Chapter 1: My Volunteer Girlfriend

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Translator: Soafp

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It was a Saturday in June. From early morning, I had work gloves on and was holding a garbage bag.

Yeah? That “what the hell?” look on my face — I'm aware of it myself.

Fujimiya Ito, seventeen. Second-year in high school.

I have a lot of hobbies. A lot of friends. My weekends are always packed.

…They were supposed to be.

And yet here I am, taking part in a neighborhood cleanup volunteer.

The reason is simple.

Last week after school, I was riding my bike while using my phone and got caught by Yamaoka from student guidance.

Apparently a written apology wasn't enough, and I was sentenced to three rounds of volunteer work.

Three times.

Three times, seriously.

I was supposed to go to the shopping mall with Kaito and the others today.

I resent the clear blue sky.

At the meeting spot in front of the community center, there were a few students who looked like they'd been dragged here against their will, just like me. The rest were local volunteer staff.

No familiar faces.

…No.

There was one profile I recognized.

A girl with black hair tied back.

A second-year at our school. She should be in a different class.

I've passed her in the hallway before. A sharp-eyed girl with a dignified air around her.

Her name was… what was it again.

Whatever. For now, I just want to finish this volunteer work.

I want to go home already.

---

The volunteer work started.

As expected, the difference in motivation was obvious.

A few of the guys were lazily walking around while playing with their phones. Even when there was trash on the ground, they just passed by.

Two girls were chatting away in a corner.

…I get how they feel. If I'm being honest, I want to wrap this up quickly too.

Among them was another one.

Mimura Sota.

If I remember right, he's the childhood friend of that black-haired girl from earlier, in the same class as her.

I don't know why he's here, but when it comes to lack of motivation he's second to none — actually, he might be the worst. He keeps talking to a nearby girl with a grin on his face, and his garbage bag is practically empty.

And then—

In the middle of all that, there was one person who was different.

Himuro Rin.

I finally remembered her name.

She was silently picking up trash.

Not talking to anyone.

Not looking at her phone.

Just steadily.

Crouch down, stand up. Crouch down, stand up.

She even stuck her hand into the gutter and pulled out a mud-covered empty can.

…That's amazing.

That was my simple, honest thought.

Because everyone else is slacking off. In places where the staff can't see, no one is taking it seriously.

In a situation like that, being the only one who doesn't cut corners isn't easy.

I'd heard she had a strong personality.

So I thought she might say something to the people slacking off — but she didn't do that either.

She just silently kept moving her hands.

What is this.

For some reason, it stuck with me.

---

The morning work ended and it was break time.

In front of the vending machines behind the community center. While the others gathered in groups chatting, Himuro Rin was alone, drinking bottled tea.

I bought a can of coffee, hesitated for a moment — and walked over to her.

“Hey, Himuro-san — right? We go to the same school.”

Her sharp eyes turned toward me.

A gaze that felt like it was appraising me.

“…Fujimiya, was it. What is it?”

Her voice was low. Zero friendliness.

But it felt closer to indifference than dislike.

“No, there was just something I was curious about.”

“Curious about what?”

Her eyebrow lifted slightly.

“During the work earlier, everyone was slacking off, right? Being the only one quietly working in the middle of that — I thought it was amazing.”

I said it straight. I'm not the type for roundabout talk.

“I'd heard you're pretty strong-willed, Himuro-san, so honestly I thought you might say something to the people slacking off. But you didn't.”

Himuro Rin fell silent for a moment.

She turned the cap of her bottle as if thinking.

And then—

“—It's not like that. I'm not such a perfect person that I can scold others in a strong tone.”

…That surprised me.

“You say you're not perfect… even though you were doing all that properly?”

“Maybe I just happened to take it seriously today.”

Her voice was calm.

“Tomorrow I might give in to temptation and slack off. Next week I might throw everything away. I can't guarantee that I'll live seriously for the rest of my life.”

She wasn't putting herself down.

It wasn't modesty either.

She was simply stating it as a fact.

“But—”

She continued.

“I do think I should properly do what I can.”

“…………”

“Whether the people around me are slacking off or not has nothing to do with it. My actions may be small, but I don't think other people's attitudes or opinions should interfere with them.”

She finished, took a sip of tea.

Her expression didn't change.

Not like she was declaring some grand resolve or noble ideal.

Just a face that said she'd stated something obvious.

That was the kind of face it was.

—I'm done for.

That's what I thought.

I've met a lot of people until now.

I'm good at communication. Even with someone I meet for the first time, I can usually get along with them right away. With both guys and girls.

But.

I've never had an encounter like this before.

It felt like my heart had been grabbed with bare hands.

Not a metaphor — I could feel the inside of my chest tightening.

