25.School life with angels①

"Whew... let's go."
　
　I finished getting ready before posting and prepared to leave the house. Starting today, I've decided to go to school with Mahiru.
　Up until now, I'd been pretending to be someone else at school, so I'd staggered my commute times so we wouldn't overlap, but now that it was pretty well known, it would be pointless to try to hide it.
　He decided that it would be wise to close the distance moderately and work towards a direction that would satisfy those around him.
　When I opened the door to my house, Mahiru was already ready and waiting for me.
　
"Good morning, Amane...huh?"
　
　When Mahiru took one look at Amane, she had a shocked look on her face.
　
"what up?"
"Wh-what's wrong... why do you have that haircut?"
　
　Right now, Amane is in what people around him call "that guy" mode.
　Since my clothes are a uniform I can't change them, but I wanted to at least make my hairstyle look better.
　
"I thought it might be possible for me to do it myself... but is it really that strange?"
"H-It's not weird, but it's quite surprising when it happens so suddenly. Your usual appearance is good-looking, but with that hairstyle, well... I feel a bit uneasy."
　
　I thought I did a good job, so I was a bit shocked by Mahiru's reaction.
　
"It doesn't suit me that much... I'll bring it back."
"No, it's just unsettling, but it suits you. I mean... it suits you too much."
"I don't know."
　
　Since it didn't seem like there was anything wrong with it, I decided to go to school as usual.
　
"...To be honest, I'd like to hold hands."
"Let's not do that just yet. It would be annoying if Itsuki and the others thought we were a lovey-dovey couple."
"Fufu, isn't it okay if we're a lovey-dovey couple?"
　
　The real reason was to prevent any man who liked Mahiru from becoming enraged and holding a grudge against her.
　However, he keeps it to himself that there is no need to make the happy Mahiru feel uneasy.
　Right now, the goal is to gradually spread the word to others.
　
　It wouldn't have been so bad if it was close to my house, but as I got closer to school, the number of students from my school increased and I began to feel the gazes of others piercing me.
　
"...As I thought, they are watching me."
"Well, it can't be helped. If we leave it alone it will calm down eventually."
　
　Even so, it's understandable that they would be surprised to see an ``Angel'' coming to school with a man, but it's puzzling why several people looked shocked when they saw Amane standing next to them.
　Moreover, it seems to be more prevalent among girls.
　
"...Hey, isn't my hairstyle a bit weird after all? I feel like people have been looking at me strangely for a while now."
"That's... I think it's because Amane-kun is cool."
"I don't think that's the case... but I'll bring it back at school after all."
"N-no, just leave it as it is."
　
　As the two of them pass through the school gates having this exchange, Amaneu is unaware that the people around them think they are a lovey-dovey couple.
　
　
　
"--Mahiru, I'm going to the bathroom for a bit, so sorry but could you go ahead of me?"
"Eh? But there are toilets near the classroom, right?"
　
　Mahiru, who was changing her shoes at the shoe locker, asked curiously.
　
"No, I can't hold it in any longer so I'm going to the multi-purpose toilet outside. It will take some time, so Mahiru, please go to your class."
"... Enough."
　
　As if implying that he was the "big one," Mahiru blushed and headed towards her class.
　After making sure that Mahiru was out of sight, I opened my shoe locker once again.
　
"...I can't show something like this in broad daylight."
　
　There was a piece of paper with the words "Don't get too cocky" written on it, and Amane's muddy indoor shoes.
　
　I had no choice but to borrow some slippers and head to the classroom.
　Even when I'm walking alone, people stare at me. I wonder if the rumors are spreading further.
　As I opened the classroom door, everyone's eyes were drawn to me.
　Feeling suspicious about the sudden silence in the class, I headed to my seat, but the class immediately became noisy.
　
"Eh?! Fujimiya?!"
"Was he really like that!?"
　
　While everyone was making this strange commotion, someone called out to us.
　
"Hey, Amane. That was quite a flashy entrance."
"Itsuki... The others in class seem a bit strange, has something happened?"
“It’s not something, it’s Amane who is the cause. He finally saw it, but that’s the ‘that man’ style, I guess.”
　
　Apparently, he was surprised at how Amane's appearance had changed.
　
“That being said, I’ve just fixed my hair a bit, and am now more conscious of my posture as I walk, so I’m not going to change anything from usual…”
"That may not change the inside of him, but for people who only know his appearance, it must be a shock to find out that the guy they thought was a recluse is actually a good-looking guy."
"Handsome... that's not true."
　
　He doesn't have the refreshing aura of Itsuki or Kadowaki, and he still has a mean look in his eyes and is unfriendly. He's far from the image of a good-looking guy.
　
"Well, you're that kind of guy..."
"Good morning! Wait, um, Amane?! What's wrong with your hairstyle?"
　
　Just before school started, Chitose also entered the classroom. Another noisy person had arrived.
