They say that a girl who's been comforted is easiest to fool, but Kanade Natsukawa had no intention of deceiving Mahiru Shiina. Instead, their heart-to-heart had made her much more open and approachable.
The proof?
Right now, Mahiru was curled up snugly in his lap, sitting docilely as he gently combed through her hair. After having her head buried under a blanket for so long, her silky locks had become a bit of a mess.
For Mahiru, this was a rare moment of utter relaxation. She could lean into him completely, let her worries melt away, and bask in the simple warmth of his presence.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Kanade asked softly. "I was really worried about you…"
"…"
Mahiru hesitated, then began to explain. She shared everything except the part that involved him directly.
Not yet, she thought. Those feelings should be confessed in a more fitting moment—when it's just the two of us, looking only at each other…
The thought made her heart feel light and fluffy.
"Kanade… Do you think I'm silly?" she asked, her voice tinged with self-doubt.
"Maybe a little." Kanade nodded lightly.
But it was a charming kind of silliness.
After all, how many people would refuse to ask someone out just because they didn't want to make them feel awkward about prior commitments? It was such an outlandish scenario that it could only happen to someone like Mahiru, his angelic classmate.
"Wha—you actually said it!" Mahiru puffed her cheeks in mock anger and lightly bumped the back of her head against his chest.
Of course, she didn't dare use too much force—what if she accidentally hurt him?
"Hmph! Let's see you try saying that again!"
"…" Kanade simply chuckled in response.
"Still, Mahiru," he said after a moment, his tone growing serious, "don't do something so foolish again, okay?"
"…Okay."
But her response was half-hearted, so Kanade pressed on.
"I'm happy you care about me, but don't let that stop you from coming to me, alright?" He patted her gently on the head. "I've never thought you'd make me feel awkward. In fact, it'd be the exact opposite—I'd be honored if someone as amazing as you invited me to something."
"Ugh… I told you not to call me that…" Mahiru mumbled, her cheeks tinged pink.
By now, though, "Angel" had become a kind of inside joke between them. She knew Kanade saw her as a normal girl, which made his affectionate nickname feel less like an idolization and more like a playful term of endearment.
"Anyway," Kanade continued, setting down the comb with a satisfied nod at her now-tidy hair. "From now on, stop worrying so much. Just rely on me, okay?"
"…Okay."
But this time, Mahiru fell silent instead of agreeing right away.
Relying on him is enough… for now, she thought. But one day, I'll want more. I'll want to tell him how I really feel and face the consequences of that confession.
Until that day, she could only do her best to make him like her more, to make him grow used to her presence, until he couldn't imagine a life without her.
"Alright, we've settled things between us," Kanade said, gently stroking her hair as though it were second nature. "Now let's talk about you."
"About… me?" Mahiru tilted her head slightly, her soft gaze meeting his.
"Yes. Don't tell me you've forgotten about the fight you had with your friends."
"…"
Mahiru's expression turned sheepish. She had forgotten. Ever since Kanade showed up, her mind had been consumed by his presence. Even when she'd fled earlier, her thoughts weren't on her argument with her friends but rather on the sight of him sitting with that adorable blonde girl…
Does that make me the kind of person who ditches her friends for love?
The realization made her feel a pang of guilt.
"What should I do, Kanade?" she asked softly.
Left to her own devices, Mahiru would've likely mustered the courage to apologize. But whether her friends would even listen to her… she wasn't sure.
Now, with someone to lean on, she placed her hopes entirely in his hands.
"What do you think?" Kanade asked. "Can't you just apologize to them directly?"
"But… I'm scared. What if they don't want to hear me out?"
"…" Kanade sighed. Her worries seemed excessive, considering those same friends had gone out of their way to seek him out.
"Do you trust me, Mahiru?"
"Of course." She nodded without hesitation.
"Then leave it to me. I'll arrange for you to meet them. But after that, it'll be up to you."
Kanade was willing to help Mahiru patch things up, but he couldn't forge their friendship for her. Genuine bonds had to come from both sides.
"…Okay." Mahiru nodded again, visibly more relaxed.
I really can't live without Kanade, she thought. Being with him made her feel safe and carefree, as though all her worries could melt away.
"Thank you, Kanade."
"No, Mahiru. I should be thanking you."
Thank you for coming into my life, Kanade added silently.
If it weren't for that rainy night when he first met her, his youth might have continued as a dull, robotic existence. But with her—and the others—everything had changed.
Though their story hadn't reached its perfect conclusion, he couldn't ask for more. This was real, filled with genuine connections and emotions.
Mahiru, puzzled by his words, turned to ask what he meant, but Kanade stood before she could.
"It's about time I head out," he said.
Though he hated to leave her side, this was still the girls' dorm, and he had responsibilities waiting for him.
As the student council president, his work during the event was far from done. He had to oversee everything, ensuring a smooth execution of the activities. On top of that, he'd accepted invitations from Kaguya, Eriri, and now Mahiru to participate in the courage test.
Three games, countless responsibilities—it was going to be a long night.
"Mahiru, can I borrow your phone for a second?"
"Hm? Sure."
She handed it over without question, trusting him completely. Kanade quickly found the leader of the trio in her contacts and sent a brief text to arrange a meeting.
"All set. I've scheduled a meeting with them here in your room. Just wait for them, okay?"
"Eh?!" Mahiru gaped at him. "That's what you meant by 'arrange a meeting'?! You used my phone?!"
Noticing her incredulous expression, Kanade added, "Well, I don't have their numbers, and you're their roommate. It's not like you can avoid each other forever."
With that, he headed for the door, turning back with a reassuring smile.
"I'll contact you after the event starts tonight. Don't worry if I'm late—I'll definitely keep our promise."
He gave her one last comforting glance before closing the door behind him.
"…"
Mahiru sat there in stunned silence, staring at the door long after he'd gone.