…No way.

Right now, I—

My thoughts couldn't keep up.

This doesn't fit into any of my past experiences.

Of course I liked the girls I went out with before.

Being with them was fun, and I wanted to treasure them.

But all of those relationships started because they showed interest in me first, and I naturally responded to it.

For me to—like this—get taken in an instant.

“…Fujimiya? Are you listening?”

Himuro Rin's voice brought me back.

Apparently my mouth had been hanging open.

“Ah, yeah. Sorry. I was listening, I was listening.”

“You weren't listening at all, were you?”

“…Sorry.”

I ended up using polite speech without thinking.

Himuro Rin frowned suspiciously, then tilted her head slightly.

“You're weird.”

She said only that, and went back to the rest area.

Left behind, I stood there for a while, gripping my now lukewarm can of coffee.

---

The afternoon work started.

I was following Himuro Rin with my eyes so much it creeped even me out.

If someone called me a stalker I couldn't deny it. I just couldn't look away.

And then—I noticed something.

The flowerbed next to the entrance of the community center.

A small flowerbed that looked completely unattended.

She casually watered it.

She filled a bucket from the tap, poured it into a watering can, and carefully watered the flowers.

That wasn't part of the volunteer work. Either the person in charge forgot, or it wasn't planned in the first place.

Either way, it wasn't her job.

And more.

A pile of old cardboard boxes left in the passageway.

Something all the other participants pretended not to see.

She sorted them out alone and carried them to the separation area.

Without a single complaint.

—You should properly do what you can, huh.

She didn't just say those words.

In places where no one was watching, without being asked, she did it as if it were the most natural thing.

I know.

There are plenty of people who say impressive things but never act on them.

But Himuro Rin is different.

…Ah.

This is bad.

I'm completely in love.

---

The volunteer work ended, and we were dismissed in front of the community center.

I gathered my courage and called out to Himuro Rin, who had started walking ahead.

“Himuro-san!”

She turned around.

“I had fun working together today. I'll be here again next week — so if you want, let's talk again.”

The best smile I could manage.

Even I think it sounds pretentious. But this is my way. Straightforward, head-on.

Himuro Rin looked at my face for a few seconds.

And then—

“…Do whatever you want.”

She said only that and turned her back.

Not a rejection.

But not a welcome either.

A reply as close to indifference as possible.

Normally, this is where I'd back off.

I'd decide there's no chance and switch to the next thing. The old me definitely would have.

But this time is different.

Because this uncontrollable heat deep in my chest is something I've never felt before.

“…Alright.”

I muttered quietly and started walking.

I'll come here again next week. And the week after.

The volunteer work ends in three sessions, but I'll come a fourth time if I have to.

Fujimiya Ito, seventeen.

For the first time in my life, I fell in love with someone on my own.

---

[Mimura Sota side]

On the way back from the volunteer work.

I was watching that scene from a little distance.

Fujimiya Ito talking to Rin.

Smiling, confidently.

…That's exactly how a popular guy closes the distance.

Fujimiya Ito.

A guy famous for his flashy social circle. Lots of rumors with girls.

I don't like someone like that getting close to Rin — but I'm not worried.

Because Rin hates that type of frivolous guy the most.

I know that well.

We're childhood friends.

Rin and I have known each other since elementary school. Our houses are close. Our parents are on good terms.

Rin is strong-willed with everyone, unfriendly, and doesn't open up easily.

But in front of me, sometimes — just a little — she shows a softer expression.

That's my privilege alone.

The real Rin that only a childhood friend knows.

…Rin and I will work out somehow.

We don't need a confession or anything like that.

We'll just stay like this, and naturally it'll become that.

That's how it goes.

I opened my phone.

The group chat with my friends. A message from Sakamoto, who was at the volunteer work too.

“So-ta, you're childhood friends with Himuro-san, right? Too bad she didn't talk to you again today lol”

…That pissed me off.

That's just how Rin is. It's not like she's ignoring me.

But if I ignore this, they'll think “He really isn't being acknowledged at all.”

So — without thinking, I typed back.

“Not really lol. She's like that with everyone. Plus she just isn't honest — her attitude's different only with me. She's just bad at this kind of thing, clumsy, you know lol”

Sent.

…It left a slightly unpleasant feeling.

I didn't want to speak badly about Rin.

I just didn't want to get teased, so I showed off a little.

But this much is fine.

It's not like Rin will hear about it.

It's just the usual guy talk.

I told myself that and put my phone back in my pocket.

At that time, I still didn't know.

That the piling up of “just this much” would eventually make the ground beneath my feet collapse.

And that the distance between Rin and me — which I had taken for granted — was never something to be taken for granted at all.