　
"What? Is that 'that guy' style? Oh, that's good. I wish you'd always acted like that."
"...Is it really that different?"
"Not at all. I didn't know who it was for a second."
　
　What a friendless guy he is, if he just dresses up a little and then no one recognises him anymore.
　
"By the way, what happened to those slippers? What about your indoor shoes?"
"...Ah, I brought it home yesterday, washed it, and it still hasn't dried yet. Anyway, the bell is about to ring. Return to your seat."
　
　"Yes, sir," Chitose said, walking lightly back to her seat. However, Itsuki was still looking at Amane in silence.
　
"Amane, if you have any problems, please don't hesitate to ask me for help."
"……ah"
　
　With that said, Itsuki returned to his seat.
　Itsuki, who has a good sense in strange places, may have noticed.
　　
"Hey, are you sure you're okay?"
"What?"
"What do you mean...?"
　
　One day, some time after Valentine's Day, Itsuki blurted out this idea during gym class.
　I know what you mean without you having to say it.
　Since that day, incidents of Amane's things going missing or being stained continued.
　It would be impossible to hide this.
　
"...Don't say that in the middle of the day."
"That being said, I'm starting to get a bit worried."
"Just the first time. If you leave them alone for a while they'll get bored of it."
　
　Fortunately, the damage is not that serious, and it is nothing more than a little bit of annoyance. If there is no danger, this is within the acceptable range.
"And..."
　Looking across the gym, the two classes were doing PE together, with the boys playing basketball and the girls playing volleyball.
　On the other side of the net, Mahiru was doing great at volleyball.
　She spikes the ball, scores points, and celebrates with the other girls.
　Recently, it seems that she is starting to smile more genuinely at school.
　
"I don't want to let something like this tarnish that smile."
"...That's a real man."
　
　The teacher's whistle blows, ending the previous team's match.
　Next up was Amane's team's turn to play.
　
"Well then, let's do our best."
"Personally, I'd rather study for the exam than PE..."
　
　However, I couldn't slack off, so when I stepped onto the court, the girls from across the net let out cheers.
　
"What?"
"here we go……?"
　
　I looked and saw Mahiru coming forward, pushed from behind by another girl.
　
"Ah, Amane-kun! Please do your best!"
　
　Suddenly, squeals of joy began to rise again. It seemed that girls who were close to Mahiru were encouraging her to continue on her path to love.
　I thought that Mahiru's entourage didn't think well of me, but it seems that even her entourage isn't united.
　
"You've got to try your best, Amane."
"...Just to avoid embarrassing myself in the middle of the day, okay?"
　
　The whistle blows to start the game, and the ball is given to the opposing team via a jump ball.
　However, for some reason, a player from the opposing team swung the ball towards Amane.
　
"Die, Fujimiya!"
"Whoa!"
　
　He instinctively dodged the ball, but those around him were targeting him regardless of team.
　
"What are you doing?"
「Amanet up! You've monopolized our...our angel...and what's more, you thought he was just as unpopular as me, but he turned out to be handsome. You're acting like the protagonist of a light novel.」
"I don't understand."
"Anyway, this is our wrath, take it!"
　
　The ball is thrown at him while skillfully passing the ball around, but he manages to dodge it and waits for an opening.
　
"Here we go."
"Ah."
　
　Since the opponent goes out of their way to give you the ball, you have to somehow catch it while running away and shoot on the spot.
　I'm not good at sports, but the ball just happened to land in the ring.
　Cheers rose up from the girls watching.
　I couldn't hear the conversation from here, but I could see that Mahiru's face was bright red as the girls teased him.
　
"Damn it, you got me!"
"Well, that's what happens."
　
　Dodgeball would be one thing, but now it's basketball time.
　If you throw the ball to the other team, it's only natural that they'll score.
　
"I lost... I can leave the angel in your care. Be happy."
"What position are you talking from...? I'll make Mahiru happy without you guys telling me to."
　
　By the time he realized this, it was too late. The girls who heard Amane's words cheered and the boys looked at him with resentment.
　
"Dammit, you're just bragging! I'll never forgive you!"
"Hey, stop it!"
　
　In the end, the basketball game was a mess and the lesson wasn't a proper one.
　
"I've had a terrible experience..."
"Good job, ladies' man."
　
　By the time we finished gym class, we were exhausted.
　I ended up being chased by everyone around me until the bell rang to end the match.
　I'm changing into my uniform now and heading back to class.
　
"But you weren't really hitting me with that, were you? No matter what anyone says, we all want Angel to be happy."
"Yes, I hope so..."
　
　It's probably not the case for everyone, but it seems that there are some people who approve of my relationship with Mahiru.
　At this rate, acceptance may come sooner than expected.
　With that thought in mind, I opened the door to the classroom.
　
"...It's not that simple."
　
　There they found Amane's desk, with the word "Die" written on it in great numbers, and his belongings, soaked in water.