Chapter 4
What exactly is love at first sight?
Is it seeing someone once and falling for them because you like their face, their vibe, or their figure?
If that's what love at first sight is, then I suppose I haven't fallen in love at first sight.
—But after meeting for the first time, talking, and spending just a little time together.
The moment I said goodbye as we parted that day.
The love I realized I felt when I couldn't hold back my racing heart in that moment might as well count as love at first sight, don't you think?
From the day I was born until today, I'd met a fair number of men. I hadn't fallen for any of them, but there were a few guys I'd gotten to know.
There weren't many, but there were about three or four boys in my class, and there were male players in the online games I played as a hobby, too.
But every time I got to know them, I grew sick of the guys who gave off this vibe of, "I'm the one who gets to choose."
They couldn't even invest in their appearance. They had no particular talent or outstanding quality. They weren't even especially nice people.
And yet, they'd give me this leering look, as if to say, "I'm the one who gets to choose."
The day someone said, "I guess I could go out with you," I got chills.
The day someone said, "I'll let you be my friend," I got pissed off.
I couldn't understand why I was supposed to be grateful for such concessions.
"Sigh..."
After my first-period class at university ended.
I—Igarashi Koumi—had my face buried in my desk and let out a sigh.
"What's wrong, Koumi? If you sigh first thing in the morning like that, you won't make it to fifth period!"
"I don't think I'll make it..."
My friend Mizuho... Tonosaki Mizuho, who'd been in class with me, leaned over to peer at my face, but I wasn't even in the mood to answer.
"You're so cute, Koumi! If you keep that up, you'll never get popular! We have to work hard for the campus life we've always dreamed of!"
"You're so energetic first thing in the morning, Mizuho..."
"Of course! This is our chance, right after starting university...! I'm gonna snag a hot guy!"
My friend Mizuho was what you'd call a guy chaser.
She liked handsome guys, and whenever she spotted one, she was the type to go approach him right away. She got rejected plenty, too. She's a really good girl when we're just friends, but...
The classroom had emptied out quite a bit, so I was just about to haul myself up and leave when...
Mizuho, who'd been looking at her phone for a moment, beckoned me over.
"Speaking of which, Koumi, who are you after in the badminton club?"
"Huh...?"
"What do you mean, 'Huh?' You have someone you're interested in, don't you?"
Mizuho and I belonged to the same badminton club.
I had joined hoping there might be someone nice there, so I couldn't deny that I had a little ulterior motive.
But...
"Um... I don't think there's anyone right now."
"What?! Seriously? Keito-san's pretty handsome, isn't he?!"
"Yeah, I guess..."
"You're super cute, Koumi, but you're surprisingly not aggressive, huh? You need to go after them more! Or you'll be left on the shelf!"
Left on the shelf, huh.
Mizuho was probably right.
There were fewer men, and the government was talking about introducing polygamy, but I didn't think people could just say, "Oh, okay," and change their values that easily.
If so, someone like me would literally be left over.
A woman who doesn't make an effort to get chosen.
I let out another sigh without really meaning to.
"Ugh."
As I walked through the campus building toward my second-period classroom, I noticed an email from the university on my smartphone.
'Today's class in Room 104 during second period is canceled because the professor is ill.'
That was awfully last-minute.
"Class is canceled, huh... I wonder if any of my friends have a free period..."
Mizuho, who'd been with me a moment ago, had gone to a different class.
Most of my other close friends either hadn't come to campus yet or had classes.
It was still a little early for lunch... Looks like I'd have to kill time by myself.
"It's hot... Hm?"
The sunlight outside was dazzling. Even though it was still spring, the sun was out so brightly that I couldn't help feeling hot.
I was glad I'd worn shorts today, and was just about to take my favorite black cap out of my backpack when...
"Damn... I seriously have no idea which classes I'm supposed to take... My college life is already over..."
I noticed a young man sitting on a bench in the hallway, hunched over with his laptop open and clutching his head.
Before I knew it, I was walking toward him.
I... went and spoke to him.
"Um... Are you, by any chance, registering for classes?"
"Huh?! ...Oh, yeah. I had a bit of a situation, so my enrollment paperwork got delayed..."
I felt a jolt. This man had turned an utterly unguarded smile my way.
How long had it been since I'd seen such an innocent smile on a man?
He wasn't terribly tall, but seemed above average, with a slender build.
His hair was black and loosely permed. The tan vest over his short-sleeved white shirt gave him a very clean-cut look.
And then there was that kind-looking smile.
My heart naturally started beating a little faster.
"I-if you'd like, I could help you?"
Oh no! I stuttered a little!
It wouldn't be strange at all if he thought I was creepy. The blood drained from my face.
If you think about it calmly, wasn't going up to someone out of nowhere and asking if I could help basically no different from hitting on him...?
"Really?! You'd help me? Huh? But second period's already started..."
...He isn't put off?
Wait, did he actually agree?
I hurriedly continued the conversation.
"Oh, no! My second-period class was canceled, so I happened to have some free time."
"Seriously? That's a huge help! Thank you so much!"
At that moment.
He shifted over a little on the bench where he'd been sitting.
...Huh? Is he saying I can sit next to him?
Huh?
"So, my faculty and department are..."
Wait, he's just casually starting a conversation?
Wait, I can sit next to him, right? I'm not making some catastrophic misunderstanding, am I?
He's not going to give me a weird look when I sit down, is he?
"...Um, is something wrong?"
"Ah, n-no, nothing! I'll sit down now, haha."
I-I was nervous.
How many years had it been since I'd been this close to a man?
I took a deep breath to calm down, then sat next to him... and noticed something on his computer screen.
"Oh... We're in the same faculty and department."
"Really? It's such a huge help to have a senior from my department helping me."
Hm? A senior...?
