Volume 1 Chapter 5: Coincidence
Apparently, today marked the coldest day in several years.
It was late January. The streets, having shed even the last
traces of the New Year atmosphere – let alone Christmas cheer – had returned
completely to normal.
This past month had been uneventful. Buying a lottery ticket
with friends on a whim, attending a bunch of New Year parties – everything was
almost exactly the same as last year.
If there was one thing that had changed from last year…
“Senpai, you really let the place go again while I wasn’t
here, huh~”
It would be the presence of Mayu Shinohara, the ex-Santa now
visiting my place three times a week.
“Shut up. A real man doesn’t have time to clean.”
“What kind of nonsense logic is that? You’re gonna turn into
a pile of house dust.”
With an exasperated tone, Shinohara started folding the
clothes scattered across my one-room apartment.
“Hey, cut it out. I said I’d fold those myself later.”
“I believed that for a whole week after you said it. Still
waiting for it to happen.”
“I’m starting tomorrow.”
“Right.”
She replied in a voice soaked with disbelief, hands never
stopping as she neatly folded another shirt.
How did it come to this?
Back when Shinohara visited over New Year’s, we’d agreed
she’d come over maybe twice a week.
At the time, I’d honestly been happy to have formed a new
bond.
But this current situation… was nowhere near what I’d
envisioned back then.
This wasn’t so much a case of her visiting my place
anymore – it felt more accurate to say she was commuting.
While I was still somewhat bewildered by this new
arrangement, there was one thing I genuinely appreciated about Shinohara coming
over so often.
“Senpai, I’m going to use the kitchen again today~”
“Yeah, thanks.”
That’s right – her cooking.
Living alone as a male college student was, to put it
bluntly, pathetic. Meals were something I just got over with.
Wake up past noon, eat some bread, then grab dinner on the
way home. On days I didn’t meet up with anyone, I’d grab a convenience store
bento and call it a night.
That lifestyle had gone on long enough that my tongue had
practically been starved for proper home-cooked meals. So when Shinohara
started cooking for me, I was honestly thrilled.
“You’re seriously a lifesaver. I owe you big time.”
“I live alone too, so it’s just convenient for me. I just
cook when I’ve got free time and feel like eating with Senpai – so don’t worry
about it.”
“For real? You’re a good one, huh. You really get my
financial situation.”
I let out a breath of relief.
I hadn’t been working as many part-time shifts this month,
and my savings were looking dangerously low. With job hunting coming up soon, I
couldn’t afford to be reckless.
“My payment will be a Louis Vuitton wallet, thanks.”
“That’s not ‘just convenient’ at all! That’s a serious
demand!”
“It’s your fault for dangling the idea of compensation,
Senpai. No female college student can resist the temptation of a Louis Vuitton
wallet.”
“How did that become the default thank-you gift…?”
I flopped onto the bed with a groan. Well, even if we were
splitting grocery costs, she was still putting in all the effort to cook, so I
couldn’t really complain.
After a while, I figured maybe buying her something like
that wouldn’t be out of the question.
Like, say – for her birthday.
“When’s your birthday?”
“Tomorrow.”
“What!?”
I jolted upright in bed and locked eyes with Shinohara, who
blinked back at me in surprise.
Still wearing her apron tied around her waist, she tilted
her head.
“Something wrong?”
“…Nah, I was just surprised. How old are you turning?”
I deflected with a safe question and flopped back down onto
the bed.
“You know,” she began, I just realized something – being
able to casually ask a woman her age only really flies while we’re students.”
“Yeah, once you’re out in the working world, that kind of
thing’s off-limits.”
“Right? It’s terrifying, since there’s no real upper limit
on how old someone could be.”
Shinohara gave a mock shiver at the thought.
Then she cleared her throat theatrically and said:
“Anyway, to answer your question – nineteen! Just one more
year until I can legally drink!”
“Ahh.”
I was tempted to comment on her use of the word “legally,”
but decided to let it go.
Like she said before – this is just how college students
are.
“Hmm hmm hmm. What’s with the lukewarm reaction? I’m almost
legal, you know! Senpai, I bet when you turned eighteen—”
“Yeah year, sure I get it. But don’t go saying stuff like
that out loud, alright? These days, you never know who’s listening.”
I shut down my junior before she could say anything even
more incriminating.
Shinohara looked dissatisfied that she hadn’t been allowed
to finish her sentence, but instead of pushing through, she averted her gaze
and muttered:
“It’s fine. This is your room, after all. It’s just you and
me here.”
“That’s not really the issue.”
“It is the issue.”
She declared that flatly, then pulled her phone from her
pocket.
The vibrating screen showed she’d just gotten a message from
someone.
“Wanna go out for dinner tomorrow?”
I asked offhandedly.
