Volume 1 Chapter 6:
The next day, I was spending my free period with Ayaka in
the university’s designated smoking area.
Being a second-year in the fall semester, my schedule had
started to include these so-called “free periods” – gaps between classes where
no lectures were scheduled. One of the perks of college life is being able to
customize your timetable with that kind of freedom.
Normally, I’d be enjoying this little pocket of peace to the
fullest, but today something about Ayaka felt off.
She was leaning against the wall with her arms tightly
crossed, exuding an air of aloofness that made her seem hard to approach.
Given how beautiful she was, it made sense – but even I,
someone who knew her well, found it hard to strike up conversation. If I hadn’t
already been friends with her, I probably would’ve taken the hint and slipped
away.
“Hey… You’re in kind of a bad mood today, huh?”
“Hm? I’m fine.”
“That’s definitely not fine. At least, not from where I’m
sitting. You know how long we’ve known each other? I’m basically a human mood
detector calibrated just for you-”
“Annoying.”
“Sorry.”
My attempt to lighten the mood with a joke got cut short and
immediately converted into an apology.
“Well, just try to shake off that vibe before the next
class, okay? You’re supposed to be the friendly type who gets along with
everyone, remember?”
“…It’s not like I’m selling that image on purpose. But yeah,
I get it. I’ll be careful. Thanks.”
Ayaka actually thanked me sincerely, then started fiddling
with her phone.
Judging by her finger movements, she was playing some kind
of mini-game, but her touches were sluggish and devoid of any real focus.
She immediately got a game over, and after several retries,
I couldn’t help but ask again.
“What happened?”
Ayaka flicked her eyes toward me but quickly looked away
again.
This time, she wasn’t denying that something had happened.
Clearly, something had thrown her off – something had put
her in this mood.
I couldn’t tell whether it had to do with last night or
something else entirely.
Normally, a friend would drop it at this point, but this was
Ayaka.
I decided to press a little more.
“Come on, just tell me.”
“Do you have no sense delicacy?”
“Left it in my mom’s womb.”
“Then go back and start over from the fertilized egg.”
Ayaka snapped at me and walked out of the smoking area.
I had no choice but to stub out my half-smoked cigarette and
follow her.
“My bad.”
“I’m not mad. Either way, class starts in twenty minutes.”
“You’re not the kind of person who shows up to class that
early and saves seats.”
“I am before a test. This is serious.”
Ayaka kept walking as she entered the school building and
pressed the elevator button.
Once inside, it was just two of us in the elevator.
The campus elevators were relatively spacious and moved
quickly between floors.
Still, for several seconds, we were stuck together in a
confined space, and the faint scent of cigarette smoke still lingered in the
air.
“You should quit smoking already.”
Ayaka said it in a sharp tone, like she’d been waiting for
the perfect chance to bring it up.
“Why? What’s the problem? It’s my choice,” I shot back,
unable to hide my irritation at the sudden attack.
“It’s not doing you any favors.”
“It does, actually. Smoking gives me a chance to have deeper
conversations with upperclassmen sometimes.”
Sure, cigarettes drained my already thin wallet, and if I
cared more about saving money, I probably should quit.
But when I broke up with Reina Aisaka, they calmed me down a
little. And like I just said, they helped with bonding in certain situations.
There were benefits – plenty of them.
The elevator doors opened, and we arrived at the fourth
floor, where our lecture room was located.
As we both stood there watching the elevator display drop
back down to the first floor, Ayaka suddenly spoke again.
“Well, I’ll say this much – you don’t look good doing it.”
“…Seriously?”
“Smoking doesn’t suit you, Yuta Hasegawa.”
“Don’t say it twice!”
If she had just said it was bad for my health, I would’ve
brushed it off.
But saying it didn’t suit me? That hit different.
I wasn’t obsessed with fashion or anything – I wasn’t the
kind to splurge on brand names – but I cared enough to want to look decent for
a college student.
Being told I didn’t look good doing something was the
biggest blow I could take.
…Maybe it really is time to think seriously about quitting.
“Shinohara probably doesn’t like it either – smoking, I
mean. A lot of girls can’t stand it.”
