Shout out to Kloud Paradizo and Manny Valdez for the pledges. Thanks for the support guys
10 Chapters incoming!!!!!!
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Kanade Pov:
We made up. Well… not that we were really fighting to begin with.
Shiina Mahiru—the so-called angel of our school—had simply been avoiding me lately. Not out of anger, but more from embarrassment, as if unsure of how to act around me. But tonight, for some reason, that invisible wall between us seemed to dissolve a little. She sat beside me on the sofa after dinner, hugging her usual cushion with both arms, quietly passing the time like always.
I sat next to her, the warmth of the room making the silence feel more like comfort than awkwardness.
We chatted here and there, nothing too deep—just the idle kind of talk that fills space between two people who've grown used to each other. And then, all of a sudden, Mahiru let out a soft sigh and said something unexpected.
"I wish we could talk like this at school too… you know, like during breaks or something," she murmured, propping her cheek up with one hand and pouting just a little. "We finally got into the same class, but we're already halfway through the semester, and we still don't really talk much when we're at school."
She sounded disappointed—probably influenced by those school drama shows where everyone acts like a big family of friends by episode three.
I turned my head to look at her. "What's wrong? …You feel like our time together at home isn't enough?"
"It's not like that," she quickly shook her head, her hair swaying gently with the movement. "It's just… the atmosphere at school and at home is different, and... well…"
"And?"
"…It's just different!" she huffed, then lightly bopped me with the cushion she'd been hugging. "Anyway, someone as dense as you wouldn't get it even if I explained it!"
Oi. I couldn't let that slide.
"Hey now, I can't agree with that." I caught the next attempted whack with one hand and gave her a raised eyebrow. "If anyone here is dense, it's you."
Honestly, Mahiru was more oblivious than she realized. She still hadn't noticed how obvious we'd been lately, despite our efforts to keep things low-key. I could already sense the strange vibe in class. The other students were whispering, side-eyeing us, watching too closely.
Especially after the forest trip incident—when she'd stayed behind just to wait for me to wake up. That moment had definitely left an impression on our classmates. She, of course, thought we'd hidden it perfectly.
I let out a helpless sigh.
"That's why I said this before, Mahiru. You don't need to hold back around me. If you want to talk, just come over. Or… should I be the one to go find you?"
"No!" she shook her head instantly, eyes wide. "You absolutely can't come over to my desk. If you do that, people will definitely start saying weird things about you again. I don't want you getting caught up in rumors because of me."
"…Seriously." I rubbed my temple.
That's just how she was. Always worrying more about me than herself. She never thought about what she wanted—only what she thought would be best for others.
And if I were to tell her that our "secret" might already be out in the open… she'd definitely panic. She might even try to distance herself again, just to protect me. Better to let her figure it out in her own time.
Mahiru pursed her lips as she noticed me fall quiet, then jabbed a finger at me with a slight frown. "I mean it. Don't come looking for me, okay?"
It was rare to see her so serious. She probably knew that if we talked too openly in class, it wouldn't just stir up rumors—it would reveal her feelings, too.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," I said with a sigh.
"You're just saying that to shut me up…" she muttered, looking a little grumpy.
"That's not true." I shook my head, then reached out and gently patted her head. She flinched at first, but didn't move away.
Lately, she'd started enjoying this a lot more. Ever since that day I helped fix her hair, she'd become surprisingly fond of head pats. Sometimes, she even asked for them—subtly, of course, like pretending to rest her head near me. When I stroked her hair, she always became soft and relaxed, like a sleepy cat.
…Though today, her resistance was stronger than usual.
"You're not thinking you can just solve everything with a head pat, are you?" she asked, puffing her cheeks.
"Eh? I'm not?" I said with a small smirk as my hand continued moving gently through her hair.
Mahiru stared up at me, cheeks still puffed out… but her eyes started to close anyway. She was clearly enjoying it.
"…Hmph. Well… I was pretty happy today, so I'll let you off the hook." Her voice became softer, and soon she leaned into the touch, clearly melting under the affection.