It wasn’t a big deal, but I figured it wouldn’t be a bad
idea to treat her to something. A small way of saying thanks for everything she
does.
Besides, I had no plans tomorrow.
And if I were going to get her a gift, I didn’t trust my own
taste enough to pick one out on my own.
Shinohara looked up at the offer – but then shook her head.
“Sorry, I can’t tomorrow.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Don’t look so surprised. I do make plans for my own
birthday, you know! I’ve got plans with my friend to celebrate.”
She flashed a cheerful peace sign. I’d always gotten the
sense she was socially active, but it seemed she really was surrounded by good
friends.
“Wait, huh?”
“Hm? What’s up?”
“Senpai… were you maybe thinking of buying me a wallet for
my birthday?”
She nailed it. I gave a reluctant nod, and she immediately
waved her hands in flustered denial.
“No no no! That was a joke! I’m kidding! I’d never seriously
ask for a brand-name wallet from a college student living on his own!”
“Well, I mean… a brand-name wallet might be pushing it, but
I figured I could at least get you something for your birthday.”
It’s not like I had anyone else in my life to buy gifts for
these days.
Honestly, I still had that bitter memory stuck in my head –
back when I’d tried to give a present to my ex. Maybe part of me just wanted to
overwrite that with something better by giving Shinohara a gift instead.
“W-Wait, really? You’re gonna start spoiling me after
knowing me for just a month?”
“Don’t be stupid. It’s just a small thank-you, alright? I want
to give you something, so don’t make a big deal out of it. If you don’t like
it, toss it. Just – do it when I’m not around. I’d be a little crushed if you
chucked it in front of me.”
I shrugged, and Shinohara blinked at me, sounding genuinely
surprised.
“Wait… seriously, Senpai?”
She must’ve thought I was joking.
She looked thoughtful for a moment, but it seemed like the
idea didn’t bother her.
“If that’s how it is… then okay.”
When she answered, I couldn’t help but smile.
There’s something uplifting about giving a gift – even just
planning to.
“Is there anything you want in particular?”
I asked, and Shinohara brought a finger to her chin, mulling
it over.
“Let’s see… I’ll leave it up to you. I know that’s probably
the hardest answer, but that’s exactly why I want to leave it up to you.”
“Ah, going with that approach, huh… Alright. You got it.
Leave it to me.”
“I’m looking forward to it!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
She gave me a playful wink, and I gave her a casual nod.
Truthfully, I had no idea what kind of design she liked.
One thing was for sure though – if I picked something purely
on my own, it probably wouldn’t suit her tastes. Getting to know someone’s
sense of style after just a month? That’s tough, even if you’re dating.
Still, if we were dating, picking something out myself
might’ve made more sense. But this was just a gift for a junior – I figured I’d
be better off asking someone I could trust.
Naturally, the first person who came to mind… was her.
◇
“I’m begging you.”
I clasped my hands together in front of her, and the
ever-reliable Ayaka frowned in disapproval.
I called her out in front of the university’s main gate, but
judging by her expression, she wasn’t too thrilled.
“You want me to help pick out a present for Shinohara-san?”
“Yeah. I’m counting on you.”
“No way.”
“Come on.”
“What do you mean, ‘come on’?”
Ayaka sighed like she was too tired to deal with this.
“You asked if we could meet up, so I went out of my way to
come here. I thought you were going to treat me to lunch or something.”
“Like I’d go out of my way to pull you out of an all-girls
group just to treat you to a meal. Do you know how much guts that takes? That
was a suicide mission.”
I’d gone to fetch her during lunch break, right in the
middle of her group’s meal. Infiltrating a full group of girls just to get one
of them – it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
“Uh-huh. Figures. Some of the girls even thought you were
trying to hit on me again.”
“Wait, for real!?”
“Kidding. Everyone there already knows we’re just high
school friends.”
“Don’t scare me like that – that was a dirty lie.”
I was on pretty good terms with Ayaka, who stood out even
among our department, but I didn’t really talk to the other girls much.
Whenever I was with Ayaka, girls I didn’t know would
sometimes approach, and she would always come up with some excuse to pull me
away and keep it just the two of us.
Her reason was simple: “It’s just easier that way.”
Back with that group earlier, Ayaka had seemed more relaxed
than usual, but with people she wasn’t particularly close to, she always kept
up a careful social façade.
She seemed to enjoy acting like that most of the time, but I
figured she needed a place where she could let her guard down every now and
then.
“First of all,” Ayaka said, “didn’t Shinohara-san say she’d
leave it up to you? Then it’s meaningless unless you’re the one who picks it
out. That kind of thing’s about the gesture, you know?”
“Nah, Shinohara might not look it, but she’s a pretty
rational girl. The fact that she told a guy she’s not dating ‘I’ll leave it to
you’ – I think that was her way of putting pressure on me. So something
practical is probably best.”
