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 52: I want you to look after me.

I want you to look after me.

“Sorry.”

As soon as Ao-kun went upstairs, my mother apologized to me.

“Mom?”

“I’m a failure as a mother. I’m sorry for imposing my ideals on you.”

“No, it’s not like that… I’ve been trying my best for my own sake, so there’s no need for you to apologize…”

I didn’t need my mother to apologize. I had only recently realized she had such high expectations for me.

All this time, I worked hard to become someone who could capture my mother’s attention. But her ideals were always too high.

“I’m sorry for not praising you, even though you were trying so hard.”

(I should apologize too… I should have been more honest earlier.)

“Mom… It’s not about being praised. I want you to see me for who I am.”

This was the first time I ever expressed such a selfish wish to her. Even though I always wanted her attention, I never voiced it because she seemed so busy with work.

But nothing will change if I don’t speak up. I can’t change anything. In truth, there’s so much more I want. I want to have many conversations with my mother, to go on family outings together.

(It might be selfish… but asking to be seen isn’t selfish, right, Ao-kun?)

“I’ve stopped pushing myself to be perfect. I want to be myself. And I want you to watch over me as I am.”

There’s a limit to how much one can endure by pushing too hard. Ao-kun helped me realize that. If trying hard isn’t enough to get noticed, then it’s okay to voice that need.

“Understood. I’m a clumsy mother, but from now on, I’ll prioritize you over work and make sure to see you for who you are.”

“You promise? You’ll really watch over me?”

“Yes, always.”

There’s still some distance between us, but this is just the beginning. What happens next depends on both of us. If we don’t speak our minds, we’ll continue to drift apart.

I hope that one day we can create family memories together, and I can gradually share with her my experiences at school, about my friends, my relationship, and everything else I wanted to talk to her about.

***

“Did you get to talk with your mother?”

I asked Mizuki as we stood in the entranceway before leaving. She gave a small nod.

“Yes, I did. Ao-kun, thank you so much.”

“I didn’t do anything. But I’m glad it went well.”

“Yes… Well, see you at school.”

“Yeah, see you. Thanks for having me over.”

After leaving Mizuki’s house and heading home, I noticed Yua sitting alone on a bench in the park.

“What are you doing here?”

She was looking at her phone but lifted her head when she heard my voice.

“Oh, Ao! I was thinking of sleeping here tonight.”

“It’s already dark, and it’s dangerous to be out here alone.”

Assuming she was joking as usual, I told her she should go home, but she didn’t seem inclined to leave.

“I don’t want to go home. It’s awkward.”

“Are you a kid? Did you have another fight with your parents?”

Back in middle school, Yua often told me about her petty fights with her parents.

“Yeah. My mom ate the cake I bought, and we had a huge argument.”

What a childish fight. Who runs away from home over a piece of cake?

“I’ll buy you another cake. Just go home and make up with your mom.”

“Yay, thanks!”

“So, what’s the real reason for your fight with your mom?”

Yua sometimes changed the subject when she didn’t want to talk about something serious. She wasn’t the type to fight over a piece of food.

“We fought over my future plans. There are other reasons too…”

“That sounds tough…”

“Yeah, but it’s too cold to sleep in the park, so I guess I’ll go home.”

Yua sometimes worries me so much that I can’t leave her alone.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She looked down and gave a small shake of her head.

“Maybe not. But this is my problem to deal with…”

“Got it. But if you need help, I’m always here to talk.”

“Thanks. I really like that you worry about me, Ao.”

She looked up and gave a small smile, but it seemed like a forced one, meant to hide her true feelings and not to worry me.

“You’ve helped me more than I can ever repay. See you at school.”

As I walked away, Yua watched my back and whispered softly.

“It’s me who’s been helped…”

***

“Excuse me for intruding!”

Normally, the four of us have lunch together in the classroom, but today, Yua joined us.

“Oh, Yua-chan. It’s been a while, since we talked at the first-year committee, right?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while, Tsuyuzaki-chan.”

“It’s been a while.”

It seemed Kana and Yua had talked before. Mizuki, having met Yua at the recent school festival, was comfortable chatting with her.

“Sorry for barging in, but the people I usually eat with are having lunch with their club today, so I’m alone. Is it okay if I join you?”

“Of course, it is! Yua-chan, you went to the same middle school as Ao, right?”

“Yeah. Um, you’re Maeyama-kun, right? Since we haven’t met before, let me introduce myself. I’m Jouichi Yua.”

Since Yua and Kouta were meeting for the first time, they introduced themselves to each other.

“I’m Maeyama Kouta. Jouichi-san, you were the anchor in the relay at last year’s sports festival, right?”

“Yeah. My classmates said I was fast, so they recommended me for the anchor position.”

“That’s impressive to be recommended as the anchor.”

“Is it really?”

She laughed and looked like she wanted to say, “It was a hassle, but I did it because everyone insisted.”

Her face clearly showed her true feelings… Knowing Yua, she probably didn’t take it on begrudgingly, so I decided not to say anything.

***

After school, since Mizuki had to rush home right after homeroom due to some household errands, it ended up being a rare occasion for Kana, Kouta, and me to walk home together.

“At the school trip night, apparently we’re allowed to freely explore outside the hotel as long as we stay together. Let’s plan to meet up somewhere as a group of four.”

“What are we going to do when we meet?”

“We’re having a pajama fashion show. Kouta, you want to see my pajamas, right?”

“Yeah, I want to see.”

Kouta is just too straightforward. He answered immediately. Kana seemed delighted with Kouta’s response.

“Ao, you want to see Mi-chan in her cute pajamas too, right?”

“Uh, yeah, sure, I’d like to see.”

“You’re so clumsy! There’s a limit to being shy.”

“But didn’t you see in the school trip guidebook handed out today that it’s not okay to leave your room in your pajamas?”

Upon hearing this, Kana hurriedly checked her bag for the trip guidebook.

“Oh, you’re right… Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do… Maybe just for a peek?”

“What’s with that grin of yours…”

TL: Niceuuu~~