My Boss, A Clear And Perfect Beauty Who's An Elite Police Bureaucrat, Turns Out To Be My Sweet And Doting Childhood Friend Who Loves Me Dearly At Home. - Chapter 29

Senpai? What are you doing here?

Hearing Maho’s words, “I only have Shinichi,” Shinichi’s heart pounded.

Those words were dangerously attractive to Shinichi.

(What was Maho feeling when she said that?)

Shinichi stared at Maho. Maybe Maho realized the meaning of her words, her face turned slightly red, and she quickly shook her head.

“You know, when I say ‘I only have Shinichi,’ I mean you’re the only one who treats me as a girl!”

“Just that?”

“Well, that… and I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to share a room with. You know, there’s no special meaning to it.”

“Do you want to share a room with someone who treats you like a woman, Maho?”

“Don’t twist my words. I want to share a room because it’s Shinichi. Is that not allowed?”

“So, Maho is aware that I’m a man?”

The hot flush and rapid heartbeat were terrible because of Maho’s words. To hide it, Shinichi playfully asked.

Shinichi was expecting Maho to deny it.

However…

“I’ve always thought of Shinichi as a boy. No, now he’s not a boy, but an adult man.”

Maho said in a small voice, looking down.

It became an awkward silence, and both of them fell quiet. If Shinichi had a little more courage, he might have been able to say something clever.

(But…)

Shinichi was afraid of losing Maho again. If Shinichi speaks decisive words now, there’s no turning back.

While hesitating, Maho shivered a little as if cold, and warmed her hands by blowing into them.

Then, Maho glanced at Shinichi, as if expecting something.

If they were real lovers, they might have held hands. That way, they wouldn’t get lost in this crowd… and they could also warm each other.

But was it okay to do that? There was an atmosphere that Maho wouldn’t refuse if Shinichi proposed it.

“We’re childhood friends, right?”

“Yeah. So what?”

“So, it’s not strange to hold hands, right?”

Maho actually said that.

Although the reasoning differed for lovers and childhood friends, they were thinking the same thing.

“Shall we try holding hands?”

Shinichi asked Maho.

Maho’s face lit up. Then, she happily watched Shinichi stretch out his hand.

If it had continued like that, the two of them might have started walking hand in hand like a couple… or rather, as childhood friends.

But chance didn’t allow the two of them to touch.

“What are you doing here? Harabashi-senpai?”

A somewhat childish soprano voice of a young girl could be heard, and both Shinichi and Maho turned around in surprise.

There was a petite beautiful girl. She was wearing a cardigan like the ones in fashion magazines, and her white legs were dazzling beneath her denim shorts.

She was Officer Azusa Kana.

She is Shinichi’s junior at the police station.