“Ugh, whatever.”
Ayaka looked completely disinterested.
Still, the fact that she didn’t immediately use work or
something as an excuse to leave meant there was at least a chance. Which meant
I just needed the right leverage.
“Ayaka.”
“What?”
“Finals are coming up. You sure you don’t want those old
exams?”
“Please. If you think there’s any past exam you know about
that I don’t, you’re dreaming.”
She was right. I wouldn’t stand a chance against someone
with Ayaka’s connections – even if there were five of me.
If anything, I was the one who always borrowed her past
exams.
“Actually, that reminds me. Didn’t you pass on the materials
I gave you to someone else?”
“Geh!?”
“I’ll make sure you treat me to a proper meal to cover
that,” Ayaka sniffed.
I had nothing to say in my defense. I simply resolved to
make it up to her another time.
But that was a separate matter. Right now, I needed to bring
out the big guns.
“…What about the limited-time buffet at the hotel by the
station? Would that work?”
“…What?”
Starting this weekend for just one week, the hotel’s top
floor was hosting a special buffet. Not your average buffet either – this one
featured gourmet ingredients and rare delicacies. It was a bit pricey, but that
kind of unusual event was exactly the kind of thing Ayaka couldn’t resist.
“Ooh, well – if you put it that way, I suppose I have no
choice!”
She agreed with gusto, and I let out a silent sigh of
relief.
It was an unexpected hit to my wallet, but considering it
was for Ayaka, maybe it wasn’t so bad.
It wasn’t just Shinohara I owed – Ayaka had helped me out
countless times too.
I’d be showing my gratitude to both of them today. A day
like that every now and then wasn’t such a bad thing.
◇
A few days later, Ayaka and I headed to the biggest shopping
mall in the city, just like we planned. During Christmas, it had been covered
in bright, colorful decorations. Then red and white for New Year’s. Now, all of
that had been replaced by giant banners announcing seasonal clearance sales.
We checked out shop after shop looking for the right wallet
to give to Shinohara, but Ayaka hadn’t given a single nod of approval yet. We
were two hours in.
“All these wallets are starting to look the same to me,” I
muttered, worn out.
“You’re the one who asked me to pick it out. Now that I’ve
accepted, I’m not going to half-ass it.”
“…Don’t worry, I’ll pay for the entire buffet.”
“That’s not the point. I agreed to help, so if Shinohara-san
doesn’t like it, it’s my reputation on the line.”
“You’ve got a real attitude, you know that…”
I grumbled as we exited the fourth store.
It had been a shop featuring all the staple brands that were
popular with female college students, but Ayaka still wasn’t impressed.
All four stores we’d visited so far were well-known for
catering to students.
Ever since I started college and began spending more money,
I’d noticed more and more people around me caring about brand names.
Personally, I never cared much for them – I preferred simple, clean styles. But
for some people, being decked out head to toe in a specific brand was the norm.
Even if the design was mediocre, just slapping on a popular
brand’s logo made it feel like a prestigious gift. That was the logic I’d been
following when I figured that, for a girl’s present, any well-known brand would
do the trick.
Yet Ayaka had dismissed all four stores, so clearly she had
her own set of standards.
“There. That one next.”
Ayaka pointed to the store listings on the mall directory.
Her finger landed on a name located on the eighth floor – a brand known for
being way out of a typical student’s budget.
“Money…”
The word escaped me before I could stop it. I hesitated, but
Ayaka grabbed my bag and pulled me back.
“It’s fine. I’m a member at this place, and right now
they’re running a secret sale for members only. If you buy two items, there’s
an extra discount. I’ll grab something for myself too.”
“Wait, no – that’s going too far. I can’t let you do that.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. This way I can convince myself I’m
doing it to help a friend – perfect excuse. I’ve been wanting this bag for a
while anyway.”
“Are you sure that’s okay…”
“Come on, let’s go!”
With a confident voice, she grabbed my arm this time.
We rode the escalator up to the store, and just standing in
front of it made me feel how much more upscale it was compared to the others.
“I don’t like places like this…”
“Too bad. Let’s go.”
“Ehh…”
She barely even acknowledged my complaint and dragged me
inside. I glanced at one of the bags and saw the price tag: a cool 90,000 yen.
“Nope, I’m leaving.”
“Hey! That was fast! They have affordable stuff too!”
After that, Ayaka went off on her own, and we regrouped
about ten minutes later.
Now she was already holding the bag she apparently intended
to buy.
“Found a good wallet. Come one!”
Ayaka grabbed me by the collar and pulled me over to the
display area. The price tag read—
“21,000 yen. I guess that’s reasonable.”
My wallet wasn’t nearly warm enough to call that
“reasonable,” but after staring at so many expensive items, my sense of money
had started to go numb.
