Chapter 74: An Invisible Recognition
"Come to think of it, this should be the first time I've really noticed him..."
Watching the boy eating in the distance, Shiina Mahiru felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Even though they had only shared dinner together yesterday, for some reason, seeing him again triggered this feeling.
"It's probably because of Kaede."
Shiina Mahiru thought about it and gave herself this answer. After all, Shiina Kaede was always mentioning him in her ear. While cooking, Shiina Kaede would say her papa often made delicious food for her, and while doing laundry, Shiina Kaede would say they used to do such things together.
At first, Shiina Mahiru thought Shiina Kaede was exaggerating, but as she saw the housekeeping skills the Little one displayed later on, Shiina Mahiru realized she really wasn't lying.
Her interest in him probably began at that moment.
That was how Shiina Mahiru explained it to herself... On the other side, Aragaki Takiya and Kato Megumi were eating the lunch they had bought. Neither had the habit of chatting while eating, so the atmosphere was quiet and harmonious.
In this atmosphere, a single movement from Aragaki Takiya caused a ripple.
He reached out with his chopsticks and took a fried dumpling.
Logically, this was a very ordinary action. The issue arose when Kato Megumi also took a fried dumpling. Aragaki Takiya had mentioned it beforehand, so naturally there was no problem, but in hindsight, he felt that something was slightly off.
"Is this kind of behavior a bit too intimate for friends?"
Watching Kato Megumi's actions, Aragaki Takiya suddenly had this thought.
Actually, when he thought this, his first reaction was that he was very contradictory. Clearly, he was the one who said the school cafeteria's dumplings tasted good and suggested she try them, yet when she did, he had those thoughts.
In fact, it wasn't his fault for thinking this way, as his social circle was quite narrow. Usually, his only friend was Hachiman Hikigaya. If Hikigaya did this, he wouldn't think twice, but the problem was that Kato Megumi was a girl.
Aragaki Takiya had no frame of reference for how to handle the distance between himself and a girl, so this series of reactions naturally occurred.
And as luck would have it, this series of actions fell into the eyes of Shiina Mahiru not far away.
Shiina Mahiru had already finished her lunch. She was just about to put her tray in the designated spot when she turned back and saw this scene.
How should she put it? Originally, Shiina Mahiru thought she wouldn't feel anything about this. After all, he would have social lives, his own friends, and... someone he liked.
But when she associated this with Shiina Kaede, that sliver of goodwill she had for Aragaki Takiya felt as if a catalyst had been added, and it began to grow wildly.
It was like a strange chemical reaction. Shiina Kaede's existence, combined with the image of Aragaki Takiya when he brought her an umbrella, plus his meticulous actions during their few interactions, fueled the goodwill she felt for him.
And Kato Megumi's appearance was like adding dry cotton to a newly sparked tinder.
Now, the flame in Shiina Mahiru's heart had been lit.
"But I shouldn't go over directly right now..."
Despite all these internal thoughts, Shiina Mahiru calmly made the correct choice.
She didn't think going over now was a good choice.
After all, there were so many people in the cafeteria, and her relationship with Aragaki Takiya had only just begun... Most importantly, she had no information about Kato Megumi in her mind, and the actions between Kato Megumi and Aragaki Takiya clearly showed they had an unusual relationship.
The facts proved she was at a disadvantage. Stepping forward now would not only provide no reason to stop the current situation but might also cause a negative effect.
"Maybe I can ask Kaede to find out."
While thinking this, Shiina Mahiru didn't slow down her movements. She continued putting her cleaned tableware in the designated spot, but her eyes kept observing the situation over there.
Coincidentally, while Shiina Mahiru was watching, Aragaki Takiya and Kato Megumi also finished their lunch, tidied their tableware, and walked toward the tray return point.
Thus, the three of them met on the way.
Kato Megumi didn't know that Aragaki Takiya and Shiina Mahiru knew each other, and she herself wasn't familiar with Shiina Mahiru, so nothing happened.
But Aragaki Takiya and Shiina Mahiru did know each other, and they had just had dinner together last night. If only the two of them were present, they would have certainly chatted. But unfortunately, this was the school cafeteria.
Aragaki Takiya wasn't sure if Shiina Mahiru, like Eriri, wanted to maintain a certain image at school, but he himself felt it was better not to act too familiar, though it was impossible to ignore her completely.
So, he gave Shiina Mahiru a slight nod.
It was a way of greeting, for the time being.
In Shiina Mahiru's eyes, this action sent a very different signal.
Although it was a simple gesture, it proved many things.
For example, Aragaki Takiya also cared about their relationship and was considerate of her status at school. But most importantly, she was now certain that Aragaki Takiya and Kato Megumi were likely just ordinary friends, at most a bit more intimate than average.
After all, no one would take the initiative to greet another beautiful girl in front of someone they liked.
Even a simple nod wouldn't happen.
In response, Shiina Mahiru also smiled and quietly waved her hand at Aragaki Takiya.
Since the other party was being so careful about it, she certainly wouldn't take the initiative to ruin it.
Afterward, the three passed each other as if nothing had happened. No one around noticed the actions that occurred within those few seconds.
Except for Kato Megumi.
After all, besides her top-tier assassin-like stealth talent, Kato-san's observation skills were also top-tier.
"Are Aragaki and Classmate Shiina on good terms?"
This was the doubt in the girl's heart.
After all, she didn't think Shiina Mahiru would make that kind of gesture toward someone who was just an acquaintance.
They must know each other, and their relationship must be quite good.
It was just that Kato Megumi didn't know when Aragaki Takiya had met Shiina Mahiru.
However, Kato-san didn't take it too seriously. After all, Shiina Mahiru's reputation at school was simply too loud, on the same level as Eriri.
So Kato Megumi didn't think such an outstanding person would fall for Aragaki Takiya.
This thought wasn't meant to be belittling. On the contrary, Kato Megumi also admitted that she was a very ordinary girl.
But only an ordinary girl like her would be a match for someone as ordinary as him.
Loving Book So Far Check Out 40+ Chapters In Advanced At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FictionsTL