that the new record is only two weeks away?"

　Although he grimaces slightly when he is told that he normally doesn't leave things on the floor, Itsuki is only saying this out of kindness and common sense, so he can't really refuse.

　In the first place, I was also taking care of Itsuki before I asked Mahiru to help me, so I can't come out strong in a place like this.

　Itsuki laughed happily at Shuu who kept quiet.

"Well, if you've become this beautiful, you can bring Chii with you."

"Stop it, why do I have to watch you guys flirt at home?"

"Don't hold back"

"Don't make me a gathering place"

　What's so sad about having to show off the friendship of a couple of friends?

　I wanted to be able to continue to show the flirting of these two people, who are often called Ba couples.

　Itsuki knows that he's joking, but he can't really laugh as someone who is constantly shown how passionate the two of them are.

　That's what I want you to do only at each other's homes.

"Well, just as a joke. If it's this clean, you won't get it dirty, right?"

"I'm doing the right thing."

"As for you...well, that's fine. You should at least get into the habit of letting it out."

"I'm sorry..."

"Well, if you go around, you have to clean your room frequently, okay?"

"It's creepy and I'm scared because it sounds like my mother's tone."

Shu's spine shivers as Itsuki makes a deliberate noise and warns her in a falsetto.

　Itsuki and her mother must not have known each other, but there was a certain resemblance that struck me.

　In the first place, it is disgusting for a man to emphasize a woman, so I want him to stop immediately.

　Ugh, I laughed happily at the surroundings where Itsuki stuck out his tongue.

"Is this what Shuu's mother is like? We're really naive."

"In fact, I'm more jealous of that. My mother tries to take care of me every time something happens."

"She's a good mother who cares about her son."

"I think it's just that he can't stay away from her..."

"No, it's true that Zhou is sloppy so I have no choice but to care."

"It's noisy. Even without that, mother cares too much about her son."

　Perhaps because he is an only child, Zhou's mother often takes issue with him.

　It's not the same as pampering him, but he tends to take care of her a lot and gives her strange feelings, so although I don't dislike her, I find it a little difficult to deal with him.

　When I moved away from my hometown to live alone to attend high school, I was told a lot of things, and sometimes they would come to check on me unannounced, so it was quite difficult.

"Well, doesn't that mean that Zhou is cherished?"

"Love is heavy"

"I gave up.

"I'm saying it like a rule of thumb, but aren't you currently rebelling against it?"

"Hahahaha.

　Itsuki, who has been having a lot of trouble with his father, isn't very convincing when he says this, but since what he's saying does have some truth to it, I'll just listen to him calmly.

　I thought to myself, ``This guy has a problem with this guy,'' he sighs quietly, but the important thing is that Itsuki has a carefree expression that doesn't show any signs of hardship. However, she did say something a bit disturbing, saying, ``If you're going to interfere with Chii and me's relationship, I'm going to make the horse kick you.''

"Anyway, it's okay, Dad will do something about it. For now, Shu, just get on with your life, okay?"

　Itsuki smiled lightly, and I replied with a slightly sour face, saying, ``I understand even if you don't say it,'' and I laughed softly, thinking that someone else would say the same thing.

　The reason Itsuki visited Shuu's house was not to see how they lived, but simply to have fun, so the conversation in the room ended quickly and the two of them were playing a game.

　The original purpose was supposed to be studying for the test a week later, but before I knew it, it had changed to play.

"If you waste your time using recovery items, you'll run out."

"Somehow, somehow, somehow"

"No, it's okay even though my level hasn't risen somehow..."

　Zhou was worried about how to rush into Itsuki, who seems to like thrills, but another problem immediately arises when the chime rings in the room.

"Hmm? A visitor?"

　Itsuki also raises her head after switching the game to the menu screen.

　I know that I don't teach this house to others, and I don't have many friends who visit my house. In the first place, if you are a visitor, you will be stopped at the entrance, so you should be called.

"I don't know. Isn't it around the neighborhood? A circular board or something."

"I see"

"Come on out"

　I somehow managed to hide my twitching face, disguised Itsuki as I saw fit, and hurried towards the entrance.

　I was lucky that she didn't raise her voice after she rang the doorbell.

　Without checking again, I quickly opened the door, slipped out through the gap so that no one could see me, and then closed the door.

　As expected, it was midday, so I raised my index finger to her who was repeatedly blinking around her in a different way than usual.

"...Please whisper. Itsuki is coming."

"Tsuki?"

"He's a friend. He's coming to visit."

"ah I see"

　He seemed to be satisfied with Shuu's secret action and nodded, and handed the Tupperware to Shuu as usual without pursuing it any further.

　It must have been prepared since morning. The filling is oden, making it perfect for the cold season.

　Shuu gratefully accepts the gift and sighs softly to Mahiru, who has no doubts about handing it over.

"...Actually, I've always been grateful to you, but I don't have enough time to say that. I'm sorry."

"It's not like I'm asking for your gratitude.

"Is it better to do a kneeling gratitude?"

"No. Please stop."

　She gave me a shocked look and said, ``Don't I look like a disgusting woman?'' and Shuu smiled bitterly.

　The reason there was a slight mix of seriousness was probably because he really couldn't get over her. She was cared for to the point where she could even kneel on the ground.

　As expected, there are many bad things about continuing to receive this amount of food for free, so I would like to talk about the cost of meals again next time.

"... Then, if your friends are here, you can't talk too much. Excuse me."

"...You're always helping me. I'll hide the opponent in the tree."

"Please do so"

"Well, even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me."

"I guess"

　Although it would be complicated if Zhou honestly affirmed it, I wouldn't believe it if Zhou said that if I was in Itsuki's position, I actually had Shiina cook for me. I doubt the delusion.

　That's why angels are the flowers of Takamine.

　Putting aside the good-looking and excellent male counterparts, it would be unthinkable to serve home-cooked meals to an unremarkable and sloppy man like myself.

"...Can I ask you something?"

"what?"

"What's the advantage of me continuing to share food like this?"

　Normally, people don't give out food for free even though it takes a lot of effort and money. Even if Zhou was in the opposite position, he wouldn't do it.

　I'm not going to expect an unlikely probability that he's interested in me, but it's strange and I can't help it.

　In response to Zhou's question, Mahiru looked up as if thinking for a moment, then replied without changing her expression, ``It's my self-satisfaction.''

"It's nothing. It's easier for me to make food for two people than it is for one person, and I just like acting for people."

"Does that mean you like cooking?"

"Well, there's that. It's easy because you don't make any complicated misunderstandings and just say it's delicious, and I'm worried about your eating habits, so I'm satisfied with myself."

"...Is that so?"

"That's what it is. So, please consider yourself lucky that it rained even if you didn't get sick."

"Hey hey"

　It seemed that he had no intention of asking any more questions even in the middle of the day, and after bending his hips properly, he said, ``Excuse me,'' and went back to his house.

(...I guess that's what it is)

　"I don't think it's appropriate to give it away for free," he grumbled, and Shu returned to his home as well.

"Who was it?"

"A friend of mine from the neighborhood.

"Ah, sorry, the boss battle is over."

"Hey, don't be silly."