“Today’s the day wallets are at their lowest price, so with
discounts it should come out to around 15,000 yen. Lucky you.”
“Whoa, that much of a discount? That’s tempting.”
But that was only if I were buying it for myself. When I
reminded myself that this wallet was for someone else. It suddenly felt like a
much heavier decision.
When I calmed down and thought about it, giving a gift worth
over ten thousand yen to a girl who wasn’t even my girlfriend started to feel
kind of insane.
It might be okay because it’s Shinohara, but if I tried this
with any other girl, she’d probably be put off.
I’ll go get a clerk to open the showcase,” Ayaka said.
“Wait – hang on, I still wanna think about it.”
“You said you’d leave it to me. It’s within your
budget, and I really don’t think there’s a better option.”
“Even so…”
As I hesitated, my eyes were drawn to a pair of female
college students nearby.
Something about them was oddly captivating.
They had a flashy vibe, sure – but that wasn’t unusual at
our university. Even so, I couldn’t stop watching them.
One of them stood in front of a display case, messing with
her phone. She had ash-colored hair.
I couldn’t see her face clearly, but there was something
about her figure, her gestures, and her overall aura that rang a bell.
And just as if she felt my gaze, that college girl lifted
her head.
—There stood Reina Aisaka, my ex-girlfriend.
◇
“…Reina.”
The name escaped my lips in a dry whisper.
Reina looked just as shocked as I was, her eyes going wide.
“…Yuuta-kun.”
The sound of her voice – it was nostalgic. Her tone, her
expressions, her gestures… all of it stirred memories of those days.
The long black coat, the red scarf, the slightly high heels
– that outfit, too, I’d seen before.
Her hair was a little lighter than when we were dating, but
there was no mistaking it. This was the girl I’d once opened my heart to.
A few seconds passed in silence, neither of us saying a
word, until the college girl standing next to Reina spoke up.
“Reina, who’s this guy? A friend?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Something like that.”
Reina dodged the question, then looked back at me and gave a
strained, awkward smile.
“…Been a while, huh. You doing okay?”
A polite, superficial question, probably for the sake of
appearances. I sighed internally.
The girl beside her didn’t seem to know who I was. During
the year Reina and I had dated, I’d met several of her friends, but this one I
was seeing for the first time.
It made sense – Reina had gone to a girls’ university known
for its wealthy student body. There weren’t many people we had in common.
Seeing the curious glint in the friend’s eyes, I could tell
she had no clue.
“…Yeah. I’m doing okay, more or less.”
I gave the safest answer I could.
It had been two months since we last saw each other. There
was no need to bring up what her friend clearly didn’t know.
And besides, there was nothing left to say.
We broke up the day after I found out she’d cheated. Even
then, Reina didn’t offer a single excuse.
When I told her we were through, she just nodded silently.
Only two months. It sounds short when you put it into words,
but back then, the days crawled by so slowly it felt like they would choke me.
That’s why, emotionally, it felt like a reunion after a very
long time.
Back when Reina was my girlfriend, I had cared for her
deeply – feelings far too complex to describe with the word love alone.
But once you break up, that person is just someone you used
to know.
“That – are you buying it?”
It sounded like Reina was trying to make small talk – her
eyes on the wallet I held.
The one I planned to give to Shinohara.
“Yeah, It’s a little pricey though.”
“I–I see. I hope they like it.”
“Mm.”
I gave a short reply and turned my gaze back to the display
case, as if to say the conversation was over.
And I could feel it – my feelings toward Reina were
settling.
Right after the breakup, even just seeing a photo with her
face in it had made my chest tighten.
But now, while the initial moment of seeing her again did
shake me up, it was nothing compared to how it used to be. From here on, time
would do the rest.
“Um… can we meet again sometime?”
“—Huh?”
The one who responded wasn’t me.
It was Ayaka, who had been silent until now.
Reina looked at her in surprise.
“Are you serious?”
Her voice dripped with contempt.
Reina and Ayaka had never met in person.
Back when I was dating Reina, I had tried a few times to get
them to meet, but our schedules never aligned.
Still, Ayaka had seen Reina’s face plenty – because I’d
shown it to her again and again.
Reina seemed to catch on from that one comment, and she
averted her eyes and left the store in a hurry.
As she passed by, she muttered, “See you.”
“…Hey.”
After confirming that Reina had walked out of the store, I
spoke to Ayaka.
Ayaka gave a quick glance, in the direction Reina had gone,
then opened her mouth.
“Sorry. You were trying to keep things normal, so I thought
I’d hold back too… but she just pissed me off.”
“I appreciate it. She’s my ex.”
“You showed me her picture so many times I recognized her
right away. She’s cute, sure. But that’s all.”
“Well… yeah. That’s true.”
She probably did have more good traits than just being cute.
