───● An Energetic College Girl’s “Love” ●○●
The day after Aika-san advised me to give my answer by March.
I had come to the university to hand in some documents I hadn’t submitted yet. Classes for the year were already over, so I was only here to drop off the paperwork today.
I was just glad I’d made it in time, since it was something I needed to turn in before the end of the year.
“…Alright then.”
Having safely submitted my documents, I found myself on the third floor of the administration building.
From the windows, I could look out over the school buildings. With most students already finished with their classes, there were very few people around to begin with.
Since there were a few chairs set up by the window, I decided to take a seat.
Normally, these chairs would be packed during lunch breaks on a regular school day, but today, not a single one was occupied.
I wasn’t in any particular hurry, so I sat back and gazed outside.
A deep blue sky stretched out as far as the eye could see. The crisp midwinter air felt incredibly refreshing.
…I took a moment to reflect on what Aika-san had told me.
The five girls who had confessed their feelings to me. They were all precious to me, people I cared for deeply. I had never ranked them in my mind or even considered doing so. That was my honest truth.
But at the same time, I understood that this exact mindset was my fatal flaw.
I remembered an ex-girlfriend telling me, “You’re just kind to everyone, aren’t you?” Unable to treat anyone as truly special, I had realized back then that I was hopelessly unsuited for choosing just one person.
But I couldn’t keep running away forever. It would be disrespectful to the girls who had poured their hearts out to me.
I needed to come to a decision.
I pulled a plastic bottle of tea out of my bag and took a sip.
…Still, how was I even supposed to make a choice? To put it bluntly, I liked all of them, but I knew that wasn’t what they meant.
Did it mean figuring out who I wanted to go on dates with, who I wanted to kiss—who I wanted to do all those couple-like things with from now on…?
Though, to be completely honest, it felt like I’d already done plenty of couple-like things with them…
Just then.
“Ahhh. ‘Tis time for students to be heading home, young one.”
Suddenly hearing an incredibly cute girl’s voice from behind—completely at odds with the old-man phrasing—I turned around. There stood the familiar, distinctive twin tails.
“Mizuho,” I said.
“Oh my, did I not sound like him? I was doing an impression of the old professor from Intro to Literature.”
Laughing playfully, Mizuho took a seat in the chair next to mine.
“What brings you to the university?” I asked.
“I completely forgot to hand in my documents! Ahaha, I barely made it in the nick of time!”
“I-I was here for the exact same thing.”
“Oh, really? Well, all’s well that ends well then!”
Mizuho smiled innocently. From beneath her gray mini-skirt, her long legs, clad in black tights, stretched out gracefully.
“You looked like you were deep in thought… Would it have been better if I hadn’t interrupted you?”
“…No, not at all.”
Mizuho was a sweet girl. She probably knew exactly what was troubling me.
And because she knew she was one of the reasons for my dilemma, she was reaching out like this.
…Come to think of it, I recalled hearing that Mizuho had fallen in love with many different people in the past.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to bring this up with Mizuho given the current situation, but I decided to ask anyway.
“Hey, Mizuho, what do you think it feels like to love someone romantically?”
“…Hmm.”
For once, Mizuho didn’t try to play it off with a joke. She pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Speaking only for myself here, but… I think it’s when you feel like you want to stay by that person’s side forever.”
Wanting to stay by their side forever, huh. I certainly hadn’t ever thought of it like that.
“Of course, I think there are times when you just instinctively feel, Ahhh, I love them! without any rhyme or reason. But lately, I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s about wanting to experience everything with that person from now on—the happy times and the sad times… Just kidding!”
Mizuho’s slightly embarrassed smile looked absolutely radiant.
“Well, I only just started thinking this way recently, myself.”
Even I couldn’t possibly misunderstand the meaning behind those words.
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it!”
I truly was blessed.
And I knew I had to respond to her feelings with the utmost sincerity.
After leaving through the university’s main gate.
“Huzzah! ‘Tis time to journey homeward with Masato!”
“Is… Is it really something to get that excited over?” I asked.
Since Mizuho was also only here to drop off paperwork today, we decided to walk to the station together. It was convenient for both of us since we even took the same train.
