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 7: I'll do anything, even cuddle with you.

I’ll do anything, even cuddle with you.

“Two more slides… Tsuyuzaki, let’s take a break.”

My neck was throbbing, and sitting for so long had drained me from the intense focus on crafting our presentation slides.

“Yeah, good idea. Oh, I’ll bring some tea.”

With those words, Tsuyuzaki disappeared into the kitchen from the spacious living room.

This house is quite big… I had wondered what it would be like to be alone together, but since I arrived, we’ve simply been working on the slides like any other day.

Tsuyuzaki’s mother was home when I arrived, but she mentioned having errands and promptly left after a brief greeting. Now, it’s just Tsuyuzaki and me in this house.

“Careful, it’s hot.”

She placed a steaming cup on the table before me, and I expressed my gratitude.

“I know it’s a bit late to ask, but are you sure you’re okay not joining your usual friends’ group, Tsuyuzaki?”

“I’m fine. There was never a promise to always stick together. I’m actually happy to be in a group with you, Kougami-kun.”

I shouldn’t jump to conclusions… Should I express that I’m happy, too, in moments like this?

“By the way, Kougami-kun, is there anything you want me to do?”

“Something?”

“Yeah, I did say I’d pamper you yesterday…”

Wait, wasn’t that just a joke? I imagined she’d ask for something impossible.

Then, as I hesitated, Tsuyuzaki said something unexpected.

“I could even cuddle with you.”

C-cuddle!? Well, for a moment, I thought that would actually be nice, but no way, that’s out of the question.

“Really, anything?”

“Of course. But I’m hopeless at cooking, so asking for a meal is off the table.”

Surprising. I thought she could do anything, but it turns out cooking isn’t her forte.

“……I want to pamper you as usual.”

“Um, wouldn’t that be the same as usual then?”

“That’s fine. I don’t mind if you pamper me, Tsuyuzaki.”

I’m not sure if I actually like being pampered, but I do like it when she’s the one being pampered.

“…So, could you please give me a knee pillow and stroke my head?”

It seems like a more demanding request than usual. But well, if it makes her happy…

“Yes, sure…”

I don’t even know what I’m doing. I sit on the sofa and pat my own knee.

“Excuse me.”

She smiles as she lays her head on my knee and lies down. And then I start stroking her head.

“Is this okay?”

“Yes, I’m happy. I might fall asleep though…”

I can’t see her face from here, but I can tell from her voice that she’s delighted.

“You can sleep if you want.”

“I’ll refrain from that. While I’m asleep… No, Kougami-kun wouldn’t do something like that.”

Maybe she trusts me. She seems to think I’m not the type to do anything while she’s asleep.

“Speaking of which, Tsuyuzaki…”

“Mizuki.”

“Huh?”

“My first name is Mizuki, Ao-kun.”

Calling me by my first name all of a sudden is really sneaky. It caught me completely off guard. She’s subtly hinting that she wants me to call her by her first name.

“You can call me by my name, but only when we’re alone, okay?”

“Got it. Ao-kun.”

She seems so happy every time I call her by her first name.

“Could you try calling me by my first name too, Ao-kun?”

“Now?”

“Yes, now.”

“Got it. Mizuki.”

“Fufu~, thank you.”

We talked about school and hobbies. These moments spent talking with her are special to me… I wish time could just stop right here.

“Mizuki, if you’re going to sleep, shouldn’t you do it in a proper place?”

As she starts to feel sleepy and nod off, I suggest this, but Mizuki insists she won’t sleep.

“No… I won’t. Since you came all the way here, let’s keep talking…Ao-kun… “

I thought she would get up from the sofa and stand, but instead, Mizuki hugged me.

“M-Mizuki-san, what’s wrong!?”

“I feel safe when I’m with you. Ao-kun, please pamper me a lot today.”

Saying that, Mizuki stroked my head. There’s been a lot of physical contact recently. Maybe Tsuyuzaki really… No, no way I could be liked.

“It’s okay to rely on me, but don’t give me the wrong idea…”

“The wrong idea?”

“Yeah, I might misunderstand and think that you like me, Mizuki….”

“…I do like you, Ao-kun.”

So what does that really mean? I’ve been wondering about it for a while!

“Ao-kun, do you hate me?”

She held my sleeve tightly and asked me with upturned eyes, making my heart skip a beat. She’s too cute to look at directly, and I couldn’t help but avoid her gaze.

“I don’t hate you.”

I used to find her a bit difficult to deal with before. But as I’ve gotten to know her, my feelings have gradually changed.

“That’s a relief. Since I’ve been pampered so much today, I think I can handle the slides.”

“That’s good.”

I reflexively started stroking her head again. Mizuki smiled softly in response.

“Fufu~, Ao-kun, you like stroking my head, don’t you?”

“Ah, sorry…”

“No need to apologize. I actually like it when you stroke my head, Ao-kun.”

Saying you like being stroked isn’t something you’d normally say even to a friend, right? Tsuyuzaki really does…

TL: The only thing I get to cuddle is my old pillow…. bruh
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