But honestly, every person’s got at least a few good
qualities.
Trying to explain that to Ayaka right now would just be
stupid.
Because she got angry – for me.
“…Thanks.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. Ayaka
responded with a wry smile.
“Saying thanks for something like that? Still, I did kind of
snap at her friend for no reason… that part I do feel bad about.”
She let out a big sigh, as if exhaling the last of her
frustration.
“Well, that settles it then – this wallet it is. I’ll just
pay for everything on my card, so give me the cash later.”
The run-in with Reina had completely made me lose focus on
the shopping, but Ayaka’s words snapped me back to the moment.
She was already walking toward the register, wallet in hand
– apparently having snatched it from me at some point. In her other hand was
the bag she’d been eyeing earlier. There was no trace of her earlier irritation
– she looked downright cheerful now.
“When you make a big purchase, it really does make you feel
all giddy, huh?”
“I mean, I kinda get it… but whatever. Let’s buy the wallet.
I’ll pay for it myself.”
Running into Reina had left me feeling unsettled, and I
wanted to clear my head with a bit of reckless spending. If it was for someone
who always looked out for me, then that’d kill two birds with one stone.
“Nope, I’m paying.”
“Huh? Why?”
“If I use my card, I get points. Gimme 500 points as your
share.”
“So stingy!”
She’d never say something like that in front of other
people, but when it’s just the two of us, this is how she acts.
Not that I minded. In fact, it made things easier.
“Well then, wait outside for me.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
I gave in with a sigh, and Ayaka – clearly in a great mood –
headed for the register.
Once I confirmed she was busy at the counter, I turned my
face in the direction Reina had walked off to.
Her figure had already vanished into the crowd.
◇
About five minutes later—
As we left the store, Ayaka handed me the bag with a quick,
“Here. Yours.”
But something else besides the wallet was inside.
Curious, I pulled it out without thinking.
“…This is—”
It was a key case. The subtle black gloss hinted that it
hadn’t come cheap.
“I’m giving it to you.”
“Huh? Seriously? I mean – why, all of a sudden?”
“It’s your birthday present. I know your birthday’s in July,
and it’s long past, but I just realized I’ve never actually given you one.”
“Wait, for real!? This is seriously cool – are you sure!?”
I couldn’t help but blurt out a high-pitched voice, even
surprising myself.
Getting gifts is nerve-wracking, both for the giver and the
receiver.
The giver worries: Will they like it? The receiver
worries: I better react properly or they’ll feel bad.
And I was the kind who sucked at getting gifts. Even when I
was genuinely happy, I always fumbled my reaction.
But this time, I’d been given something I truly wanted, and
I couldn’t hide my excitement. It had been ages since I’d responded naturally
to a gift like this.
Seeing me like that, Ayaka smiled in satisfaction.
“You’re welcome. No need to grovel.”
“Nah, seriously – thanks, really.”
“If you’re happy, then so am I. All right, let’s go!”
“Wait, go where?”
“To the buffet, obviously! Show your gratitude to the girl
who just gave her first-ever present to a guy – with your attitude and
your wallet!”
“Damn it, you ruined it with the second part!”
I couldn’t help but fire back, and Ayaka burst into
laughter.
Still grinning, she walked off cheerfully toward the hotel
where the buffet was being held.
As I followed after her, I found myself replaying something
she’d said in my head.
—So Ayaka’s never given a guy a present before, huh.
Even though we were close, I didn’t really know the full
scope of her relationships. I just assumed she’d given gifts like that before,
same as anyone.
Watching Ayaka walking ahead with quickened steps, excited
for the buffet, I couldn’t help but smile to myself.
Ayaka probably liked the sort of pure friendship we shared –
one with no romantic strings attached.
But still, I figured it wasn’t a sin to feel a little happy
that I was the first guy she ever gave a present to.
Whatever unease I’d felt after running into Reina was
already completely gone.
◇
After enjoying the buffet with Ayaka, I was on my way home.
On the way, I pulled out my now noticeably thinner wallet. I
thought about grabbing a coffee from a vending machine but hesitated – there wasn’t
even enough cash in there to feel comfortable doing that. Where the hell did
Yukichi and Higuchi go?
[TL/N]: Yukichi=10,000 Yen bill, Higuchi=5000 Yen bill
“Damn, that was expensive. Tasted amazing though.”
I muttered under my breath, slipping the wallet back into my
rear pocket.
I didn’t even want to guess how much I’d spent today – it’d
be a horrifying number for a college student living alone.
And it’s not like it was Christmas or some special event.
Today was just an ordinary weekday. That made it all the more terrifying.
The buffet wasn’t like your average family restaurant lineup
either – it was packed with dishes that could’ve gone for a decent price even
as single plates.
Given how I’d stuffed myself to the brim on high-end food, I
supposed I couldn’t really complain about how light my wallet had become.
