All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Yukino Yukinoshita shouted loudly in her heart. Yet no matter how loudly she protested inwardly, it could not change a single fact.

Yui Yuigahama and Kotomi Izumi were currently discussing their future married life and how they would educate their child, while she could only lie on the bed pretending to be asleep, biting her fingernails, envying Yui and feeling jealous of Yui—yet lacking the courage to interrupt their conversation.

At the same time, a question lingered in Yukino Yukinoshita’s mind.

Kotomi should know that I’m not actually asleep. That’s the strange part. From her earlier behavior, it wasn’t hard to tell that she didn’t want me to know she and Yui were dating. So why, now that she clearly knows I’m pretending to sleep, is she still discussing married life with Yui right in front of me?

Could it be that Kotomi has long noticed my feelings for her, and that she’s talking about married life with Yui in this way to tell me: the one she likes is Yui, the one she wants to marry is Yui, and she could never possibly like me?

The more Yukino Yukinoshita thought about this speculation, the more reasonable it seemed. Halfway through the thought process, she was almost completely convinced. A heavy sense of loss engulfed her heart, and she found herself unable to break free from it.

Yukino Yukinoshita quietly sniffed, as if afraid of disturbing Kotomi and Yui, yet also like a stubborn, foolish child who didn’t want them to notice that she was so upset she was on the verge of crying.

Even though she knew that Izumi Kotomi and Yui Yuigahama—immersed in their lively discussion about married life—were unlikely to notice her at all, Yukino still acted like a contrary child who claimed she didn’t want to be noticed while secretly wishing she would be. Without being particularly gentle, she tugged the blanket up over her head, producing a faint rustling sound.

After doing all this, Yukino Yukinoshita lay there with the blanket over her head, listening to her own heartbeat while pricking up her ears, carefully paying attention to whether Izumi Kotomi and Yui Yuigahama had heard the sound she just made.

If they noticed, would they react? Would they say something?

”So, I really think it would be more convenient for our child to attend a private aristocratic kindergarten in the future. You don’t have to worry about tuition. Spending a bit more money buys peace of mind. My father happens to have a good relationship with the principal of a private aristocratic kindergarten in Tokyo. When our child reaches kindergarten age, we can just send her there.”

At this point, Kotomi Izumi went further and explained to Yui Yuigahama why she wanted their future child to attend a private aristocratic kindergarten.

”I personally agree with the idea of ’letting children win at the starting line.’ Many parents think that this so-called starting line refers to academics. But in my view, it refers to the various abilities cultivated from a young age, as well as the people and experiences a child is exposed to early on.

”These abilities include a lot—social skills, communication, emotional intelligence, refinement, talents, learning, and so on. As for academics, we can set that aside for now. At the kindergarten stage, there’s really no need to focus too much on grades. We just need to patiently cultivate good study habits.

”I hope our child will begin developing communication skills from an early age. I’m not saying she has to become some kind of social butterfly, but at the very least, she should dare to speak and know how to speak when facing others. That means the people and experiences she’s exposed to from childhood must be beneficial to her.

”That private aristocratic kindergarten may charge expensive tuition every year, but to some extent, it also filters the children and parents who can attend. That’s what I value. Letting our child interact with other children from well-off families from a young age will also teach her how to accumulate and organize her own network of connections.”

Faced with the many reasons Kotomi Izumi listed in favor of a private aristocratic kindergarten, Yui Yuigahama shrank her neck slightly. Although she thought Kotomi’s proposal sounded reasonable, there was still something she wanted to say.

”Sending our child to a private aristocratic kindergarten does sound nice. But if you think about it carefully, is it really necessary for her to start learning social skills from such a young age?

”If our child happens to be interested in that, then that’s fine. But if she isn’t interested, or even feels a bit resistant to socializing, wouldn’t forcing her to learn it be unfair?”

As she spoke, Yui Yuigahama gave an embarrassed little laugh.

”To be honest, I was a bit introverted as a child. If our future child takes after me, she might be a little socially anxious too.”

