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 59: Ao's True Feelings.

Ao’s True Feelings.

“Things have been going well lately, but I just can’t muster up the courage to confess.”

It was a regular day, post-school trip, during lunchtime. Hasekura-san suddenly asked to talk, so Mizuki and I listened to her over lunch in the courtyard.

Mizuki seemed deeply engaged in Hasekura-san’s problem, wanting to offer her thoughtful advice.

“Sayaka-san, you like Tabe-kun, right?”

“Yeah… I do. But the fear of being rejected keeps holding me back.”

I felt the same way. The thought of confessing to Mizuki and being rejected scared me, making it hard to express my feelings.

“I understand. It’s terrifying to think about how things might change. I couldn’t gather the courage to confess to Ao-kun for a long time either.”

“Mizuki too!? So, how did you finally manage to confess?”

“I stopped worrying about what might happen afterward. I decided not to fear rejection or change. What scared me more was not telling Ao-kun that I loved him.”

Mizuki said this, looking at me with a gentle smile. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt my face turning red.

“You’re right… Regretting not saying anything is worse. Alright, I’ve decided! I’m going to confess to Rikuto!”

Hasekura-san stood up abruptly, determined to confess to Rikuto.

“I’m rooting for you.”

“Me too.”

“Thank you, both of you.”

Hasekura-san packed up her bento and headed back to the classroom.

“By the way, how are things with your mom?”

“She’s been working near my grandmother’s place a lot, so she’s been staying there.”

“I see.”

“Yes, and she said we need more family time, so we’re planning a family dinner soon!”

Mizuki’s face lit up as she talked, and it was clear she was happy about how things were going with her mom.

“That’s great to hear.”

“Yes, I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Family dinners… yeah. We do that often too, but I dread it when Dad starts lecturing…”

“Are you okay, Ao-kun?”

“Nah, it’s nothing… Anyway, the bell’s about to ring soon, so I should head back to class.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Ao-kun, if there’s ever anything bothering you, feel free to talk to me, okay?”

I couldn’t lie to her. It felt like she could see right through me.

Would anything change if I talked to her about how strict my dad is and how it stops me from doing what I love? Would there be any point in sharing?

As she turned to head back to class, she stopped and faced me, right in front of me.

“Is something wrong?”

“I want to talk to you… or rather, I want you to hear me out. Can you?”

Maybe things could change if I spoke up now. Thinking that, I chose to confide in someone.

“Of course, I’m here to listen.”

“Thank you.”

Since the bell was about to ring, we decided to talk on our way home later.

***

“Mi-chan, Ao, see you tomorrow!”

After school, Kana came to where I and Mizuki were and left with Kouta. The two of them seemed to be going out together today.

“Shall we head home too?”

“Yeah, let’s.”

We left school and walked along our usual route home. Mizuki gently held my hand, and I held hers back.

“What’s been bothering you, Ao-kun?”

“Back in middle school, I was like you, Mizuki, working hard in academics and sports for someone else… I had a time when I was so desperate that I couldn’t see anything else around me.”

“And for whom were you doing it, Ao-kun?”

“In my case, for my father. My dad… he’s probably stricter than most other dads…”

I told Mizuki everything: how my dad would only accept me being first in class, how he restricted me from sports if my grades weren’t good enough, and how he limited my social outings. I shared with her all the things that made me feel constrained and lacking in freedom, then and now.

“I really wanted to keep playing basketball…”

I admitted my true feelings, which I hadn’t been able to tell my parents since they said no.

As a second-year high school student, I don’t think I want to join a club now, but I really wanted to join in the first year. I went to see the club activities, and I thought I didn’t want to quit basketball, it was fun.

“I understand.”

“Huh…?”

I don’t know what she understood, but Mizuki smiled at me when she heard my story.

“If you want to play basketball, you should. I think studying is important, but I think it’s also important to have time to play with someone else. You should live more freely, Ao-kun.”

I understand that you should live freely. I’ve been living my life until today, but I’ve been doing this for my father’s sake, and I’m still doing it.

“I’ll talk to your father, Ao-kun. I’ll ask him to let you have more freedom.”

“You will?”

“Yes, if Ao-kun says anything and it doesn’t work, I’ll do something about it. I’ve already greeted your mother, Hinano-san, but I haven’t met your father yet, and I’d like to.”

Mizuki thought that just as she had changed her relationship with her mother, it was now her turn to help Ao. She held my hand with both of hers.

“Thank you, Mizuki. But before that, I want to talk to my father again about what I really want, and then I’ll rely on you. Thanks for listening.”

“No, I’m always asking Ao-kun for advice.”

“Do you mind if I tell my dad that we’re dating later?”

“It’s okay. I’ll go along with whatever Ao-kun wants to do.”

“Thank you.”

As we talked, we soon reached the place where we would part ways.

“Ao-kun.”

“What’s up?”

She called my name, so I turned to her, and Mizuki hugged me.

“This time, I’ll save Ao-kun. If you have any trouble, be sure to talk to me, okay?”

“Thank you, Mizuki.”

I had told her to rely on someone if she was in trouble, but I realized that I had been trying to handle everything alone.