“So don't hide it. So what if you have scars?”
“...Satomi-kun, you're a boy so you don't understand a girl's worries”
“Yeah. I don't understand, that's why it doesn't bother me”
“...That might, be true...”
Maki quietly nodded at Koutarou's words. Slightly nervous, she slowly stood up and removed her arms concealing her scars, showing them to Koutarou.
“...Where's the scar?”
“Around here”
“Ah, so this it! I see it now! ...But, I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't said anything”
“Eh...?”
Maki's eyes opened wide. Koutarou spoke how he felt.
“Normally, you don't press your face up towards a girl's stomach to take a good look. Besides, that scar isn't as clear as you think it is”
Even though they were at the beach, it was bad manners staring at a girl's body. On top of that, Maki had erased her scars with magic so unless one paid really closed attention they wouldn't notice the traces of her scar. A single red line was pretty much all that remained of a once large wound.
“Fufufu, I told you, Aika-san. Satomi-kun won't mind”
Shizuka laughed as the results were exactly what she expected. Maki was bothered by her scar, being a girl and all, but Koutarou didn't mind whatsoever. Maki was simply over thinking things. Since Shizuka had anticipated that, Maki's reaction was heartwarming.
“If you can erase them that well, you should erase mine too the next time”
Koutarou smiled and put his t-shirt back on. His scars were on the level that would surprise anyone who saw them, so he needed to conceal them. Since Kenji might spot them, he wanted to erase them if possible.
“...Okay, I will”
“Make it cheap, okay?”
“Since I am the treasurer of Satomi's band of knights, I don't need any extra payment on top of my salary”
“I see, that's a big help”
“Fufu”
Maki finally returned back to smiling. At the same time, she stretched out, and her embarrassment weakened. She was returning to her usual self.
“Isn't that great, Aika-san”
Shizuka cheerfully smiled next to Maki.
“Y-Yes”
Maki repeatedly nodded. Tears of relief formed in the corner of her eyes.
Looking at the two, Koutarou thought to himself.
Landlord-san is always looking after everyone else...
Shizuka was always thinking of everyone else, and since she had noticed the darkness in Maki's heart, she would often help her out. Seeing that, Koutarou felt honest admiration for Shizuka.
And Aika-san has started showing more expressions a normal girl would make...
Maki trusted Shizuka and had opened her heart up to her. Koutarou was happy to see the once isolated Maki walking forward, however awkward it might be.
Like that, Shizuka and Maki were both, for their own unique reasons, people that Koutarou couldn't take his eyes off.
“That's right, Satomi-kun. Why don't you say something to Aika-san. Her scar aside, this is the swimsuit she chose after serious consideration”
“That cute look suits you well, Aika-san”
”Hau...”
Hearing Koutarou's impressions, Maki embarrassingly balled up again. That was simple embarrassment from being seen in her swimsuit. It was different from before, this was her usual reaction, and Koutarou and Shizuka both had their usual smiles.