”Then we can only hope our child takes after me more in terms of personality. I’ve been outgoing since I was little,” Kotomi Izumi said with a shrug and a light laugh. It was clear she had not changed her mind.

Even now, she and Yui had not even gotten engaged, let alone had children. Given Kotomi Izumi’s status, unless there were special circumstances such as an unexpected pregnancy, it would be impossible for her to get engaged or married too early.

At the very least, engagement would have to wait until after graduating from high school, and marriage until after graduating from university.

But since they were idle anyway, Kotomi Izumi and Yui Yuigahama simply chatted about married life and how they would educate their future children.

Now the topic had reached which kindergarten their child would attend.

”So, maybe we should choose the kindergarten based on the situation at the time. Whether it’s public or private, I think the most important thing is that our child is happy. You just said it yourself—at the kindergarten stage, grades aren’t that important. We might as well let her spend those years happily and carefree.”

Yui Yuigahama continued.

On the matter of which kindergarten their future child would attend, Kotomi Izumi and Yui Yuigahama held different views.

Yui Yuigahama’s view was to choose a kindergarten with a good atmosphere that was close to home. A good atmosphere would make the child happy to go every day, and if it were nearby, picking her up and dropping her off would be convenient.

Kotomi Izumi’s view, on the other hand, leaned more toward buying a house in Tokyo in the future and sending their child to a private aristocratic kindergarten there.

To be honest, Kotomi Izumi had only intended to mention the idea of sending their future child to a private aristocratic kindergarten, not to discuss it in depth with Yui Yuigahama.

She had originally assumed that once she said it and Yui agreed, the topic would naturally come to an end.

Unexpectedly, Yui Yuigahama, who usually listened to her so obediently, expressed an opinion that was not entirely in agreement this time. Kotomi could not say she felt displeased, but at the very least, a playful curiosity arose in her heart. She hadn’t expected that her usually compliant little dumpling would one day voice a differing opinion.

It made Kotomi Izumi feel extremely intrigued.

Of course, it was only intrigue.

Although Yui Yuigahama occasionally voiced opposition and expressed her own thoughts—something that Kotomi Izumi found novel—Kotomi had no intention of actually listening to Yui’s opinion, nor did she plan to change her own stance on this matter.

Don’t be fooled by Kotomi Izumi’s beautiful, slightly airheaded, adorable appearance that made her seem easy to bully. In many matters, once she made up her mind, she would become extraordinarily stubborn. It was very difficult to make her listen to anyone else’s views.

While others were speaking, she would appear modest and attentive, as if listening earnestly. In reality, however, the words either went in one ear and out the other, or she listened casually without taking them to heart. A few minutes later, she might toss the matter aside and forget it completely.

For example, just now, while Yui Yuigahama was expressing her opinion, Kotomi Izumi listened with a faint smile at the corner of her lips, nodding as she said:

”What you said makes sense, but... haha, whether it’s you or me, we’re thinking about this a bit too early. Mm, since I brought up this topic just now, that means I’m the one thinking too far ahead. Forget it, forget it. Let’s drop it. Do you want a cup of hot tea?”

On the surface, Kotomi Izumi appeared to have taken Yui’s words to heart. In truth, not a single word had sunk in. After realizing that Yui held a different view on this issue, she grew a little impatient and prepared to end the topic.

Yui Yuigahama looked at Kotomi somewhat uneasily. Although Kotomi’s expression showed no visible change, in that brief instant, Yui had clearly sensed that her mood had dropped sharply.

Yui was not stupid. She could more or less guess the reason for Kotomi Izumi’s sour mood. It was most likely because she had not shared the same opinion regarding [whether their future child should attend a private kindergarten].

Yui Yuigahama pressed her lips together and lowered her head helplessly. She knew she should obediently listen to Kotomi.

But for some reason, when it came to matters concerning their child, even Yui Yuigahama—who was usually so docile that if Kotomi told her to go east, she would never go west—could not help but voice her own thoughts and opinions.

