Kanojo ni Uwaki Volume 1 Chapter 1 Part 1

 

Volume 1 Chapter 1 Part 1

 

The illuminations lit up all over the city make it hard not to feel like it’s Christmas season.

 

Glancing at the brilliant red, green, and gold lights, I couldn’t help but sigh.

 

There were couples everywhere. I cursed myself for accidentally passing through a place that was famous for being a place where couples gather.

 

Although I turned down Ayaka’s invitation, when I saw the couples with my own eyes, my feelings began to waver.

 

Sometimes I see a group made up of only men and feel excited by the sense of familiarity, but then I’m disappointed when I hear a conversation like, “She seems to like French cuisine, so I’ll go check them out next time.”

 

Since I spent last Christmas with my ex-girlfriend, I feel out of place in a town that’s full of Christmas excitement.

 

“Excuse me, um, please take this!”

 

Amidst all the hustle and bustle, a girl dressed in bright red suddenly appeared and thrust a flyer at my chest.

 

It’s a lame excuse to say that I was annoyed because there were a lot of couples around.

 

Reflexively, I brushed her arm away.

 

“Kyaa!”

 

The girl lost her balance, and the flyers she was holding scattered all over the place.

 

“Whoa, sorry!”

 

I frantically tried to pick up the scattered flyers, but unfortunately a group of students passed by at an unfortunate time and trampled over about half of them.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I’ll compensate you for that.”

 

I had no idea how much the flyers would cost, but I quickly took out my wallet from my back pocket.

 

Seeing this, the girl in red looked flustered.

 

The red outfit was apparently a Santa suit, and I thought to myself that this part-time job must be tough. It’s true the Ayaka and I had been talking about whether Santa would come, but this turned out to be an unexpected encounter.

 

“No, no it’s okay! I’m sorry for suddenly pushing the flyers on you. I’ll explain the situation to my manager after I’ve handed out all the clean ones…”

 

“I’ll go too, I have to explain.”

 

I look up to hand over the flyer I picked up.

 

The girl seems confused and hesitant about my proposal.

 

And my mind was filled with other things.

 

She’s extremely cute. Combined with her Santa outfit, she stands out from the crowd like a resident from another world.

 

People passing by glanced at her from the side, so I guessed my perception was correct.

 

Judging from her dark, curled hair and light makeup, she was probably a university student like me.

 

Seeing my reflection in her large eyes, I instinctively ran off to pick up the flyers.

 

“Thank you for picking them up.”

 

“N-no, it was my fault.”

 

“I’m honestly grateful for the help, especially since my manager is so strict. But, are you sure you want to? There’s still about an hour before I can go…”

 

“I’m no busy, so I can wait that long.”

 

Saying this, the girl dressed as Santa bowed her head down with a smile.

 

“Well…. I’ll see you later. I wish I could tell you where you can rest.”

 

“Oh, that’s okay. The university I go to is around here and it’s like a garden. I’ll be waiting at the café called Litter’s on the first floor of the shopping mall nearby.”

 

“Is that university right around the corner?”

 

There’s only one university in the area.

 

When I nodded my head, I felt a slight tinge of familiarity develop in the previously bland expression on my face.

 

“Um, my name is Shinohara Mayu.”

 

“Hasegawa Yuuta…. Well then, see you later.”

 

“Ah, okay. Litters. Got it.”

 

After a slightly awkward greet, in stark contrast to the one I had with Ayaka, I headed off the shopping mall where couples were gathering

 

As I gazed at the colorful Christmas decorations scattered around, I strangely felt my steps becoming lighter.

 

“She’s late”

 

Litters is a café located on the first floor of a shopping mall decorated for Christmas

 

I was sitting alone at the counter, waiting for the girl dressed in a Santa costume.

 

I rolled up my sleeves and checked the time on my watch. It was already 40 minutes past our appointed time.

 

Well, that makes sense now that I think about it.

 

No matter how much I try to explain myself, the only thing I can do is apologize together with her. I was so nervous earlier that I took out my wallet, but I don’t think there are many companies that would charge money for just handing out flyers.

 

I looked at my watch one last time and stood up.

 

I gulped down my completely cold coffee in one go and left the bar.

 

I walked with heavy steps through the bustling shopping mall.

 

When I think about it calmly, what does ‘apologizing together’ even mean?”

 

She must have been wary of me because I was behaving like some kind of pick-up artist. If I were in her shoes, I would have thought, “What the heck is up with this guy?”

 

“…Well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped, but isn’t making me wait like this a bit too harsh?”

 

As I was pondering this, I looked ahead, and I saw a couple walking right in front of me with their hands linked together. They were looking at each other and didn’t even notice me.

 

As a result, I ended up tearing the couple’s joined hands apart.

 

“S’cuse me.”

 

I bowed my head deeply.

 

The couple, who looked to be high school students, didn’t even turn around and romantically reconnected their hands that I had separated.

 

“Haa….”

 

I couldn’t help but sigh. Rather than feeling anger, I felt more pathetic.

 

Those high schoolers will probably spend Christmas together too. I wonder if they’ll make reservations at a nice restaurant, even though they don’t have much money.

 

I shoved my hands in my pocket, put in my earphones and turned up the volume of my favorite music to block out the conversations around me.

 

Being alone didn’t particularly bother me, but why is Christmas so unkind to people who are single?

 

I’ll just go home today and read some manga. That’ll be my plan for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

 

Then I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder.

