Kanade Pov:
After parting ways with Kaguya, I returned to my classroom's base. Afternoon classes were nearing their end, and I could see my classmates trickling out of the temporary study rooms, chatting in small groups. Among them was Shiina Mahiru—Miss Angel herself.
"Good afternoon, Kanade-san," she greeted, her tone polite but tinged with a subtle restraint.
Shiina always maintained a certain distance when they were at school, her demeanor far more reserved than it was when they were alone. It was as if the countless watchful eyes of their peers built an invisible barrier between them.
"Good afternoon," Natsukawa Kanade responded with a small nod, his tone casual but warm.
For a moment, Shiina hesitated, her gaze lingering on him. He could tell there was something on her mind—her expression betrayed her. Understanding this, Kanade decided to take the initiative and explain.
"That's what happened," he began, scratching the back of his neck. "I took the afternoon off because Kaguya asked me for some advice on cooking… and, well, she also got injured, so I ended up helping her out."
Kanade kept his tone light, hoping to put Shiina at ease. But instead of relaxing, her brows furrowed slightly, and her expression darkened. Her lips formed a small pout, and her cheeks puffed out ever so slightly—a telltale sign that something was bothering her.
"...Shiina?" Kanade ventured cautiously, unsure of what he'd done to upset her. "What's wrong? You look... kind of angry."
Shiina turned her head slightly, her lips curving into a forced smile as she squinted at him. "I'm not angry at all, Natsukawa-san. Not one bit," she replied, her tone flat.
"...Hah," Kanade sighed inwardly, feeling a bead of sweat form on his temple.
She's totally mad.
Even for someone as dense as Kanade when it came to understanding girls, her mood was practically screaming at him.
"It's really fine," Shiina continued, her voice as neutral as ever. "After all, I already know what kind of person you are, Natsukawa-san. You're the type to help anyone in need, no matter the situation."
Though her words were meant to sound reassuring, the subtle edge in her tone betrayed her.
But the truth was, Shiina wasn't angry at Kanade—she was angry at herself.
We agreed it was okay to just be friends, didn't we?
So why did her heart ache like this? Why did she feel a pang of jealousy at the thought of Kaguya being so close to him? Shiina bit her lip, trying to push the emotions aside, but the questions lingered.
That Vice President Shinomiya must like Kanade, right?
There was no other explanation. Why else would someone as elegant and aloof as Kaguya ask him, of all people, for cooking advice? And now that Shiina thought about it, wasn't the reason Kanade returned to the student council also because of her?
"It's fine, really," Shiina said again, her voice faltering slightly. "Don't worry about me. I'm not upset at all..."
But no matter how hard she tried to sound unaffected, her expression betrayed her loneliness.
Kanade noticed it instantly.
Before he could think twice, he reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"! L-Let go!" Shiina stammered, her face turning a deep shade of red. "My classmates will misunderstand!"
The reassuring warmth of his hand spread through her arm, but her panic only grew. Being seen like this in public would surely fuel rumors—and she didn't want to trouble Kanade further.
"Let go, Kanade-san!"
"No," Kanade said firmly, shaking his head. "I'm not letting go."
He didn't know what had caused her sudden shift in mood, but he wasn't about to let her leave like this.
"Shiina, tell me what's wrong. Are you upset because of something I did?" he asked, his gaze steady and unyielding. "Please, just talk to me."
Shiina's lips quivered as she tried to form a response. Kanade's earnest expression pierced straight through her defenses.
Why? Why does he have to look at me like that?
She clenched her fists, feeling a storm of emotions welling up inside her. But even now, she couldn't bring herself to admit the truth.
Could it really be... that I'm this upset because he spent time with another girl?
In Natsukawa Kanade's mind, the answer was clear: if it wasn't about him, Shiina would've shared her thoughts without hesitation. So, her unhappiness must have something to do with him—but what exactly?
It can't be just because she heard I was talking to another girl... right?
Shiina tugged at her wrist, her voice growing flustered as she glanced around. "Kanade-san, please, let's talk about this later—back home! Someone might see us..." Her frantic gaze darted to a few curious classmates nearby, only fueling her anxiety.
Kanade frowned, his grip unwavering. "What does it matter if someone sees? Even if they do, so what?" His tone carried a hint of frustration now.
To Kanade, Shiina was a precious friend, but she always acted as though their connection was something to hide, as if she were embarrassed to be associated with him in public.
"I get it—you don't want people to know we live next door to each other. Fine. But does that mean we can't even have normal interactions at school? There's nothing here that anyone could possibly misunderstand!"
Shiina froze for a moment, her mind spinning.
Misunderstand?
This isn't "normal" interaction at all!
What they were doing right now—standing so close, with Kanade holding her wrist—was anything but ordinary. Shiina had always been careful to keep their relationship discreet, but Kanade's oblivious nature was making all her efforts crumble in an instant.
Her cheeks burned, but she steeled herself. "Fine, I'll tell you! Just let me go first!"
"No," Kanade said firmly, his eyes narrowing. "Not until you tell me what's wrong."
The stubbornness in his voice matched hers, and it was clear he wasn't going to back down. For Kanade, this wasn't just about easing her worries—it was about understanding her feelings, no matter how difficult they were to uncover.
Shiina sighed deeply, her frustration reaching its peak. She glared at him, the fire in her golden eyes sharp enough to pierce through his resolve. Yet Kanade stood his ground, pretending not to notice her irritation.
With a pout, Shiina turned her head away. "You're so gentle with everyone else, Kanade-san, but with me, you're nothing but stubborn. Why don't you go back to your tomodachi-tachi and leave me alone? Stop bothering me!"
Her words came out sharper than she intended, but she didn't care. If Kanade got angry at her, so be it.
Kanade blinked, caught off guard by the sudden outburst. "Wait... That's what this is about?"
Shiina shot him a look. "Just what?"
"No, I mean... it's just because... you're important to me!" Kanade stammered, realizing too late how awkward that sounded.
Shiina's face reddened further, and for a moment, Kanade could swear he saw steam rising from her head. Despite her apparent anger, something in her expression softened ever so slightly.
"I owe a lot to Shinomiya-san and the others—they've been really supportive. But Shiina, you're just as important. Whether it's you or anyone else, you're all my nakama. There's no question of favoritism here!"
Shiina's heart skipped a beat, but her pride wouldn't let her admit it.
Kanade paused, piecing together what he could from her reaction. "Could it be... you're worried I'll leave you behind?"
Shiina flinched, his words hitting closer to the truth than she wanted to admit. Before meeting Kanade, her life had been a lonely routine, devoid of warmth or connection. Even now, she didn't have anyone else she could call a real friend.
Kanade smiled gently, his gaze steady. "Don't worry. I'm your friend for life, Shiina. I'll never leave you behind, not without your permission!"
Shiina's eyes widened, her breath catching for a moment. But instead of responding, she turned her head with a huff, crossing her arms.
"Who wants a lifelong friend like you? Baka!" she muttered under her breath, her cheeks still flushed.
Despite her words, Kanade knew better.