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 19: If you become popular, that would be a problem for me.

If you become popular, that would be a problem for me.

The season of cherry blossoms has arrived. While everyone around me seemed excited about their new lives, I felt different.

The thought of not knowing anyone in my new class made me a bit anxious.

There are six sections in our grade. Starting from the second year, we are divided into different courses. Mizuki, Kana, and Kouta will be in the same course as me. Since there are two English classes, two literature classes, and two science and math classes, there is a 50% chance we’ll be in the same class. As long as I’m not the only one separated, at least one of them should be with me.

As I was about to pass the café where I usually part ways on my way to school, I noticed a girl seemingly waiting for someone.

We hadn’t made plans to go to school together, yet there she was, right in front of me.

With her long hair and slender figure, it was unmistakably Tsuyuzaki Mizuki, the girl I’ve grown fond of. She had become quite attached to me over time, and I’ve fallen for her too.

“Good morning, Ao-kun.”

As I stared at her, wondering why she was there, Mizuki noticed me. We hadn’t seen each other since she confessed her feelings to me, so this was our first meeting in a while.

“Good morning… Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes, I was. I was hoping we could go to school together… I’m sorry, I should have contacted you.”

Uh, well, yeah. I was quite surprised, still it’s okay if you didn’t.

“Would you like to go together?”

“With me?”

“Yes, I said I wanted to get closer to you during spring break.”

As she said this, her face turned red. She probably remembered her half-confession from spring break and felt embarrassed.

I want to know what that confession meant right now. If she hadn’t run away that day, I would have confessed my feelings to her.

“Sure. I promised to stay by your side, Mizuki.”

“Then, shall we go?”

Mizuki was smiling brightly the whole time and seemed to be in a great mood. I guess she was happy to go to school with me.

“Are you excited about the class reshuffle?”

“You’ve got friends to talk to, Mizuki, but I don’t have many people I can talk to, so I’m not really looking forward to it…”

“You’ll be fine. Ao-kun, you’re kind, so you’ll become popular in the class in no time.”

It’s not like I ever wanted to be popular in class…

“Oh, actually, forget I said that! If you become popular, Ao-kun, that would be a problem for me.”

Both Mizuki and I blushed at her words. When she says it would be a problem, does she mean she wants to keep me all to herself?

“Good morni—whoa, Mi-chan!?”

Kana slapped me on the back and came to stand beside us, clearly surprised to see me with Mizuki.

“Good morning, Kana-san.”

“Yeah, good morning. Did you two start dating without telling me?”

“No, I just invited Ao-kun to walk to school together.”

Kana started grinning and said to Mizuki, “That’s great.”

“Yes, it is. By the way, isn’t Maeyama-kun walking with you?”

“Kouta went ahead to see the class announcements with some friends.”

Kouta usually hangs out with me at school, but he actually has a lot of friends besides me. Sometimes I wonder why he spends so much time with me.

“I see.”

“Mi-chan, can I walk with you guys?”

“Of course, let’s go together. Is that alright with you, Ao-kun?”

“Whether I say yes or no, Kana, you were planning to join Mizuki anyway, right?”

When I said that, Kana replied with a smug smile, “You got that right.”

When we arrived at school and entered the building, we saw the class assignment lists posted on the bulletin board. Mizuki, Kana, and I started looking for our names together.

“I’m in Class 6…”

I found my name, and coincidentally, the name below mine caught my eye. It read “Koyama Kana.”

“Ao, looks like we’re together again this year!”

“Yeah, looking forward to it…”

Having a friend in my class already made me feel a bit relieved.

“What about you, Mi-chan?”

“I found mine. Ao-kun, Kana-san, looking forward to another year together!”

With Mizuki’s words, I felt a wave of relief and excitement. This year might turn out to be great after all.

***

“Hey, Ao. Looking forward to this year,” Kouta greeted me, already sitting at my desk for some reason. I told him to move because he was in the way, but he stayed put.

“Hooray! Since I’m sitting behind Ao, I can get help from him when the teacher calls on me and I don’t know the answer,” Kana said with a grin from her seat behind me.

“I’m not going to help you,” I replied immediately. Though, If I didn’t, Kana would probably sleep through class.

“I’ll help you instead,” Kouta said, patting Kana’s head, making her smile brightly. Watching their interactions, I realized I would be witnessing this couple’s antics again this year. Despite my slight annoyance, I felt genuinely happy that I would spend another year with all of them.

“Mi-chan sure is popular, huh,” Kouta remarked.

“Yeah,” I agreed.

From our seats at the back of the classroom, I glanced toward Mizuki, who sat at the front surrounded by classmates. As always, she was the center of attention. Even though she often felt close, at times like these, she seemed distant.

“Ao, you have a lot of rivals, so you better not let anyone steal her from you,” Kouta teased.

“What are you talking about?” I feigned ignorance.

“You know exactly what I mean…”

At Kouta’s words, I looked towards Mizuki again.

“Tsuyuzaki-san, let’s have a great year together.”

“Tsuyuzaki-san, I’m glad we’re in the same class. Let’s be friends.”

“Hey, Tsuyuzaki-san probably doesn’t want to talk to someone as chatty as you. She’d prefer someone more composed.”

Mizuki was being bombarded with greetings from the girls around her, looking a bit overwhelmed.

(I’ve been working hard all this time to be praised by him… but like this, I am───)

Though she maintained her usual cheerful smile, I could tell Mizuki had a lot on her mind.