Chapter 1: Encounter

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Translator: Soafp

Short story.

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“Sorry.”

The girl in front of me clutched the hem of her skirt, which was covering her knees, tightly. Her mouth trembled as she spoke those words to me.

I couldn’t see her expression since she was looking down, but it was clear that her usual gentle smile wasn’t there.

“…I see. Okay… I understand.”

When I managed to force out these words, her body flinched slightly in response.

As she slowly looked up at me, her eyes had turned red, much like the setting sun behind her.

Miyuki Hayakawa, a girl in the same grade as me, a second-year at the same high school.

We were in different classes, clubs, and committees, and we might never have had any connection at all. We got to know each other just after Golden Week last year, when neither of us had quite settled into our classes or clubs.

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“Takumi-kun.”

Just after Golden Week, my body, accustomed to staying up late every night, was far from being in school mode. As I stifled a yawn while walking, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind.

“Nagisa huh. Morning”

It was Nagisa Hayashi who called out to me, a childhood friend living in the same apartment complex.

We used to visit each other’s homes frequently when we were little, but naturally drifted apart around upper elementary school.

I don’t remember having a proper conversation with her during middle school. The change in our relationship came about half a month after we started high school.

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It was after an afternoon practice with the soccer club I had just joined. My body, sluggish from studying for exams, felt heavy as I walked home in a gloomy mood.

I was just two floors away from home when Nagisa came down from the upper floor.

Dressed casually in a hoodie and culottes, she seemed to be on her way to a convenience store or something. As I stepped to the side of the wall to let her pass, she stopped right in front of me.

“Hey, Takumi-kun. Long time no see.”

Nagisa, looking slightly awkward, spoke to me. I responded suspiciously.

“…Ou.”

With nothing in particular to say, I started to climb the stairs, attempting to pass her by, when she called out to me in a flustered voice.

“Hey, wait a minute. Don't just walk away when I'm talking to you.”

Nagisa grabbed the hem of my shirt tightly with both hands, protesting, and I was bewildered.

“Haa? What is it? Do you need something?”

If someone else had said this to me, they probably would have backed off, considering my reputation as a big and tough guy. But Nagisa, being my childhood friend, only flinched for a moment before looking straight into my eyes.

“Well, you know, there aren't many kids from our middle school at our high school, right? So, I was thinking we could be friends again, like we used to be. Is that okay?”

As Nagisa said, our high school was a 40-minute bus ride away. From what I knew, besides Nagisa, there were only two other people from our middle school.

“Even if I say no… I guess it’s fine.”

She wasn't asking to be in a relationship or anything, just to chat a bit when we see each other at school.

At that time, that was about all I thought of it.

“Okay. Don't ignore me when we see each other at school, alright? You’re in class 1, right? I'm in class 5, so our entrances are different, but we'll still run into each other.”

“Oh, right.”

I hadn't known which class Nagisa was in since I wasn't interested, but it made sense that we hadn’t run into each other because our entrances were different.

“Yeah, so see you around.”

With that, Nagisa ran up the stairs.

“Aren't you going out?”

I watched her cheerful retreat with a look of exasperation.

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“Takumi-kun, you joined the soccer club, huh? Just finished morning practice?”

Nagisa, with her backpack slung over her shoulder and a bright smile on her face, approached me as if she had just arrived at school.

“Yeah.”

Her cute, slightly tilted head made me wonder if she was also trying to impress the guys, so I answered succinctly. It was then that I noticed a small figure standing next to her.

“Hmm. Hey, Takumi-kun. I don’t mean to say anything bad, but I think you should be a bit friendlier. You might get misunderstood by your looks. Look, my friend here is all shy now.”

At Nagisa’s words, I turned my gaze to the side and was instantly captivated.

With semi-long black hair, gentle eyes, a small frame, and a modest chest, she wasn't the typical beautiful girl people often talked about, but she was definitely my type.

“Well, isn't she small to begin with?”

Perhaps out of embarrassment, a comment that wasn't appropriate for a first meeting slipped out of my mouth.

“That's exactly why! See, that's what I mean! Sure, she's not tall, but she's cute, right?”

Nagisa’s words seemed to read my mind, but since I had been so enchanted by her friend, what I blurted out was surprisingly honest.

“Y-yeah, I guess.”

“F-fuh? Um, I'm… uh, Miyuki Hayakawa.”

Miyuki, who seemed flustered, was looking down and glancing around nervously.

“Hey, Takumi-kun? Is this your character?”

Ignoring Nagisa, who was putting her hands on her hips and looking at me with narrowed eyes in protest, I took a discreet deep breath before facing Miyuki.

“I'm Takumi Kudou, nice to meet you.”

And thus, I encountered the person who would change my fate.