“I don’t smoke at home. I don’t think I’ve ever lit one in
front of her.”
“You make it sound like she’s always at your place.”
Ayaka’s voice carried a note of exasperation. Internally, I
muttered, She pretty much is these days.
“So, what’s up with you? Why the bad mood?”
I asked again, and Ayaka frowned like she was annoyed.
“You’re really persistent, aren’t you? Most people are too
scared of me getting annoyed to push like that.”
“You’re the one saying it. I’m asking because I care.
Besides, it’s me and you we’re talking about.”
We’d been close for what, four or five years now?
Not lovers or anything close to it, but something special
all the same.
Ayaka didn’t argue with that. Instead, she let out a
resigned sigh.
“It’s the exams. I’m just on edge.”
“Oh, so you’re freaking out this time?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m the same as always. Don’t lump me
in with you.”
“Jeez, every word out of your mouth’s got bite today.”
When I snapped back, Ayaka finally let a smile tug at her
cheek.
“I’ll tell you what’s up… but I could really go for a café
au lait from that vending machine.”
“Okay, and?”
Ayaka didn’t answer. She just stared at the vending machine.
“…Fine, I get it.”
Grumbling, I took out my wallet and bought her a warm café
au lait.
It fell with a clunk, and when I tossed it her way,
she fumbled to catch it in a hurry.
“Jeez, don’t throw it at me like that.”
“You caught it, didn’t you?”
“Hmph. Thanks.”
Ayaka gave a little snort as she cracked open the can and
started gulping it down.
Watching a college girl chug hot café au lait was… honestly
kind of funny.
“There’s way too many people who never show up to class but
still ask to borrow my notes. And they don’t even offer anything in return.”
She tossed the now-empty can into the trash and finally
revealed the reason for her bad mood.
“What about money?” I asked, already guessing what her
answer would be.
As expected, she shot me a sharp glare.
“Don’t need it. A few people have tried offering something
equal in return. Like, at the very least, take notes for me when I’m
out. No wonder those losers keep getting ignored.”
From the way she said it, it was clear the ones asking were
all guys.
Even if she wanted to turn them down, it was probably tough
since she played the friendly-with-everyone card.
Back in high school, I didn’t remember her putting on this
“people pleaser” act, so this had to be one of those lovely new college
stresses.
But there was one little issue with her complaint…
“I put in the same class time they do. So why the
hell should I be giving them my notes for nothing?”
…Yeah. I was one of the people constantly borrowing Ayaka’s
notes too.
Saying I’m “not a morning person” might sound cute, but the
truth is I just lived a lazy lifestyle and skipped class a lot.
Whenever that happened, I’d borrow Ayaka’s notes. I’d borrow
Ayaka’s notes. And even when I did go to class, I’d still ask to borrow
her notes because they were easier to understand.
I couldn’t remember ever doing anything like a fair trade in
return, like she’d said earlier. A wave of guilt hit me all at once.
“…Yeah. I mean, I knew it in my head, but actually
hearing you say it really hits. I’m sorry. Like, seriously – my bad.”
I apologized with genuine hesitation, and Ayaka blinked in
surprise.
“It’s fine. You’re an exception.”
“Why’s that?”
“Beats me. Maybe it’s because giving them to you
feels like a reward for me.”
I coughed, trying to figure out what the hell that meant.
“Wha— what’s that supposed to mean!?”
“It means I’m
racking up favors so I can work you like a mule.”
With a mischievous
grin, Ayaka turned and walked into the lecture hall.
I silently swore
never to buy her coffee again after that awful joke.
◆
At the university I
attend, getting course credits isn’t too difficult – at least not for us
liberal arts majors, unless you’re in law school.
There are no
classes with 80% fail rates or anything. In fact, more than half the students
pass most classes.
As long as you show
up and study a little, you’re good to go – or so I figured.
And today’s test?
It’s the last one
of the semester.
I copied Ayaka’s
neatly organized notes and stayed up all night reviewing the material.
It wasn’t a class
that allowed students to bring notes into the exam, but thanks to the
all-nighter, I wasn’t too worried about failing.
