Chapter 21
"Hi! Koiumi's told me a bit about you here and there. Nice to meet you!"
...Huh?
Somehow, I feel like I've heard that voice before...
Though Koiumi had told me about him, the young man standing before me was incredibly handsome.
He was about 175 centimeters tall. He wasn't muscular, but he wasn't overly thin, either.
His loose-fitting white T-shirt was complemented by an understated leather necklace around his neck, which made a nice accent without standing out too much.
His gentle smile made it clear he had no ill will toward me at all.
"...Mizuho?"
(No, no, focus! He's the person Koiumi fell for, and I have my own destined one...!)
As I thought, "I can see why Koiumi fell for him," Koiumi turned to me with a worried look.
What was I doing?! I had to return his greeting properly.
"Whoa! My apologies! You're Masato-san! I've heard all about you from Koiumi-dono!"
"Oh, um, you have?"
And then some.
Koiumi's gushing had practically become a regular event among our friends lately.
I'd assumed she was seeing him through some seriously rose-colored glasses, but maybe not as much as I'd thought.
As we talked, the young man in front of me kept smiling. Koiumi smiled along with him.
They were positively dazzling.
(Lucky Koiumi. If I find my destined one, could we be like that too...?)
We haven't even met again yet, though.
But someone that kind must be worth dreaming about, right?
While Koiumi went back to the classroom to grab something she'd forgotten,
I remembered I hadn't asked him yet, and turned to face Masato-kun.
I had to tell him! You never know where a clue might turn up!
"Actually... Masato-kun, I was hoping you could help me find my destined partner!"
"Huh?!"
Masato-kun's eyes widened in surprise. He's so expressive.
"The circumstances are a little too complicated to explain in detail, but... I have a destined one. And I think... they're a first-year at this university!"
"O-oh, I see...?"
"So, since you're a guy, Masato-kun, I'd really appreciate it if you could help me look for them!"
There's probably a guys' network and all that...
"I-I can, but what's their name?"
"I don't know!"
"You don't know?!"
When I made a big X with my arms, Masato-kun leaned back in an exaggerated way, too. His reactions are fun!
"Then at least their department or some distinguishing feature..."
"I don't know their department, either! For all I know, they might not even be a first-year at this university!"
"Those are some tough conditions!"
I know, it's a pretty ridiculous request even as I'm making it.
Even so, I can't give up!
"But they had slicked-back hair, and their height was... about the same as yours, Masato-kun?"
"Hmm, hmm... Slicked-back hair is pretty unusual, yeah."
Right! If that person wears their hair slicked back all the time, I feel like I might be able to find them pretty quickly!
I don't see many people at the university with slicked-back hair!
"Please put your network of guy friends to work... and let me know if you find them!"
"I'd like to help if I can, but..."
Masato-kun looked troubled.
Maybe asking him for something like this out of nowhere was too presumptuous...
I thought that, and studied Masato-kun's expression.
"I... don't have any friends."
Those unexpected words came out of his mouth.
"What?!"
Masato-kun gave an embarrassed, wry smile. It's unfair how even that looks good on this handsome guy!
"So, would it be okay if I just let you know if I happen to find someone like that?"
"You're so earnest! Thank you! I really appreciate your help!"
Come to think of it, Koiumi said Masato-kun had few friends because he'd enrolled late... I feel awful for asking him that.
As we were talking, Koiumi came hurrying back.
"Sorry, thanks for waiting! Okay, shall we go?"
"Welcome back!"
"Koiumi! I got Masato-kun to help me look for my destined one, too!"
"Oh, that's great! Masato, did anyone come to mind?"
"No, not really."
With Koiumi and Masato beside me, I set off toward the station.
Somehow, I feel like my college life is going to get a lot more fun from now on!
It was about a ten-minute walk from the university to the nearest station.
Ten minutes went by in no time as the three of us chatted along the way.
"Well, my train's this way! See you!"
"Okay! See you tomorrow!"
"Bye!"
By chance, Masato-kun and I were taking the same train, while Koiumi was headed in a different direction.
We saw Koiumi to her platform, then Masato-kun and I headed for different platforms.
Oh, since it's just Masato-kun and me now, I might as well ask what I've been wondering about.
"So, what exactly is your relationship with Koiumi?"
"Huh? Hmm... It's nothing like that. We're just friends."
"Is that really true?"
I nudged Masato-kun in the side with my elbow.
If I could make him even a little flustered, maybe Koiumi would have a chance...
"I don't know... Koiumi's just so kind. She was so nice to me when I didn't have any friends... Honestly, I feel grateful to her. So I guess more than anything, I don't want to betray her."
"..."
Serious. Masato-kun was dead serious.
Hmm, it doesn't seem like he's noticed her feelings yet... Hang in there, Koiumi...
"Koiumi's always told me what a good girl you are, Mizuho-chan. You two are close, huh?"
"Wow! Koiumi actually said something nice for once! That's right, I'm a good girl!"
"Ahaha. You're saying that about yourself?"
Talking with Masato-kun felt so comfortable and fun.
Maybe that's why...
I let my guard down.
When I saw two people walking toward us, a chill ran down my spine.
"...? Mizuho-chan?"
Instinctively, I ducked behind Masato-kun, trying to hide in his shadow... but it seemed too late.
"...Huh?"
