Chapter 12
Mizuki slowly woke up from her deep slumber to the unexpected sweet melody of birds chirping freely outside, their tunes dancing through the air with a sense of liberation. As she stirred, her gaze fell upon Nozomi, who was seated on a chair, her face contorted in a pained expression as she slept. Mizuki, who had woken up feeling guilt in her heart for Nozomi, had firmly decided to break up with her. However, all those thoughts were instantly forgotten the moment she saw Nozomi in pain. Mizuki couldn't bear to see her suffering.With a growing sense of concern, Mizuki approached Nozomi and noticed that her wound had reopened, prompting her to gently place a hand on Nozomi's forehead to check for signs of fever.
Nozomi stirred from her slumber, her eyes fluttering open as she felt Mizuki's warm touch on her skin. An awkward silence enveloped the room, shared by Nozomi and mizuki , as the realization of the situation sunk in. Expressing her concern, Mizuki informed Nozomi of her fever and insisted that she needed to rest, her caring nature driving her to request the first aid box to tend to Nozomi's wound once more.
Initially hesitant, Nozomi attempted to reassure Mizuki that she was fine, but the genuine concern in Mizuki's eyes softened her resolve, ultimately leading her to yield and allow Mizuki to provide the care and attention she needed.
After gently removing the bandage, Mizuki observed Nozomi's scars, noticing how they appeared to be in a rather severe condition. Surprised and concerned, Mizuki paused for a moment before inquiring about what had caused such significant scarring. Nozomi, displaying a sense of humor and self-awareness, playfully admitted that her own immaturity had led to the minor mishap. Although Mizuki harbored doubts about the explanation, she chose not to press the matter further as Nozomi seemed reluctant to delve into the details. Proceeding to carefully reapply the bandage and tuck Nozomi into bed, Mizuki suddenly recalled her sister, realizing that she needed to return home as her absence might cause worry. However, Nozomi reassured Mizuki that she had already visited her home and provided a suitable explanation to allay her sister's concerns. While feeling a sense of relief, Mizuki still insisted on heading home promptly, as she had planned a live streaming session for the day, not wanting to disappoint her loyal fans and followers awaiting her presence.
Mizuki, feeling a sense of empathy upon witnessing Nozomi's solitude within the vast confines of the family mansion, made the decision to stay with her for an hour despite her original intention to depart. Throughout their time together, a heartfelt conversation ensued, covering a wide array of topics and fostering a momentary connection between the two. As the clock struck the end of the agreed-upon hour, Mizuki expressed her intent to leave, prompting Nozomi to offer to accompany her back home. However, Mizuki, recognizing Nozomi's need for rest, politely declined her offer, suggesting that she could make her own way home and reassuring Nozomi of her independence and self-sufficiency in the process.
Nozomi, who understood that the previous trick would not work this time, kindly offered to have her driver drop Mizuki off. Despite the agreement, as soon as Mizuki accepted, Nozomi was jolted awake by a sharp pain in her wounded backside. In a swift motion, she called for the driver to prepare for the trip and then proceeded to escort Mizuki to the parking area before bidding her farewell.
After a brief journey, Mizuki finally arrived home. Feeling determined and responsible, she made her way to her sister's room, clutching an iron in her hand. Taking great care, she meticulously ironed her school uniform in preparation for the upcoming class. Reflecting on her recent mishap during the live stream, Mizuki made sure to keep her uniform safely stored in her sister's room to avoid any potential errors. With the memory of missing today's school lingering, she ventured back to her own room, ready to rest and regroup for the following day.
As Mizuki began her live stream, she was overwhelmed by the flood of comments in the section due to her recent absence from streaming. Addressing the questions from her viewers became her first priority as she dove into the conversation. After a span of 45 minutes, the unexpected sound of her door opening caught her off guard. It was her younger sister who unknowingly pointed out that Mizuki's school dress had found its way into her sibling's room. This candid moment with her sister not only brought a sense of humor to the stream but also revealed a bit of their personal life to the audience. The viewers, who had eagerly tuned in to find out about the rumors surrounding Mizuki's college attendance, finally received confirmation when her fans validated the news. All these interactions and revelations led to an influx of comments lighting up her screen, showing the support and curiosity of her dedicated followers.
Mizuki sisters, in a state of shock over mizuki appearance, instructs her sibling to retreat to her own room. Her sister, equally taken aback, hurriedly closed the door, leaving Mizuki partly relieved that only a glimpse of her sister's leg and attire was visible. Puzzled by her sister's early return home, Mizuki attempted to conceal her emotions by forcing a smile and abruptly ending her live stream. Despite her best efforts, the unsettling incident left Mizuki trembling uncontrollably for nearly thirty minutes, consumed by a whirlwind of anxious thoughts. It wasn't until her apologetic sister entered the room that Mizuki began to regain her composure, leading her to decide to announce her intention to quit streaming. Despite the disappointment expressed by many devoted fans, urging her to reconsider, Mizuki ultimately made the difficult decision to delete her account.
After a few hours had passed, the night sky had already darkened, casting a blanket of shadows over the world. It was then that her sister called out to her, urging Mizuki to join her for dinner. However, Mizuki politely declined, explaining that she was not feeling hungry at the moment. Her sister, still reeling from the guilt of the accident that had occurred earlier that day, found herself at a loss for words, her silence echoing in the room.
She found herself unable to drift into sleep as the upcoming incident loomed large in her mind, unfolding within a mere few days. Feeling conflicted, Mizuki resolved to act as though the previous incident with Chika had not transpired, yet her inner turmoil hinted at a different truth she struggled to ignore. Alongside this decision, she firmly decided to end her relationship with Nozomi the following day. With these weighty thoughts consuming her, she eventually succumbed to sleep, the uncertainty of her choices lingering in the quiet of the night.