"That's very kind of you, Angel-sama," I chuckled quietly.
She didn't reply. But the look on her face—that serene, content smile—was more than enough to show she was pleased. Her expression always grew so soft when I touched her like this, it made my chest feel strangely warm. I couldn't help but keep going, even if my heart started pounding.
"…I told you not to call me that," she murmured shyly.
I pretended not to hear. I never really listened to that request anyway.
"You really do like being petted on the head, huh?"
"Because… Kanade's hand is warm," she replied with a faint nod. "It makes me feel… safe."
"Hmm… well, my body temperature's probably just high. I eat a lot and work out, so maybe that's why."
"Un… I want you to do it more."
"H-Hey, don't say things that can be misinterpreted…" I gently flicked her forehead as a warning. "But I'll keep going… just this once."
In other people's eyes… no, even in his own, Natsukawa Kanade had to admit it. What Mahiru just said? It was dangerously close to being ecchi. If it were anyone else, his alarm bells would've gone off instantly. But this was Mahiru—the Angel. She was too innocent to mean anything lewd… probably.
Still, that didn't stop Kanade from feeling just a little flustered. After all, Mahiru had just gotten out of the bath, and her gentle scent wafted around him like a calming spell. A soft blend of shampoo and something sweet—like vanilla or sakura petals—that made it impossible not to notice.
Even though they were simply sitting together, her warmth beside him and her soft voice made his heart thump in his chest louder than he'd like to admit. To hide it, he focused on stroking her silky hair, the familiar rhythm calming him… if only a little.
"Hmm… Kanade," Mahiru murmured, blinking slowly as she relaxed under his touch, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She scrunched her nose a bit, looking adorably ticklish, before suddenly turning her gaze on him—eyes sparkling with a curious glint.
"...What's up?" Kanade asked, already sensing she was plotting something.
"It's always you petting me. Not fair. I wanna pet you for once," she declared with a straight face, puffing her cheeks like a child denied dessert.
"Ehh… petting a guy's head isn't exactly fun, though…" Kanade leaned back slightly, awkwardly rubbing his neck. "Seriously, where's the appeal?"
"You said it's fun!!" Mahiru huffed, then muttered under her breath, "Probably… petting Kanade might feel kinda nice."
That "probably" didn't sound very convincing.
"Don't end it with a question, baka." Kanade sighed, a helpless smile forming. "I'm not a plushie, you know. But, I mean… if it's just a head pat, I guess there's no harm."
Besides, he couldn't say no to Mahiru when she looked that earnest. Compared to her silky locks, his hair wasn't anything special, but if it made her happy...
"Alright, do as you please," Kanade nodded.
And that's when she did it.
Pat pat.
Her palm landed on her own lap—delicate and inviting. "Here. Lay down."
"...E-Eh?" Kanade froze like a deer caught in a genjutsu. "What's this supposed to be?"
"Well, if you lean over normally, it'll hurt your neck, right? Or… do you want to squat in front of me instead?" she tilted her head innocently, clearly unaware of just how dangerous this suggestion sounded to a teenage boy.
Squatting like a puppy or laying on her lap like a spoiled cat? Both options were emotionally lethal. But still...
"...Yosh. I accept your offer," Kanade replied, steeling himself like a samurai going to battle.
No man could resist the call of a lap pillow. Not even him.
As he carefully rested his head on her lap, he immediately noticed—Mahiru's thighs were soft. Not overly plump, but the perfect blend of slim and supple. Feminine, warm, and kind of... addicting. Even through her clothes, the feeling was unmistakably sweet. Combined with the scent that drifted from her hair and skin, it was enough to melt his brain.
Dangerous. This was dangerous!
He averted his eyes from looking up at her, knowing full well that if he did, the sight would do permanent damage to his mental state. Mahiru wasn't flashy, but she was beautiful. And from this angle… yeah, let's not even go there.
Trying to calm down, he focused on the TV instead, pretending to be composed. But the truth was, his heart was racing faster than it did during gym class.
