By the time Natsukawa Kanade stepped out of Utaha-senpai's house, the quiet veil of night had already fallen. He made his way home without lingering, a strange mix of exhaustion and lingering thoughts swirling in his mind.
After dinner, he spent some time with Shiina Mahiru, sitting on the sofa and idly watching TV. Her presence was calming, but the weight of his responsibilities pressed heavily on his shoulders. Soon after, they both retreated to their rooms for some much-needed rest.
Over the weekend, Kanade had received several invitations—from friends, classmates, and even a few acquaintances. Yet he turned them all down. He was completely preoccupied with preparing for the upcoming forest school activity, an event that had consumed all his attention and energy. Before he knew it, the precious weekend had slipped through his fingers, entirely devoted to work.
And so, Monday arrived.
The bus to the forest school was bustling with energy, filled with the chatter and excitement of students. As class representative, Kanade first addressed his classmates, ensuring everyone was aware of the necessary precautions and rules for the trip. Once his duty was done, he sought out an empty seat and plopped down with a relieved sigh.
To his surprise—or perhaps fate's mischief—the seat beside him was occupied by none other than Shiina Mahiru.
"Kanade-kun," Shiina began softly, tilting her head with concern. "You look exhausted. Are you feeling okay?" Her voice was low, barely above a whisper, as if she didn't want anyone else to overhear.
Kanade glanced at her, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I'm fine… just sleep-deprived."
Shiina's golden eyes sparkled with worry. "You've been overworking yourself again, haven't you?"
Kanade sighed, leaning back against the seat. "The student council had a grand vision for this year's forest school event. I've been coordinating everything—contacts, approvals, financial reports… You name it, I've handled it. Honestly, I think I got less than ten hours of sleep the entire weekend."
Shiina pursed her lips, clearly unhappy about his self-neglect. "You should've asked for help, Kanade-kun…"
"Miss Angel," Kanade said with a faint smile, using the nickname that had somehow stuck. "I appreciate the concern, but it's fine. Really. I just need a quick nap."
He adjusted his position and closed his eyes, his body sagging with relief. "Wake me when we arrive, or if there's an emergency, okay?"
Shiina hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Of course. Rest well, Kanade-kun."
Despite the lively chatter and occasional bursts of laughter from the other students, Kanade drifted off almost immediately. The hum of the bus and the background noise became a soothing lullaby, carrying him into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Shiina, meanwhile, sat quietly beside him. She had hoped to use the ride as an opportunity to chat with Kanade, but seeing how tired he was, she couldn't bring herself to disturb him.
Instead, she adjusted her position, letting Kanade's head rest gently on her shoulder. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a small blanket and carefully draped it over both of them. Her movements were precise and deliberate, each action imbued with affection.
Once everything was in place, Shiina glanced around nervously, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. Luckily, no one seemed to notice. She breathed a sigh of relief and allowed a soft, satisfied smile to grace her lips. Beneath the blanket, her small hand found its way to Kanade's, resting there lightly.
For Shiina, this quiet moment of closeness was enough.
===========
Time passed.
When Kanade finally stirred, the bus was eerily quiet. Blinking in confusion, he sat up and looked around.
Originally, Shiina Mahiru had intended to join the rest of the group, but as she debated whether to wake Kanade, a kind-hearted classmate passed by and suggested otherwise. "Let him rest a little longer," they said with a warm smile. Soon, others chimed in with supportive remarks like, "Don't worry, Shiina-san. We'll handle things for now!" and "Our Angel-sama is doing a great job already!"
The teasing left Mahiru flustered, her cheeks blooming with a delicate pink. While she appreciated their encouragement, she couldn't bring herself to share these comments with Kanade. She knew he'd only respond with his usual mix of embarrassment and humor.
"It's already started?" Kanade asked, blinking rapidly as he woke, his groggy expression reminiscent of an old man shocked by the realization that the world had moved on without him. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
Mahiru offered a sheepish smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You looked so peaceful, Kanade-kun. Everyone agreed it was better to let you rest."
She tactfully omitted the part where her classmates had rallied behind her with playful jabs about her relationship with him.
Kanade tried to put on a stern expression, but it lasted only a second before his true feelings betrayed him. "Honestly, doing unnecessary things…" he muttered before breaking into a soft chuckle. "But still… thoughtful."
The sincerity in his tone warmed Mahiru's heart, and she couldn't help but smile. The students at Shuchiin Academy really were kind, and moments like these reminded Kanade of just how fortunate he was to be surrounded by such people.
"Alright, let's not sit around any longer," Kanade said, standing and stretching. His fatigue seemed to have melted away during the nap. "Let's go help out."
"Mm." Mahiru nodded, following him off the bus.
The moment they stepped outside, Kanade inhaled deeply. The crisp, forest air filled his lungs, carrying with it the refreshing scent of dew-kissed grass. However, the aroma of freshly cooked curry soon overpowered the natural fragrance, wafting through the campsite in waves.
"Curry again…" Kanade sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his voice. "Every year, it's curry. Can't anyone think of something more exciting?"
Mahiru giggled softly, the sound as light as the rustling leaves around them. "Curry's practical, Kanade-kun. It's one of the key dishes in our cooking class, and it's easy to make for a big group."
Kanade raised an eyebrow. "Convenience aside, don't you think we could use a little more creativity? It's like everyone's afraid to break tradition."
Mahiru tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Didn't you make curry rice last year, Kanade-kun? If I recall correctly, you were the one who suggested it."
"Th-that was…" Kanade stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not about liking curry. It's about… novelty! Yeah, novelty is what's important."
"Is that so?" Mahiru teased, her voice lilting with amusement. "Then how about I try making something different? A stew, perhaps? Or maybe a hotpot? I've never cooked in such a big pot before, but it could be fun."
Kanade froze, alarm flashing across his face. "Wait, wait. Let's not get too ambitious!" He waved his hands frantically. "You'd draw way too much attention, Miss Angel. We're here to blend in, not stand out."
Mahiru blinked, surprised by his sudden hesitation. "Are you worried my cooking won't turn out well?"
"Of course not!" Kanade retorted, shaking his head. "Your cooking is perfect. Too perfect, actually. If you start showing off, everyone will be lining up for a taste. I mean… isn't it better if you save your skills for yourself? And, uh, maybe… me?"
Mahiru's cheeks flushed at his unexpected honesty, but she quickly covered her reaction with a small laugh. "If that's how you feel, Kanade-kun, then I'll save the special recipes for another time."
Kanade sighed in relief, though his ears burned red from his own words. "Good. Let's focus on something simpler for now. How about gathering firewood? Some of the other groups might run out, and it's a good excuse to stretch our legs."
"Mm, sounds like a plan," Mahiru agreed, her voice as soft and warm as ever.
As they walked together into the forest, Kanade couldn't shake the feeling of awkward pride swelling in his chest. He didn't mind sharing Shiina's talents with their classmates, but a selfish part of him wanted to keep these quiet moments—her smiles, her kindness, her warmth—just for himself.