───● The Childhood-Friend-Type College Girl Becomes Aware ●○●
What’s the definition of love at first sight?
Is it when you see a person for the very first time and fall for them because their face, their vibe, their style is your type?
If that’s what love at first sight is, then I’m sure what I felt wasn’t love at first sight.
—But, after meeting him for the first time, talking with him, and spending just a little time together… when we said ‘bye-bye’ as we parted ways for the day.
This love that I became aware of in that moment, when I couldn’t suppress the pounding of my heart, I feel like it could probably fall within the scope of love at first sight.
From the day I was born until today, I’ve met a decent number of guys, and while I never fell in love, I did get to know a few of them.
Although they were few, there were about three or four boys in my class, and there were also male players in the online games I played as a hobby.
But every time I got to know their inner character, I got sick of the way those guys acted like they were the ones in a position to choose.
The vast majority of men think it’s natural for them to be rare and treated with care. That’s why they act so assertive and arrogant towards us women.
And that, I just couldn’t accept. They can’t even be bothered to invest in their own appearance. It’s not like they have any special talents. And their personalities aren’t particularly great either.
And yet, they give you this leering gaze as if to say, “We’re the ones who do the choosing.”
The day one of them said, “I guess I could go out with you,” a chill ran down my spine.
The day one of them said, “I’ll be your friend,” I was pissed off.
I just couldn’t understand why I had to be granted such concessions.
“Haaah…”
After my first-period class at the university ended, I—Igarashi Koumi—slumped over my desk and let out an involuntary sigh.
“What’s wrong, Koumi~? If you’re sighing this early in the morning, you’ll never make it to fifth period!”
“I don’t feel like I will…”
Mizuho, who was in the same class as me… Tonosaki Mizuho, peered into my face, but I wasn’t in the mood to respond.
“You’re so cute, but you won’t be popular if you’re like that, Koumi! For the sake of the dream campus life we’ve envisioned, we have to keep fighting!!”
“You’re full of energy this morning, Mizuho…”
“Of course I am! Right after enrolling is our chance…! Let’s catch a hottie~!”
My friend Mizuho is what you would call picky about looks.
She likes handsome men, and as soon as she spots one, she’s the type to go make contact. And she often gets shot down for it. She’s a really good kid as a friend, but…
Most of the people had left the classroom, so I was just about to lift my heavy body to leave when Mizuho, who had been looking at her phone for a moment, beckoned me over.
“By the way, Koumi, who are you aiming for in the badminton circle?”
“Eh…?”
“‘Eh?’ What do you mean? Come on, you must have someone you’re targeting, right?”
Mizuho and I are in the same badminton circle. It’s true that I joined the circle hoping to find someone nice, so I can’t deny that I had some ulterior motives.
However.
“Ah… As of now, I don’t think there’s anyone.”
“Ehh!? Really? Isn’t Keito-san pretty handsome!?”
“Well, I guess so…”
“Koumi, you’re super cute, but you don’t really go for it, do you? You have to be more aggressive! You’ll be leftover~!”
‘Leftover,’ huh.
I don’t think what Mizuho is saying is wrong. There are fewer men, and though the country is talking about introducing polygamy, I can’t imagine people will be able to change their values on a dime.
In that case, someone like me probably will be, literally, leftover. “A woman who doesn’t try to get chosen.”
Another sigh escaped me, somehow.
“Geh.”
As I was walking through the school building to get to my second-period class, I noticed an email from the university on my phone.
‘Today’s second-period class in room 104 is cancelled due to the professor’s illness.’
It was quite sudden notice.
“Class is cancelled, huh… I wonder if any of my friends have a free period now…”
Mizuho, who was with me just a moment ago, has gone to a different class.
Most of my other close friends either haven’t arrived at the university yet or are in the middle of a class.
It’s still a little too early for lunch… so it looks like I’ll have to kill time by myself.
“Hot… hmm?”
The sunlight from outside is dazzling. Even though it’s still spring, when the sun is out like this, you can’t help but feel the heat.
I was right to wear shorts today, I thought, and was about to take my favorite black cap out of my backpack when…
“Crap—… I seriously have no idea which classes to take… My university life is already over…”
My eyes were suddenly drawn to a long bench installed in the school hallway. There, a young man sat with his head in his hands, a laptop open in front of him.