Meanwhile, Mahiru, still oblivious to his inner turmoil, began gently running her fingers through his hair.
Her fingers were light, smooth, and incredibly gentle. As they moved, they brushed against his scalp, and an involuntary sigh escaped him. So this is what Mahiru always felt when he did this for her. It was no wonder she liked it so much—this was heaven.
"You know," Mahiru said softly, "I heard from someone… that lap pillows are every boy's romansu dream. So? How does it feel?"
"Whoever said that… I want to thank them personally," Kanade deadpanned, eyes still fixed on the screen.
"Hehe~ I'm glad you like it." Mahiru giggled, her tone light as sakura petals drifting in the breeze.
As comfortable as it was, Kanade knew deep down—if things continued like this, he might actually drift off to sleep. The soothing sensation of Mahiru's lap pillow and her gentle fingers in his hair were already working as the perfect lullaby.
But then, with an innocent tone that held an odd sense of danger, Mahiru spoke again.
"Then… how about a little special service?" she asked sweetly, her fingers suddenly moving to softly pinch and rub his earlobe.
Kanade's breath caught in his throat. "S-Special... service...?"
The moment she said it, his brain short-circuited. What was she trying to do to him?!
He didn't even have to look. He could already feel it—Mahiru was leaning in closer now, her soft breath brushing along his cheek and ear like a whisper of wind, warm and ticklish. Each exhale sent ripples through his senses.
Then, without warning, she added innocently, "Um… like ear cleaning?"
"Ah… ear cleaning… huh…" Kanade's voice dropped half a note. He hadn't meant to feel disappointed, but… yeah, maybe a part of him had been expecting something a little more dangerous. Not that he would admit it out loud.
"Do you need it?" Mahiru asked, her hand still gently toying with his ear, completely unaware of the emotional chaos she was stirring inside him.
"Yes—yes, please do," Kanade replied, his answer a bit too eager.
Even if it was just ear cleaning, the thought of Mahiru doing it was… heavenly. Something about the way she said it so naturally, so sincerely, made even the most mundane act feel special.
"Okay, I'll get started then." Mahiru giggled softly and reached for the ear pick and tissue she'd already placed neatly on the table.
"…!?"
Kanade's entire body tensed like a taut bowstring. His spine stiffened, and a silent scream echoed in his heart. Yabai… this is bad… this is seriously bad!
But Mahiru, the angel in human form, continued with innocent precision, unaware that every small shift of her body brought her closer. She leaned slightly to adjust her position, and Kanade felt the soft press of her touch through the side of his face.
The warmth. The scent. The faint weight of her leaning body…
Dame da… I'm not gonna make it…!
His thoughts were no longer about the cleaning process. Not at all. His mind had entered full crisis mode. He wanted to flail, to roll off her lap and yell to the heavens, "This is too much stimulation for a regular high school boy!"
But Mahiru, still completely composed, calmly whispered, "Please don't move."
"R-Right…" he choked out, trying to still himself.
He knew she meant it purely in the context of not flinching while she cleaned his ears—but that didn't make it easier to obey. His instincts were screaming to react, but he clenched his teeth and endured it.
Then came the sensation—a small, cool, and firm object entered his ear canal.
His shoulders trembled. It wasn't painful, just... unexpected. His ears weren't used to this kind of attention. Normally, when he cleaned them himself, it was over in seconds. But having Mahiru do it? That was a whole different experience.
It wasn't just physical—it was emotional. Psychological. She was being so gentle, so delicate. Her careful movements and focused expression made his heart flutter in ways he didn't quite understand.
No wonder so many people obsess over this… It's not just cleaning—it's therapy!
Mahiru's touch was feather-light. She moved slowly, making sure not to hurt him. And yet that gentleness, that focused care, made it all the more unbearable. It tickled in a way that wasn't just physical—it stirred something deep and restless inside him. Was it pleasure? Was it temptation?
Kanade didn't know anymore. All he knew was—if this was what it meant to be doted on by an angel, then…
This is bliss. This is the ultimate view. I highly recommend experiencing it once in your life!