Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

"Does it suit your taste?" Kanade Natsukawa asked hesitantly. His cooking skills were, of course, not bad. Even Fujiwara and Kaguya would occasionally compliment him. But he wanted to hear Shiina's opinion directly.

"It's... fine, I guess…" Mahiru Shiina replied, her tone slightly flustered.

Though she wanted to pat Kanade's head and praise him for doing a great job, she held back. If she encouraged him too much, he might get the idea, "I should cook more often." And if that happened, wouldn't he think she was useless?

That was something she couldn't allow.

"Don't get cocky, Kanade! It's just average at best. I'll handle the cooking from now on."

While she enjoyed the occasional meal made by him, the kitchen was a battlefield she couldn't afford to give up—it was her pride as a girl at stake.

"Alright…" Kanade wasn't bothered, though. Just seeing the angelic young lady enjoy his cooking in small, happy bites was enough to make him feel content.

"The rain outside seems to be stopping," Kanade remarked.

Peering out the window, the rain that had been pouring earlier had now eased to the point where even the sound of droplets was barely audible.

"Want to take a walk later? After we finish eating," Kanade suggested.

He didn't have any specific reason—it was just that he wanted to savor this peaceful, precious time with Mahiru, enjoying the simple moments of togetherness.

"A walk…" Mahiru hesitated. It wasn't part of her plan. Ideally, she would have liked something more intimate—like snuggling up together to play video games, for instance.

But the thought alone made her feel shy.

"L-let's not… Staying at home is fine…" Mahiru suddenly felt uneasy. This was a rare case of Kanade initiating an activity. Would he be upset if she turned him down?

If she missed this opportunity, who knew when she'd muster the courage to bring it up again?

"Alright, then," Kanade said, assuming she probably didn't want to change clothes again after having bathed. He wouldn't want to go out either in her position.

After a bit of light conversation, their pleasant dinner came to an end. Kanade, having eaten quickly, tidied up his dishes and intended to wash the rest. However, Mahiru stopped him firmly and even shooed him away, insisting he go play games and stop getting in her way.

And so, Kanade complied, settling on the floor cushion in front of the TV.

Before long, the angelic Mahiru joined him after finishing the dishes. At first, she knelt politely beside him, watching him play. But as her interest grew, she eventually settled herself onto his lap, asking him to teach her how to play.

"This button controls direction, and these are the action buttons. For example, this one lets you drift, and this one uses items…" Kanade patiently explained.

Mahiru, being naturally gifted, picked up the mechanics quickly. In no time, she was comfortably navigating the racing game. Kanade set up an assist mode for her to ensure her initial experience would be pleasant.

"Heave-ho…"

Mahiru seemed immersed, her body swaying along with her character's movements on screen. She leaned into the experience as if physically steering the kart herself.

Kanade didn't stop her. After all, this kind of immersion was part of the fun. Even he found himself doing the same at times, as though it could enhance his gameplay.

"I won!" Mahiru's character crossed the finish line in first place. She turned to Kanade, her face glowing with excitement, eager to share her joy.

"Nice job!" Kanade praised her warmly. Though she had only been racing against AI opponents, achieving first place as a beginner was impressive. More than that, her radiant smile was irresistibly adorable, captivating his entire attention.

With her close by, her pleasant scent and soft warmth filled every corner of his awareness. The way her delicate body rested in his lap made him crave more closeness.

"Kanade?" Mahiru tilted her head slightly, her gaze questioning, as though asking, "Why are you suddenly patting my head?"

"Sorry, I couldn't help it…" Kanade admitted sheepishly.

"It's fine… Y-you can keep going," Mahiru murmured, lightly shaking her head before turning back to the TV. However, her thoughts had long drifted away from the game.

Kanade's warm palm was soothing, and his embrace was so comforting that she wished this moment could last forever. Her face began to feel tingly, as if tiny ants were crawling across it. Yet, she didn't dare move, afraid he might notice her thoughts.

"…"

"Oh no, I lost," Mahiru eventually muttered as her character finished last in the next race. But she didn't seem disappointed. Instead, she handed the controller back to Kanade, softly saying, "I'll leave it to you now."

"Alright," Kanade agreed, reaching for the controller. That's when he realized the predicament—Mahiru was still sitting on his lap. He could play by leaning around her, but that would inadvertently result in a posture resembling an embrace.

Not that it was a bad thing, right? After all, Mahiru showed no intention of moving.

"…"

In the end, Kanade found it impossible to focus fully on the game.

Mahiru's close presence, her faint fragrance, and the soft sensation of her body distracted him at every moment. It was a delightful torture, each second teasing his self-control.

"Mahiru, um… would you mind getting up for a moment?" Kanade whispered, hoping she hadn't noticed anything unusual.

"…"

"Mahiru?"

When she didn't respond, Kanade turned slightly to check on her. To his surprise, her head was drooping slightly, her breathing steady—she had fallen asleep.

"…"

"You're really something else," Kanade muttered. He had meant to say something like "I can't believe you," but when the words reached his lips, they softened into a gentle "Goodnight."

Carefully, Kanade adjusted his position and scooped her into his arms.

Mahiru's light frame barely weighed anything, though her soft feminine curves were undeniable. While not as pronounced as a certain senior student's, they were leagues ahead of Eri or Kaguya.

Keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead, Kanade made his way toward the bedroom. He ignored the way her shirt had slipped slightly off her shoulder, focusing on the task at hand.

Yet, a part of him wished the journey to the bedroom could last just a little longer. Because in this fleeting moment, he couldn't imagine wanting to let go.

"…"