All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Kotomi Izumi understood very clearly that if certain things were left vague, they might make her girlfriend uneasy. But if she explained them openly and straightforwardly, her girlfriend might not care so much.

Of course, that method only worked for small matters.

Just imagine—if Kotomi Izumi openly explained to Megumi Kato or Yui Yuigahama that she was dating multiple girls at the same time, then she would not just be ”openly explaining.” She might very well be torn into pieces.

So, knowing when to explain things openly and when to conceal them appropriately was a kind of art. There was no formula to follow. It all depended on flexibility, adaptability, and applying what one had learned according to the situation.

Fortunately, Kotomi Izumi knew very well when to be frank and when to tell a small lie.

For a girl with a boundless capacity for love, this was practically a basic skill. If she could not even master that, how could she possibly have the ability to date multiple girls at once?

Kotomi Izumi repeated to Yui Yuigahama what had happened the last time she came to Kyoto and met Eiren Kanagawa.

”The phrase Professor Kanagawa says most often is that painting requires, above all, a pair of eyes that are good at discovering beauty—and willing to observe beauty up close at all times.

”When she first started learning art, she once sat in front of a single rose for hours just to sketch it. During that time, her eyes were practically pressed against the petals.

”At first, she did it to complete her assignment. But as time passed, she gradually became captivated by that rose. She felt it was the most beautiful rose she had ever seen in her life. In front of it, she went from standing to squatting, and from squatting to sitting.

”Perhaps because of that experience, whenever she talks about painting techniques, she always emphasizes observing beauty at close range.

”While you were taking a bath just now, I discussed this sentence with Yukino. Since painting values observing beauty up close, could music also value listening to beauty at close range?

”Do you know what Yukino said?”

”What did Yukino say?” Yui Yuigahama asked curiously.

Although Yukino Yukinoshita had never actually said such a thing, Kotomi Izumi was not only good at making things up—she was also skilled at imitation.

After adjusting her expression, Kotomi imitated Yukino Yukinoshita’s cold tone and indifferent expression as she spoke:

”Listening to beauty at close range does indeed have a certain degree of logic. But if you stick your ear next to an instrument or speaker like an insect that does not understand volume, you might not even have the chance to hear beauty before your eardrum shatters as easily as a moth’s wing.”

Lying on the bed and pretending to sleep while actually eavesdropping on Kotomi and Yui’s quiet conversation, Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly had the urge to throw off the blanket, grab Kotomi Izumi by the shoulders, and shake her back and forth while demanding:

”When did I ever say something like that?”

But she quickly realized that Kotomi Izumi had fabricated that line on purpose to make her story sound more convincing to Yui.

”I see. But Kotomi, you’re amazing. You only stayed in Kyoto for a few days last time and already met a professor from a prestigious university. It feels like no matter who you’re facing, you can communicate without the slightest stage fright. You’re really impressive,” Yui Yuigahama said admiringly.

In Yui’s eyes, her beloved Kotomi Izumi was the most amazing girl in the world.

At the same time, Yui also felt a little envious of Kotomi’s communication skills. Kotomi’s outgoing and graceful nature allowed her to appear composed and flawless when speaking to anyone.

In terms of social skills and handling relationships, Kotomi Izumi was practically operating on a different level compared to her peers.

By contrast, Yui Yuigahama sometimes felt clumsy with words and slow to think.

If you asked whether Yui had ever considered trying hard to catch up to Kotomi, the answer was—no.

Yui Yuigahama had never once thought about what her life would have been like if she had not met Kotomi Izumi.

After meeting Kotomi, and after realizing that she had fallen in love with her, Yui had gathered her courage to confess. On the night her confession succeeded, she could not sleep. She kept wondering what her future life would be like after meeting Kotomi.

Yui did not have much competitive spirit, nor did she harbor grand ambitions or lofty dreams. Her greatest wish was simple:

For her mother and little sister to be healthy, safe, happy, and joyful. For herself and Kotomi to spend their days steadily together, ordinary and plain—yet sweet, like warm water mixed with honey.

