Volume 1
Chapter 1: A one-sided fateful encounter (Part 2)
A Childhood Friend-Type College Girl Realizes
What exactly is the definition of love at first sight?
Is it falling for someone the moment you lay eyes on them—because their face, their vibe, their figure aligns perfectly with your type?
If that’s what people call love at first sight, then I can say with certainty that I’ve never experienced it. Not in that literal, head-over-heels-at-first-glance way.
But here’s the thing: meeting someone for the first time, talking with them, spending just a little time together, and then—when the moment comes to say “bye-bye” at the end of the day—feeling my heart race so wildly that I can’t suppress it. That’s when I became aware of this love. And when I think about it, doesn’t that deserve to be called love at first sight too, in its own way?
Up until today, I’ve met my fair share of guys since I was born. I’ve never really fallen for anyone, but I’ve had a handful of male acquaintances. In my classes, there were maybe three or four boys—small numbers, sure—and even in the online games I played as a hobby, there were male players too.
But every time I got a glimpse of their personalities, I grew fed up with the way so many of them carried this air of “I’m the one doing the choosing here.” The majority of guys seemed to believe they were rare, precious, and entitled to be treated as such. That’s why they’d act so cocky toward us girls, throwing around their arrogant attitudes.
And that? I couldn’t stand it. They wouldn’t even invest in their appearance. They didn’t have anything particularly outstanding about them. Their personalities weren’t exactly stellar either. Yet they’d stare at you with this smug, appraising look, as if to say, “I’m the one picking here.”
“Guess I could date you,” one of them said to me once, and it gave me chills—in the worst way. Another time, someone told me, “I’ll let you be my friend,” and it just pissed me off. Why did I have to be the one condescended to like that? I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
“Haah…”
The first class of the day at university had just ended. Slumped over my desk, I—Koumi Igarashi—let out an involuntary sigh.
“What’s wrong, Koumi? If you’re sighing this early in the morning, you’re not gonna make it through fifth period!” chirped Mizuho—full name Mizuho Tonozaki—who’d been sitting next to me in class. She peeked at my face, but I didn’t have the energy to respond.
“You’re so cute, Koumi, but acting like that won’t get you anywhere with guys! We’ve gotta hustle for that dreamy campus life we talked about!”
“You’re way too chipper in the morning, Mizuho…”
“Of course I am! This is our big chance, fresh into college! Time to snag a hot guy!”
My friend Mizuho is what you’d call a sucker for good looks. She loves handsome guys and wastes no time trying to connect with them whenever she spots one—though she crashes and burns pretty often too. As a fellow girl and a friend, she’s genuinely great to be around… most of the time.
The classroom had mostly emptied out by then, so I was about to drag myself up and leave when Mizuho—who’d been glancing at her phone—beckoned me over with a little wave.
“Oh, by the way, Koumi, who’re you eyeing in the badminton club?”
“Eh…?”
“What do you mean, ‘eh’? Come on, there’s gotta be someone you’re into, right?”
Mizuho and I are in the same badminton club. Sure, I joined partly hoping I might meet someone nice—so I can’t completely deny having ulterior motives—but still.
“Uh… right now, no one, I guess?”
“What?! Seriously? But Keito-san’s pretty hot, isn’t he?!”
“Yeah, I suppose…”
“You’re crazy cute, Koumi, but you’re weirdly chill about this stuff! You’ve gotta be more proactive, or you’ll end up left behind!”
“Left behind,” huh.
Mizuho’s probably not wrong. There are fewer guys than girls, after all. The government’s been talking about introducing polygamy or something, but I doubt people are going to just nod along and flip their values upside down overnight.
If that’s the case, someone like me is bound to be “left over,” literally. A girl who doesn’t “try hard to be chosen.”
Another sigh slipped out of me.
“Ugh…”
I was walking through the school building toward my second-period classroom when I noticed an email from the university pop up on my phone.
<Today’s class in Room 104, second period, is canceled due to the professor’s sudden illness.>
Talk about last-minute.
“Canceled, huh… I wonder if any of my friends have a free period right now…”
Mizuho, who’d been with me until a moment ago, had already gone off to a different class. Most of my other close friends either hadn’t arrived at campus yet or were stuck in lectures. It was still a bit early for lunch, too… Looks like I’d have to kill time on my own.
“So hot… Huh?”