“Can’t even afford a coffee…”
Letting out a pitiful groan, I finally started heading home.
That game console I’d been thinking about buying this month
was definitely going on the back burner.
As my apartment building came into view, I noticed the light
was already on in my room. Shinohara had mentioned she was going out with
friends today to celebrate her birthday – it looked like that was already over.
“I think I’ll be done early today, so could you leave the
key in the mailbox?”
She’d sent that message this morning.
Lacking any real sense of caution about things like
burglaries, I’d agreed without much though and dropped the key into the mailbox
as requested.
The time now was 10:30 p.m.
I didn’t know exactly what she’d been up to this late, but I
could easily imagine her lounging around my place flipping through manga or
something.
I climbed the creaky stairs and stood in front of the door.
It wasn’t quite a rundown apartment, but I was definitely on the older side,
and I lived on the second floor.
When I opened the door and said, “I’m home,” the sound of
the TV was the first thing to greet me.
From down the hallway, a familiar face peeked out.
Shinohara had loosely tied her wavy hair back into a
ponytail.
“Oh, welcome back, Senpai.”
“I’m home. What’ve you been doing this whole time?”
“Just what it looks like – watching TV.”
As she answered, she casually changed the channel. The
screen switched from some women being interview to a news program.
“Oh yeah? What were you watching?”
“It’s a secret. Don’t pry into a girl’s business.”
“I wasn’t prying that much. Hand over the remote.”
“Ah—”
I grabbed the remote and started flipping through the
channels at random until I ended up back on the one she’d been watching. A
caption in the top-left corner read: “When do you feel like having a
boyfriend?” – clearly a romance talk show.
“Huh. Didn’t expect you to be into girly shows like this.”
“Wha—! Rude! Didn’t expect it, he says!”
“So, why were you watching something like this?”
I asked, and Shinohara glanced away for a moment, looking
conflicted.
“…Well, if you don’t wanna say, that’s fine. Anyway, about
today—”
“I was wondering if maybe I’m… out of touch.”
“You’re actually gonna say it? Huh? Where’s this coming
from?”
“Ugh, cold! I worked up the courage to say that, you know!”
Shinohara glared at me with as much fire as she could
muster, but it didn’t have any real effect – just looked cute.
“…You know I used to date Motosaka-senpai, right? Well,
something about that whole thing has made me start to suspect… maybe I see the
world a little differently. At least, that’s the theory I’ve developed.
Internally.”
“Huh. Bit late for that revelation.”
Whether someone’s “out of touch” or not really depends on
the world they’ve lived in – there’s no objective measure. But… if I had to
say, based on my own idea of what’s typical, then yeah – she’s got a slightly
offbeat way of thinking. That’s not a bad thing. Just uncommon.
“I told my friends we broke up. I mean we broke up. I mean,
it happened last month, so it’s old news, but… I wanted to tell them
face-to-face at least.”
“Oh yeah? So, how’d they react?”
“Yeah. They said stuff like, ‘Must’ve been rough getting
cheated on,’ or, ‘Hope your next relationship is better.’”
“Huh. Sounds like you’ve got some good friends.”
“They are,” she agreed – then shook her head slightly, like
that wasn’t quite the point.
“But hearing that kind of thing just made me feel… itchy. I
mean, yeah, I know I caused a mess around Christmas, and I really do regret
that. But the truth is, I only started dating Motosaka-senpai because I wanted
to do couple-y things. That’s all.”
She shrugged, as if to say, It’s not like I was really
hurt or anything.
“Still, they spent the whole day worrying over me and trying
to comfort me. Honestly, it just wore me out.”
“So that’s why you called it a night early, even though it’s
your birthday.”
“Right… I just – I dated Motosaka-senpai because I wanted
the couple experience. Then he cheated, and yeah, I was pissed but I wasn’t
heartbroken or anything. Isn’t that kind of… off?”
“Yeah, that’s pretty off.”
“Knew it, she laughed – an unbothered, cheerful kind of
laugh, without even a hint of hurt.
“I mean, sure, there are probably guys out there who date
someone just to get the couple experience, like you said. But still, unless
they at least liked the person a little. And if they got cheated on, it’d
usually hurt at least a little.”
Come to think of it, even right after she found out about
the cheating, Shinohara didn’t seem wounded – just mad.
“So, why were you mad when he cheated?”
“Because it pissed me off.”
“Why?”
“Because he made a fool of me.”
“Wouldn’t that also be about jealousy, though? Like, him
looking at another girl instead of you? Or maybe it felt like the love he had
for you was all a lie?”
“No. He kept pestering me, so I finally gave in and said yes
– and then he cheats? Like, what the hell? That’s it. Nothing more, nothing
less.”
