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 39: At the End of Summer Vacation.

At the End of Summer Vacation.

On the last day of summer vacation, we decided to set off fireworks in Kana’s backyard. Since we had a curfew, we had to wrap everything up by 8 PM.

“Mi-chan, which one do you want to do? The the sparkler, or the incense stick fireworks? Oh, do you want to do the aerial fireworks?”

“Hey, that would bother the neighbors!”

I quickly chimed in, overhearing Kana and Mizuki discussing which handheld fireworks to use.

“I’m just joking. For now, let’s have a competition with the incense stick fireworks to see whose goes out first.”

“Great, let’s all do that. You’re joining too, right, Ao?”

“I’ll join if it’s a normal competition, but if there’s a penalty for losing, count me out.”

When Kana and Kouta suggested doing something, it always came with a consequence for the loser.

“Of course there’s something for the loser. But let’s focus on having fun first.”

So there is something, huh? Well, Mizuki looks eager and ready, so I guess I’ll join in.

“Alright, we’ll start the timer once the fireworks are lit. Ready, set, go!”

The timing of the fireworks lighting was different for everyone, but in the end, Kana’s sparkler lasted the longest.

“Mi-chan is in last, so no penalty game!”

Since it was Mizuki… what if it was me…

After that, we lit various kinds of sparklers. I squatted down for a break as I had been crouching for a while.

“Mizuki, look over here.”

I pointed my camera at her while she was a little distance away, playing with a sparkler.

“You’re taking a picture?”

“Yeah, you can’t take one of yourself.”

“Thank you. After you take my picture, let’s switch places.”

I didn’t really need mine taken… Watching the fire through my phone, it gradually became smaller.

“It’s gone out…”

“It was beautiful.”

“Yes, now it’s my turn to take your picture.”

I handed my phone to Mizuki and switched places with her. I took one of the leftover sparklers, lighting it from the candle.

“Ao-kun, did you enjoy your summer vacation?”

“I had a great time. Last year, I went to various places with Kouta and Kana, but this summer was special because you were here, Mizuki.”

“Special… I also had a wonderful time spending my summer vacation with you, Ao-kun.”

If We Had Talked Sooner…

If we had started talking a bit earlier, maybe we could have spent last summer like this too…

Last summer, I hadn’t spoken to her at all; she was just a classmate.

“Next year, we’ll have entrance exams, so we won’t have many chances to play, but I’d like to go somewhere at least once.”

“Yeah… Oh, it went out.”

The fire went out, leaving only the light from the porch.

“Kouta, should we wrap it up?”

“Yeah, we’re out of fireworks anyway, so let’s call it a night.”

After cleaning up, Mizuki, Kouta, and I walked partway home together.

“Kana said it looks like just the two of us don’t get along because we call each other by our last names. Is it okay if I call you by your first name, Tsuyuzaki-san?”

Kouta glanced at me for some reason but then turned to Mizuki.

“That’s fine. It does seem a bit formal since we’ve been spending so much time together. Should I call you Kouta-kun then?”

“Please, feel free. Ao, you should start calling me Kouta-kun too.”

“Why should I?”

After parting ways with Kouta, I walked Mizuki home since it was getting late.

“Good night, then.”

“Yes, good night.”

***

The next day, since school started in the afternoon, I slept in until I couldn’t stay in bed any longer. It was my mom who woke me up around 10 AM, telling me it was time to get up.

After putting on my uniform for the first time in a month, I headed downstairs to the living room. As expected, my dad had already left for work.

Sleeping too much isn’t good either. It just makes me more reluctant to go to school.

“Ao, what about lunch?”

Mom asked while I was having breakfast.

“I had a late breakfast, so I’ll just grab something light from the convenience store before heading to school.”

“Alright.”

After finishing breakfast, I went to the meeting spot where Mizuki and Kouta were waiting.

“Hey, where’s Kana?”

“She overslept and will be late.”

Kana isn’t the type to wake up early when school starts in the afternoon. She was really late once before.

“Let’s go ahead then.”

“Yeah, if we wait, we’ll be late too.”

The three of us headed to school and when we got to the classroom, Hasekura-san was waving us over, so we walked up to her.

“We’re deciding on roles for the class event as people arrive, but… oh, Kana isn’t here.”

Sayaka quickly noticed Kana’s absence and looked surprised.

“Yeah, she said she’d be late. So, should we just write our names on the board for the roles we want?”

Hasekura nodded in response to Kouta’s question.

Our class event is a haunted house. I thought Mizuki might not like it, but she said it was fine since we were the ones organizing it.

“Yeah, some people have already written their names, but it’s okay if there’s overlap. We can discuss or do rock-paper-scissors later.”

I see, so Sayaka and Rikuto are the cultural committee members for this class. Rikuto was also explaining the same thing to some other boys.

“Got it. So, what do you think, Ao-san?”

“The four of us can probably work together on either costumes or panel making…”

“Oh? Ao, are you saying you really want to be in the same group as me?”

“I- if you don’t like it, we can drop this idea.”

Since we usually hang out together, I assumed we’d choose the same task.

“I was just kidding. Mizuki-san, which role would you like to do?”

“Let’s see, panel making sounds fun.”

“That’s one vote for panel making. How about you, Ao?”

“I’ll go with panel making too. Kouta?”

“I’ll choose whatever Kana wants. She’ll probably want to do panel making as well.”

Is it because he’s her boyfriend that he knows even when she’s not here? As I was thinking this, Kouta added:

“Kana said she wanted to be in the same group as Mizuki-san.”

Oh, that’s right. Kana likes Mizuki.

“Good morning, I just made it!”

“Good morning, Kana-san. Are you alright?”

Kana rushed in and immediately took a seat, looking exhausted.

“I’m not alright… I stayed up late watching TV and didn’t expect this to happen… Oh, are we deciding roles?”

She looked exhausted, but her expression brightened when she saw the blackboard.

“Yes, we’re discussing what everyone wants to do.”

“I want to do panel making. Mi-chan, which role do you want?”

“I also think panel making sounds good.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll write everyone’s names.”

Did Kana hear our conversation? She went to write our names on the blackboard and, upon returning, immediately hugged Mizuki.

“Good morning, Mi-chan. I missed you during the summer break.”

I was about to point out that they had seen each other yesterday, but Mizuki chuckled and patted Kana on the head.

“I also missed seeing you, Kana-san.”

Watching Kana and Mizuki, Kouta leaned in and whispered to me.

“Ao, you wish you could switch places with Kana right now, don’t you?”

“I don’t think so.”

TL: I only… never mind…
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