Volume 1
Chapter 5: "Love" is Just So Complicated (Part 1)
●○●The Childhood Friend-Type College Girl Introduces ●○●
It’s been a few days since Mizuho got brutally rejected.
I figured Mizuho might still be down in the dumps, so I came to university today with the plan to treat her to some ice cream on the way home to cheer her up.
But that thoughtful gesture of mine? Yeah, I realized first thing in the morning it wasn’t even necessary.
“So, like, this is totally a fateful encounter!”
“Mizuho, that’s, what, the fifth time you’ve said that today?”
“Aren’t you telling literally everyone the same story?”
Mizuho’s gushing (or something like it) about her latest crush to a few club friends, retelling the story for who-knows-how-many times today.
Every time a different friend shows up, she launches into it again, so I, who’ve been here since the start, have lost count of how many times I’ve heard it.
“Man, fate’s real, huh? Life’s full of surprises!”
“Yeah, yeah. But it’s not like you’re guaranteed to meet this guy again, right?”
“Nope! I’m gonna find him! I’ll search three thousand miles for my man! I’ll go to the ends of the earth if I have to!”
“Mizuho, do you even know what a ‘ri’ is?”
“...Uh? ...Like, a hundred meters or something?”
Mizuho sticks out her tongue playfully, looking utterly adorable.
She bursts into giggles, and her infectious smile pulls everyone else into laughter too. Well, if she’s back to her energetic self, I guess that’s a good thing.
Honestly, right after that confession, she was so heartbroken it was hard to watch... Not that I should’ve been spying on her in the first place, but still...
“Okay, we’re heading to our next class! See ya!”
“Later! Oh, and if you spot my destined soulmate, I’m begging for any leads!”
“With that flimsy info, good luck finding him...”
Mizuho snaps a sharp salute, while her friends give her wry smiles.
My next class is in the same room as Mizuho’s.
We walk down the corridor, sunlight streaming through the windows, warm and pleasant.
Next to me, Mizuho’s humming a tune, clearly in high spirits.
“But, like, I’m glad for you. Isn’t this the first time you’ve actually gotten serious about someone, Mizuho?”
“Heh, you’re not wrong there! So this is what it feels like to fall for someone, huh? Teehee!”
“Ugh, seriously...”
I’ve already heard the whole story way too many times this morning.
Apparently, Mizuho dropped her contact lens, and this guy helped her look for it. Not only that, he found it and handed it back to her on a handkerchief.
What is this, a ring proposal?
Honestly, if he’s that kind, he’s probably got a girlfriend or two already...
But saying that to Mizuho in her current state? Yeah, that’d be a total buzzkill.
“So, here’s the deal, Watson-kun.”
“Who’re you calling Watson-kun?”
“C’mon, c’mon! I need you, my dear Watson, to help me track down my destined prince!”
“Fine, but... even if we assume he’s a freshman at our uni, that’s, like, 2000 possible candidates, you know?”
According to Mizuho, the ballpoint pen the guy dropped was one given out to this year’s freshmen, so there’s a high chance he’s a first-year.
I think our university has a little over 10,000 freshmen... and since there are slightly more guys, maybe around 2000 of them.
Narrowing it down from there? That’s gonna be tough.
Plus, Mizuho was crying and her contact was out, so she barely remembers what his face looks like.
I’m starting to think our social circles alone won’t cut it.
“Tch, tch, tch... Giving up means game over, you know?”
“Why am I the one getting scolded here...?”
Mizuho’s expression is brimming with confidence.
Does she have some kind of secret plan?
“His hairstyle, huh...”
“If I see him, I’ll know it’s him! He had an all-back style, you know!”
According to Mizuho, the guy had his hair slicked back with gel, all-back style.
It’s kinda rare, I’ll give her that.
But he might not style it like that every day...
“This handkerchief... I’m gonna return it! I’ll tell him, ‘I’m the crane you saved back then! I’ve come to repay my debt!’”
“Now we’re in a folktale?!”
The handkerchief she’s clutching so preciously is apparently something she borrowed from him. He told her she didn’t need to return it, but Mizuho’s dead set on meeting him to give it back.
And then—
Ping.
A notification pops up on my phone.
Masato: “Haha, yeah, totally.”
Masato: “Koumi, are you free to take the third period together today?”
Oh, right. Third period is the class I’ve been attending with Masato lately.
Up until now, I’ve been going with him alone—sorry, Mizuho—but...
(I used to keep my friends away from Masato because he’s so good-looking, I didn’t want them falling for him and complicating things. But now... Mizuho’s probably safe, right?)
No need to spell it out—Mizuho, skipping along beside me, is completely smitten with her so-called “destined guy.”
I’ve always felt a bit bad for Masato since he doesn’t seem to have many friends at uni... This could be a great chance, right?
“Hey, Mizuho. Wanna take the next class with Masato? The three of us?”
“Huh? For real?! Oh man, I’ve been dying to meet him! Koumi’s bae~”
“He’s not my boyfriend... Don’t say anything weird when you meet him, okay?”
“I won’t, I won’t! I’ll be the perfect ambassador for all of Koumi’s best qualities. Leave it to me!”