 

I turned around and saw a girl I didn’t recognize. No, it was the girl who was wearing the Santa costume earlier. She was now wearing a beige coat. It was hard to tell when she was dressed as Santa, but now that I look at her, I can tell she’s younger than me.

 

“Um, what’s up?”

 

“Oh, um. I’m the person from earlier.”

 

“Sorry, I thought you weren’t coming so I was about to head home. Are you ready now?”

 

Feeling guilty about leaving the spot where I said I’d wait, I averted my eyes as I asked. Even though she was forty minutes late, maybe I should have waited a bit longer.

 

“No, I already finished.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“In two different way.”

 

“Huh.”

 

“I quit.”

 

 

“What!?”

 

I couldn’t help but feel taken aback by the girl who casually laughed and said, “I quit being Santa.”

 

So, what? Is it because I bumped into her?

 

“Well, either way, I was planning to quit soon. Though, I do feel little sad that I won’t be able to wear the Santa outfit anymore.”

 

“Oh, are you okay with that?”

 

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

 

And so, the girl pouted. The polite impression I had earlier seemed to be just for her part-time job after all.

 

“I told you my name, didn’t I? It’s Shinohara Mayu. Stop calling me ‘you’.”

 

“Oh, sorry…..But is it really okay? Giving your name so easily to some stranger like me?”

 

We’d only bumped into each other on the street, scattering some flyers. That though crossed my mind as I said it out loud.

 

“What’s that supposed to mean? Saying it like that makes it sound like I’m an easy woman.”

 

“N-no, that’s what I meant.”

 

I hurriedly waved both hands to deny it as Shinohara narrowed her eyes.

 

“…But you’re right. Sorry. I was just concerned, but either way, it was none of my business.”

 

When I apologized, Shinohara blinked in surprise.

 

“N-no…I didn’t mean it like that. Please don’t apologize so much; I was just kidding.”

 

“What, that was a joke?”

 

“Yes, just a joke.”

 

“W-what a confusing joke…I really though I made you angry.”

 

“I’m not so impatient that I’d get angry over something like that.”

 

Shinohara frowned, as if disappointed.

 

There’s no way I could know that on our first meeting, so I replied with a wry smile.

 

“By the way, Hasegawa-san, we go to the same university, Also, I’m a first year, so I’m probably younger than you.”

 

“Huh, you’re from there too, Shinohara-san? I’m a second-year there.”

 

“Yeah, there’s only one university nearby, after all. And since you’re older, please just call me by my name. It feels kind of awkward.”

 

Shinohara said, frowning.

 

True, the only time I’m called with ‘-san’ by older students is when I’m working part-time.

 

Using  ‘-san’ in a private setting might feel strange.

 

“Well then, Shinohara. Is there any way I can make it up to you? Even if you were planning to quit anyway, the fact is that you ended up quitting today because of me.”

 

Hearing that, Shinohara crossed her arms and made a thoughtful gesture, deliberately letting out an exaggerated “Hmm.”

 

“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“There’s somewhere I want to go.”

 

Upon saying that, Shinohara took out her smartphone and starting using it. After about ten seconds, she held up the screen so I could see it.

 

“It’s quite a nice place. I’m confident about it.”

 

“…No, this is.”

 

Is it just me, or does it say that the French Christmas course costs 8,000 yen per person?

 

[TL/N: Currently 8,000 JPY = $52.68]

 

“…Why?”

 

“Why, indeed. Well, you see, It’s because we’re from the same university.”

 

“So random.”

 

“It is random. It’s better to live life somewhat spontaneously.”

 

“Right.”

 

“I’m kidding. You said so yourself earlier senpai, this is a token of apology. Isn’t it okay to be a little selfish in this case?”

 

“Ugh.”

 

I can’t argue against that. It’s true that just a few seconds ago, I was the one who offered to apologize. If I were to reject her proposal now, it wouldn’t really count as an apology.

 

….By the way, there was a word just now that caught my attention.

 

“What do you mean by ‘senpai’?”

 

It’s been about two years since I entered university, and being called ‘senpai’ by a younger student is rare unless you’re in a club.

 

In clubs, just using ‘-san’ is sufficient, so the last time I was actually called ‘senpai’ was back in high school.

 

“Oh, sorry, it’s a habit. I was in a club until recently, so I tend to call older people ‘senpai’ without thinking.”

 

“Huh, so that’s how it is when you’re in a club.”

 

“No, I don’t think it’s that common… If it’s not okay, I’ll just address you normally.”

 

Being called ‘senpai’ reminds me of the past and makes me feel a little embarrassed, but that’s all. It doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to refuse.

 

“Call me whatever you like.”

 

“Okay then, senpai. Umm, let’s exchange Line contacts. We’re going with that restaurant, right?”

 

“Ah, yeah. Okay.”

 

Whatever happens, happens.

 

I took out my cell phone and exchanged IDs.

 

Since I was the one who brought up the apology, all I can do here is follow Shinohara’s lead.

 

And so, I made plans for dinner with Shinohara Mayu, the former Santa.

 

I struggled to let go of the thought that the 8,000-yer-per-person Christmas course would ultimately drain my wallet.

Translators note: Holy cow. First I would like to apologize in taking so long to release this upload. School kinda had me in a chokehold. Currently on winter break until January 13. Going forward I've decided to divide chapters into parts to try to get them out faster. And once all the chapters are completed, they'll be compiled into a single volume as a PDF to download. Thank you for your patience. Take care

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