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 14: Someone special to me.

Someone special to me.

“So, did anything special happen?”

At the start of the new term, as soon as I got to the classroom, Kouta asked me if anything had happened after the birthday party.

“No… nothing happened.”

“That pause was weird. Did something accidental happen, maybe?”

How does Kouta know? He wasn’t even there.

“Aha, I knew it. Something did happen, didn’t it?”

Apparently, my face gave it away, and Kouta seemed satisfied even though I hadn’t said anything.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Oh, come on, Ao, your face always gives you away.”

As I was talking with Kouta, a classmate, a girl I hadn’t spoken much with, approached me.

“Kougami-kun, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Me?”

It was Ogasawara-san, one of the girls who was always with Mizuki. Could it be that I inadvertently did something to her without realizing it?

“Yes, you. Come to the hallway for a bit.”

Her tone was intimidating, and I wondered what was about to happen to me as I stepped out into the hallway.

“Um, what is it, Ogasawara-san?”

“Why are you so wary? Oh, do I look scary to you?”

She muttered as she pinched her cheeks with her hands, seemingly to soften her expression. What am I even witnessing right now?

Still, Ogasawara-san seemed much kinder than the intimidating image I had of her.

“So… what’s this about?”

“Oh, right… I wanted to ask you about Mizuki…”

About Mizuki!? Did she see us together or something?

“Over the winter break, I saw you and Mizuki together. Are you two dating?”

It did seem like that, and now it’s confirmed. If someone who’s always around Mizuki sees us together, it’s bound to be noticed, even if we look different.

“We’re not dating. Mizuki and I… we’re just friends.”

“Friends!? You don’t seem that close in class. Where did you become friends? What was the trigger?”

Bombarded with questions, I took a step back, and she seemed to realize her intensity.

“S-sorry. Mizuki’s really popular… but she doesn’t have a boyfriend and keeps turning down confessions, so I wondered if she liked someone…”

“I just started talking to her after school one day, and now we chat occasionally.”

I wasn’t lying. Not exactly…

“I see. So you’re not interested in Mizuki? Most of the guys in our class seem to like her.”

“Mizuki is───”

“Good morning, Kougami-kun, Ogasawara-san.”

We were interrupted by a greeting from behind. Turning around, there stood Mizuki.

“Good morning, Mizuki.”

“Yes, good morning. What were you two talking about?”

Mizuki didn’t say it out loud, but I could feel the “Why are you and Kougami-kun talking?” vibe coming from her.

“Uh, what was it again?”

Ogasawara-san, saying “uh” at times like this only makes it more suspicious.

“She dropped her key, and I picked it up for her. Right, Ogasawara-san?”

I looked at her, silently begging for her to go along with it, and she nodded emphatically.

“I see,” she said before entering the classroom. I didn’t quite understand what had just happened, but a wave of relief washed over me.

“Um, Ogasawara-san. I hope you won’t tell anyone about Mizuki and me going out…”

“Yeah, I wasn’t planning on telling anyone. If I did, I’d probably get some comments from the other guys. Oh, I got my answers, so you can go back now.”

I couldn’t answer the question about how I felt about Mizuki, but she seemed satisfied as she walked back into the classroom, and I followed shortly after.

“What were you talking to Ogasawara-san about?”

As I returned, Kouta approached me with curiosity.

“Well, it seems Ogasawara-san saw Mizuki and me together.”

“Oh, another one exposed your secret relationship?”

“What do you mean secret relationship… We’re just friends.”

“Hehe, so can you tell the other guys that you’re just friends with her?”

“I… can’t.”

Saying it would only lead to being bombarded with questions like Ogasawara-san did earlier.

“Good morning, you two. What were you talking about?”

Kana greeted energetically from the first day of the new semester, and next to her was Mizuki, whom I had met earlier.

“Well, it seems like something happened between Ao and Mizuki after the birthday party.” 

“What, what?! I want to hear about it!”

Kana eagerly inquired, but naturally, neither Mizuki nor I could divulge what had happened that day. Mizuki seemed to blush as if recalling the events.

“I-I can’t… It’s our secret, just between Ao-kun and me.”

“Aww, you’re too cute, Mi-chan. I really want to know, but I’ll hold back.”

Seeing Mizuki almost embrace her, I stepped in between Kana and Mizuki.

“Alright, alright, Mizuki’s uncomfortable.”

“Even if I don’t have Ao’s permission, as long as I have yours, Mi-chan!”

“If Ao did anything to you, Tsuyuzaki-san, feel free to talk to me or Kana.”

While Kana and I were chatting, Kouta talked to Mizuki.

“Don’t worry. Ao-kun is a kind person.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Ao is a good guy. So, how do you see Ao, Tsuyuzaki-san?”

Reluctant to share, Kouta asked Mizuki. Then she placed her hand on her chest and spoke:

“Ao-kun is someone special to me.”

TL: GOD!?! Where is the girl who would say this to me!? Send her soooooon!
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