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 23: The Words I Want to Say.

The Words I Want to Say.

“Have you calmed down?”

We had been sitting on a park bench for a while, and Mizuki hadn’t moved away from me.

“Yes… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cry… but being with you, Ao-kun, made me feel at ease.”

“I’m glad to hear that…”

Mizuki shifted away from me and sat up straight, facing forward as she began to speak.

“What I mentioned earlier is somewhat related to this, but I want to get along better with my classmates, like you do with your friends. However, ever since I started excelling academically and became someone others envy, it’s been difficult to get close to anyone. I feel this sense of distance.”

“I want everyone to see the real me, but they only see the part of me that’s trying too hard… If I stop trying so hard, will they see the real me? In the end, everyone likes the fake, cheerful version of me.”

Mizuki had been living up to the image others had created for her, but it was only causing her pain.

She was starting to think that if no one would see the real her, she might as well continue as she was.

“I love every part of you, Mizuki. Whether you’re leaning on me or striving hard, whether it’s the Mizuki at school or the one right here with me… But most of all, I love seeing you being natural and smiling.”

“Every part… but the real me is incredibly troublesome. I don’t think I’m someone you’d actually like.”

“I’m pretty troublesome myself, you know.”

“You’re not a troublesome person, Ao-kun.”

“That’s because we haven’t spent enough time together yet. There will come a day when you think so.”

“That day will never come.”

“I don’t think you can say ‘never.’ The more time we spend together, the more we see each other’s flaws, whether we like it or not. I haven’t even gotten to know half of the real Mizuki. That’s why I want to know more. Because I want to love you even more.”

At first, I didn’t like her much. Her behavior seemed dictated by how others reacted, and she felt like someone from a different world.

But as I got to know Mizuki better, I realized she was just a regular girl who worked hard.

Over time, my feelings shifted from dislike to affection. If we had never talked, I would probably still find her difficult to deal with.

“I like you, Mizuki. I want to stay by your side, always.”

“I… I like you too, Ao-kun.”

We both knew how we felt about each other, but saying it out loud felt like something we had to do to move forward.

“Mizuki, will you go out with me?”

“Are you sure you want someone like me?”

“Don’t say ‘someone like me.’ I fell for the hardworking, occasionally needy Tsuyuzaki Mizuki.”

“You like the needy part of me?”

“Yeah, I find it cute and lovable.”

“Hearing you say ‘love’ so much is embarrassing. But I want to go out with you too, Ao-kun.”

With that, Mizuki hugged me. I gently wrapped my arms around her small frame.

“Looking forward to being with you, Ao-kun.”

“Same here, Mizuki.”

For a while, we just held each other, savoring the warmth of our embrace.

“It’s about time we head back… Here, take my hand.”

Standing up from the bench, I extended my hand to her. She stared at it for a moment before finally taking it and rising to her feet.

“From now on, I’ll say what I want to say to you, Ao-kun. So, please do the same for me.”

“Yeah, I will.”

As we left the park, Mizuki intertwined her fingers with mine.

“I’m happiest when I’m with you, Ao-kun.”

“Me too.”

***

The next morning, I almost thought that what happened yesterday was just a dream.

“It wasn’t a dream, right…?”

With those thoughts in mind, I went to the spot where Mizuki and I had agreed to meet. She was already there, waiting.

“Good morning, Mizuki.”

“Good morning. Your hair is sticking up a bit.”

She giggled and reached up to smooth my hair.

“R-really?”

“Yes, really. I’ll fix it for you when we get to school.”

“Thanks. Oh, by the way, Mizuki, I forgot to mention yesterday—can I tell Kana and Kouta that we’re dating now?”

Kana and Kouta had been the ones to encourage me, so I wanted them to know that we had finally started dating.

“Of course. I talked to Kana-san about it too. What about everyone else?”

“Let’s just tell them if they ask.”

“Got it. I’ll do the same.”

I didn’t have the courage for a public announcement, and there was no need to tell everyone in our grade.

“Good morning! You two look as close as ever.”

A familiar voice spoke from behind, and I felt a tap on my shoulder. I recognized the voice immediately.

“Good morning, Kana, Kouta.”

“Morning. Ao, you’re grinning like something great happened. Care to share?”

Kouta’s sharp intuition caught on immediately, as he scrutinized my face. Sometimes his perceptiveness was uncanny.

“Actually, yesterday I confessed, and we’re officially dating now.”

“…R-really? No way!”

For a moment, Kouta looked like he couldn’t believe what he heard and asked again for confirmation.

“Yeah, really.”

When I said that, Kouta put his hand on my shoulder.

“That’s great. It’s about time. I’m really happy for you.”

He sounded like a proud parent. But knowing how much Kouta wanted to see Mizuki and me together, he was genuinely delighted.

“Mi-chan, did you really start dating Ao?!”

“Yes, Ao-kun confessed to me yesterday.”

Mizuki and Kana were having a similar conversation behind us.

“Way to go, Ao! Congratulations!”

I appreciated her enthusiasm, but I wished she’d lower her voice a bit. People around us were starting to stare.

“Alright, now we can go on double dates. Where should we go?”

“Kana, let’s start with just the two of them going on a date first. Double dates can come later.”

I expected Kouta to shut down the idea of a double date entirely, but instead, he implied it was something for the future.

Could it be that these two were so eager for double dates that they pushed Mizuki and me together? No, that couldn’t be it.

“You’re right. So, Mi-chan, where’s your first date going to be?”

“Well… we haven’t decided yet… Oh, but we did plan to go to the aquarium this Saturday.”

“Ah, so it’s an aquarium date. Ao, don’t do anything weird!”

Kana poked me in the arm as she said this, and I couldn’t help but wonder aloud what exactly she thought I could do that would be “weird” at an aquarium.

TL: God forgot to send me a girl like her who would love me…
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