There were still
twenty minutes left before the test began, but at this rate, I figured I didn’t
need to cram anymore.
I cleared off my
desk, leaving only my writing utensils out.
That’s when I felt
someone’s gaze on me and looked up.
“Is this seat
taken?”
A male student –
probably around my age – spoke to me.
“Go ahead,” I
replied.
He gave a slight
nod and began setting up for the exam.
Back in high
school, even if someone was the same age, we wouldn’t bother with polite
speech. That’s something that changed after coming to college.
With nothing left
to do, I glanced around the room. Ayaka was seated across the aisle, quizzing
back and forth with one of her friends.
I couldn’t see her
face from this angle, but her gestures were enough to tell it was her. That’s
just how long we’ve known each other.
College lecture
halls come in various sizes, but the one we were in now was on the larger side.
About fifteen rows
front to back, twenty columns side to side, each long table was built to seat
three students.
During exams, only
two students sat per table to prevent cheating, but that setup never caused any
shortage of seats.
When the professor
entered, the buzzing chatter in the room gradually quieted, and the test papers
were handed out.
Trying to peek
through the back of the paper to see if there were multiple-choice questions, I
squinted – but I couldn’t make any out.
That probably meant
this wasn’t a multiple-choice test. The visible lines of text on the reverse
seemed to split only into two main sections.
“Ugh…” The muttered
complaint from the student beside me earned my silent, wholehearted agreement.
With only two
questions on the test, it was obvious that each one required a detailed written
response. Anyone who had studied broadly but shallowly was done for.
The bell rang, and
I picked up my pen.
The test had begun.
◆
“It’s over…”
I somehow managed
to write a complete answer for the first question. But the second one? It just
happened to cover a topic that had completely slipped my mind – and I could
only manage four lines before hitting a wall.
For a written
response that probably required at least twenty lines, I had written only four.
It was like being
asked: “What did you do over
winter break? Please write in detail about the most fun experience and the
tastiest thing you ate.” And
responding with: “I’m planning to
go to a café today.”
That’s about the
level of disaster we’re talking.
I didn’t even
understand the intent of the question – utterly hopeless.
Despite being
released from the test, a gloomy cloud hung over me, and seeing that, Ayaka
sighed in exasperation.
“What, you couldn’t
answer that one? I marked a few sections in the notes that might be used for
essay questions, didn’t I?”
“Ahaha…”
“…A-Are you okay?”
Ayaka asked, her voice laced with a hint of concern as she recoiled slightly at
my defeated aura.
After thinking for
a moment, Ayaka clapped her hands.
“Oh right, we’re
having a post-exam get-together tomorrow. Want to come? It’s been a while since
you went to a big drinking party, hasn’t it?”
“A drinking party,
huh? …Yeah, I guess I haven’t been to a big one since I stopped going to club
meetings.”
The moment I
responded, Ayaka pulled out her phone and started tapping away.
“Okay, I sent in
your RSVP. It’s a pretty chill club, and once you’ve had a few drinks, I think
you’ll have a good time.”
I hadn’t even said
I’d go yet, but Ayaka was way too fast.
Still, I found
myself kind of in the mood for it this time, so I just thanked her.
“Thanks.”
“Mm.”
Ayaka gave a short
reply and then stretched her arms high above her head.
“Anyway, now we’ve
finally got some freedom. Time to enjoy our long, long sprink break.”
“Yeah, it’s like
two months, right?”
“Exactly. One of my
clubs is going on a trip, and I’m pretty excited.”
“You’re in a few
clubs, aren’t you? Which one?”
“The outdoor club.”
“Oh? So you’re
going hiking or something?”
“Nope. Hot springs
and crab.”
“Of course you
are!”
When people hear
“outdoor club,” they probably picture hiking or camping, but reality is usually
far from that.
Most of those clubs
just organize big drinking parties or regular sightseeing trips.
Maybe it’s
different at other universities, but at mine, nearly all the outdoor clubs are
like that.
Some clubs even
required entry sheets and selection processes to join, which totally shocked me
back in my freshman year.
“You still going to
your club lately?”
“Nah, not at all.”