Shinohara declared that firmly, but then seeing my silence,
her brows furrowed with uncertainty.
“…Does that make me shallow?”
It seemed like she was starting to worry that being out of
sync with others meant something was wrong with her.
To be honest, I didn’t have enough solid ground to deny it
outright. But even so, I didn’t dislike the way she saw things.
“People all think differently. Just wait it out – eventually
you’ll meet someone who clicks with you.”
I waited. Met someone. Got cheated on.”
“…Right.”
“What’s with that ‘poor you’ tone?”
“Sorry. That sucks.”
“That’s exactly the kind of attitude I said wore me
out earlier!”
She puffed out her cheeks in frustration, then folded her
knees up and buried her face in them.
“I’m jealous of people who like each other. Being in love together
seems really nice.”
“Yeah… it does.”
For just a moment, Reina’s face flashed through my mind
again.
“Here. For you. The wallet.”
“Ehh?!”
Shinohara immediately sat up straight from her curled
position and scooted closer. A sweet scent – definitely not my shampoo –
tickled my nose as she leaned in.
“Happy birthday. Looking forward to more good times ahead.”
“…My heart just skipped a beat.”
“Glad you liked it.”
“Actually, this is exactly my style. I’ve been eyeing
accessories from this brand for a while now – how’d you know? Are you a genius
or something?”
That was all Ayaka’s doing – her tase was always spot on.
“I guess I just picked up on it from our conversations.”
…Please forgive me for playing it cool like that.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
The chime echoed far too loudly for a cramped one-room apartment.
“Who could it be at this hour?”
Shinohara stood up with a light grunt and made her way to
the door.
She was still holding the wallet delicately in both hands.
Clearly, she really liked it.
It wasn’t a cheap gift, but seeing how happy she was made me
feel it was worth every yen.
I heard the clack of the door unlocking – and then, a voice
that didn’t belong to Shinohara called out. A voice I knew all too well.
“Eh? Shinohara-san? What are you doing here?”
“…Ayaka-senpai.” Shinohara stood in the doorway, and past
her, Ayaka and I locked eyes.
◇
I instinctively turned my face away from Ayaka’s gaze.
Now that I thought about it, I had never actually told her
that Shinohara had practically taken up residence at my place.
There was absolutely nothing shady about her staying this
late – it was all innocent – but if the roles were reversed, how would I
interpret the scene?
That answer was obvious.
“…Wait, hold up. Are you two, like, dating or something?”
Sure enough, Ayaka’s voice was laced with surprise.
When I looked at her, her expression wasn’t teasing or
amused – just pure, honest shock.
Thinking about it, she had always been the first person I
told whenever I got a girlfriend.
So from her perspective, finding out I had a girlfriend
without telling her – especially when that girlfriend was someone she knew like
Shinohara – would be a double shock.
Ayaka stood there, unusually at a loss for words. I walked
toward the entryway, waving her over.
“Nah. If something was going on, you’d be the first to know.”
Still, she stayed silent for a few seconds before finally
shaking her head.
“…Maybe, but anyone seeing this would jump to the same
conclusion.”
“Yeah, fair. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t even bother
trying to explain.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m still confused, okay? Don’t
go assuming I always get what’s going on in your head.”
She added, “Seriously, I was just… really surprised,” before
shutting the front door behind her.
The cold wind that had crept into the room was cut off, and
a little warmth returned to the air.
“You still understand me better than most, though.”
“Maybe. I guess.”
Even among college students, where relationships are often
vague and blurry, I hadn’t exactly let many girls into my room. And as for
being alone with one? I could hardly remember another time it had happened.
The fact that I was with Shinohara at 11:30 PM – just the
two of us – made Ayaka’s misunderstanding completely understandable.
But I figured things were cleared up now.
Just as I turned to apologize to Shinohara for the awkward
situation, she unexpectedly spoke up.
“So Ayaka-senpai’s the kind of person who shows up at
someone’s place at this hour. How rude.”
Ayaka tilted her head slightly after a beat.
“…Well, I’d rather not hear that from a minor who’s been
hanging around a guy’s place this late when they’re not even dating.”
—Wait, why are they already arguing?
I jumped in before things escalated further.
“Shinohara, Ayaka’s your senpai, remember?”
“…Right, I’m sorry.”
Shinohara apologized obediently, but her eyes stayed locked
on Ayaka’s.
That attitude was nowhere to be seen back during the mixer…
—No, that’s not it.
The two of them never spoke even once at that party.
So… is there something going on here?
The tension in the room prickled at my skin, and my instincts told me this wasn’t just
some awkward misunderstanding.
I glanced over at Ayaka. Her expression was calm and
composed, but she was watching Shinohara just as closely.
After a brief pause, Ayaka finally broke the silence.
“…Don’t worry about her. She’s always been like this. She’s
an old underclassman of mine.”
