The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Compete Edition

iner of potato salad that were in the

basket that Amane was holding.

The meals that Mahiru was sharing with him were, of course, delicious, but they

weren enough on their own. To compensate, Amane would pick up a staple food and

side salad like hed done today.

”I mean, its dinner, ” Amane explained.

”Its unhealthy, ” Mahiru shot back.

”You
e so fussy. Im buying a salad, aren I? ”

”A potato salad… How is your body still functioning? ”

”Mind your own business. ”

Mahiru put wordless pressure on him, scrutinizing him with eyes that reproached him

and told him to eat more vegetables. Amane turned away and let Mahiru go ahead of

him.

Chatting about this and that, the two bought their respective things. Amane had started

to pack his purchases into a plastic bag, but Mahiru produced a reusable bag shed

brought and quickly put everything into it.

She was truly an environmentally conscious angel.

Mahiru had only brought the one bag, however, and Amane was a little anxious that

the quantity of groceries was too much for it.

With the milk, soy sauce, and low-alcohol cooking mirin, that was four liters of liquid

altogether, and if they weighed anything like water, that meant four kilograms right

there. There was still the whole daikon radish and the other ingredients to consider,

too. The bag had to be really heavy. Everything was packed in quite neatly, but still, it

would surely be hard work carrying it all the way back to Amane and Mahirus building.

Shes been cooking for me, so she must be going through more seasonings and ingredients

than she normally does.

Shes gotta be making a lot in order to split the dishes with me. The amount she gives me

is always nearly a whole meals worth. Mahiru says its all just extra, but she must be

making a lot of food on purpose.

After Mahiru had gone through so much trouble to take care of Amane, itd wound his

pride if he didn do anything to help her out now.

As soon as Mahiru finished packing the reusable bag, Amane took hold of the handles

and lifted it. It wasn all that heavy to him, of course, but he could tell that it would

definitely be difficult for her to carry for very long.

Mahiru may have been really good at sports, but pure arm strength was an entirely

different matter. Surely, Amane thought, his eyes tracing her slim figure under her

clothing, surely there was no way that her slender arms could command the power

needed to lift these heavy groceries.

Caramel-colored eyes blinked rapidly. Mahiru looked surprised—or maybe a little

concerned.

”…Im not stealing it or anything, ” Amane said in his defense.

”Im not worried about that, ” Mahiru replied. ”Its just… I can carry my own bags, you

know? ”

”Itd be more charming if youd be quiet and let me take care of you for a change, ”

quipped Amane.

”Thats basically saying Im not charming, ” Mahiru answered flatly.

”Well, think about how you act at school, then compare that to how you act toward

me. ”

Mahiru took a step back. Maybe Amane had unknowingly hit a nerve. The version of

herself that she showed at school—the kind, gentle, modest girl everyone was familiar

with—that was not the person Amane knew. Yes, Mahiru was always kind to him, but

she was also far more direct. She never sugarcoated anything or hid behind niceties.

Everything she said to him was brief and frank.

Amane took advantage of Mahirus stunned silence and briskly sauntered off toward

the supermarket exit, holding his schoolbag in one hand and the reusable shopping

bag stuffed with groceries in the other. He was leaving her behind, but he didn care.

Unconcerned, he continued on as the gap between them grew wider. He didn slow

down or give her a chance to catch up.

They had already been standing next to each other in the supermarket, after all. If they

walked side by side on the way home and somebody saw them, that could start rumors.

So really, this kind of distance was best for both of them.

Amane hurried on with his heavy burden while pretending not to be aware of Mahiru.

As he strode along, he thought he heard someone mutter ”Thanks ” behind him.