Mizuki has a tendency to show up to class whenever they liked. But something that motivated them to go to class more often (besides potentially failing) was the chance to play with the hair of the girl who sat in front of them. The sight of Mizuki running their fingers through her hair has only grown to become more and more of a common occurrence to the class of 1-A.

Not even Mizuki knew where the sudden habit came from. It's not like they needed to, you didn't mind in the first place anyway. In fact, you enjoyed their presence thoroughly. Your scalp even feels empty on the days that Mizuki doesn't show...

While returning to class from lunch, you spot an all-too-familiar figure in the hallway.
"Huh? Is that you Mizuki? You really came today!"
"Yep! Hehe, you're so excited to see me.. didya miss me that much?" Mizuki's grin twists mischievously, almost smirking.
"Oh hush, you." Returning the smile, you rush into your class and take your seat to begin the ritual you two did every other day. Mizuki follows behind, sitting at their place behind you.

They mumbled lowly while they tussled through your locks, "...your hair is so pretty and nice to comb through. I'm honestly a little jealous.."
"Sorry, what was that? You were combing my hair so good, I was zoning out, haha!" You turn around and lock eyes with them with an expectant smile.
Mizuki stammers a little, suddenly timid from the unexpected eye contact and the request to repeat themselves, "Oh! I-..I.. uh.. said.... that uhm... you h-"

"But yea, people like that are so weird..."
"Right? She's not gonna like you like that just because you're nice to each other, like where's the substance in that relationship? It's bound to fall apart, and there's definitely other people who mean way more to her."
The domestic peace you and Mizuki shared dissipates with the incoming liveliness and chatter of your classmates'. They begin to flood the room, having also come back from lunch.

"Oh, everybody's back already.. you can tell me after class!" You reassure Mizuki with a chance to continue after class, still curious as to what they said.
"...Alright then." Mizuki hopes that by then, you'd have forgotten.

When class was over and everyone started leaving, you turned to Mizuki as you were packing up. You asked about what they said earlier.

Mizuki only told you that they forgot. 

The next day, you offered to eat lunch with Mizuki that day. Naturally, they felt worried about you joining them for lunch on the rooftop. Worried that they were pulling you away from your other friends, or that you'd also get classified as an 'outcast' like they'd been. But you insisted, saying that "a day where they came to school was a day to spend with them". You were so clingy but... Mizuki didn't mind this kind of attention.

"Close your eyes, I've got a surprise for you!" Mizuki holds their hands behind their back to conceal their 'surprise' for you.
"Huuhh? Reaaalllyyy?? That's funny, I have something for you too!" You look amused at them.
"Aw man, really? Okay, let's both close our eyes and hold out our gift on the count of three!" There's an excited sparkle swirling in their pink eyes. What could you have gotten them? They get anxious just thinking about it! You nod to signal your agreement to their exchange idea. The both of you close your eyes and begin to count together.
"Three..."
"Two..."
"One!"

And you opened your eyes.

While you held out your home-made bento lunch, Mizuki holds out a velvet pouch tied with a cutesy pink ribbon. You raise both of your eyebrows, your interest piqued. Mizuki looked equally as surprised, though more surprised in the unexpected sense. When the two of you traded your gifts, you gently untied the pink ribbon and set it aside to open the bag. Inside was an assortment of cute accessories and hair ties.

"Oh wow... these are all so cute!" You start to rummage and sort through the collection to see what else was in it.
"Ahaha... ya think so? Y'know, I would've brought way more if I knew you made me lunch. Especially if it was curry rice!" Mizuki's cheeks are red and their eyebrows point upward, embarrassed. Trading a bag of some hair clips and ties for a whole meal.. way to look lame...
"It's just my way of thanking you! Plus, maybe it'll motivate you to come to class more if you got curry rice made with love every day."
"Well, I'd just come during lunch then!"
"Hey! I'm not giving you any unless I see you in class!"

