───● A Childhood Friend’s Heartfelt Wish ●○●
Masato had asked me out on a date.
If someone had told my past self that this would happen, she undoubtedly would have clapped her hands in pure joy.
Of course, I was happy right now, too. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but sense what Masato’s true intention was.
“…Whew,” I exhaled softly before leaving.
Standing in front of the mirror before leaving the house, I gave my outfit a final check.
Masato is probably planning to use this date to decide who he’s going to choose as his girlfriend.
Just thinking about it filled me with an overwhelming dread. The mere thought that I might not be the one… made me tremble uncontrollably.
I tried my best to calm my racing heart and adjusted my bangs in the mirror, only for my phone to buzz with a notification.
Checking the screen, I saw the message wasn’t from Masato… but Mizuho.
Mizuho: “Do your best, Koumi!! I’ll be right behind you!!”
Mizuho: “You’ve got this! Koumi, you’re the cutest girl in the entire world! Have some confidence and get ’em!!”
…She really was a wonderful best friend.
“…The cutest girl in the world is actually you, Mizuho,” I murmured to the empty room.
Before setting off on this date, Mizuho and I had talked things through. We decided that each of us would give it our all to win him over individually. While our ultimate wish was for him to date both of us, setting that aside, we wanted Masato to evaluate each of us fairly.
After discussing it together, we agreed to put everything we had into our own individual efforts.
Which meant today was a date with just Masato and me.
It would be a lie to say that Mizuho’s encouragement had completely dispelled my fear, though.
Even so, all I could do now was give it my absolute best.
“…I’m off.”
Whispering those words to the empty room, I stepped out the door.
As I waited on the station platform, Masato’s figure caught my eye as he came up the stairs.
…He looked so ridiculously handsome that he stood out instantly. Honestly, it would’ve been harder not to spot him.
“Masato! Good morning!” I called out with a bright wave.
“…Yeah, morning,” Masato replied with a gentle smile.
Man, his visuals are on point first thing in the morning.
And since the thought had crossed my mind, I felt like it’d be a total waste not to voice it.
“You’re looking super handsome today too, Masato,” I teased warmly.
“No way, you’re the one who looks really…” Masato started, flustered.
Masato suddenly cut himself off. Anticipating the words he was about to say, I felt my heart begin to thud against my ribs.
Trying to keep my composure, I waited eagerly for him to finish his sentence.
“…Really what?” I prompted mischievously.
I looked up at Masato with a hint of playful anticipation. His face flushed a slight shade of red as he spoke up.
“…Really cute,” he mumbled shyly.
“Yay!” I squealed in delight.
A compliment from Masato always brought a cozy warmth that radiated all the way to my core.
I latched onto Masato’s right arm, expressing my joy with full enthusiasm.
“Alright, let’s head out on our date!” I declared cheerfully.
Just as the train bound for our destination pulled in, I tugged on Masato’s arm and led him inside the train car.
Before I even realized it, the fear that had weighed on me earlier had faded away.
In its place, a burning desire to simply enjoy every single moment of today with Masato took over.
Our Aquarium date turned out to be pure bliss. Every second spent by Masato’s side was so ridiculously fun that time just flew right by.
I was also overjoyed by the date plan Masato had put together for us.
After all, it meant he had put real thought into making sure I would have a great time. Having the guy you love do something like that for you… I mean, how could that not be the absolute best thing ever?
Once we finished exploring all the exhibits, we stopped by the gift shop located near the exit.
“Hey, Masato, didn’t you say this was your first time visiting an aquarium?” I asked, turning to him.
“Yeah, it’s my first time,” Masato nodded in response.
Apparently, it really was his first time at an aquarium. I didn’t pry into it too deeply, but given how different his upbringing had been from average people, he probably hadn’t had many opportunities to visit recreational spots like this before.
“In that case, why don’t we get something like this to take home?” I suggested, pointing toward a display.
“Oh, good idea,” Masato agreed, leaning in to look.
I had been eyeing a pair of tiny penguin straps. They came in two different designs, making them absolute perfection for a matching set.
“Then I’ll take this one, and you take this one, Masato!” I said, handing one over to him.
“Got it. Wonder where I should attach it,” Masato mused, inspecting the charm in his palm.
Getting matching charms when we were already university students might have seemed a bit childish.
Even so, I didn’t care one bit.
On our way to the register, I spun around to face Masato with a bright smile.
“Let’s keep making tons of memories and adding more matching keepsakes like this, okay?” I said softly.
“…Yeah, let’s,” Masato agreed with a tender smile.
I don’t know if I’ll be the one he chooses in the end.
But no matter what outcome awaited me, that didn’t mean the bond between Masato and me would disappear.
I hope we can keep making countless wonderful memories together, for a long, long time to come.
