The Person Who Became Dear to Me

"The Person Who Became Dear to Me" (大切になった人) is a short story for volume 11.5 of You-Zitsu light novel series, included in the First Year Arc short stories collection, together with another short stories.

Summary
While preparing to go out for the night, Kei Karuizawa receives a call from Kiyotaka Ayanokōji. She remembers seeing him going on a date with Hiyori Shiina earlier and feels irritated, but accepts the call nonetheless. Kiyotaka asks if they can meet up to talk. Kei agrees but says she will not take responsibility if someone sees them. She also tells him she already has something planned so they cannot have too much time.

After arriving at his room, Kei asks Kiyotaka if there is anything. She urges him to hurry because she has plans with the other girls and only has little time. She also wants to say something to Kiyotaka, that Satō has been suspicious about their relationship. Kei explains that Satō has been asking her if she parted with Hirata to date Kiyotaka. She has been denying that, but Kei isn't sure how much Satō believes her. Kiyotaka says he has been asked the same from Chiaki Matsushita. Kei gets panic and thinks Kiyotaka is joking. She hears him explains on how Chiaki has suspected his real abilities during the exam. Kei wonders whether Kiyotaka has any plan to calm down the situation, but he thinks it is better to just ignore it. Kei wants him to tell Chiaki that there is nothing between them, but Kiyotaka says it will have the opposite effect. He explains that it will not change the situation because Chiaki is friends with Satō and can hear about Kei and Kiyotaka from her. Kei reluctantly agrees.

Kei is then worried about the rumour that she is ditching Hirata for Kiyotaka will spread throughout the school. He asks why she is bothered by that, and she replies that it will have an impact on her, since it will be difficult for other boys to approach her because of her rumour with Kiyotaka.

After Kiyotaka has seemingly understood, Kei then remembers about his date with Hiyori and asks him about it. She is taken aback on how Kiyotaka casually refers to Hiyori using her first name, and how they seem to share the same hobby of reading books, which is completely different from Kei. She gets frustrated, then tells him that it will be more difficult for him to get closer to Hiyori if the rumour spreads. Kiyotaka agrees. Kei claims she has no say in who he wants to get closer to and asks if they can talk about it later, since she wants to head to Keyaki Mall early. She tells him she is going to get a new boyfriend after breaking up with Hirata. She asks if that is a problem, but he immediately answers no.

As Kei is about to leave, Kiyotaka calls her name. He proceeds to ask her to go out with him. As she gets confused, he repeats the question. Kei gets flustered and considers it to be a bad joke but Kiyotaka denies it. Kei cannot understand because he has just talked about himself getting closer to Hiyori and he says it was just a joke. Kiyotaka explains that it was only a little test from him to see if Kei would be jealous. Kei warns him that it's his last chance to take it back if it was a joke. She mentally thinks that their relationship will break apart if that is the case, but also finds herself unable to reply to him if it's not.

Kiyotaka reaffirms that it's not a joke and wants to hear her answer. Kei becomes panic and asks him why. He replies that he wants to stop any other guy from getting her as their girlfriend. Kei then asks if he really likes her, with stuttering words. Kiyotaka tells her that he loves her, and again asks for her answer.

After trying to gather herself, Kei answers that she can let him go out with her. Kiyotaka wants to confirm whether she also likes him. Kei stutters and struggles to say, as she has not prepared for any confession. She eventually manages to tell Kiyotaka that she also loves him, and even though it is frustrating but she admits it.

Kiyotaka gently put his arms on both sides of her and Kei panics, thinking he will kiss her. He says that he will not do it yet, and quietly embraces her. Kei asks him if he has grown taller a bit. She then wonders about their path together as lovers from now on, and whether it will go on forever.