Kotomi Izumi watched Yui Yuigahama for a while, then let out a helpless sigh and continued:

”Little dumpling, are you deaf? I’m asking you—do you want a cup of tea?”

Only then did Yui Yuigahama snap back to her senses and hurriedly reply,

”I-I don’t want any. We’re about to sleep. If I drink tea, I might not be able to fall asleep.”

”Oh? Is that so? Then fine.”

Kotomi Izumi did not say anything further. She simply responded briefly to indicate she understood. Then she picked up her phone, intending to scroll through a few short videos before going to sleep.

While Kotomi Izumi was watching short videos, Yui Yuigahama sat cautiously beside her with her head lowered, wondering whether she should apologize. After all, it was because she had contradicted Kotomi’s opinion just now that Kotomi had become unhappy.

After hesitating for a moment, Yui Yuigahama finally decided to speak.

”Kotomi...”

Before she could finish, Kotomi Izumi cut her off without hesitation.

”Shh! Don’t make a sound. I’m watching a performance video of a girl idol group right now. I originally planned to go to Tokyo during this long holiday to see their live show, but since we came to Kyoto instead, I’ll have to wait for next year’s performance.”

”Oh...”

Yui Yuigahama responded softly. After being with Kotomi for so long, she could naturally tell that Kotomi’s mood was not good. If she said even a few more words, it might cause Kotomi to truly lose her temper.

If it were just being scolded or hit by Kotomi, Yui would willingly endure it. But if it led to Kotomi turning cold and ignoring her, that feeling would be more unbearable to Yui than death itself.

Just moments ago, the two of them had been discussing married life and how to educate their child. Now, because of Kotomi Izumi’s displeasure, the atmosphere between them instantly became awkward.

Kotomi Izumi’s state—seemingly as usual, yet also faintly angry—unconsciously exuded a sense of distance that was difficult to describe in words, making others hesitant to speak to her casually.

Even as Kotomi Izumi’s girlfriend, Yui Yuigahama could only sit there with her head lowered, lightly tapping the fingernails of her right hand with those of her left, not daring to speak rashly for fear that one careless word might cause Kotomi to ignore her for days.

Not far from them, Yukino Yukinoshita lay on the bed pretending to sleep, listening all the while.

When she heard that Kotomi Izumi and Yui Yuigahama had differing opinions about which kindergarten their future child should attend, Yukino Yukinoshita instinctively sighed inwardly.

Kotomi is about to get angry.

Yukino believed she understood Kotomi Izumi’s personality quite well. She had long realized that although Kotomi was gentle and kind most of the time, in certain matters she could be extremely stubborn and proud—so proud that she believed she could not possibly be wrong, and unable to accept even the slightest suggestion from others.

Sometimes, the moment someone offered even a small suggestion, the Kotomi who had been warm and amiable one second would turn frosty the next.

Yukino Yukinoshita had already experienced this during rehearsals for the cultural festival performance.

On one occasion, while reviewing the order of the songs, Yukino had casually suggested, ”Should we switch the order of the first and second songs?”

Before her sentence had even fully fallen, Yukino felt Kotomi Izumi’s expression darken instantly. Those beautiful pink eyes fixed on her with an icy stare, startling Yukino.

The next second, Kotomi asked in a cold voice devoid of emotion:

”A reason? Since you want to change a song order I’ve already decided on, then you need to give me a reason that will make me nod.”

Under Kotomi Izumi’s piercing gaze and cold questioning tone, Yukino Yukinoshita’s mind went blank, as if she had temporarily lost the ability to speak.

When Yukino remained silent for a long while, Kotomi continued:

”If you can’t provide a suitable reason, then don’t waste time on this issue.”

From that day on, Yukino Yukinoshita understood that once Kotomi Izumi had made a decision, unless one was completely confident in persuading her thoroughly, voicing opposition without being able to fully convince her would only lead to one exhausting task—figuring out how to coax an extremely angry Kotomi back into a good mood.

—

—

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven