As Natsukawa Kanade walked back with Shiina Mahiru, arms full of firewood, the stillness of the moment was disrupted by Mahiru's soft voice.
"That Sawamura-san… is she close to you, Kanade?"
Her tone was light, but the subtle tension betrayed her. She tried to keep her expression calm, yet her pursed lips and the faint glint in her amber eyes gave away the storm brewing inside.
Kanade blinked, slightly taken aback by the question. "Close? Hmm… I guess you could say that."
Shiina's shoulders stiffened slightly. She wasn't entirely sure why she had even asked, but the sight of Sawamura Eriri earlier, with her bold attitude and that look in her eyes, had stirred something uncomfortably foreign in her chest.
Kanade, oblivious to her inner turmoil, continued, "We were in a club together before. We worked on games and stuff. Eriri's an amazing artist—really talented. She's even well-known in the industry."
He paused for a moment, as if searching for more to say. "She's also the ace of the art club at school. Her drawing skills are next-level."
Shiina's lips tightened. Her steps faltered for a moment. Of course, she's amazing, she thought bitterly. And she can call you by your name so casually, too…
Despite her best efforts, Mahiru couldn't stop her mind from wandering. Just how close are they? The thought gnawed at her. She had never even dared to call Kanade by his first name without hesitation, yet this girl did it so naturally.
Am I… not as close to him as she is?
Her heart sank a little. Though she had shared moments with Kanade that most would find unthinkable—like staying at his house without a shred of hesitation—those memories now felt less special. How many other girls had shared similar experiences with him?
"What's wrong, Mahiru?" Kanade's voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. He glanced at her curiously.
"Eh?" Shiina blinked, snapping back to reality. "Ah, no, it's nothing."
Kanade tilted his head, unconvinced but unwilling to press further. It wasn't like Shiina to seem this distracted. Perhaps she was just tired from carrying the firewood.
Silence settled between them again as they trudged along, but Mahiru's thoughts remained restless.
"Kanade," she said hesitantly, her voice softer this time, "do you think… I've been too full of myself lately?"
Kanade nearly tripped over his own feet. "Hah? Where did that come from?"
Mahiru's cheeks turned a faint pink, and she looked down, embarrassed. "It's just… I've been calling you by your first name all this time, but you've never called me 'Mahiru.' I thought… maybe I was being presumptuous…"
Her words trailed off, but the blush on her cheeks deepened. She couldn't help but feel like she had exposed too much of her heart.
Kanade stared at her, dumbfounded. Wait… is that what this is about?
Shiina Mahiru, the so-called "Angel-sama," was acting surprisingly childish. Yet, there was something endearing about her vulnerability, something that made Kanade's usual calm waver.
"Well… if that's what's bothering you…" He hesitated for a moment, his hand awkwardly scratching the back of his head. "Mahiru…?"
He said her name tentatively, as though testing the waters.
To Mahiru, however, it felt like a bolt of lightning had struck her heart.
"Hmm!" she gasped, her whole body trembling as the firewood in her arms nearly slipped from her grasp. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and her heartbeat raced uncontrollably.
This is unfair… such a sudden attack…
Kanade panicked slightly. "If it's too weird, I can just—"
"No!" Mahiru blurted out, shaking her head fervently. "It's not weird! I mean… I'm just not used to it yet…"
Her voice was hurried, almost desperate. She didn't want him to take back the name, not after hearing it for the first time.
Kanade sighed in relief, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "If you're okay with it, then I'll call you Mahiru."
Mahiru's heart soared, but she quickly bit her lip to suppress the overwhelming happiness bubbling inside her. This is progress. I have to keep moving forward…
"Then…" she began softly, her voice trembling ever so slightly, "I'll call you something too…"
Her words trailed off, and a brief silence hung between them. Mahiru's mind raced as she considered her next move. She realized, somewhat belatedly, that she'd already been calling him by his first name for a while now. Not just recently, but since much earlier in their interactions.
"W-Well…" she hesitated, clutching at the firewood like it was the only thing grounding her.
"What's wrong?" Kanade asked, tilting his head.
Mahiru steeled herself and, with a deep breath, declared, "Then I'll call you… Nakkun !"
The words tumbled out, and the moment they did, her face flushed an even deeper shade of red. It was a nickname she had crafted in the heat of the moment—something unique, something only she could call him.
However, embarrassment hit her like a tidal wave. What was I thinking? she berated herself internally. Yet, the idea of calling him something special made her heart race with both excitement and mortification.
Kanade froze, his mind blank for a moment. Then the realization of the nickname hit him. Nakkun? Seriously?!
"Today's… weather sure is hot," Kanade muttered awkwardly, lifting a hand to his face as if to wipe away non-existent sweat. The truth was, he couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze, afraid she might notice the bewildered expression on his face.
Nakkun… that's such a weird name! he thought. If a gyaru had said it, maybe it would've sounded cool. But coming from someone as elegant and gentle as Mahiru, it's just so… unexpected.
"Yes, it is… very hot…" Mahiru replied, equally flustered. She averted her gaze, unable to look at Kanade directly.
The two stood there, lost in their own embarrassed thoughts, neither realizing that the other was just as preoccupied. It was only when they passed by their classmates, who cast curious glances at them, that the spell was broken.
============
Meanwhile, back among the other students, small groups had formed, whispering and exchanging glances at Kanade and Mahiru.
"The president is back. Should we tell him?"
"Are you crazy? How could I possibly say anything in this situation?"
"Just say someone was looking for him! You don't have to give details."
"Fine, I'll go…"
Finally, one boy from the group, Tanuma Tsubasa, mustered the courage to approach Kanade.
"President," he called out casually, "Vice President Shinomya was looking for you earlier. He didn't say what it was about, though."
Kanade nodded, grateful for the interruption that offered him an excuse to escape the awkwardness of the moment. "Got it. Thanks for letting me know, Tanuma-san."
Turning to Mahiru, he offered her a gentle smile. "It might be student council business. I'll go check it out."
"Of course," Mahiru replied with her usual angelic demeanor, though her heart still raced. "Take your time."
Kanade headed back toward the chopping area, his thoughts wandering. He knew both Kaguya and Eriri were in the same class, so he figured he could handle two tasks at once—helping Eriri with the firewood and checking in with Kaguya about the vice president's message.
When he arrived, Eriri was sitting on a wooden stump, her legs swinging back and forth in boredom. She perked up the moment she spotted Kanade approaching, quickly brushing the dust off her skirt as she stood.
"Kanade!" she called out, half-expecting him to have forgotten about her. Her voice wavered slightly as she added, "Why did you take so long? I thought… I thought you might've left me behind…"
Her words carried a hint of vulnerability, though the time that had passed wasn't all that long. Despite this, Eriri's mind had played tricks on her. The thought of Kanade being alone with someone as undeniably cute as Shiina Mahiru had gnawed at her.
Super cute blonde girl, alone with Kanade… they're in the same class too, aren't they? What if something happened on the way back?
Her imagination spiraled out of control, blending reality with the dramatic scenarios she often depicted in her doujins. She even found herself mentally casting herself as the tragic, overlooked heroine in one of her own stories.
Her frustration bubbled over as she thought about how her "attributes" overlapped with Mahiru's.
No, I can't let this continue! she thought determinedly. If I don't take the initiative now, I'll end up being called an auntie someday!
***************
Just to clarify:
Japanese people call each other by their surnames if they aren't well acquainted with each other. Same thing has been happening here in the book but it kinda feels weird especially when Eriri calls Kanade by his surname. That's why I change it to the given name.