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“Gosh just imagine Iroha's soft hands and gentle smile as she brings me into her embrace, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest. It could be- No, it has to be love! I can see it now,” Mayu cooed as she ran a brush through Yuki's fur. The cat was out like a light after getting to play with a new toy that her owner had gotten her earlier that day. Which may have had a dash too much catnip in it.
“Mayu?” Satoru poked his head around to the girl who seemed so enthralled by her fantasy and was maybe brushing a little too fast.
It wasn't often the two of them spent time alone. Iroha often acted as the glue which kept the two of them from being more than just mere acquaintances. Aside from, of course, the other glaring reason which Satoru begrudgingly acknowledged. Mayu, perceptive as ever, had somehow been the only one to pick up on Satoru's feelings for his childhood friend. He had tried to make it as subtle as he possibly could and up until recently he was convinced he'd take the secret to his grave.
That was until Mayu entered the picture. He hadn't had any strong opinions when they had first met. She seemed shy and easily flustered around his crush yes, but he always figured that's how she was with any positive social interaction. The rush of dopamine making her brain short circuit. But this, this gave him a moment's pause.
“When you think of those fantasies of Iroha…” He paused, unsure how to put this in the correct way. “Do you ever, uh, wonder if maybe you're… projecting a little?“ Satoru's voice had trailed off to a whisper and at this point Mayu had stopped brushing altogether.
“I…”
“Augh, I'm sorry! Forget I said anything it was rude of me to speculate about that,”
“It's ok, It's ok! I just um-“ Mayu began to trip over her words as the two of them began to stumble through the conversation, anxiety reaching critical levels that caused Yuki to stir in her sleep.
“I mean I'm cool with that kind of thing if so.”
“Really? I just don't want you to think I'm any kind of competition! I know she only likes me as a friend. I don't want to bother her…” There was a pause after this as the two realized the deja vu that sentiment stirred in them.
Satoru felt it settle like a pit in his stomach the size of the mirror stone. How were they supposed to continue with what they were initially planning? Mayu's idea was to help him confess to Iroha but how could now when he knew how she felt?
“Mayu? Would you uh, want to try doing makeup on me?” Satoru asked. In all honesty he had doubts this would work at all but it seemed to at least bring her back to earth.
“Oh, Satoru you don't have to-”
“I want to! I- I mean I've always been curious to at least get my nails done. But it's not like something I've really thought about a lot or anything,” Satoru finished.
...
It didn't take long for Mayu to get to work after that and in her locked in trance it seemed she completely distract herself from the conversation before. Satoru silently thanked himself from remembering that little quirk of hers as she began to apply his blush. She went through the process in such a methodical and streamlined way Satoru could barely wrap his head around it. She seemed to do it so effortlessly and there was something in the back of his mind that wished it came to him to.
When Mayu had finally finished the sun had descended far enough to cast the entire room in a vibrant orange glow. As she slowly came out of her trance she seemed to have been taken aback as she moved a locke of hair out of her friend's face. Both were lucky the low light of the sunset hid each other's blush.
“Wow, I-” Satoru started. “Thank you for doing this Mayu, if anything I think Iroha would be missing out for not dating a girl like you.”