Truth is, I’m
technically part of the basketball club.
In college, joining
a club is the quickest way to expand your social circle. On the flip side, if
you don’t join one, it’s really tough to meet people.
“You should
probably start going again, right? You used to really like that club.”
“Yeah, I did.”
Usually we’d just
play games, and sometimes we’d actually practice seriously.
That balance was
comfortable for me. It was a good outlet for stress, and I really did like it.
The reason I
stopped going was because of my breakup with Reina Aisaka. So it’s been about
two months now.
The issue was that
Reina knew some of the people in the club.
I couldn’t stand
the idea of them grilling me about why we broke up right after I got cheated
on.
But I’m not in that
same mental place anymore.
It’s about time I
got back to my normal life.
“…Yeah. I should
probably start showing up again.”
“Yeah, it’d be good
for you. Help clear your head.”
Ayaka gave a little
smirk.
“Well, I’m off.
Gonna grab dinner with some friends from my department.”
“Cool. Got it.”
Ayaka waved her
hand as she walked back into the lecture hall.
Her friends from
her department were probably waiting for her.
“Guess I’ll head
out too.”
If I missed this
timing after finishing exams, I had a feeling it would take me even longer to
make it back to club.
I messaged my
friends: “Heading to club for the
first time in a while!”
That said, while
I’d met Ayaka’s department friends before, I’d never actually gone out to eat
with them.
We’d talk a bit if
we ran into each other, so I could probably join them anytime if I wanted – but
there just hadn’t been a real opportunity.
And honestly, I
didn’t think Ayaka was all that eager to mix me into that group.
If she were, she
would’ve invited me by now. I mean, she always asks me to join mixers or club
drinking parties without hesitation.
I wonder if her
friends know a side of Ayaka I’ve never seen.
Not that I even
know if there is such a side.
Come to think of
it, I’ve never really heard anything about Ayaka before we met in high school.
I’m curious, but
it’s not something I’d find out without some kind of trigger.
Even when I try to
ask her casually, she usually dodges the question.
Just as I was lost
in those thoughts, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
A message from
Shinohara.
[Good job on the
test! Where are you right now?]
Bad timing.
I’d already decided
to go to club today for the first time in ages – if she was inviting me to hang
out, I’d have to turn her down.
Just then, her name
popped up on the screen – she was calling.
I hesitated for a
moment, then picked up.
“Hey Shinohara.
Thanks for the message.”
[“Hi, senpai! Hope
the test went okay!”]
“Yeah, thanks. But
sorry – I can’t see you today.”
[“Huh? Why not?”]
“I’m heading to
club today – for the first time in a while. So give me a break, okay?”
[“Ehh, then just
lunch is fine, okay? I actually turned down another lunch invite just now, so
I’m free until evening.”]
She must’ve turned
it down because she was planning to eat with me.
For a moment, I
felt a twinge of guilt. But I held my ground.
“That’s your own
problem.”
[“Yup, it’s my
problem. But you’re kind, senpai, so I know you’ll go along with me in times
like this.”]
“What kind of logic
is that?”
[“Did you know?
When someone tells a person they’re kind, it actually makes them act more
kindly.”]
“Then I guess I’m
not human. See ya.”
[“W-Wait! I’ll
treat you!”]
Her sudden,
desperate offer made me waver.
I’ll say it again:
for a student living alone, there’s no such thing as a hot meal waiting at
home.
It’s either cook
for yourself, eat out, or grab some kind of pre-made meal.
And since I don’t
cook, that leaves only the more expensive options.
So saving on food
costs is actually a pretty big deal.
Even if it means
letting a younger girl pay.
“…Fine, I’ll go.
Let’s meet in front of the cafeteria.”
[“Hehe, you’re so
easy.”]
With that, the call
cut off.
For a moment, I
genuinely considered ditching the plan and heading home out of spite.
◆
“Senpai! Over
here!”
Scanning the area,
I spotted Shinohara waving her arm high above her head.
Looking at the male
students passing by and glancing in her direction, it was obvious she stood
out.
As soon as a group
of guys noticed her, they started whispering excitedly amongst themselves. I
let out a quiet sigh.