“Old underclassman?”
I’d heard that Shinohara was her junior, but I didn’t
realize it went back before college.
Whether or not that long-standing connection explained the
subtle but palpable tension between them… I still wasn’t sure.
…And frankly, this wasn’t something I needed to know right
now.
It was between the two of them.
After a quick pause to think, I decided to gently step in.
“Shinohara, let’s leave it at that.”
She glanced at me, then gave a small, obedient nod.
“Sorry. I guess I came off a little harsh.”
Ayaka didn’t seem particularly fazed by the apology. She
just shook her head.
“It’s fine. I’m sorry too – I shouldn’t have snapped back.
Besides, from the looks of it, you two aren’t actually dating after all.”
“No, we’re not,” Shinohara replied with a straightforward
nod – her tone unusually honest for that moment.
After all, she’d just been venting about how she’d never
truly fallen in love with anyone.
Ayaka seemed satisfied with that answer. She placed her
slender hand on the doorknob.
“Well then, I’ll get out of your hair. We can talk about
what I came for another time.”
“Alright, I’ll see you at school.”
She gave me a faint smile and turned around.
But just as she pivoted on her heel, something in Shinohara’s
hands caught her eye.
“This?” Shinohara noticed the glance and held the item out toward
Ayaka.
“This wallet – I just got it from senpai, literally moments
ago.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Ayaka’s gaze fixed on the wallet in Shinohara’s hand, and
her brows subtly knit together.
Of course she recognized it – Ayaka was the one who picked
out the wallet.
“…I see. It’s a lovely wallet,” she said curtly, then
lightly tapped my shoulder as she turned to leave.
“Nice one. Your taste’s improved.”
“Wait—”
I looked at her, the question Are you really okay with
this? clear in my expression.
But Ayaka didn’t even glance back. She just waved it off, as
if nothing had happened.
“Sorry for intruding,” she added casually before stepping
out the door.
I had no choice but to silently watch her figure melt into
the darkness.
◇
“Shinohara. Sit.”
“…Um.”
When I crossed my legs on the couch, Shinohara obediently
plopped down onto the floor in front of me, sitting in formal seiza position.
To anyone else, it would’ve looked like an awkward or even
compromising scene – but fortunately, this was my apartment. There was no one
around to see it.
“Senpai…”
“What now?”
“The floor’s cold.”
“Of course it is. It’s a bachelor’s apartment, not a spa. No
floor heating. Deal with it. And you sat there on your own remember?”
I gave her a quick glance – her loungewear was as casual as
ever – and adjusted how I crossed my legs.
There was really only one thing I wanted to say to her.
“That attitude earlier. Ayaka’s still your senior you know?”
“…Yes. I’m sorry.”
The Santa sitting before me with her head down looked even
more deflated than she had right after breaking up with Motosaka.
At least she seemed genuinely remorseful – that much was
clear from how easily she apologized.
Especially because she’d never acted that way in front of me
before.
So, I decided to shift gears a little.
“…Well, I want to be mad, but honestly, as long as you’re
normal around me, it’s fine.”
The moment my words reached her, Shinohara’s head popped up.
And, typical of her, that gloomy expression instantly
flipped into a bright smile.
“Yes! I’ll be normal!”
“That’s not something you need to declare out loud… Anyway,
head home. It’s getting late.”
It was the first time Shinohara had stayed at my place this
late – almost midnight. Normally, I made sure she was out the door by eleven,
so this wasn’t drastically different time-wise, but still.
“You know, it’s kind of rare nowadays. A guy making a girl
go home this close to the last train. You could at least act a little worried.”
She said it teasingly as she walked toward the front door.
The narrow entryway, which was already cramped thanks to the
three or four pairs of boots I kept there, didn’t faze her in the slightest.
She smoothly stretched her foot toward her heels, as if she’d done it a hundred
times.
“…Don’t you care? About why I snapped like that earlier?”
“Not really. Doesn’t concern me.”
“Aww, don’t say it like that – it kind of hurts, y’know?”
After slipping on her heels, she turned around once more.
“But, I actually kind of like that about you, senpai – how you
don’t pry.”
“Cool. Now shut the door, it’s freezing.”
“…You’re seriously cold, you know that?! Can’t you give me something
of a reaction!?”
She stuck her tongue out playfully, then shut the door
behind her.
“…’Kind of like,’ huh? Don’t throw that around so lightly.”
I knew she didn’t mean it seriously, but…
Back in high school, I definitely would’ve gotten my hopes
up.
And then if I misunderstood, I would’ve been the one
blamed for it.
Girls probably had it rough too, but guys? Guys had their
own ways of getting screwed over.
Translator's note: Sorry that took so long to get out. I believe we are halfway through volume 1. This chapter covered chapters 6-8 in the manga if you're curious.
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