Mizuho had been walking beside me, but before I knew it, she closed the distance between us, much closer than usual.
“Does it… bother you, Masato, when I’m this close?” she asked.
“…Not at all. It doesn’t bother me.”
“Hehehe, I’m glad then.”
Snuggling right up against me, she began to walk while practically clinging to my right arm.
There was absolutely no way I could feel bothered by it… Even now, my heart was racing at how cute Mizuho looked.
“It’s not often I get to have you all to myself, Masato! Today is my lucky day!”
“I-Is that so?”
“Indeed it is! Koumi is usually around at the university, and Seira-san is always at the bar! Little old Mizuho always feels so out of place, alas, alas…”
She had a point. Whether we were at the university or the bar, there was almost always someone else around whenever I hung out with Mizuho.
“I can’t wait for our Christmas party!”
“It feels a bit strange, considering we just celebrated your birthday the other day.”
“Ah, Masato-dono, that is a forbidden subject! Even my own family has been lumping those two events together my entire life!”
We were planning to have a Christmas party soon, just Koumi, Mizuho, and me. Mizuho’s birthday had simply been a surprise; the Christmas party was something we’d scheduled way in advance.
Thinking about it like that, having Mizuho and Koumi in my life had really become the new normal.
Hypothetically speaking, what if I didn’t choose either of them?
Would I be able to accept a life without Koumi or Mizuho from now on?
…I couldn’t even begin to imagine it.
“Fall in love with me, fall in love with me, fall in love with me…”
“W-What are you doing?”
“You looked like you were thinking about something complicated, so I thought I’d subliminally brainwash you into falling in love with me…”
“Isn’t that a little too forceful?”
“Love requires a heavy hand sometimes, young one…”
Mizuho had been muttering something under her breath while clinging to my arm, and I’d wondered what she was on about.
I really didn’t stand a chance against how straightforward she was.
Whether I wanted to stay by their side forever, huh.
Being asked out of the blue, I couldn’t say for sure, but the time I was spending with Mizuho right now was genuinely fun, and it made me hope we could stay together like this.
Maybe it would be best for me to start figuring out my feelings through little moments like this before March rolled around.
We reached the station and hopped on the train. As we made idle chatter, the time flew by. Given how much Mizuho loved to talk, the ride felt like it was over in a flash.
“Oho, well then, this is where we part ways.”
“Yeah, see you at the Christmas party.”
Right as we arrived at her station, Mizuho gave the right arm she’d been holding onto one last, tight squeeze.
“I’m definitely, absolutely going to make you want to stay by my side forever,” she promised.
“…!”
“Fare thee well! Adieu!”
I really was no match for her.
From the platform, Mizuho waved at me, and I waved back.
I watched her energetic figure until the very end, right as the train doors closed shut.
Even long after the train had clattered noisily back into motion….the refreshing scent of citrus lingered faintly on my right arm.
[ Case: Tonosaki Mizuho ]
[22:16] Masato:
Mizuho, thanks for today!
[22:16] Masato:
I’ve been reflecting on it a bit, wondering if maybe it wasn’t the kind of thing I should have bothered you about…
[22:25] Mizuho:
Good work today! No, no, that’s not true at all!
[22:25] Mizuho:
In fact, I was really happy you opened up to me. Feel free to rely on me like that anytime, okay?
[22:25] Mizuho:
O young youth, fret and ponder to thy heart’s content…!
[22:41] Masato:
You’re the same age as me though, Mizuho, aren’t you? lol
[22:45] Mizuho:
Girls just mature a tiny bit faster, you see!
[22:50] Masato:
I’m always so incredibly grateful to you, Mizuho.
[22:50] Masato:
Thank you.
[22:51] Masato:
And one last thing—I noticed that you seem to be using [the gift], and it made me really happy.
[23:02] Mizuho:
Nishishi~ Well, of course! Since it’s a gift from the person I love most…
[23:02] Mizuho:
I am using it with the utmost care!
[23:02] Mizuho:
Besides, it’s a scent that’s so “me,” isn’t it!
