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 29: I prefer a pool or the beach. It's definitely not because I want to see her in a swimsuit.

I prefer a pool or the beach. It’s definitely not because I want to see her in a swimsuit.

I want my mom to praise me, saying “You did your best.” I want her to acknowledge me properly. So, I’ve been working hard in both my studies and sports, pushing myself to improve in things I’m not good at little by little.

However, my mom’s attitude towards me hasn’t changed. She hasn’t directly said anything, but I’ve always felt like maybe I’m not loved.

Even when I score 100 on a test, I don’t get praised; she just says, “That’s expected.”

On that Christmas, my mom happened to come home, but I mainly live with my dad. My mom lives at grandma’s house.

Their separate living isn’t because my mom and dad don’t get along. It’s probably because of me. Maybe my mom doesn’t want to be in the same space as me.

During the sports festival, when grandma said she would bring mom, I was briefly happy. But in reality, only grandma came. Mom didn’t.

No matter how hard I try, it seems pointless. The more I try, the more I feel like I’m losing myself.

Am I doing things that are meaningless?

***

During lunch break, after finishing our meal, we were talking about summer vacation.

“Mizuki, what’s up?”

When I called out to her, she seemed absent-minded and looked around in surprise.

“Um… What were we talking about?”

It’s unusual for Mizuki to be so absent-minded. I wonder if something happened.

“We were talking about summer vacation. Mi-chan, where do you want to go?”

“Hmm… Since it’s summer, I’d like to go to the beach or a pool.”

She answered with her usual smile, trying not to worry us, but I started feeling concerned.

“Yeah, pools are great! I want to see Mi-chan in her swimsuit!”

“Don’t you just want to have fun?”

“Ao, nice comeback!”

“I wasn’t trying to make a comeback. So, where are we going in the end?”

So far, the options are a pool, the beach, a shopping mall, or an amusement park. Personally, I’m fine with anywhere, but I think a pool or the beach sounds good to cool off in this heat.

If I mention wanting to go to the pool now, Kana might tease me about wanting to see her in a swimsuit, so I’ll keep quiet.

“What about you, Kouta? Any place you’d like to go?”

While Mizuki and Kana talked, I asked Kouta where he’d like to go.

“Well, if it’s about where boys and girls go, it’s gotta be a pool or the beach, right? Ao, you want to see Tsuyuzaki-san’s swimsuit too, don’t you?”

When Kouta said that, I couldn’t help but imagine Mizuki in a swimsuit.

“You’re imagining it now, right?”

“I’m not.”

Why is Kouta always able to read my mind? Am I just that easy to figure out?

“Guys, how about the beach for everyone?”

It seems Kana has decided that we’re going to the beach based on Mizuki’s discussion. Of course, none of us objected, so Kouta and I nodded in agreement.

“Alright then, it’s settled. Mi-chan, how about stopping by the mall on the way back to buy a swimsuit?”

“Sure, let’s go.”

“A shopping mall, huh? Then let’s drop by on our way back too.”

“Yeah, got it.”

***

After school, Kouta and I had planned to stop by the shopping mall, but Rikuto, who had club activities off, decided to join us.

“The beach?”

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s settled that the four of us are going. Will Rikuto come too?”

“Is it okay if I come?”

“I don’t mind at all, though I’m not sure about Kana and Tsuyuzaki-san. What do you think, Ao?”

Kouta asked me beside him, and I replied that if Rikuto wanted to come, it should be fine.

“If it’s okay, then I’d like to go.”

“Alright, I’ll let Kana and Tsuyuzaki-san know tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Kana was waiting outside the fitting room for Mizuki to finish trying on swimsuits.

“Kana, have you decided on a swimsuit?”

Sayaka, who had been brought along mysteriously by Kana, asked her.

“Yeah, I’ve decided. It’s different from last year…”

“K-Kana-san…”

As Kana was talking to Sayaka, Mizuki’s voice came from behind the curtain, prompting Sayaka to ask Kana if Mizuki had finished changing.

“Mi-chan, are you done changing?”

“Y-Yes… But, um, I need a bit more… mental preparation.”

“Mental preparation? You’ll look absolutely adorable no matter what, I’m sure. Right, Saya-chan?”

“Well, yeah, you’ll rock any swimsuit.”

Kana and Sayaka were excitedly curious about what kind of swimsuit Mizuki had chosen.

“…Alright, then I’ll open it.”

“Wow~ It looks amazing!”

“That color suits Mizuki perfectly. I bet Kougami-kun will be totally captivated.”

The swimsuit Mizuki chose was a mint green with frilled edges.

“But Mizuki, wearing that might attract some weird guys.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Well, Ao here can play bodyguard, so it should be fine.”

While I thought the swimsuit looked really nice, Kana and Sayaka’s gaze seemed focused on her chest.

“Sayaka-san, how big do you think that is?”

“Wh-why are you asking me! Well, um, it’s definitely bigger than ours, I can say that much.”

Mizuki noticed Kana and Sayaka whispering about something and asked if something was wrong, but they just shook their heads and tried to brush it off as nothing.

“I’ll go with this one.”

After closing the curtain, Kana and Sayaka resumed their earlier conversation.