Mizuho thumps her chest proudly.
Her total lack of curves only makes it cuter.
“But, like, why the sudden invite? What’s with the change of heart?”
“Well, you’re all head-over-heels for your ‘destined guy,’ right? Masato’s so ridiculously hot that anyone who’s not already in love might fall for him after, like, 30 minutes of talking.”
“Love can ruin people sometimes...”
“You’re totally mocking me right now.”
Mizuho gives me a pitying look.
No, I’m serious—Masato’s charm is lethal. I don’t know any other guy as perfect as him.
“No worries, my friend. I’m too busy hunting for my destined guy to fall for anyone else! I’ll make sure to hype you up to this Masato-kun, so just confess to him already!”
“Ugh, mind your own business!”
She’s totally the type to say something embarrassing. Is this gonna be okay?
For now, I reply to Masato.
Koumi: “Morning!”
Koumi: “Yup, I can take it with you! Also, my best friend’s in the same class, so if you’re cool with it, wanna join us three?”
Since he’s probably on campus, the reply comes almost instantly, before I even close my phone.
Masato: “Sweet, sounds good! Count me in~”
He adds a cute sticker of a cat bowing politely.
Ugh, Masato’s even adorable on SNS. So unfair...
“Masato’s cool with it. Let’s take third period together, the three of us.”
“Woohoo! Time to feast my eyes on some eye candy, amen~”
“Seriously, don’t act too crazy, okay?”
It’d be awesome if my best friend and the guy I like got along.
I’ve got a feeling university life’s about to get even more fun!
★
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Koumi’s giving me the green light to meet the guy she’s totally smitten with!
Koumi’s super cautious, huh? She was worried I’d accidentally fall for this Masato guy if we met...
Well, that just shows how much she likes him. Yup, yup. That’s a good thing!
But fear not! I’m way too busy gathering intel right now!
Think it’s too hasty to assume he’s from our uni just because of a ballpoint pen? Heh heh. Even so, as long as I’ve got a lead, I’m not giving up!
Because meeting him again would be amazing, right? Just thinking about it makes me all giddy!
I pull the handkerchief out of my pocket again.
It’s a simple navy-blue design with red and black lines along the edges.
I grip it tightly.
Someday, someday, I’ll return this handkerchief. And then, I’ll tell him how I feel.
“Oh, looks like there’s still plenty of seats! Let’s grab three!”
“Roger that!”
I carefully fold the handkerchief and tuck it back into my bag.
Together with Koumi, I secured some seats at the back of the classroom.
Securing seats at uni is a dog-eat-dog world... Sorry, everyone is still eating lunch... Reality’s harsh. Sob sob...
“Masato’s almost here, so I’m gonna go meet him at the entrance.”
“Got it! Safe travels!”
I wave Koumi off as she heads out of the classroom, then pull out the ballpoint pen.
“A first-year... or maybe not?”
This pen’s design was only distributed starting this year.
So, it’s mostly first-years who’d have it, but if you went to the faculty building, it’s not impossible for others to get one.
So, maybe he’s one or two... or even three years older?
He did seem kinda mature.
But honestly, age doesn’t matter to me.
I think back to that moment.
“Sorry! I’m looking for my contact lens!”
“Okay. Be careful.”
“Oh, and you don’t need to return the handkerchief. See ya!”
I remember that dazzling smile.
(So cool...)
Anyone would fall for a guy like that. Sure, I didn’t get a good look at his face, but who cares about that?
Once you’ve experienced that kindness, that smile, his face doesn’t even matter.
(If only I could’ve burned it into my memory... Sob sob...)
I slump onto the desk.
If I hadn’t been crying... No, wait, if I hadn’t been crying, I wouldn’t have dropped my contact, and then I wouldn’t have met him at all... Right?
Just remembering it makes my heart skip a beat.
(Yup. I definitely want to see him again. I’ll thank him properly, and then...)
If I meet him, what should I do? Saying “I love you” right away would probably freak him out...
Maybe start as friends? Ugh, that makes me sound like I’ve got ulterior motives.
I just want to thank him, you know?
To tell him, Because of you, I was saved from rock bottom.
...Is that a bit heavy?
But I’m that grateful, and I’m totally smitten. So even if it’s a little heavy, I hope he’ll forgive me.
“Hehe...”
Oh no. I might be making a goofy face.
I can’t let Koumi’s crush think I’m some weirdo—that’d be too sad!
Who knows, maybe through the guy network, he could help me find my destined guy... First impressions matter!
About ten minutes before class starts.
Koumi comes back into the classroom, followed by a guy.
Oh wow, Koumi’s face is totally that of a girl in love. And, yup, he does look pretty hot... Decent height, too.
Some of the girls in the classroom turn to look as he walks in.
No wonder Koumi was worried.
Before long, Koumi and the guy make their way over to me.
“Here we go! So, this is my best friend, Mizuho Tonozaki! And this is, uh... my friend, Masato Katari!”
From behind Koumi, a good-looking guy peeks out.
“Hey there! I’ve heard a bit about you from Koumi. Nice to meet you!”
...Huh?
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