The sunlight streaming in from outside was blinding. Even though it’s still spring, the sun was strong enough to make me feel the heat. Good thing I went with shorts today, I thought, reaching into my backpack for my favorite black cap. Just then—
“Man… I seriously don’t know which classes to take… My college life’s already over…”
My eyes caught sight of a guy sitting on a long bench in the hallway, hunched over a laptop with his head in his hands. Was he particularly good-looking? I couldn’t tell. He was cool, sure, but not, like, celebrity-level stunning or anything. And yet, before I knew it, my feet were carrying me toward him. My voice was slipping out.
“Um… Are you doing course registration, by any chance?”
“Huh!? Oh—yeah, I am. I had some issues that delayed my enrollment stuff…”
My heart skipped. He turned to me with such a natural, easy smile. When was the last time I’d seen a guy smile at me so genuinely, so purely?
He wasn’t overly tall, but definitely above average, with a lean, clean build. His black hair had a loose, wavy perm, and he wore a wheat-colored vest over a short-sleeved white shirt—crisp and refreshing. And that kind, approachable grin.
My pulse quickened without me even realizing it.
“I-If you want, I could, uh, help you out?”
Oh no! I stumbled over my words!
That was so awkward—there’s no way he wouldn’t think I’m creepy. I felt the blood drain from my face. I mean, who just walks up to a stranger out of nowhere and offers help? Isn’t that basically a pickup line or something??
“Wha—really? Wait, but doesn’t second period start soon…?”
…He’s not put off? Wait, did he just… accept my offer?
Flustered, I scrambled to keep the conversation going.
“Oh, no! My second period just got canceled, so I’ve got some free time!”
“No way! That’s awesome—I’d really appreciate it! Thank you!”
And then, in that moment, he scooted over on the bench, making space beside him.
…Wait. Huh? Does that mean I can sit next to him? …What?
My brain short-circuited from the sheer unexpectedness of it.
“So, my department’s this one here—”
Hold on, he’s just casually starting the conversation? Wait, so I can sit there, right? I’m not misreading this completely, am I? If I sit down and he gives me a weird look, I might actually cry in public—at my age, no less.
“…Uh? What’s wrong?”
“Oh! N-No, nothing! I’ll, uh, sit down now, haha!”
I’m so nervous. When was the last time I was this close to a guy?
I took a deep breath to steady myself, sat down beside him, and glanced at his laptop screen. That’s when I noticed.
“Oh… We’re in the same department.”
“What! Really? Getting help from someone in my own program is way too lucky!”
Huh? “Someone in my own program”…?
Oh, right—he probably assumed I’m an upperclassman since I approached him first. Wait, should I use casual language then? But dropping formalities with someone I just met might come off as too forward…
“Uh, sorry, I’m actually a first-year too, though…”
Wait, was it too presumptuous of me to offer help as a first-year? Is he going to think I came over here with some ulterior motive…?
Oh no, my head’s spinning again…
“Huh?”
His expression went blank, like he was caught off guard.
Oh no—I’ve ruined it, haven’t I?
“Oh, you’re a first-year too?! Man, I don’t have any friends in our year yet, so this is seriously a lifesaver! I’m Masato Katarai—nice to meet you! What’s your name?”
He looked genuinely thrilled, straight from the heart.
I couldn’t tell for sure. Unless he’s some kind of acting prodigy, that’s how it seemed to me at least.
I pinched my thigh under the table to snap myself out of it. No more embarrassing slip-ups—I had to force my racing heart to calm down. From here on out, I needed to make a good impression…!
“I’m Koumi Igarashi! Nice to meet you too!”
I flashed a smile, careful not to forget it. I’d put on an even better version of myself than I show everyone else…
“Koumi, got it! Okay, so real talk—I’m totally lost about which classes to take…”
Masato—Masato Katarai—seemed genuinely stumped as he scrolled through his laptop screen. His schedule was still completely blank.
(…Wait a sec, isn’t this a huge opportunity?)
Masato and I are in the same department and program. That means the classes he needs to take are the same ones I’m taking. So, if he just signs up for all the same ones as me, we’d be in class together every single day.
“…Koumi?”
“—Ah…!”
I glanced at him sitting next to me, and the sheer closeness made my head spin.
My chest felt like it was burning, and I couldn’t stop sweating. But I had to hold it together—for the sake of the dazzling campus life ahead…!
“Uh, so, Masato—if, uh, if it’s okay with you, I was thinking… maybe we could take the same classes?”
