Chapter 32: CH 32

Once again, please treat me well.

Translated by Dawn

Edited by Dawn

Once again, please treat me well.

The next morning.

There was no need to get up early since I was not supposed to meet up with Mizutani anymore.

But time seemed to have seeped into my body, and I woke up at the same time.

“Damn it…”

Thinking abhorrently of myself, I got out of the futon and headed for the living room.

Putting on my school uniform, I said, “I’m off,” and left the house.

My steps toward the station naturally became heavy.

Originally, Mizutani took an earlier train.

So there was no way Mizutani would be there in front of the station. And there was no need for her to wait for me anymore.

In fact, I told her yesterday that she didn’t have to wait for me.

And yet I was hoping that maybe.

I felt like the lamest person ever.

As I got closer to the station, I got more and more afraid to look ahead.

Usually, Mizutani leaned against that pillar, but today there was a blonde girl alone.

She was wearing our high school uniform and playing with her phone.

“…Huh?”

Wait a minute.

That blonde girl…is Mizutani, no matter how you look at it, isn’t she?

I rubbed my eyes at the unexpected sight.

But the view in front of me was the same.

No doubt, Mizutani Karin was there. She looked the same as she did yesterday.

At that moment, Mizutani looked up from her phone.

Her eyes met mine as I stared at her in amazement.

Mizutani’s eyes were a little redder than usual.

For a moment, the sounds around us disappeared.

It was as if only Mizutani and I were left in the world.

Even time stopped, after what seemed like seconds or an eternity.

Mizutani stared at me with reddish blue eyes.

Immediately, the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the world around me return.

“What did you mean by that message from yesterday LIME?”

Mizutani walked up to me.

There was something strangely powerful about having her well-formed face up close.

I involuntarily looked away.

“…It’s exactly as I said. If Yamamoto doesn’t stick around Mizutani anymore, then there’s no point in me pretending to be Mizutani’s boyfriend. I told you that before, didn’t I?”

“But that doesn’t mean Yamamoto will keep his word, no?”

“Satomi said Yamamoto is not the kind of guy who breaks his promises.”

“Aizawa trusts Satomi’s opinion more than mine, huh.”

“…you know, that’s not what this is about.”

“What is it then?”

“Satomi knows more about Yamamoto than Mizutani, right? They said they were childhood friends. That’s why I thought Satomi’s words had some credibility.”

“…But Satomi likes Yamamoto, right? Then I definitely think there’s some favoritism there.”

“That’s…”

That might be true.

Usually, if they had known each other for a long time, they should be able to make a more correct assessment than the one that knew nothing.

But that was just an assumption on my part.

I was at a loss for words, and Mizutani put more pressure on me.

“And also, why didn’t you reply to me at all yesterday?”

“…Did you send me something?”

“Un. I also called you. …Don’t tell me, you didn’t notice it?”

“….”

I couldn’t tell her I freaked out and turned off the power after sending that LIME message.

Mizutani stared at me with half-open eyes as I broke out in a cold sweat.

After enduring it for a while, Mizutani eventually turned her head to the side and took a deep breath.

She brushed her slightly disheveled blond hair over her ears and looks at me with a sideways glance.

“I’m sorry, Aizawa. I didn’t mean to say all of those. I kind of lost myself when I see Aizawa.”

“That’s fine, but…”

“…it must be a burden for you to keep pretending to go out with me, huh?”

“I didn’t say it would be a burden for me. I’m rather thinking that continuing this relationship will be a burden on you, Mizutani.”

“Me? Why is it a burden on me? I asked Aizawa to do this in the first place.”

Mizutani made a puzzled face.

“I told you before that if you found someone you like, I’ll be in the way.”

“I also said before that I don’t think I could find someone I like.”

“But you can’t say for sure.”

“No, I’m sure.”

“Why?”

“That is…I can’t say it to you.”

“…Huh?”

I couldn’t understand why she couldn’t say it to me.

Not caring about my reaction, Mizutani continued.

“Anyway, I don’t consider it a burden to continue this relationship with you at all. And if you don’t think it’s a burden either, then there’s no problem with continuing this relationship, right?”

“…Will it really be fine?”

“I’m sure it will be. We still don’t know if Yamamoto will keep his promise or not. So I would like Aizawa to continue pretending to be my boyfriend for a while longer…is it no good?”

Mizutani looked up at me.

I’d been aware of this for a while, but I had a weakness for Mizutani’s eyes.

“…I’m not saying it’s no good.”

“Really? I’m glad.”

Mizutani breathed a sigh of relief at my answer.

She then rummaged through her bag and pulled out a piece of paper.

“Here.”

“…This is?”

On the piece of paper was written in round letters, “A ticket to ask for anything just once.”

It was probably in Mizutani’s handwriting.

I vaguely remembered it because I had seen her handwriting during the study session.

When I looked at Mizutani’s face, she looked away this time.

“I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. You don’t seem to say much about what you want, so I thought I’d just give you this for now.”

“…Pfft.”

“…!? Why are you laughing?”

“Because with your character, I don’t think you would do something like this…”

“…is that so funny?”

Perhaps feeling embarrassed now, Mizutani’s cheeks turned slightly red.

“I’ll take it back then if you don’t want it.”

“No, no, no. I’ll take it.”

I reached out to retrieve the paper and moved it away from Mizutani.

Mizutani glared at me.

“Don’t ask me to do anything too weird.”

“What kind of weird is too weird?”

“…Like, something naughty.”

After hesitating, Mizutani squeezed out a few words.

The way she said it was so destructive that I found myself repeating the same words like a parrot.

“Something naughty, is no good, huh.”

“…Don’t make me say it twice.”

Mizutani stomped on my toes with his loafers.

It hurt more than I thought.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” I said hurriedly, and she finally released her foot from mine.

But I maybe felt something just then

Maybe I had a thing for M?

So, the contract will be extended…once again, please treat me well.”

Mizutani held out her hand to me.

I grasped her hand back.

I could feel the cool temperature of her hand and the soft touch of her hand.

“…Yeah, me as well.”

Even if this relationship was going to end someday.

Even if it was a fake and incorrect relationship.

I felt so sweet and comfortable shaking hands with Mizutani that I…had the illusion that it was the real thing just then.