The two people in front of us were Keito-san, a senpai from my badminton club—the guy I'd confessed to—and Satsuki-senpai, a third-year who was close with him.
I hoped they wouldn't notice me... but as they passed, my eyes met Keito-san's.
"I knew it. What was it, Tonosaki...? Mizuho, right?"
"..."
The worst.
Of all times, why now...
"Oh, the first-year who confessed to Keito?"
"Yeah! Satsuki, it's your fault for telling me to look after the first-years. That's how this delusional girl got the wrong idea."
"Wait, how's it my fault?"
I wanted to get away. Now.
I gave Masato-kun a little push on the back and whispered, "Let's go."
"Hey, hold it."
But Keito-san wouldn't let us go.
"What, you confessed to me and already moved on? Wow, you sure get over things fast. Do ugly girls have to suck up to guys to survive?"
"Keito, that's a bit..."
I wasn't looking at his face, but I could tell just from his voice.
He was clearly mocking me. He must be looking at me with a smirk.
I didn't even want to look.
"Come on, I'm the guy you like, and I'm talking to you. Look over here. This is boring."
The worst.
Even the fact that Masato-kun was seeing this... We'd just gotten along, and now he'd be disgusted with me...
The day I'd confessed, the day I never wanted to remember.
His words flashed through my mind.
I didn't want to cry so pathetically again—
"I'm an outsider, and I don't really know what happened, but..."
Before I knew it, Masato-kun was standing between me and the senpai.
There's one thing I do know, so could you take that back?
"...Huh? Who are you?"
"I'm, well, Mizuho's friend."
"Ah, yeah. I figured as much, but you're not her boyfriend, right? Dating an ugly girl like this?"
"That's what I'm talking about."
I couldn't see his expression.
But I could tell from his raised voice.
"She's not ugly. Mizuho-chan's cute."
"...Huh? That's your issue?"
"I don't know all the details. I've only heard about it secondhand. But if there's one thing I can say you're absolutely wrong about, it's that this girl isn't ugly. Not inside or out. She's a kindhearted, wonderful girl."
...
"H-huh? Do you even understand? Just a few days ago, she confessed to me, so I'm the one in the superior position here. And—"
"Superior? Is the person being confessed to somehow above the person confessing?"
"Obviously! The person someone likes is the one who's—"
"That's a ridiculous misconception. It makes me sick. I can't stand how you're treating someone who had the courage to tell you how she feels."
"...! You bastard...!"
Keito-san moved toward Masato-kun.
...I have to stop him.
And yet...
Why was my heart pounding so loudly?
Why was my face so hot?
Behind Masato-kun, I gripped his shirt tightly.
"So you'd date her, then? I wouldn't date an ugly girl like that, but you're saying you would?"
"I don't want to talk about her as if she's an object you can use to prove your own worth, without even considering what she wants."
"...You're an idiot. You have a decent face, too... Whatever. You've killed the mood. Satsuki, what are you standing around for? Let's go."
...
Keito-san and the others walked away.
Left behind were Masato-kun and me.
"Ah... Sorry, Mizuho-chan. I made it hard for you to go to the club... I shouldn't have jumped in without thinking..."
"..."
That didn't matter. The badminton club was already hard to go to anyway.
More than that, I felt bad for dragging Masato-kun into this.
But even more than that...
"I didn't know what had happened, and I thought maybe it wasn't my place to butt in... but I couldn't hold back. Sorry."
"..."
"Don't. Please, don't."
"You're too kind."
Because I have someone I've already decided is my destined one, and the person in front of me is the one Koiumi fell for.
"Uh, want something to drink? I've been curious about the new drink at that cafe. Let me treat you as an apology."
His awkward smile pierced my heart, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I couldn't stop my heart from pounding.
Ah, I'm so jealous.
Koiumi can loudly proclaim that she likes him.
I took a long, deep breath.
It didn't stop my heart from pounding, but it helped a little.
After quietly whispering, "Hang in there, me..."
"Thanks, Masato-kun! Ahaha, you saw something embarrassing! That's right! I confessed to that guy and got rejected! He turned me down so harshly, it was mortifying! If I'd known he was that kind of person, I never would've confessed—"
At that moment, he gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You don't have to force yourself."
"Huh...?"
"You don't have to force yourself. When you're hurting, it's okay to say you're hurting. We've only known each other for a few hours, but I can tell you're trying to act cheerful, Mizuho-chan. But you don't have to force yourself when you're hurting. Anyone would be hurt after hearing something like that."
"..."
"I'll go get that new drink from the cafe! So wait here a little, okay? Take some time to sort things out while I'm gone. I'll listen to you as long as you want. So don't force yourself."
With that, Masato-kun walked toward the cafe.
His back disappeared from view.
All I could do was crouch down and clutch my chest.
"This hurts..."
Tears spilled over.
But the reason for these tears was surely different from back then.
Have I always been this easy to win over...?
Why? His voice, his figure... they just keep resonating in my heart.
I know the name of the feeling welling up inside me.
But I can't put it into words.
Because I have a destined one.
Because he's the person Koiumi loves.
"I have to hold back... I have to...!"
My guilt toward Koiumi,
my feelings for Masato-kun,
and what happened with my destined one.
So many of my feelings mixed together and became tears.
They spilled down.
Ah.
Love, liking someone... it's all so difficult.