Wait, hold on—isn’t that kinda bad? Like, normally speaking, being stuck with the same girl every day might feel like a nightmare to him, right?
Oh no, I need an excuse, I need to think of an excuse…! I have to make it clear I don’t have any ulterior motives…!
“Oh, no, I mean—like! I’m not super familiar with other classes, but I know the ones I’m taking pretty well, you know? Plus, some of them have already had a couple sessions, and I could maybe show you the handouts from last time or whatever—it’d be a good deal, I think!”
A good deal? What am I even saying?!
I cringed internally at how fast and gross I sounded. Hesitantly, I peeked at his reaction.
“Koumi, are you maybe—”
Oh no. This time it’s really over.
He’s going to say something like, “Are you into me or something?” and that’ll be it. Game over. Thanks for playing. War’s done.
Goodbye. Short as it was, I got to dream a little, and I was happy.
“A genius?”
…Huh?
“No, seriously, that’s such a help! But are you sure? Doesn’t this kinda suck for you, Koumi?”
“N-No, no, no! It’s totally fine! There’s tons of benefits for me, trust me!”
A college life spent with you? That’s already more than enough—it’s luxury-level benefits! Luxe-tier, even!
Wait, what? That doesn’t even make sense!
My eyes are probably spinning like some manga character right now. I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore!
“R-Really? Well, if you say so… Uh, could I see your schedule then?”
“Yeah! Of course!”
I whipped out my phone and pulled up my timetable.
“So, Monday first period is this, second period’s this, third period’s…”
Right before my eyes, his schedule started filling up—exactly the same as mine. Wait, does this basically mean we’re matching now? Like, we’ve got a pair look going already?
Oh no, I’m seriously losing it…
“Man, you saved me! Thank you!”
“No problem! Glad I could help!”
It was probably about 30 minutes, but to me, it felt like a blink. Talking with him—Masato—was just that fun. I got so nervous at one point I barely knew what I was saying, but still.
“Well, I’m gonna head out for now! My student ID hasn’t come in yet, so there’s no point in going to class anyway.”
“Oh, gotcha! Then let’s meet up in class once you can start attending!”
So… I’ll get to see him every day from now on? Oh man, I can’t stop grinning. Feeling my body heat up, I waved goodbye as he turned to leave. But then—
For some reason, he stopped and started walking back toward me.
What’s up? Did he forget something…?
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh, well—um, how do I put this… Koumi, I’ve got a favor to ask, or, uh…!”
He scratched his cheek, looking like he was struggling to get something out.
A favor? If it’s something I can do, I’ll listen to anything he asks!
I was already buzzing with excitement, thinking that to myself.
But in the next moment, he looked straight into my eyes with a sudden resolve. And I’m pretty sure I’ll never forget the words he said to me then—not a single one—for the rest of my life.
“If it’s okay with you… would you be my friend?”
“I guess I could date you.”
“I’ll let you be my friend.”
“How about I be your friend?”
“Be grateful I’m even talking to you.”
The words guys had thrown at me in the past echoed in my mind, replaying over and over. And then—all of them shattered and vanished.
It felt like something inside me was being painted over in a single color. The scenery around me, the sounds—everything faded away until I couldn’t hear a thing.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the guy standing in front of me.
“Of course,” I managed to say, my voice barely squeezing out.
And then, there it was again—that warm, kind smile of his.
“Awesome! Thank you! I didn’t have a single friend yet! Alright, I’m heading out—thanks to you, Koumi, I’m actually kinda looking forward to college now!”
I watched his back as he walked off, brimming with energy and joy.
Until he disappeared from sight.
Then I crouched down right there on - on the spot.
I pressed my chest tightly with both hands.
But there was no holding it back.
There was no stopping the wave of emotions flooding out of me.
(No way. What is this? He’s a prince—a literal prince.)
He was everything I’d ever dreamed of.
His personality, his looks, his vibe—every single thing.
I could feel my priorities shifting at lightning speed.
My heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
“Hah… ha…”
I have to have him.
I can’t think of anyone else. I want all of him.
“Masato… kun.”
I repeated the name of my fated person over and over in my head.
1 Comments
Muchas gracias por el capitulo 🙏🙏🙏.
ReplyDeleteCada cuanto publicas los capítulos?
Estare pendiente de tu trabajo, es una buena traducción(aunque lo leo con traductor jaja)