After graduating from university, Yui planned to take over the dango cake shop from her mother and work hard to make money baking cakes. She wanted to earn enough to give Kotomi a grand wedding. She wanted to earn enough to give Kotomi a carefree and happy life. She wanted to earn enough to give their future children a joyful childhood. She wanted to earn enough so her mother would no longer worry about her, and so Yuka could enjoy her youth and attend the best university.

Yui Yuigahama’s longing for the future was simple. Extremely simple.

During high school and university, she would study diligently and help Kotomi Izumi with whatever she was doing. If Kotomi told her to go east, she would never go west.

Yui knew that, with Kotomi Izumi’s personality, she would most likely choose to start her own business in the future rather than follow the usual path of job applications.

So after graduation, she would simply see what Kotomi planned to do and follow her lead, doing her utmost to support and help her.

Yui Yuigahama had already made up her mind:

If Kotomi encountered setbacks on the road to entrepreneurship, then I will comfort her. If Kotomi ran into financial difficulties and urgently needed money, then I will sell the dango cake shop to raise funds. If that is not enough, then I will sell everything I own.

Some time ago, Tomoka Yuigahama had stopped paying rent for the cake shop—because she had directly purchased the storefront where the shop was located.

After discussing the matter with Kotomi Izumi and receiving her support, Tomoka Yuigahama found a time to tell Yui and Yuka.

Yui also supported her mother’s decision. Although the landlady had always taken good care of them and charged discounted rent each year, with rising prices and a commercial street soon to open nearby, the rent had continued to increase year after year.

After calculating carefully, they realized that instead of paying rent every year, it would be better to buy the shop directly from the landlady.

A few days ago, while they were having dinner, Tomoka Yuigahama suddenly said to Yui—who was feeding Yuka—

”Yui, after you graduate from university, if you don’t plan to find a job, then you can take over the dango cake shop. Of course, Mom hopes you can find a good job after graduation, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on you when it comes to studying. So whether it’s getting a job or taking over the cake shop, wait until you graduate and then choose according to your own thoughts. You don’t need to feel pressured, and you don’t need to worry about anything.”

Yui Yuigahama nodded in agreement and did not rush to make a decision. After all, her mother had already said that everything could wait until after graduation.

But if Kotomi Izumi planned to start a business after graduation, then Yui felt she would definitely choose to take over the dango cake shop. Not only to earn money for Kotomi and ease her burden, but also so that if Kotomi suddenly needed money, she could quickly sell the shop and convert it into cash.

The shop was in a good location. If they truly decided to sell it in the future, it would fetch a good price.

After that would come marriage and children with Kotomi Izumi, taking care of Kotomi’s parents, taking care of her own mother and younger sister, managing the household—rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea. In Yui Yuigahama’s mind, her values were just that plain and traditional. She had no grand ambitions or lofty dreams, nor did she wish to embrace trendy new ideas. And yet she had met Kotomi Izumi, a girl who did not quite follow the rules, along with all the complicated people and situations surrounding her.

Kotomi Izumi was amazing. Yui loved her, admired her, and envied her communication skills. But she had no intention of trying to catch up to Kotomi. She only wanted to stay obediently by Kotomi’s side, to be a sensible and devoted wife, quietly supporting and helping her.

Kotomi Izumi naturally heard the admiration, love, and envy in Yui Yuigahama’s voice. She also knew that Yui had always envied her communication skills. After all, whenever Yui became nervous, she sometimes could not even finish a complete sentence.

Kotomi smiled faintly. At some point, she had begun to enjoy teasing Yui while also doting on her—enjoyed acting spoiled toward Yui, and even more enjoyed pulling her into her arms and feeling her dependence and coquettishness.

Kotomi Izumi reached out and gently patted Yui’s little head.