Just having a cute
face made her attract attention, so I really wished she wouldn’t shout like
that in a crowd of strangers.
She could at least
think about how awkward that made it for me to approach her.
“Yo.”
When I called out
to Shinohara, the group of guys groaned in disappointment and walked off,
muttering things like, “Figures
she already had someone…”
Just as I suspected
– they must’ve been talking about asking her to lunch.
Whether Shinohara
hadn’t noticed or had and just ignored it, I couldn’t tell.
“Good work on the
test!”
“You’re way too
hyped.”
“Why are you so
low-energy, senpai? The test’s over!”
Oblivious to my
inner turmoil, Shinohara was her usual self, making me want to at least throw a
jab her way.
“I’m tired because the test is over.”
When she heard
that, Shinohara puffer her cheeks in a pout.
“Senpai – being
invited to lunch by a girl and acting like it’s such a chore? That’s just
spoiled behavior.”
She added a smug,
“And by me, no less,” as she peered up at me, clearly
waiting for a reaction.
Her teasing
expression – like she was saying, “You
should be grateful just to be around me” – remind me a lot of Ayaka’s.
Not that I’d ever
say that out loud, since those two didn’t seem to get along.
“Even if you’re a
guy, you can’t just instantly boost your energy when you’re sleepy.”
“Is that really how
it works?”
Still looking
dissatisfied, Shinohara walked a little ahead of me, pouting.
I’d noticed it
before, but every little expression she made had a way of tugging at a guy’s
heartstrings.
Whether she was
aware of it or not, I wasn’t sure. But I wouldn’t be surprised if that was
exactly how she lured in Motosaka with all her calculated charm.
Back around
Christmas, she mentioned that even before her “trial run” with Motosaka, she’d
had no shortage of guys confessing her.
One guy after
another had danced to her tune, only to be shot down in flames. When I thought
about all the guys who’d sunk like that, I couldn’t help but instinctively want
to keep a bit of distance from Shinohara.
That said, her
assertiveness usually didn’t allow for any emotional distance to show on the
surface.
At the moment,
Shinohara was fiddling with her phone, seemingly searching for a nearby place
to eat.
There were
cafeterias and cafes on campus, but they were always crowded. If you wanted a
quiet, comfortable meal, going to a regular off-campus restaurant was the
better option – or so she’d once before.
But before we could
even think about food, there was one hurdle I had to clear.
“Shinohara, I’m
actually not hungry yet.”
Because I barely
slept last night studying for the test, I had plenty of time this morning – and
ended up eating a much bigger breakfast than usual.
“Then what should
we do? Wanna pick a restaurant now and walk around the area until you’re
hungry?”
“Actually, maybe
you could just let me head to my club now!”
“Nope. What am I
supposed to do with my free time then?”
The second she said
that, her face lit up like a lightbulb.
This was bad. I
could feel it.
“I’ll just come
with you to your club!”
“Hey, don’t be
stupid!”
The nice thing
about a club, unlike a formal sports team, is the lack of obligation. Sure, the
longer you stay away, the harder it is to come back, but if you’ve built up
decent relationships, it’s not much of a problem.
Which means, even
if I showed up to practice with Shinohara in tow, the members wouldn’t be
annoyed – in fact, they’d probably be happy about it.
But the basketball
club I’m heading to now, Start, is a place I haven’t set foot in since
breaking up with Reina Aisaka.
If my first time
back is showing up with a girl, it’s going to be more than a little awkward.
Not just for me –
my friends would probably feel uncomfortable, too.
But it seemed my
thoughts weren’t getting through to Shinohara at all.
“I can’t wait to
see you play basketball, senpai. What kind of moves are you gonna show me?”
“Stop expecting
anything. I’m not pulling off any super plays.”
After saying that,
I resigned myself to my fate.
It’d probably be
less of a hassle to just let her watch than to keep trying to turn her down.
Please don’t let
this cause any weird misunderstandings, I prayed silently.
◆
“Sorry for
borrowing your practice clothes like this.”
Surrounded by an
unfamiliar smell, I glanced at the friend beside me tying the laces of his
basketball shoes.