You laugh together.

"By the way, what are all these clips 'n stuff for?" Though you appreciated the gift, the gift of hair accessories was pretty unconventional.
"For your hair, duh!", Mizuki wittily shoots back.
You roll your eyes and smack them gently on their back, chuckling lightly, "Y'know that's not what I meant, dummy."
They chortle, before regaining themselves shortly after, "Fine, fine. I gave them to you because I thought they'd look nicer on your hair. I figured you'd make better use of them than me!"
Tilting your head, you look at Mizuki quizzically. "Better use of them?"
"Because your hair is so long, you could probably style it in a lot of different ways," they elaborate.
"Oh! But... I've never really experimented with my hair before.. I wouldn't know where to begin, hehe."
"Hmmm? Is this a call for help from the Mizuki Akiyama? Why, I'd be honored to provide you my services!" Mizuki smirks mischievously.
"You're such a dork." You can't help but smile back. 
"I'm your dork," they correct, and you fight the urge to roll your eyes again.

Mizuki walks over and sits on one of the rooftop benches while you assume your position directly in front of them, sitting on the concrete tile floor. You lift your head to be level with the horizon as Mizuki takes out a hairbrush from their bag and begins to comb. Whenever the brush would meet a hair knot, Mizuki would tug firmly and sometimes accidentally yank your head back in the process if they tugged too hard. And whenever that happened, Mizuki would gasp and ask if you're okay as well as apologizing profusely, to which you always smile and reassure them that "it's fine". The pain you feel in the back of your cranium afterwards makes you flinch, but it's momentary and soon subsides.

Then, Mizuki starts to gather your hair using assistance from their brush. With your hair now much neater and cooperative, they comb a part down the middle and separate your hair into two large chunks. You feel them gather one chunk with one hand and tie it up, doing the same to the other after. They begin to decorate your hair with pins and clips, and you two sat like that for several more minutes, in silence occasionally broken by the sound of hair clips bending and snapping into your hair. Though it's so quiet between you, it's not awkward at all. The weather today is nice, a pleasant breeze sweeping through the rooftop, and the skies are blue and cloudless. In this domestic moment, you can feel yourself begin to nod off, but quickly wake up when Mizuki gently tugs your head back.

"Hey! No falling asleep! I'm already done though, so it's fine," Mizuki holds a hand mirror in front of your face to show you. You notice the overall pink and ribbon theme of the accessories.
"Well? How do you like it?" Mizuki asks, curious of your opinion.
"It's totally on brand for you! If I were to go back to class like this, I think a lot of people would be able to guess that you were my stylist," you giggle lightly, "It looks like I got claimed by you, like I'm yours or something, haha!"
Mizuki pauses. 'Like you were mine, huh...' Images of what that could be like flash in their mind. If you were to still be around by then... what could become of you two?
They quickly snap out of their thoughts before they thought any deeper to respond, "..Haha, I'm glad you like my style a lot. Better get used to it now, 'cause you're gonna look like this all the time!"
"Aw, I wouldn't mind that." You smile sweetly, and Mizuki feels their heart beat accelerate.

The spell they were momentarily cast under is broken when the bell rings. It's already time to return to class. You were about to open the rooftop door to go back, but Mizuki yells out for you. 
"Hey, wait! Your hair.. it's still styled and stuff, let me take it ou-"
"It's fine."
"...You..... You really wanna go to class like that..? Even when you look so.. dumb?"
You shake your head 'no', "Your style isn't dumb at all, Mizuki. In fact, I'd love to show off to everybody else that I had the honor of having my hair styled by the Mizuki Akiyama! Now c'mon, we're gonna be late!" Taking Mizuki by the hand, you lead them down the staircase leading to the rooftop.

Mizuki has always worried about the future, about how their relationships would change from now until then. But maybe for a while longer, they can stay in the bliss of the present, and worry about the future later instead.