I couldn’t say if he was exceptionally good-looking. I think he’s cool, but not on the level of a celebrity or anything like that. And yet. Before I knew it, my feet were moving toward him. I had called out to him.
“Um… are you, by any chance, doing course registration?”
“Eh!? …Ah, yes, I am. I had to delay my enrollment procedure for some reason…”
My heart skipped a beat. This man had turned a smile on me so naturally. How long has it been since I last saw such a pure smile from a man?
He’s not overly tall, but he seems to be above average and slender.
His hairstyle is a light perm on black hair. He’s wearing a tan vest over a short-sleeved white shirt, which gives him a very clean look.
And on top of that, this kind-looking smile.
My heartbeat naturally quickened a little.
“I-If you’d like, I could, uh, help you?”
Oh no! I stuttered a little!
It wouldn’t be strange at all if he was creeped out. The blood drained from my face.
Suddenly being approached and offered help… thinking about it calmly, isn’t that nothing but a pick-up line…?
“Eh! Are you sure? Wait? But second period is about to start…”
…He’s not put off by me? And wait, did he just agree?
I hurriedly continued the conversation.
“Ah, no! My second-period class was cancelled, so I just happen to have some free time.”
“Seriously! That would be a huge help! Thank you so much~”
In that moment, he shifted over from where he was sitting on the long bench.
…Eh? Does that mean I can sit next to him? …Eh?
My thought process completely froze at the unexpectedness of it all.
“My faculty and department are these~”
Eh, he just started talking normally? Eh, so I can sit, right? I’m not making some fatal misunderstanding, am I?
If I sit next to him, he’s not going to look at me like, eh? right? If that happens, I might just cry in public even though I’m a grown woman, you know?
“…Hmm? Is something wrong?”
“Ah, ahhh! It’s nothing! I’m, I’m sitting down now, ahaha.”
I-I’m so nervous. How many years has it been since a man was this close to me?
I took a deep breath to calm my heart and sat down next to him… and then, I looked at the computer screen and realized.
“Ah… We’re in the same faculty and department.”
“Eh! You are? Getting help from a direct upperclassman is just too much of a blessing—”
Hmm? Senpai…?
Ah, right, since I initiated the conversation, he must think I’m an upperclassman. Wait? Then should I speak more casually?
But using informal language with someone I’ve just met might be too forward…
“Ah, sorry, I’m, also a first-year, but…”
Wait, for a first-year to offer to help with course registration, was that too cheeky? Will he think I approached him with ulterior motives…?
This is bad, my head is spinning…
“Wha—”
His expression was blank.
Ah, it might be over—
“What, you’re a first-year too! Man, I don’t have any classmates I know! This is a huge help! I’m Katasato Masato! And you are?”
He seemed truly, genuinely happy.
I don’t know. If he’s some kind of incredible actor, then I wouldn’t know, but at least that’s how he looked to me.
I pinched my thigh so he couldn’t see.
I can’t show any more shameful behavior. I have to force this racing heart of mine to calm down. From here on out, I have to make a good impression…!
“I’m Igarashi Koumi! Nice to meet you!”
Don’t forget to smile. I have to create an even better version of myself than the one I show everyone else…!
“Igarashi-san, huh. Okay! So, right away, I’m seriously clueless about which classes I should take…”
He… Katasato Masato-kun seemed to be genuinely in trouble, scrolling through the screen on his laptop.
His timetable was indeed completely blank.
(…Eh, wait a minute, isn’t this a maaaassive chance?)
Masato-kun and I are in the same faculty and department. That means we should be taking the same classes.
So, if I just have him take all the same classes as me, I can take classes with him every single day…?
“…Igarashi-san?”
“Hh…!”
When I looked at him sitting next to me, the proximity was so close it made me dizzy.
My chest burned, and I couldn’t stop sweating.
But I have to endure it for now.
For the sake of the brilliant campus life that lies ahead…!
“Umm… Katasato-kun, if, if you’d like, would it be okay if you, took the same classes as me?”
