The Pure-Hearted Beauty Who Only Dotes on Me Despite Not Being in a Relationship—And How She Became Even Sweeter After We Started Dating - Chapter 10: In that case, I won't leave you, Ao-kun.

In that case, I won’t leave you, Ao-kun.

“Look, Ao-kun!”

As soon as we got off the train and saw the nearby sea, her excitement soared.

By the time we reached the sea, the sun had already set, casting a beautiful light over the water.

Mizuki, gazing at the sea, turned back and came over to me with her smartphone in hand.

“Want to take a photo together?”

“With me?”

“Who else would I be thinking of besides you, Ao-kun?”

She gestured for me to stand next to her. She said I was standing too far away when I tried to keep some distance, so I moved closer.

“Alright, let’s take them.”

We took two photos, and Mizuki said she’d send them later. After that, we walked along the coastline a bit away from the station.

I’d never been to the beach in winter before, but seeing the sea in winter wasn’t bad at all. It was cold, though…

“Mizuki, if you’re cold, you can use this.”

Since she wasn’t wearing gloves or a scarf, I lent her my scarf.

“Thank you.”

I wrapped the scarf around her neck, and Mizuki smiled happily. Then, she looked straight at me.

“Ao-kun, there’s something I want to tell you.”

For a moment, I thought she might be confessing something, but I quickly realized from her expression that it was something else.

“I’ve never had many close friends because I’ve always tried to keep a distance from people.”

When I first met Mizuki, she didn’t rely on others and tried to do everything on her own.

“I probably didn’t have close friends because I didn’t want to hurt them. Being around me might have been troublesome for them.”

I didn’t know what had happened in her past, but I felt like I understood why she had never relied on anyone to make close friends.

“Sometimes, when I’m with you like this, I think about… someday, being with you—Ah, Ao-ku !?”

I understood the words she was about to say, so I gently hugged her, interrupting her.

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but Mizuki, being with you doesn’t hurt me at all. It makes me happy that you care about me, but honestly, I’m more worried about you.”

I’ve always been worried watching her try to do everything alone or maintain what she can handle.

Since the day I started wanting to be by her side as I watched, she’s been the only one in my eyes.

“Worried… about me?”

“Yeah… Kana and Kouta are good people, so if you want to get along with them, you should be able to relate without worrying about what others think. As long as you want to be friends with someone, that’s good.”

The people who are always with her have never really connected deeply with her. It’s probably because they’ve always seen her as someone to respect.

She didn’t do anything to make people around her admire her, but she naturally created an environment that made it difficult for her to recklessly engage with someone.

“Then, is it okay if I’m with you, Ao-kun?”

“If you want to be with me… Mizuki”

When I said that, she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly.

“In that case, I won’t leave you, Ao-kun.”

***

The day after going out with Mizuki, we ended up having a Christmas party at her place on short notice due to the holiday.

Seemingly inspired by yesterday’s events, Mizuki decided she could be herself as usual in front of the two of us and snuggled up next to me.

“Aw, getting cozy?” Kana looked at Mizuki beside me with a puzzled expression.

“To be honest, she’s been cozying up to me for quite a while now.”

I expected Kana and Kouta to tease me for not mentioning it sooner, but for some reason, they just laughed.

“That’s not fair, Ao! I want Mi-chan to cozy up to me too~”

Saying so, Kana hugged Mizuki. Mizuki seemed a little surprised but didn’t seem to mind.

“Ao, can you still say you’re not interested in Tsuyuzaki-san?”

Kouta whispered to me discreetly, and I shook my head.

“…I can’t deny it. I’m a little interested now.”

“I see, I see.”

“What’s with that smirk?”

“I’m not smirking, though?”

Despite his words, Kouta had a mysterious smile on his face.

“Alright, let’s get this Christmas party started! Merry Christmas! …Both Ao and Mi-chan, you’re in on this!”

Only Kouta responded to Kana’s call, leaving Mizuki and me surprised by their excitement and unable to say anything. Even though Kana said that, I hadn’t planned to say it, but Mizuki, who was beside me, took my hand and smiled softly.

“Ao-kun,  the basis of a party is to have fun when it’s fun. So let’s enjoy it together.”

“…You’re right.”

“Then, let’s have fun together at the Christmas party.”

***

After Kana and Kouta left, Mizuki and I went out onto the balcony to watch the snow falling.

“It’s snowing, Ao-kun.”

“Beautiful…”

I turned to her and said that, so Mizuki covered her face with both hands.

“Don’t look at me when you say that.”

I meant to say the snow is beautiful, but now that I think about it, it sounded like I was calling her beautiful.

“S-Sorry… But, Mizuki, you’re beautiful too.”

“Wh-what do you like…?”

“Like your hair…”

“I-Is that so… Thank you.”

She blushed and touched her hair happily.

“Is there something you want right now, Mizuki?”

“Something I want? Well, time with you, Ao-kun.”

She smiled and glanced at me.

Time with me… That’s nice, but it feels different.

“Anything else you want? Like a physical item…”

“If it’s an item, I’d like some accessories. Like hairpins or scrunchies.”

I see, accessories.

“Are you planning to give them as a gift to someone?”

“Huh? Oh, um, yeah, that’s right.”

“I see. I hope it helps as a reference.”

“No, it’s really helpful. Thank you.”

“No problem. I’m glad it was helpful.”

Three days before Mizuki’s birthday. I’ll go buy the present tomorrow.

TL: Don’t let me go either please, take me too~~
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