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 30: Promise of the Summer Festival

Promise of the Summer Festival

After school, we didn’t have any plans and stayed in the classroom. The reason we didn’t leave school was because it was even hotter outside under the sun. We talked about how we could just go home and turn on the air conditioning…

“It’s so hot, too hot~”

Kana moved to the window side of the classroom and unbuttoned the top button of her shirt. I quickly looked away when she did that right in front of me.

“Even if it’s hot, don’t do that kind of thing. It’s embarrassing for guys. Kouta, you’re her boyfriend, say something.”

“If it’s hot, isn’t it fine?”

Hold on, Mr boyfriend!? Is it okay for other guys to look at her like that!?

“No, it’s not okay. Mizuki, absolutely don’t do that.”

I warned Mizuki, who was cooling herself with a small fan next to me, not to imitate Kana.

“I understand, I won’t do it. I don’t want to be looked at in a weird way.”

“That’s right! How about we stop by the convenience store and get some ice cream?”

Mizuki unexpectedly was the first to eagerly respond to Kana’s suggestion.

“That sounds good, I want ice cream.”

“If it’s ice cream, wasn’t there a vending machine inside the school?”

Kouta nodded in agreement with Kana’s words. Kana buttoned up her top button that she had undone and stood up from her chair.

“Mi-chan, let’s go buy some.”

“Yes, Ao, are you coming too?”

“Hmm… I’ll come. Kouta, what about you?”

Since everyone was going, I asked Kouta.

“I’m fine here. I’ll wait alone.”

“Okay, then the three of us will go.”

If I push through this week, summer vacation awaits. We’re planning to go to the beach together, so this vacation seems more fulfilling than last year’s.

We reached the vending machines, and immediately Mizuki and Kana started deliberating on their choices.

“I think I’ll go for caramel. Have you two decided, Mi-chan and Ao?”

“I’m going for strawberry.”

“Aww, cute!”

I’m not sure what’s cute about it, but Kana hugged Mizuki.

“Enough with the cuddling, just pick already!”

“Okay okay. Mi-chan, you can go first.”

“Thank you.”

Mizuki, Kana, and then I bought our ice creams in turn and hurried back to the classroom to keep them from melting.

“I’m back~ Kouta, want to split this?”

Kana snuggled up to Kouta and started being affectionate.

“Ao-kun, what did you pick?”

“I went with chocolate. Want some?”

Seeing I hadn’t started yet, Mizuki nodded eagerly.

“I’ll share my strawberry with you later.”

“Thanks. Here, go ahead.”

“Thank you.”

Mizuki took a bite of the chocolate ice cream I offered her and handed it back.

“It’s delicious.”

“That’s good to hear—”

Wait, no, that’s not good at all!!

As I watched Mizuki eat it, I couldn’t help but think, is it really okay for her to eat this in front of me?

“Ao, something wrong?”

Kouta asked me, and I quickly assured him nothing was wrong, trying not to let it bother me, and finished my ice cream.

***

Is the summer festival going to be held at that shrine again this year?

I checked the dates on the flyer posted in the supermarket.

Well, probably no one will go again this year, and I won’t either… Huh? Should I invite Mizuki? Since she’s here, she might come if I ask.

“Should I invite her…”

“Invite who? Whom are you talking about?”

“Well, Mizuki… Oh, Mizuki!?”

Turning around at the voice, there was Mizuki, looking like she had come for shopping.

She wore a white short-sleeved t-shirt with a light blue long skirt. Even when just coming for shopping, she looked stylish.

“The festival seems fun, isn’t it? So, who are you planning to invite, Ao-kun?”

She should have heard me saying it earlier, but she asked anyway.

“Mizuki, would you like to go to the summer festival with me?”

“Oh, yes! I’d love to. I don’t have any plans for that day. By the way, Ao-kun, are you here for errands again?”

“No, I just came to buy the things I need to make something today.”

“What are you planning to make?”

“Cupcakes. I thought I’d try my hand at making sweets too, inspired by seeing you make them.”

Seeing Mizuki bake inspired me to try making something too, so I searched for “cupcake recipe” and came here to buy what I needed.

“If it’s cupcakes, I can teach you how to make them. Would you like me to?”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

***

“Fill the cupcake liners about 80% full with batter and bake at 180°C in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Then just wait for them to be done,” Mizuki’s voice came through my phone, and I followed her instructions.

“Alright, I think this should be good… Thanks, Mizuki. I know you said you’re busy.”

After parting ways at the supermarket, Mizuki had taught me how to make cupcakes over the phone.

“No problem. It was nice to chat with you while folding laundry. I don’t have any plans after this, so would you like to keep talking?”

“Sure. Mizuki, how are you planning to spend your summer vacation?”

“I’ll probably spend most of it at home.”

“Same here. I tend to stay home on my days off too, although sometimes I play basketball with Kouta.”

“You play basketball? I’m good at that too.”

“Oh, really? I might want to see that sometime.”

“If you’re interested, how about this Saturday? We could invite Kana-san and Maeyama-kun too for basketball.”

“That sounds great. I’ll ask them later.”

“I’ll take care of inviting Kana-san.”

“Okay, thanks for that.”

We talked for about ten minutes more. Then, I heard a noise at the door through the phone.

“Mizuki?”

“Oh, excuse me. It looks like Grandma has come back… Wait, um, excuse me!”

I had been on a video call with Mizuki, and suddenly an unfamiliar person appeared on the screen.