Chapter 136: It Feels Like a First Love

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Translator: Soafp

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Ginji and Sora sat side by side in front of the laptop, staring at the screen. Then, they looked at each other and did a one-handed high-five.

“We did it! Even with the extras, we just made it under budget… Hey, can we increase the budget just a little?”

The design plans for the metal plates they'd use in their art festival piece were finally complete.

“Obviously not. Let's go ahead and send the data to the workshop through the shared folder. If everything goes as planned, it'll be done in a week.”

“I can't wait. We can still refine the detailing, so I'll think it over more. Also, like I said before… this could totally count as my summer research project, right?”

“Yeah, it's a joint project after all… though I gotta admit, I'm kinda embarrassed to have a teacher look at it.”

After all, the piece was built around Sora's feelings for Ginji—an emotional image she had designed, and Ginji would physically construct. Presenting it at the art festival was one thing, but handing it in to a teacher felt like another level of exposure.

Ginji was clearly a bit flustered, but Sora responded seriously:

“Creating something is embarrassing. The more sincere you are, the more your art ends up reflecting things you don't want others to see. The things you'd rather hide, the parts of you you're afraid of—they all end up in the work. I used to be scared of that, and tried to avoid it… but lately, I think it's okay.”

“Sora…”

“I'm scared of failing. It's terrifying and embarrassing. But I can't hold it back. Doesn't that… sound familiar to you?”

She didn't ask what it was similar to—but Ginji didn't need her to. He understood completely.

“Yeah… I guess it really does. In that case, maybe there's no need to hide it. Man, you've gotten pretty bold, haven't you?”

That ticklish feeling in his chest and the affection he felt for the girl beside him… they really were similar.

But the way Sora could say it out loud, with no hesitation—that shone so brightly to Ginji.

“Just so you know—” Sora said, tapping the heart-shaped design on the screen with a fingertip. “—I only started feeling this way because of you, Ginji. I wouldn't say this to anyone else.”

“…It's my first love.”

“Mine too, y'know.”

The words made them both flush and smile shyly. Embarrassing, but not unpleasant. And with each other, it wasn't scary.

They shared a chuckle, and Sora stood up.

“Let's have lunch. What do you wanna eat?”

“Fish. That meal yesterday was seriously good. Let's go to the shopping street and pick something together.”

Stretching, Ginji got up as well.

“Okay!”

Still chatting about the menu, they left the room. Inside the now-empty room, the glass wind chime they'd bought the day before swayed gently, ringing with a crisp, cooling sound.

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Meanwhile – At the Middle School Library

At the same time, in a different place, Tetsuya was surrounded in the school library.

Tetsuya was… popular. Thanks to working out with Ginji, he had a strong build, and his sharp, narrow eyes—common in the Momoi family—gave him the look of a handsome delinquent.

He was athletic, academically among the top five in his grade, and despite his expressionless and curt mannerisms, he was known for being warm-hearted and dependable—mature beyond his years.

Because of this, even the smallest acts of kindness led to a trail of lovestruck girls, especially those in liberal arts clubs who often found excuses to come to school during the summer break.

But today, the crowd surrounding Tetsuya consisted mostly of boys. Among them were two girls wearing caps, peering at him with desperate expressions.

Why was this happening? Because Tetsuya had let it slip that his older brother Ginji had a girlfriend.

“Tell us everything… Ginji-senpai has a girlfriend?!”

A buzz-cut boy leaned in with the intensity of someone about to shake Tetsuya down.

“…It's lunchtime. I wanna go home.”

Tetsuya sighed and held his bag like he wanted to disappear.

“Just tell us, man! We're seriously worried! I mean, it's Ginji-senpai we're talking about!”

The others nodded vigorously in agreement.

“…You're not wrong. She comes over often. They seem really happy together.”

“OHHHHHH!!!”

Tetsuya dropped another bomb, and the boys reacted in every way imaginable—some crumbling to their knees, others pumping their fists triumphantly.

Then one of the girls shoved aside the buzz-cut kid and stood squarely in front of Tetsuya.

“Could he be… being deceived? He looks tough, but Gin-senpai's a softie. What if he's getting used for money? We're just worried about him!”

“No. If anything… it's the opposite.”

“What do you mean ‘opposite'? You're saying he's the one using her? No way.”

In that moment, Tetsuya's brain replayed a certain memory:

“Sora, you bought another set of dishes, didn't you?!”

“Well, they suit you, Ginji.”

“How much? I'll pay for them.”

“Eh? It's fine. I bought them because I wanted to.”

“I insist! Also, I've been meaning to say—bento money, the tea you keep at my place, everything. I'll pay for all of it, including labor.”

“No way! That would totally ruin the feeling of devotion! I want to take care of you!”

“If that's how it is, then I'll start taking care of you.”

“…Well, that could work too. I mean, you help me in the mornings and with cooking and stuff already…”

“'Cause I like you, Sora.”

“And I like you, Ginji… ehehe.”

—Meanwhile, Tetsuya sitting silently at the dinner table, trying to eat while this ridiculous love-fest unfolded beside him.

If left unchecked, Sora would throw everything she had at Ginji.

These kinds of “arguments disguised as flirting” were common in the Momoi household. It always ended with Ginji compromising, and Sora beaming as she fussed over him even more.

After reviewing all this in his mind, Tetsuya looked at the crowd of students, who were watching him skeptically.

“Hey… what's she like? Ginji-senpai's girlfriend. Is she cute? Like, really cute?”

“…You'll see for yourself at the cleanup volunteer day. Anyway, I'm going home for lunch.”

“Hey—wait up, Tetsu!”

Having had enough of this chaos, Tetsuya somehow slipped through the circle of students and dodged the swarm of underclassman girls to finally make it home.

There, Ginji and Sora had just finished preparing lunch.

“Yo, Tetsu. Welcome back. Get much studying done?”

“Welcome home, Tetsu-kun. You came back at the perfect time.”

“I'm back. ‘Perfect timing'? You need something, Sora-senpai?”

On the table were plates of sashimi, pickled veggies, and grated yam over rice. As Tetsuya sat down, the two stared at him with uncharacteristically serious expressions. He tensed up as Ginji spoke.

“So yesterday, during our date, we tried that couple thing where you drink from the same glass, y'know? But we didn't quite nail it. How do you actually make it look romantic?”

“We were talking about it while cooking, and figured you might know the right way to do it.”

“…Thanks for the meal.”

Hearing their earnest question, Tetsuya sighed deeply and decided to just enjoy the delicious-looking fish instead.