”Some people are born with a bit of talent when it comes to speaking. If some have talent, then naturally others don’t.

”I suppose I count as someone with a bit of talent in that regard. When you get nervous and can’t finish a sentence, it doesn’t mean you lack talent. It just means you’re not good at it. There’s no need to take it to heart. After all, I’ve already thought it through—when the two of us get married and start our own little family, I’ll handle things outside the home, and you’ll take care of things inside.

”As they say, clear division of labor~”

”Okay, then I’ll take care of things at home in the future. Hehe.”

Yui Yuigahama nodded obediently, feeling that Kotomi’s words made perfect sense. And when she imagined their married life together, a blissful expression could not help but appear on her slightly flushed cheeks.

Seeing this, the smile at the corner of Kotomi’s lips softened. But then, as if deliberately putting on a brave front to avoid revealing too much tenderness, she gave a mischievous grin and said:

”However, when it comes to educating the children, I’ll take charge of most of it. You’re too silly. If we let you, our little dummy, do the teaching, our child might grow up to be a little dummy too.”

Yui Yuigahama immediately blushed and murmured softly, ”I’m not that silly...”

”No, you are. You’re totally a little dummy!”

Whenever she talked to Yui Yuigahama, Kotomi Izumi especially loved to argue stubbornly just for the sake of it. She simply enjoyed teasing Yui like this.

”Mm...”

As usual, Yui Yuigahama was teased into speechlessness. And she even took Kotomi’s words seriously, thinking that Kotomi truly did not intend to let her teach their future children. A trace of disappointment flickered across her face as she pressed her lips together.

Looking at Yui’s aggrieved little expression, Kotomi felt a surge of secret satisfaction. She let out a quiet breath in her heart and thought lightly:

I don’t even know how many times I’ve bullied Yui since the first time we met. But no matter how many times I tease her, it never feels like enough. For me, teasing Yui is unbelievably addictive. If I could, I’d bully her for a lifetime!

After successfully teasing Yui, Kotomi felt refreshed. She hummed contentedly and then began to coax her appropriately.

After all, if she bullied Yui too much, Yui might start overthinking everything. Everything had its limits. Kotomi understood that very well, so she said:

”Actually, a slightly silly child might be pretty nice too. They say simple people are blessed. As the saying goes, before doing things, one must learn to be a good person. I don’t think our future child needs to be especially smart. As long as they know how to be filial to their parents, obedient and sensible, and understand basic courtesy and integrity, that’s enough.”

”I agree. Then in the future...”

Yui Yuigahama nodded vigorously, about to ask whether that meant she could be the one to take care of the child.

But before she could finish, Kotomi seized the opportunity and said with a grin:

”On second thought, I’d better teach them. Character and emotional intelligence are indeed far more important than grades. But while cultivating character and EQ, we also need to pay some attention to academic performance. After all, in this society, a good educational background doesn’t guarantee success—but at least it gives you a stepping stone.

”On a smaller scale, if our child doesn’t do well in school and starts elementary school like that, the two of us might end up being summoned by the teacher three times a week.”

At this point, Kotomi gave a slightly guilty smile, as if the situation struck a little too close to home. As she spoke, she could not help recalling how, in elementary school, she had often failed to do her homework or failed exams, resulting in her homeroom teacher calling her parents in repeatedly.

”My grades are pretty good too...” Yui Yuigahama muttered in a small, aggrieved voice.

The more Kotomi Izumi and Yui Yuigahama talked, the more topics emerged—about their future married life and how they would educate their children one day.

The subjects they discussed did not sound like something two high school girls would normally talk about.

While they chatted enthusiastically, Yukino Yukinoshita—lying nearby under the blanket and pretending to sleep—was biting her fingernails hard to keep herself from making any strange sounds, while shouting in her heart:

You two, have some restraint! Showing off your affection in front of me was bad enough before, but now you’re actually discussing your future married life and how to raise children right in front of me?!

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