Episode 1 – My First Girlfriend

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The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming

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The first semester of my sophomore year of high school.

I got my first girlfriend.

And she was the beautiful girl everyone at school called “out of my league.”

(And to think she was the one who confessed to me…)

When she suddenly called me out behind the school building, I never would have dreamed it.

I never imagined that the girl I’d been crushing on all this time actually liked me.

That our feelings were mutual…

“All right, today’s the day I’m going to hold her hand…!”

I clenched my fist tightly and repeated the goal of today’s date in my mind.

Summer vacation is coming up soon.

We started dating right at the beginning of the first semester of our sophomore year, so I should at least be able to try holding her hand.

(Besides, I even got some advice for today.)

I’d worked out the date plan with the childhood friend, who’s always by her side.

Since she prides herself on knowing Kotone’s tastes inside and out, she gave me her full guarantee that it would definitely be a success.

Maybe I’m not good enough for her…

Whenever I got down on myself like that, it was that childhood friend who gave me the push I needed.

(She should be here any minute now…)

I stood in front of the station—our meeting spot—checking my watch.

I always arrive 30 minutes early, but she invariably shows up just five minutes before our meeting time.

There was only one time when the train was suddenly delayed, and I had no choice but to be about three minutes late.

I bowed my head and apologized over and over, but she pierced me with her angry gaze.

–You asked me to come all the way here and take time out of my busy schedule, Fujimori-kun, and you’re late? I absolutely hate guys who can’t even handle basic things like this properly.

Since then, I’ve made it a point to arrive at the meeting spot before her, no matter what.

Conversely, I can’t complain at all when she’s late.

There was even a time when she left me waiting for over two hours without so much as a word.

(Just because she confessed to me doesn’t mean I should get too cocky.)

I’m sure my feelings for her are much stronger than hers are for me.

They say in love, the one who falls first loses, right?

I’ve come to understand the true meaning of those words all too well.

“Ah, Kotone!”

I spotted a girl with long black hair scanning the area as if looking for someone.

I immediately ran over to her and smiled.

“You look really cute today, too.”

Her lustrous, straight black hair—almost reaching her waist—swayed lightly with every movement of her neck, capturing the gaze of everyone who saw her.

A thin, white off-the-shoulder dress that boldly revealed her collarbones further accentuated her translucent white skin.

Every man passing by was staring at her.

That’s right—this beautiful girl is my girlfriend—Kotone Shimazaki.

“…You still have such a limited vocabulary. Do you really think I’d be happy with such cliché words? You’re seriously mistaken.”

“S-sorry. But I really thought you looked cute and that it suited you…”

Kotone sighed and shook her head.

It seems I’ve already lost points in her eyes.

Next, she fixed her gaze on me as if scanning me, sizing me up from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

Since I’d had Kotone’s childhood friend check my outfit before leaving the house today, I’m confident in how I look.

At the very least, there shouldn’t be any negative points.

“You’re just as plain as ever today. I can’t find a single millimeter of anything to praise. Why don’t you change your name from Fujimori-kun to ‘Village Boy’?”

“H-haha…”

All I could do was force a polite smile.

No matter what I wear, Kotone’s evaluation of me isn’t favorable.

At this point, the problem must be me, not my clothes.

Suppressing the urge to burst into tears, I started the date.

“So, where are we going today? Since you didn’t tell me in advance, it must be somewhere special, right?”

“Of course! Today we’re going to the botanical garden—”

“Huh?”

Kotone frowned blatantly.

“The botanical garden in this heat? Or is it an air-conditioned indoor space?”

“Uh, no, it’s an outdoor botanical garden, but…”

“Are you out of your mind? What were you thinking, picking a place like that? Are you trying to torment me? Or are you some kind of pervert who just wants to make me sweat?”

“N-no, that’s not it! Absolutely not! W-well, I just thought you liked flowers…”

My voice trailed off.

What should I do? She might just go home right now.

Anxiety welled up inside me.

“Sorry, I didn’t think that far ahead… Should we go somewhere else now?”

Kotone let out a long sigh, as if exasperated.

This was supposed to be a date, yet instead of laughter, all we had were sighs.

A wave of self-pity washed over me—was I really a guy who couldn’t even pull off a single date properly?

“…Never mind. The other places are probably just as lousy anyway.”

Amid the heavy atmosphere, we headed to the botanical garden as planned.

I tried my best to keep the conversation going and win her over.

She never smiled, but her anger seemed to have subsided.

“It’s not bad.”

We arrived at the botanical garden, and Kotone gazed at the flowers.

Hydrangeas past their peak and hibiscus blooming in the sunlight colored the garden.

She seemed to genuinely love flowers, taking photos with her smartphone from time to time.

I pointed toward the back of the botanical garden and said,

“Looks like there are some over there, too.”

No reply, not even a nod.

But Kotone started walking in the direction I’d pointed.

A long walking path stretched out from there.

I caught sight of couples walking along, chatting happily.

About eighty percent of them were holding hands or had their arms linked.

(Just as planned, we’ll hold hands here too…)

Be brave, Daiki Fujimori!

I swallowed hard and gently reached out toward Kotone’s free hand.

The backs of our hands touched.

It felt hotter than the sun.

(Just like this, just like this…!)

My heart swelling with anticipation, I carefully moved my fingers to touch Kotone’s palm.

All that was left was for her to squeeze my hand back, and the goal of today’s date would be achieved.

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might break.

My lips felt like they were drying up completely.

I wonder if Kotone feels the same way.

If she really likes me—

“-…!!”

But my hopes were cruelly shattered.

As if she’d touched something filthy, Kotone quickly pulled her hand away and hid it against her chest.

I stopped in my tracks without thinking.

　I stared intently at her face.

(Why…?)

What was written on her face was—contempt and scorn.

Her beautiful features were twisted with deep disgust.

Kotone was wearing an expression that none of the other couples here showed.

“…I’m sorry.”

I barely managed to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over.

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Maigetesu

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