Chapter 1: Childhood friends and best friends of the opposite gender

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Translator: Soafp

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The long summer vacation had ended, but the hot days were still continuing.

“Today marks the start of the new semester. I'm sure many of you are still in vacation mode, but let's tighten our focus again────”

Amidst that, the new semester began.

At the school-wide assembly's opening ceremony, all eyes were on a female student delivering a calm and composed speech in front of the students.

“She's beautiful no matter when you see her… So cute… President Aoi Miyano.”

“Yeah, so dignified and beautiful.”

The female student who had all the boys' eyes glued on her was Aoi Miyano, the student council president.

She was excellent academically, consistently ranking first in her grade on written exams, and she was well respected. On top of that, she was stunningly beautiful and the most popular student in school.

Rumor had it that boys confessed to her almost daily.

And, well… I, Yamato Makino, have been childhood friends with Aoi Miyano—from kindergarten all the way to our current second year of high school.

And, of course… I am one of the many boys who has feelings for her.

(Ah… so sleepy…)

Because I had stayed up studying late yesterday, a strong drowsiness was attacking me.

I tried to stifle a yawn, and for a brief moment, my eyes met with Aoi's on the stage.

(Oops… not good, not good. This is going to be scary later…)

Seeing her sharp gaze directed at me, I straightened my posture.

Watching Aoi act confidently and gracefully as the student council president… I felt a small… just a tiny bit… of frustration.

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“Yamato! You were dozing off during the assembly while I was talking, weren't you!”

“No… I was just nodding off. I studied late last night, so I was sleepy.”

After the opening ceremony ended, it was now afternoon.

I thought about heading home quickly, but I received a message on my phone calling me to the student council room, where Aoi scolded me.

“Studying is a good thing, but you need to be more responsible!”

“I know, I know… please, give me a break… Aoi.”

Hearing my listless reply, Aoi looked clearly displeased.

“Next year is our college entrance exams, so you really need to work hard! Yamato, your grades aren't good enough!”

Our high school is a well-known preparatory school, and when it comes to academics, the environment is extremely strict.

As for my exam scores… well, let's just say I rank closer to the bottom of the grade.

“Don't say that, Aoi. Yamato's doing his best in his own way.”

Stepping in to support me was Toru Murase, the student council vice president and a close friend of both Aoi and me.

Like Aoi, Toru was academically excellent, talented in sports, and extremely popular among the girls at school—a so-called “heartthrob.”

“Toru is too lenient with Yamato! When we entered high school, your grades were even better than ours! And now look at you…”

Indeed, back then, my grades were better than both of theirs. I had even entered this high school as the top student.

“Yamato… you remember our promise, right?”

“Ah, yeah… of course.”

Aoi and I had made a promise when entering high school to go to the same university. For that promise… I…

“Well then… I'll head home.”

When I turned to leave, Aoi grabbed my arm firmly, stopping me.

“Wait a second! Why do you always leave so early!?”

“Well… I have to go home and study…”

Aoi gave me a puzzled look at my reply.

“Then wait a little. Today, we only have a student council meeting. Let's walk home together for once.”

“No, um… I'm in a hurry!”

“Hey, wait! Don't just leave!”

I forcefully shook off her hand and quickly left the student council room.

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“Sigh… my attitude's terrible…”

With a sigh, I returned to my apartment.

Even though Aoi had suggested we walk home together… I had brushed her off.

Even during summer vacation, Aoi had invited me to hang out or to study together, but I had coldly refused.

“In the end, I'm just worrying her…”

Feeling self-loathing, I changed out of my uniform into casual clothes.

I was lying to Aoi. I always told her that I went home after school to study, but that was just an excuse.

The truth is… ever since entering high school, I've been working part-time. During summer vacation, I spent my days working and barely had time to study, except for a little before bed.

“Alright, let's go.”

The reason I've been working part-time despite my declining grades is…

“Hey, Yamato. Off to work?”

As I put on my shoes, the door opened, and a man came home.

He smelled of alcohol, had an unshaven face, and a harsh expression—my father.

“…Dad… off to pachinko again…?”

The reason I work part-time… it's because of him.

A few years ago, the company he ran went bankrupt, leaving behind a huge debt. Since then, he's been deteriorating day by day… causing trouble for my mom without working, spending his days at pachinko parlors.

“Ah, today was a big win! Here, Yamato, I'll give you some pocket money!”

He shoved a few 1,000-yen bills from his jacket pocket at me.

“I don't need it… You should give it to Mom instead.”

Today, he was in a good mood because he'd won, but normally, he's violent and arrogant when losing.

“Tch, ungrateful brat,” he muttered as he left the entrance.

I didn't care. I no longer expected anything from this man.

Just thinking about him, who was a burden on the household, made me exhausted.

I was working part-time to pay for my university entrance and tuition fees.

I also wanted to help my mom, who worked part-time to support the family, even just a little.

Well, money wasn't the only concern—I knew that without academic ability, going to university would be impossible.

Since my first year of high school, I had been working part-time, and I was close to reaching my target savings. Once I reached it, I could devote time to studying.

I was naturally good at studying, so I believed that within a year, I could close the gap between Aoi, Toru, and me.

I hadn't told Aoi about my family situation. If she knew, she would surely worry…

“Yamato! We have to go to the same university no matter what!”

Aoi had said this to me on the day of our high school entrance ceremony, and her words remain my driving force today.