Eh? But isn’t this bad? From a normal perspective, having to see the same girl every single day, isn’t that maybe a living hell?
This is bad, I need an excuse, I have to think of an excuse…!
I have to show that I don’t have any ulterior motives…!
“Ah, no, look! I’m not that familiar with other classes, but I know my own pretty well, you know? And some classes have already had two sessions, so I might be able to show you the materials from last time, and I thought it might be beneficial in various ways.”
What the hell is ‘beneficial’!?
I was slightly repulsed by how fast and creepy I was talking. Then, timidly, I peeked at his expression.
“Igarashi-san, are you by any chance—”
Ah, it’s over. This time it’s really over.
He’s going to say, “Are you trying to hit on me?” and that’ll be the end of it. Thanks for the match. The war is over. Shuusen. Shumai. Maimai. It was a short dream, but I was happy.
“a genius?”
Wha-wha?
“Eh, this is seriously a lifesaver. But are you sure? Isn’t there, like, no benefit for you in this, Igarashi-san?”
“N—no, no, no! There’s a ton! There’s a ton of benefit, so it’s okay!”
A university life spent with you! That alone is beyond a benefit; it’s a luxury. Huh? That doesn’t make any sense, though?
I’m pretty sure if my eyes could be drawn in a manga right now, they’d be spinning in spirals. I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore!
“R-Really? If you say so… uh, well, can I see your timetable then?”
“Yeah! Of course!”
I immediately opened my phone and pulled up my timetable.
“Umm~, so, first period on Monday is this, second period is this, third period is…”
Right before my eyes, his classes were filled in one by one. The same timetable as mine.
Eh? Isn’t this practically a matching set? Has the couple look already started?
This is bad, I’m really going to lose my mind…
“Man, you really saved me! Thanks!”
“Not at all! I’m glad I could help!”
It was probably about 30 minutes. To me, it felt like an instant.
That’s how much fun the conversation with him… with Masato, was. Even though I was so nervous I didn’t even know what I was saying at times.
“Well then, I’m gonna head home for now! I haven’t gotten my student ID yet, so there’s no point in going to class.”
“I see! Well then, when you’re able to attend class again, I’ll see you in the classroom.”
I see~ so I get to see him every day from now on… Oh man, I can’t stop myself from grinning naturally. Acknowledging my flushed body, I waved goodbye to him.
But just as he turned his back to me and started walking away, for some reason, he came back.
I wonder what’s wrong. Did he forget something…?
“What is it?”
“Ah, well, umm, how should I put this… Igarashi-san, I have a favor to ask, or rather…”
He was scratching his cheek, looking like he was having trouble saying something.
A favor? If it’s something I can do, I’ll do anything for you.
I was already in a cheerful mood, and that’s what I was thinking.
But in the next moment, as if he’d made up his mind, he looked me straight in the eye. And I’m sure that the words he said at that time, I will never forget them, word for word, for the rest of my life.
“If it’s okay with you, would you be friends with me?”
‘I guess I could go out with you.’
‘I’ll be your friend.’
‘Should I be your friend?’
‘You should be grateful I’m even talking to you.’
The words thrown at me by men in the past replayed in my head. And then all of them burst, and flew away.
It felt like something inside of me was being painted over in a single color. The scenery around me. The sounds. I couldn’t hear anything anymore.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the person in front of me.
“Of course, I will.”
The voice I finally managed to squeeze out.
At that, the person in front of me gave that kind smile again.
“Yes! Thank you! I didn’t have a single friend! Well, I’m going now! Thanks to you, Igarashi-san, I’m starting to look forward to university a little!”
I watched his back as he walked away happily.
Until he was out of sight.
And then I crumpled to the ground.
I pressed my hand tightly against my chest.
But there was no way I could suppress it.
There was no way I could hold back this wave of emotion that was overflowing.
(No way. What is this? He’s a prince, isn’t he? This is…)
He was my ideal.
His personality, his looks, his vibe. Every single element.
I could feel the priorities inside me changing at a tremendous speed.
My heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
“Hah—…! Hah—…!”
I absolutely have to have him.
I can’t think of anyone but him anymore. I want all of him.
“Masato…-kun.”
I repeated the name of my fated person over and over again in my mind.
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