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 67: Blanket that spoils people.

Blanket that spoils people.

“Hey, what are you doing? She’s in trouble.”

With those words, I gently removed the man’s hand that was holding her arm.

“Ao…”

“Forcing yourself on others isn’t right. Please go home quickly.”

The man, whose atmosphere had changed from before, said so politely and drove off. Mizuki ran up to the spot at that moment and looked worried, wondering what had happened.

“Yua, who was that just now?”

“That was my father.”

***

I, Mizuki, and Yua had come to a café in the shopping mall for lunch, ready to discuss their concerns.

“Ao, thanks for helping earlier…”

“I just acted on instinct because I thought it might be kidnapping. If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s completely fine… Did you argue with your father?”

“Not really an argument. He’s always like that, so don’t worry about it.”

It seemed less like an argument and more like teenage rebellion. Without fully understanding their relationship, it was hard to say.

“My dad lives in a different house for work and he’s incredibly overprotective. I plan to live alone after high school, but he’s against it.”

“He needs to stop controlling me out of worry…”

Yua sighed deeply, holding her head as she vented about her father’s restrictions one after another.

“I hate feeling suffocated like this. I just want to live freely when I start university…”

Once she started, she couldn’t stop. But keeping these feelings bottled up would only hurt her in the end. It was better to speak up.

“Does your mother approve of you living alone after high school?”

Having finished her sandwich, Mizuki asked Yua. Yua nodded slightly.

“My mom doesn’t oppose anything I do unless it’s dangerous.”

Unlike her father, her mother wasn’t overly protective. Yua had repeatedly asked her father not to worry so much.

“He even decides which college I should attend against my wishes. It’s like he completely ignores what I want.”

Yua sipped her milk tea as if it were alcohol, then slammed it down on the table (or it looked like she did, but it’s a café so she didn’t actually do that).

“Uwaa~, Mizuki-chan, save me…”

Saying this, Yua tightly hugged Mizuki.

“I don’t recall becoming a comforting character, but if you have any worries, I’m here to listen.”

“Thanks, but I don’t think talking to someone will solve it. I appreciate you listening, though. By the way, the shopping mall is more crowded than usual today.”

When Yua said that, I realized that there did seem to be more people today. It must be because it’s the New Year season.

“That’s true. Did you go to the shrine for the New Year’s visit?”

“I went this morning. You two look like you’re just coming back from the shrine. It seems like you’re on a date, so I think I’ll head home. See you later, Ao and Tsuyuzaki-chan.”

As I watched Yua walk away, Mizuki was looking at me.

“Are you worried about Yua-san?”

“Well… she’s the type to keep her worries to herself, so I am concerned.”

“I wish there was something we could do to help.”

Right now, the only thing we can think of doing is to listen to Yua’s concerns. I wish there was something more we could do…

After leaving the café, we decided to spend the time at home since it was crowded outside, and Mizuki came over to my place.

“Hinano-san, excuse me for intruding again.”

“Welcome. Was it cold outside?”

“Yes, there was a bit of wind, so it was chilly.”

“I bought this recently; would you like to try it, Mizuki-san?”

Saying that, my mom handed Mizuki what looked like a blanket she had just bought.

“A blanket?”

“Yes, it’s a heated kotatsu blanket. You can adjust the temperature here. Give it a try.”

Though she was told to use it, Mizuki hesitated, thinking it wasn’t right for her, not being part of the family, to be the first to use something new.

“No, Ao-kun should be the one to…”

“You said you were cold earlier, so don’t hesitate and use it.”

I placed the blanket over her, and Mizuki quietly muttered that it was warm.

“I’ll bring some hot cocoa, so wait here.”

As my mom headed to the kitchen, Mizuki adjusted the blanket and looked at me as if she had something to say.

“Would you like to join me, Ao-kun? It’s really warm.”

Joining her would mean sharing the blanket, right? Mizuki smiled brightly, waiting, so I said “excuse me” and got under the blanket.

“Once you get in this, it feels like you won’t be able to move.”

It was warmer than I had expected, and I felt like I was inside a heated kotatsu.

“This is a blanket that spoils people. But even if I can’t move from here, it’s fine because I can be with you, Ao-kun.”

She said that with an adorable expression, and before I knew it, I was gently patting her head. Honestly, I wanted to kiss her, but I held back since my mom could return at any moment.

“I brought the cocoa. Ehh, Ao, you joined her under the blanket… You two are really close.”

She placed two mugs on the coffee table in front of us, and Mizuki thanked my mom.

“Close, you say…”

As she said that, Mizuki placed her hand on the back of mine under the blanket and intertwined our fingers.

Surprised, I looked at her, and she laughed softly, poking my cheek with the index finger of her other hand.

“Ao-kun, your face is all red.”

“It’s just your imagination… Come on, we should drink this before it gets cold.”

I suggested drinking the cocoa, feeling that Mizuki would keep teasing me otherwise.

“You’re right.”

Since drinking cocoa while wrapped in the blanket could be disastrous if we spilled, we emerged from the warmth.

“It’s delicious.”

“Yeah…”

As we sipped our cocoa, I realized that I preferred spending time at home with Mizuki rather than going out somewhere.