CH 17

“Kaede…here”

I gave her the uncle cushion I had bought for her.

(T/N: Again it was “oji-san cushion”)

Seeing that Kaede was shaking, but at the same time, she was staring blankly at me.

I didn’t know whether to be surprised or wonder that I had two gifts, but I was still a little embarrassed to give someone a gift.

“Eh…I already received the present.”

“This is because you’ve always taken care of me.”

“But …”

“I would appreciate if you could accept it honestly.”

Then, I presented her the uncle cushion. She looked at me as if she couldn’t stand it. I made a gesture saying “please” and she quickly buried her face in the cushion.

She looked like a puppy who just got a new toy. It was so adorable.

After burying her face, she looked up at me, covering her face with it.

“I’m sorry, I showed you such a shameful sight…”

“No, you looked cute.”

“Waa~~…. it’s not nice to say things like that without hesitation.”

“I didn’t though.”

“Anyway, it’s no good. …. especially to anyone other than me…”

I thought she said something at the end, but when I tried to ask her about it, her cheeks turned red, a moment ago she was like a puppy but now she was threatening me with “Shaa!!!”

I didn’t pursue it too much, because if I overstepped at such times, the Angel would not listen to me, and she might scratch my hand.

“… Um… Is it okay for me to receive this much?”

Holding the cushion in her arms, the little bit of expression that could be seen changed from earlier, becoming a little darker. Her eyebrows were arched in an apologetic gesture.

“It’s fine, and I received much from you too, Kaede.”

“I don’t know if it’s enough…”

“You do most of the housework, cooking, laundry, and cleaning, and that’s more than enough for me. If you ask me, even that cushion is not enough.”

Hearing my words, Kaede hugged the cushion even tighter, saying that this cushion was worth more than that.

“Is it really worth that much? It didn’t cost 10,000, but…”

“No, it’s just that it was given to me by you, Hayasaka-kun, and that alone makes it priceless.”

At that time, Kaede placed the cushion she was hugging on her lap and smiled shyly.

I could not look at that smile for long. I could feel my heart beating faster.

If I had looked at her any longer, she would have noticed that my face had turned red.

“…. Well, I’m glad you’re pleased.”

“I’ll do my best to make you happy on your birthday too, Hayasaka-kun!”

Looking forward to it, I said that to Kaede and sat down on the sofa.

Then, Kaede approached me as if she had come up with something.

“What….”

“Even now, there might be something I can do for you.”

“… is that so?”

I started to get a little scared and my expression hardened as she approached me, saying, “Yes.”

“Um…do you hate lap pillows?”

Lap pillow? Did she just say lap pillow? It was something that made me doubt her.

I looked at Kaede and saw that she was embarrassed, her cheeks were blushing and even her ears were bright red.

Seriously You… Even the Angel was surprised. I placed my hand on her head.

“Then, I’ll save it until my birthday, so maybe I’ll ask for a lap pillow that day.”

“Yes! Understood.”

She smiled, cheerfully. Seeing that, I got embarrassed and escaped to the bathroom.

After that, my own words, while I regretted them, made me look forward to my birthday a little bit, really a little bit, even though I had started to dislike it since a certain time of my life.