Episode 7

## Episode Guide

**A Promise with the Angel** is the seventh episode of the anime.

## Summary

At school, Itsuki asks Amane to stay at his place for a few days after getting into an argument with his father about Chitose. Amane accepts, but notes that he'll have to inform Mahiru first.

After school, Mahiru greets Itsuki and then prepares dinner for them, and later before they go to bed, Itsuki comments on how nice Amane is toward Mahiru, making him think that he's into her. He follows up with his opinion that everyone in school thinks Amane is some anti-social nerd, which Amane doesn't deny. Itsuki finishes the conversation by claiming that Mahiru, underneath it all, truly respects him.

The next day, Chitose learns that Itsuki not only stayed over at Amane's apartment, but also ate Mahiru's food, so she decides to stay at Mahiru's for the night. Despite Amane's disapproval, Mahiru tells Amane that she approves of Chitose staying at her apartment. Amane then asks what they're having for lunch, and Mahiru answers omurice, because Chitose requested it.

Later, they enjoy their lunch, and everyone compliments Mahiru's cooking. However, the conversation becomes a bit tense when Chitose notes that Mahiru can be "up-tight", claiming she always looks bored or rather aloof at school. She also notes that Mahiru can be rather "distant" with the other students, but after witnessing her "cute and innocent" side, Chitose was happy that her latter opinions were false. Then again, the conversation becomes tense when Chitose claims that Mahiru could "tame" Amane with her natural sweet side, which Mahiru denies she'll ever do.

Chitose sends Amane a picture of Mahiru holding the teddy bear that night in her pajamas. When Amane looks at it, he immediately becomes flustered. In return, Itsuki takes a picture of Amane and sends it to Chitose.

The following day, Itsuki and Chitose leave as Itsuki had decided to stay at Chitose's for the remainder of his three-day visit. With their guests gone, Amane and Mahiru talk about Mahiru's picture that Chitose sent to Amane. It starts off as innocent, but takes an embarrassing turn when Mahiru believes she was talking rather childishly about how she treats her teddy bear with such care. Mahiru then receives a text from someone, but refuses to tell who it is from.

Eventually, Amane exits the elevator to his apartment complex and overhears a conversation between Mahiru and a woman, who chastises her for being like some male figure in her life. When they were done talking, Amane approached Mahiru and learned that the woman was her mother. Although Mahiru wanted to retreat into her apartment, Amane insisted that she stay with him in his apartment to console her.

There, Mahiru confesses that her parents didn't marry out of love, but out of mutual interests. It was decided that they wouldn't have children; however, that changed after she was born. Despite being their daughter, throughout Mahiru's life, they only supported her financially, leading her to believe that they never intended to raise her. The person who truly raised Mahiru was her housekeeper, and despite acquring many accomplishments, her parents always refused to acknowledge her. This leads Mahiru to believe that she's an idiot and they'll sever ties with each other after she graduates college. When Mahiru confesses that her mother told her that she's an unwanted child, Amane consoles her.

After a while, Mahiru reflects on the disparity between how her student peers view her in contrast to her true self. Amane agrees and notes that while Amane isn't nice all of the time, he still hopes to protect her. Amane's words and more brings tears to Mahiru's eyes, and asks that he look at and hold her, which he gladly accepts.

Afterward, Mahiru and Amane go for a walk and talk about the upcoming new term for their school. Mahiru was excited about as they'll be changing up their classes, but as Amane points out, she hoped she'll be paired up with Chitose. Soon, Mahiru hugs Amane from behind and thanks him again for everything, who downplays his achievements. They then have a heart-to-heart about Mahiru's thoughts on how spring and cherry blossoms remind her of the pain of being alone.

## Characters

* Chitose Shirakawa
* Amane Fujimiya
* Mahiru Shiina
* Itsuki Akazawa
* Sayo Shiina (Mahiru's mother)