After enjoying the Aquarium to our hearts’ content, we ate a delicious meal at a wonderful restaurant…
As I savored the tiramisu we ordered for dessert, the thoughts I had wrestled with this morning resurfaced in my mind.
It was so much fun. Today has been the best day ever.
But I can’t let today just end here on a happy note.
To ensure that he chooses me, I have to do everything within my power.
After getting Masato’s agreement, I decided to take him to a very special place.
And that place was…
“Koumi, isn’t this…” Masato murmured, looking around in bewilderment.
“Just come on, it’s totally fine!” I laughed, pulling his hand.
After arriving at the station closest to our destination, we walked hand-in-hand down the street.
Realizing where I was leading him, Masato followed along with a confused expression on his face.
“I mean, I don’t mind, but can we even get inside at this hour?” Masato asked.
“Yep! It’s just barely still open,” I reassured him.
Continuing forward, I kept a gentle grip on Masato’s hand…
We finally arrived at the exact spot I had wanted to visit with him, and I took a seat on the bench waiting there.
“…Wait, isn’t this…” Masato trailed off.
“Yeah. This is… the place where I met you at university for the very first time, Masato,” I said softly, looking up at him.
I could never forget that day. One of my university classes had been canceled, and as I wandered around wondering how to kill time, I spotted Masato sitting on this exact bench.
“Since there are evening classes tonight, the campus is still open,” I explained with a gentle smile.
“Ah, I see. That makes sense,” Masato replied, nodding.
Masato glanced around the area. Sure enough, lights were still glowing here and there throughout the campus buildings. But unlike daytime, there were hardly any people in sight.
I had looked into it beforehand to make sure we could get onto campus at this time of night.
Because if I was going to convey my feelings to Masato once more… I knew this was the only place that felt right.
On that day about a year ago, after sitting down and talking with Masato… I had fallen hopelessly in love with him.
A simple bench sitting in the hallway of a dimly lit campus building.
I gently stroked the desk positioned right in front of it. Back then, Masato had been sitting right here, working on his course registration.
Overwhelmed with nostalgia… I finally gave voice to the words I had brought him here to say.
“You know, Masato… I’m truly, deeply glad that I met you,” I began softly.
It was an expression of gratitude straight from the bottom of my heart.
“Before I met you… my school life wasn’t really all that fun. And honestly… I didn’t even really like this world with its skewed gender ratio very much.”
“…” Masato gasped silently, his breath catching.
“I mean, so many people here are arrogant, and I couldn’t stand the stupid idea that women have to fight just to get chosen by a guy… Working so hard for something like that just felt so pointless to me.”
Those were my unvarnished, true feelings. Back then, I figured that someone with an attitude like mine would just end up unwanted and left behind.
…But then everything changed.
“But you changed all of that, Masato. You… completely repainted my world.”
I stood up from the bench and looked directly into Masato’s eyes.
Faint, pale moonlight spilled through the high windows, illuminating the quiet, shadowy hallway.
“So… thank you. Meeting you made me realize that even in a world like this, someone truly wonderful exists. It made me realize that if it was to win your heart, I’d be willing to do absolutely anything.”
Slowly, I took a step forward until I was standing right in front of him.
“…And then, when I realized that you were that same Maa-kun from my childhood… I was so overwhelmingly happy. I mean, I ended up falling in love with the exact same person twice, you know? To me, that was proof that you are the one and only person for me—that I could never love anyone else but you, Masato.”
I reached out and gently squeezed both of Masato’s hands as he listened silently to every word.
“So, I want to say it once more. Thank you… And also…”
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I swallowed them back.
Just like I had back on that day.
I put on the absolute brightest, happiest smile I could possibly summon.
“I love you.”
…This was everything I had to give.
Pouring out every single ounce of my feelings… was the absolute best I could possibly do.
I poured every fiber of my being into the hands I squeezed so tightly.
Please, let these feelings reach deep into Masato’s heart.
[ The Case of Igarashi Koumi ]
<Koumi
22:15 | Masato: Thanks for today, Koumi!
22:15 | Masato: I had a lot of fun.
22:29 | Koumi: Thank you too!
22:29 | Koumi: I took so many pictures, I’ll put them together in an album tomorrow~!
22:48 | Masato: Thanks~! I’m really looking forward to it!
22:51 | Koumi: …Masato, you mentioned before that if you were being completely honest, you “liked everyone,” right?
22:54 | Masato: Yeah, I did say that before. Why do you ask?
22:59 | Koumi: …Has that still not changed, even now? Do you like everyone… all the people you’re trying to figure out your feelings for right now?
23:16 | Masato: Of course it hasn’t. I really do love everyone.
23:19 | Koumi: …I see, I’m glad then.
0:25 | Koumi: Hey, Masato.
0:28 | Koumi: I love you.
0:31 | Koumi: See you later!