"Why is you only wearing a pair of underwear!?" Shina Mahiru's flustered voice rang out, her hands shooting up to cover her eyes—though the gaps between her fingers betrayed her curiosity. Seeing that he wasn't moving, she fidgeted even more, unsure of where to place her gaze. "A-Anyway, hurry up and put on some clothes!"
Hearing this, Kanade's previously muddled thoughts finally snapped back into focus. With a sigh, he grabbed his student uniform and quickly slipped it on, buttoning it up with practiced ease. Only then did he properly acknowledge the unexpected visitor standing awkwardly in his doorway.
"What brings you here? Don't you have an outdoor class this afternoon?" Kanade asked, tilting his head slightly.
Unlike him, Mahiru's daily routine was as precise as a well-rehearsed performance—early to bed, early to rise, with a proper nap slotted in after lunch. The fact that she was standing in his dorm room, of all places—oh, right. This was the boys' dorm. How did she even get in here?
"I... I came to check on you..." Mahiru murmured, still visibly shaken from the earlier sight. Her voice wavered slightly, and she couldn't quite look him in the eyes.
Her small hands clearly weren't enough to cover her entire face, leaving her peek at him half-exposed—just like the image that was now permanently burned into her memory.
"R-Right! I also brought you a bento..." she added hastily, as if trying to change the subject. Raising the neatly wrapped lunchbox in her hands, she gave it a small shake as proof.
Though she hadn't made it herself, the small heart drawn on the packaging was done personally, a tiny token of her concern for his well-being. If only the recipient of this heartfelt gesture weren't standing half-dressed moments ago, looking like he had just crawled out of bed!
Mahiru's thoughts spiraled. No! No more unnecessary thoughts!
But the more she tried not to think about it, the more the vivid image replayed in her mind, making her face glow an even deeper shade of red.
"Guh..." she groaned softly, shaking her head as if trying to physically dislodge the memory.
"I see… Thanks," Kanade responded casually, taking note of her actions but not making the connection.
To him, moments like this weren't anything out of the ordinary. Accidental run-ins, unexpected encounters—these things happened when you lived in a world that often resembled a slice-of-life anime. This was just another episode in the never-ending sitcom that was his life.
"Let's head to the cafeteria. I'll carry the lunchbox," he said, taking a step forward.
Considering that this was still the boys' dormitory, and Mahiru appeared somewhat out of place, he figured it'd be better to relocate.
However, just as he reached for the lunchbox, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing louder with each passing second.
"!"
Mahiru froze like a startled deer.
"What do we do, Kanade!?" she whisper-shouted, her eyes darting around for an escape route.
Kanade blinked, confused. "What do you mean, what do we—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Mahiru sprang into action. Without hesitation, she dove straight into his bed, disappearing beneath the sheets in a flurry of panicked movement.
"…"
Kanade stared blankly at the now conspicuously lumpy bed.
Was that really necessary?
Before he could tell her that no one would care if she was here, the door creaked open, revealing a familiar face.
"I brought you food… Oh? You're already up," Hikigaya Hachiman said, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.
Given how Kanade had looked practically half-dead that morning, it was unexpected to see him back on his feet so soon.
"I'll just leave this here—" Hachiman started, but his words trailed off as his eyes landed on the bed.
More specifically, on the very obvious, human-shaped lump hiding beneath the covers.
"…"
The room was silent.
His gaze drifted to the fancy, hand-decorated bento sitting nearby. Then, back to the incredibly suspicious blanket. Then, back to Kanade.
A smirk tugged at the corner of Hachiman's lips. He gave Kanade a long, knowing look, as if to say, You never cease to amaze me.
Kanade, in return, shrugged nonchalantly, his expression one of pure, unbothered innocence. This has nothing to do with me, his eyes seemed to say.
Hachiman scoffed. He didn't buy it for a second.
"Well, since you're up, you can go to the cafeteria yourself," he said, suddenly raising his voice slightly, as if making sure someone else in the room heard him. "I'll just take this lunch for myself, then—"
"Okay, okay, I'll go! Thanks for the thought!" Kanade quickly cut in.
A moment of silent understanding passed between them.
With one last smirk, Hachiman turned and left, shutting the door behind him.
Kanade sighed, rubbing his temples.
"…Mahiru, you can come out now."
"Mmm… mmm…" A muffled sound came from within the blanket.
Kanade raised an eyebrow. Did she not hear him? Or was she just being stubborn?
He reached out, intending to lift the blanket—
"Don't!"
Shiina Mahiru's voice shot out in a panic, her hands scrambling to grab the edges of the blanket. But she was a step too slow.
The next moment, from Kanade's perspective, the angel before him resembled a child sulking after having her favorite plushie taken away. Her flushed cheeks, the slight pout on her lips, and the way her fingers clutched the fabric—it was all strangely… adorable.
Kanade blinked, then let out a soft chuckle. "Do you want me to help you up?"
It wasn't the first time he'd seen her like this. Back at home, Mahiru would sometimes doze off on the sofa, and whenever he woke her up, she'd reach out just like this—eyes hazy, half-conscious, looking utterly defenseless.
But this time… it felt a little different.
"N-No… don't look at me…" Mahiru murmured, her gaze clouded with a misty glow, her voice soft yet trembling.
The summer heat was in full swing, and even in her lightweight uniform, she would sometimes feel warm. But now, after hiding under the blanket for so long, her body was slightly damp with sweat. Yet that wasn't the real problem.
The real issue was—
In her moment of panic, she had buried herself under the very blanket Kanade had just been sleeping in.
And now, his scent clung to her.
The subtle mix of laundry detergent, lingering warmth, and something uniquely Kanade wrapped around her senses, making her heartbeat race wildly.
T-This is bad…
Mahiru curled her fingers slightly, unable to shake off the unusual warmth spreading inside her chest.
Her usual angelic aura was still there—but now, draped in a mixture of embarrassment and something dangerously alluring, she exuded an unexpected charm.
This was definitely bad.
Kanade felt an unfamiliar tension settle in the air. A dormitory room. A boy. A girl. An unspoken moment of realization—
…Yeah, this isn't great.
He coughed lightly, swiftly standing up as if to shake off his own thoughts. "A-Alright, then… get up on your own."
He took a step back, inhaling sharply, then turned on his heel.
"I-I'll go wash up first," he muttered hurriedly, making a beeline for the bathroom.
A splash of cold water was definitely needed.