Todo Masato, with
his ash-gray dyed hair, simply replied, “Don’t worry about it.”
We met at another
club’s welcome party.
He was one of the
first friends I made when I entered university, and it was thanks to Todo’s
influence that I started smoking in the first place.
A calm guy, the
kind of person that’s easy to relax around.
“Haven’t been to
the gym in a while, huh? Not since your breakup, right?”
“I didn’t get
dumped, for the record.”
I shot back, a bit
defensive. Todo let out a soft laugh.
“What kinda pride
is that? Not that I don’t get it.”
“She cheated on me,
remember? That’s humiliating enough – just let me have the win of saying I
dumped her.”
It’s not like
getting dumped is inherently lame. But if a guy gets cheated on and then dumped, that’s a whole different kind of pathetic.
I guess it depends
on the person, but for me, yeah – it hits the pride pretty hard.
Todo stretched his
back and said,
“Cheating’s what’s
pathetic. You’re lucky you cut ties with someone like that early on.”
“Well, yeah.
Would’ve been way worse if I’d kept dating her without knowing.”
“Exactly.”
Todo gave a big
grin and grabbed a basketball.
He’s good-looking,
obviously popular with girls, but from what I can tell, he’s totally faithful
to the girlfriend he’s been with for two years. He doesn’t mess around at all.
Hanging out with
Todo has always been one of the few things that actually makes me feel at ease.
“Shoes fit okay?”
Todo glanced at the
basketball shoes I was wearing.
They were a little
big – loaners from the club.
Still, If I tied
them tight enough, they’d work fine for casual practice.
“They’re fine.
Kinda ugly, but whatever.”
“Dude, you haven’t
even paid your club dues. Be grateful they’re letting you use those.”
“Oh, right… these
came from the club’s budget, didn’t they?”
“Yup. Blood money
they squeezed out of the rest of us. Treat ‘em with some respect.”
“Yeah, yeah. I got
it”
Todo chuckled and
spun the basketball effortlessly on one finger.
“By the way, who’s
that girl standing at the entrance? She’s staring hard over here.”
I followed his gaze
and spotted Shinohara peeking into the gym.
She was definitely
drawing attention – some of the other club members were sneaking glances at
her, clearly curious.
As soon as we made
eye contact, she started bouncing excitedly on her feet and waved at me with
both hands.
Naturally, everyone
tracked where she was waving… and realized it was me.
A chorus of
surprised expressions spread across the court.
“Crap, I totally
forgot I brought her.”
“New girlfriend?”
“No way in hell.”
“Didn’t think so.
It doesn’t seem like you’re in any rush to get a new one.”
Todo narrowed his
eyes, like he could see right through me.
I didn’t have a
snappy comeback for that and ended up mumbling.
It’s not like I’ve
sworn off dating or anything.
But I also couldn’t
deny that I was skittish when it came to romance.
What if it happens
again? What if I get cheated on again?
That feeling of
everything you built together getting flushed down the drain – yeah, I’ve had
enough of that.
In that sense, Todo
wasn’t wrong.
“How about
Ayaka-san?”
“Nah. She’s
different. Whole separate category.”
When I said that,
Todo casually stopped spinning the ball and rolled it toward the edge of the
gym.
“You always say
that, but I still don’t get it. You’re close with a gorgeous girl like that,
and you don’t fall for her? You’re a mystery, man.”
“You say that, but
I bet even you wouldn’t fall for a cute friend.”
“Well yeah, but
I’ve got a girlfriend. You’re the one who’s single, remember?”
Todo clapped a hand
on my shoulder and turned his gaze back toward Shinohara.
“Still, she really
is cute. You never had a junior that cute even at your part-time job. Where’d
you two meet – group date?
I paused for a
second, trying to remember how to even explain it.
“…I ran into
Santa.”
“Huh?”
Todo blinked,
completely baffled.
Leaving him behind,
I jogged toward the ex-Santa in question.
Despite pulling an
all-nighter, my body felt surprisingly light.
Translator's note: Once again I apologize for that taking so long. No excuse, just laziness. I do plan on continuing this series. Thanks to everyone who sticks with this series.
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