Yet she didn't even know Amane's birthday.
"September 1st."
"Eh?"
Matsushita finally understood. It turned out that Amane's and Inogashira's birthdays were only one day apart, so Amane had misunderstood that she was going to give her a birthday present, which was why she was so happy... But she herself had...
Why did it turn out like this?! Matsushita Chiaki, are you an idiot?
Looking at Amane pouting in grievance, for a moment, Matsushita, who prided herself on being mature and steady, was completely flustered.
If someone else said they didn't remember Amane's birthday, it would be excusable. After all, although Amane was the type who was quite popular and looked very easy to approach, the overly powerful people around Amane made it difficult for other students in the class to get close.
Therefore, if one hadn't interacted with Amane, it would be a normal phenomenon not to be able to answer even if asked which day Amane's birthday was.
But Matsushita, of all people, couldn't be like that. When the whole class didn't remember her birthday, it was Amane who visited with a valuable gift, and when she had asked Amane for help on her own initiative, Amane had immediately promised to lead Class D out of its predicament.
Yet, Matsushita hadn't even remembered Amane's birthday.
Just thinking about it made Matsushita feel a bit flushed.
"I, I didn't mean to forget your birthday, Amane-san..."
Oh no.
As soon as the words left Matsushita's mouth, she clearly saw tears welling up in the corners of Amane's eyes.
Heavens, what should she do now?
Suddenly, Matsushita remembered that she had some food in her bag that she had bought on the way. If it were Amane, she should be able to accept it, right?
"I have some chocolate here, Amane-san, would you like to... eat it?"
Holding the cheap chocolate while trying to make Amane stop crying, Matsushita really felt like an idiot for a moment. Although Amane liked sweets, she wasn't a child. How on earth could she have thought of using chocolate to coax Amane into being happy?
Matsushita's body stiffened from embarrassment. By now, people passing by had started looking over here. After all, Amane's aggrieved appearance actually looked even cuter, but unfortunately, as the person involved, Matsushita had no mood to appreciate it at all.
"I want it, but you have to feed it to me, Matsushita."
"Hey? Don't, wait... Amane, don't cry, I'll feed you! I'll feed you! This is okay, right?"
"It's a deal."
Sigh.
Matsushita sighed heavily in her heart.
She had managed to keep Amane from crying with great difficulty; if Amane had really cried, Matsushita's sense of guilt would definitely have crushed her.
Even now, Matsushita still remembered that day—the scene of Amane celebrating her birthday alone with her... After Amane left, she couldn't help but get red-eyed, thinking that when Amane's birthday came, she would definitely give her a big surprise.
Yet, she had forgotten her birthday, and on top of that, she had discussed celebrating another classmate's birthday right in front of her, almost making Amane cry from anger.
What kind of situation was this? Even if others cursed her for being ungrateful and heartless, she wouldn't be able to talk back.
"Ah~"
Sitting on the bench, Amane obediently opened her mouth.
Matsushita, blushing, placed a small piece of chocolate into Amane-san's mouth.
It felt like something soft touched her fingertips, but that must have been her imagination, right?
"The chocolate is delicious, I want more."
"Ah, I have more here."
Matsushita hurriedly took out another piece of chocolate to feed Amane-san. This time, the soft sensation was even more distinct, but Matsushita couldn't tell what exactly had touched her.
Watching the blissful look on Amane-san's face, Matsushita chose to put the strange occurrence out of her mind.
"Do you have any more?"
"I'm sorry, I only bought two. If you still want more, Amane-san, I'll go buy some right now..."
Amane-san pouted.
She looked at Matsushita with large, watery, aggrieved eyes.
Just as Matsushita was about to get up to buy more chocolate for Amane-san, her arm was grabbed by Amane-san.
"If you don't have any, then forget it. I'm a little sleepy now and want to rest for a bit."
"Rest here? Wouldn't you rather go back to the Dormitory to rest?"
Matsushita glanced at the bench. Although most of it was in the shade of the trees, one couldn't expect much comfort from a wooden bench.
It wasn't far from the Dormitory, so if she wanted to rest, it would be better to just go back. The rooms had air conditioning, which was definitely more comfortable than staying outside.
"I think the sunlight here is nice. Sleeping while basking in the sun would surely be very comfortable. It's a pity the bench is too hard; it would be great if I had a pillow."
Amane-san muttered to herself with some regret.
Matsushita completely agreed with Amane-san's opinion.
She also liked sleeping in the sun; the warm feeling made her body feel comfortable.
A pillow...
Matsushita's eyes lit up; she finally understood what Amane-san meant.
But wouldn't that be a little...
At the thought of what was about to happen, Matsushita couldn't help but blush. It was her first time doing something like this, and what if they were seen...
Matsushita was about to politely refuse, but upon seeing Amane-san's expectant gaze, she softened.
"Amane-san... if, if you don't mind, how about using my lap as a pillow?"
"How could I be so bold? I feel like that might not be appropriate."
Amane-san feigned hesitation.
But Matsushita had already made up her mind; she would treat it as compensation for her own mistake.
"It's fine, please move a little closer to me."
"Then I won't hold back."
Feeling the weight on her lap, Matsushita felt her heartbeat accelerate.
The way Amane-san obediently nuzzled against her lap made Matsushita incredibly shy, though she quickly adapted to the situation.
Watching Amane-san, who was secretly smiling like a kitten that had stolen a dried fish, Matsushita couldn't help but smile as well.
Amane-san really did look a lot like a kitten.
Should she get her a kitten for her birthday? Hmm, it seems the school Dormitory doesn't allow pets.
Then she would get her a cute plush cat instead; she felt that a girl as cute as Amane-san suited such girly things well.
Just as Amane-san was enjoying her lovely summer nap, a pair of long legs appeared before her eyes.
"Ha? You really are stupid, aren't you? You didn't even realize you were being played for a fool by this person? And you, what was that 'Ah~'? It's honestly disgusting. How old are you, still playing such childish games?"
The familiar sarcasm made Amane-san look displeased.
"Kiryuin!!! You bastard, can't you stop ruining my fun?"
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