Volume 1 - CH 1.1

Love Story

Translated by 64990022

Part 1

[TN: There’s a manga adaptation of the same title, maybe you’d like to check that out too. Even though the manga was dropped halfway, it should provide a good insight of what’s the story’s about.]

It all started with—

“–-I-I like you!”

This “Request” of hers.

“Please go out with me!”

Watery, jewel-like eyes, with cheeks tanned by the Setouchi sun. The hair that didn’t quite well reach her shoulders sparkled in the evening sunlight, her mouth pressed tight nervously.

The ribbons of her sailor uniform caught the breeze and fluttered, her hands were held firmly at her chest. Her neck was unbelievably polished and white.

[TN: Japanese have a degree of obsession with necks and collars. Their standard of beauty is quite hard to comprehend]

I gulped.

“S-sorry! I know it was sudden!” She quickly added as if worried about my reaction. “B-but, I’m serious. I, Koro, Korohashi-kun, I l-like you…Please be my boyfriend… We might not be that close… however—”

“Ah, no, I’m not surprised in the slightest.”

“What?!”

“Well, I thought it should be time for you to make your move.”

“Ehhhhh?!”

I’m not smug or anything, but, yeah, I can smell this confession coming up. Firstly, she gave me enough signs that even the densest of people could pick up.

My gaze slipped past her and fell on the city of Onomichi.

[TN: It’s a real town. Really good aesthetics for this LN, I’d say]

Far away, the Seto Inland Sea glimmered. Old houses and buildings crept from the sea, clinging more and more to the slope of the mountain as it went inland. White ferries were barely discernible from the distance, I watched as one docked at Mukaishima, green trees on the beyond. I recalled what happened between us—.

—Hamure Hiyori.

A classmate of mine who sat next to me. I had noted since spring that she was one of the cute girls in my class. Not that she stood out, but her innocent, kind smile was enough. She was cuter than she let on. She had no apparent fans, but I’m sure she had secret admirers here and there. That’s Hamure-san.

Our turning point was the seat change in the second semester. The raffle drawing paired us up.

“I-I’ll be in this seat,” she introduced herself, “Ehehe, I’m a bit nervous. Ehem, please take care of me”

Contrary to her strangely reserved greeting, she closed the distance between us quickly.

We chatted everyday at school. A while later, she even sent me messages via LINE on weekends.

And—

“Why don’t we go to Hiroshima?!” She then quickly went on, “I want to go shopping and… Why don’t we go together?”

Like that, I realized. 

Hamure-san was hitting on me?! Either that or she had some agenda with me?!

I knew it might be a result of my self-consciousness and presumptions, but this was my first time experiencing something like this. I was genuinely flustered.

Then, the heart-pounding Hiroshima date (was that a date?) came and went. I continued to live these eventful days until she finally asked.

“It’s…I have something important to tell you. Can I… have your time after school?

This is it…

Is this the confession…?

It couldn’t be anything else, right?

Plus, the meeting place was nowhere other than this spot with a spectacular view, the “Pom-pom Rock”. The keywords matched, beautiful view, “something important”, nothing but a confession. Please, let it be so.

After a few minutes of watching her falter patiently, she finally told me how she felt.

As for my impressions—umm, I’m happy.

Or rather, I was so happy that I broke a smile, a little though, I can’t afford to let her see that.

How could I not, actually. This was my first time being confessed, furthermore, by such a cute girl!

Well…

A group of occasional tourists walked past.

“Hmm? What’s with those two?” Came a snicker

“Local highschooler?” said another voice.

“Are they in the middle of a confession?!”

“Hang in there, dude–!” one of them cheered.

This Pom-pom Rock was one of the most popular tourist spots in Onomichi. Hamure-san, you could have selected a more private spot…

And that last guy who cheered! I’m not the one confessing, it’s her! Surely, you can see that she’s the one blushing, get your facts straight!

I sighed and flipped my switch. Before I give my reply, I wanted to be sure about one thing.

“Why me?” I asked. Yes, that was the part I could never understand. “I know we’re on good terms lately, but why do you think I’m the one?”

I knew it was embarrassing, but this couldn’t go unanswered. From what I gathered, she was sweet and poised. She was rather indecisive, even with two choices, she had trouble choosing for minutes.

For example:

“—Hmm, yogurt…peach…plum…”

“Korohashi-kun, where to have lunch? Eeh… which restaurant…”

“What to have for elective class. Music? No. Home economics should be good… still no…”

On the other hand, I had never bothered thinking.

Example:

“Coffee.”

“Let’s get a burger there”

“I’ll go with programming. You know, there’s a deadline for that, decide already.”

Or conversations didn’t exactly match. Even Hamure-san should have felt the same; we don’t exactly fit.

That was why I wondered, why me…

“Hmmm…” She took up a troubled expression that I have come to get used to. “You have what I don’t.”

“What you don’t?” I mirrored.

“See? I suck at deciding things,” she said with a bashful laugh 

The look on her face—her cuteness touched my heart.

“I’m indecisive, and have lost many opportunities because of that. But… Korohashi-kun, you’re my exact opposite, you’re firm, you make choices with confidence…” She narrowed her eyes as if I was something brilliant. “I admire you for that.”

My heart skipped a beat.

I make choices with confidence, she said… I was glad someone appreciated that side of me. Yes, I’m happy.

Some had called me cold and insensitive. Maybe I deserve to be called that way, and yet.

And yet this girl praised that side of me and told me that she admired it.

She continued glumly, “So… please.” she tilted her head pleadingly. “Will you go out with me?”

I see, I thought silently.

She tended to fret and worry, and she could be a bit hesitant at times. But, at the very least, she was good at asking favors.

“I want some time to think. I need to clear my thoughts. Can I have a moment alone?”

“A moment? O-Ok! I’ll wait!” She nodded repeatedly. “Of course, I understand you… How much time do you want? A week? A month? A year? No matter how long, I’ll wait!!” She leaned forward, breathing hard.

“Huh, one night is plenty.”

“Fast!”