Oh, right. Since I came up to him, he thought I was an upperclassman.
Huh? So should I talk casually?
But wouldn't it be too familiar to use casual speech when we'd just met...?
"Oh, sorry, I'm a first-year too, though..."
Besides, wasn't it awfully presumptuous of me to offer to help with course registration when I was only a first-year myself?
Would he think I'd approached him with ulterior motives...?
Oh no, my thoughts were starting to spin...
"Wha—"
He stared at me, dumbfounded.
Oh, this might be over—
"You're a first-year too?! I don't know anyone else in my year, so this is a huge help! I'm Katari Masato! What's your name?"
He looked genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.
I didn't know. I mean, if he were some incredible acting genius, then maybe, but at least that's how he seemed to me.
I pinched my thigh where he couldn't see.
I couldn't embarrass myself any further. I forced my rapidly pounding heart to calm down. From here on, I had to make a good impression...!
"I'm Igarashi Koumi! Nice to meet you!"
Don't forget to smile. I had to make myself look even better than I did with everyone else...!
"Igarashi-san, got it! So, to get right to it, I seriously have no idea which classes I should take..."
He... Katari Masato-kun seemed genuinely troubled as he scrolled through his laptop.
His schedule was still completely blank.
(...Wait, hold on. Isn't this an absolutely huge chance?)
Masato-kun and I were in the same faculty and department.
In other words, we'd need to take the same classes.
So if he took all the classes I was taking, we could attend the same classes every day...?
"...Igarashi-san?"
"Ah...!"
When I looked at him sitting beside me, I was dizzy from how close he was.
My chest felt like it was burning, and I'd been sweating nonstop.
But I had to hold it together for now.
For the sake of my brilliant campus life from here on...!
"Um... Katari-kun, if you don't mind, I was thinking maybe we could take the same classes..."
Huh? Wait, isn't this bad?
If you think about it, maybe having to see the same girl every day is basically hell?
This is bad. I need an excuse, an excuse...!
I have to make it clear I don't have ulterior motives...!
"Oh, no, look! I'm not really familiar with the other classes, but I know the ones I'm taking, you know? And some of them have already met two or so times, so I might be able to show you the handouts from the last class and stuff. I thought it'd be a good deal for you, since there are all kinds of benefits."
What kind of "good deal" is that?!
I was slightly creeped out by how weirdly fast I was talking.
Then, I cautiously studied his expression.
"Igarashi-san, are you perhaps—"
Oh, it's over. This time, it's really over.
He's going to say, "Are you after me?" and that'll be it. Good game.
The battle was over. Shumai. Mai-mai. It was brief, but I was happy to have had this dream.
"Perhaps you're a genius?"
Huhhh?
"Wow, that's such a huge help. But are you sure? There's hardly anything in it for you, Igarashi-san, is there?"
"N-no, no, no! There totally is! There are tons of benefits, so it's fine!"
A college life spent with you! That alone is more than a benefit—it's a luxury. Huh? What am I even saying?
If this were a manga, my eyes would probably be spinning around right now. I don't even know what I'm saying anymore!
"I-if you say so, then okay... Well, could I see your schedule?"
"Sure! Of course!"
I immediately opened my phone and brought up my schedule.
"Let's see... Monday, first period is this, second period is this, third period is..."
Right before my eyes, his schedule gradually filled up.
A schedule identical to mine.
Huh? Does this mean we're basically matching now? Are we wearing couple outfits already?
Oh no, my brain is really going haywire...
"Man, that was a huge help! Thanks!"
"No problem! I'm glad I could help!"
It must have been about thirty minutes.
To me, it felt like an instant.
That was how much fun I had talking to him... to Masato. I was so nervous at one point that I couldn't even tell what I was saying.
"Well, I'm gonna head home for now! I still haven't gotten my student ID, so there's no point in going to class."
"Oh, okay! Then I'll see you in class once you can start attending."
So I'll get to see him every day from now on... Oh no, I can't stop smiling.
Feeling the heat in my body, I waved goodbye to him, but...
He'd turned his back to me and started walking away, but for some reason, he came back.
I wonder what's wrong. Did he forget something...?
"What's up?"
"Oh, well, um, how should I put this... I have a favor to ask you, Igarashi-san..."
Scratching his cheek, he seemed to be struggling to say something.
A favor?
If it's something I can do, I'll do anything you ask.
That's what I thought.
But the next moment, he seemed to make up his mind and looked me straight in the eyes.
And I don't think I'll ever forget a single word he said to me at that moment for the rest of my life.
"If you don't mind, would you be my friend?"
'I guess I could go out with you.'
'I'll let you be my friend.'
'Want me to make you my friend?'
'You should be grateful I'm even talking to you.'
The words men had thrown at me in the past echoed through my mind.
Then every single one of them burst and flew away.
It felt as though something inside me was being painted over in a single color.
The scenery around me, too. The sounds.
Everything faded away.
I couldn't take my eyes off him.
"Of course."
I finally managed to squeeze out my voice.
Then the man before me gave me that kind smile again.
"Yes! Thanks! I don't have a single friend, you know! Well, see you! Thanks to you, I'm actually starting to look forward to college!"
I followed him with my eyes as he walked away happily.
Until he disappeared from sight.
I curled up right there.
I pressed hard against my chest.
But there was no way I could hold it back.
I couldn't suppress this wave of emotion surging out of me.
(No way. What is this? He's like a prince, seriously.)
He was everything I'd ever wanted.
His personality, his looks, his aura. Every last part of him.
I could feel my priorities changing at an incredible speed.
My heart wouldn't stop pounding.
"Haa... haa...!"
I have to have him.
I can't think about anyone but him anymore.
I want all of him.
"Masato...kun."
I repeated the name of my destined person over and over in my mind.