Chapter 1: What Lovers Do Together

As soon as the bell signaling the end of class rang, I tossed my textbooks and pencil case into my shoulder bag.

Getting up from my seat in the very front row, I quickly left the lecture hall.

When I opened my smartphone, I saw a LINE message that read, “Fourth period is canceled! I’m at the cafeteria in Building 2.” I replied to the message with, “Class is over. I’m coming now.”

The university campus in April is crowded with new students, and no matter where you look, it’s packed with people. In about a month, after Golden Week ends, the crowd should thin out significantly.

It’s been almost a week since the entrance ceremony, but the group of two girls sitting on the bench in front of the convenience store still seem to be having an awkward conversation.

On my way to the library where she is waiting, I passed by Hojo from the same seminar and had a brief conversation.

A year ago, when I had just entered university, I used to walk around campus making sure not to make eye contact with anyone. I didn’t have a single acquaintance to greet. I thought I didn’t need friends or a girlfriend; I just wanted to get through peacefully.

“Um, can I sit here?”

That day changed my university life dramatically. The girl who sat down next to me that day is still by my side today.

In the lawn plaza, the joyful laughter of students echoes. The flowerbed next to the plaza is planted with bright red and pink flowers. She recently told me they are called geraniums. Without her pointing it out and smiling at how beautiful they are, I would have passed by without noticing.

When I entered the cafeteria in Building 2, I looked around. There were quite a few people, but I immediately spotted her. It’s not boasting, but I’m quite good at finding her.

Her neatly tied chestnut-colored hair reflected the sunlight streaming through the windows, glittering beautifully. As I stared in fascination, she noticed me and smiled happily.

“Sagara-kun”

With long eyelashes that flutter with every blink, large jewel-like eyes, and rose-colored lips, this perfectly made-up beauty’s name is Nanase Haruko. Incredibly, this flawless beauty is my girlfriend, despite me being dull and unimpressive.

…It’s still strange, right? No matter how you look at it, this feels like a dream.

It’s been about two months since Nanase and I started dating. It’s April now, and we both successfully became second-year university students.

“Nanase, I heard your class was canceled. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“It’s okay! I was chatting with Sacchan, so I didn’t mind at all.”

It was then that I finally noticed the presence of Sudo Saki. I muttered, “Sudo, you were here…” and Sudo frowned, glaring at me, “What?”

“Is there a problem with me being here?”

“I didn’t say that. I just didn’t notice.”

“In other words, you can only see Haruko, right?”

“It’s not, uh, it’s not like that…”

Unable to completely deny it, I faltered, and Sudo waved her hand in exasperation.

“Yes, yes, you two are so lovey-dovey. I’m so full from all the sweetness.”

At Sudo’s teasing words, Nanase blushed and said, “Oh, Sacchan!”

Thinking back to about a year ago, I would watch in awe as those dazzling girls chatted together, thinking they belonged to a different world. I never imagined that I would end up dating one of the most beautiful girls in our seminar.

“Are you two going somewhere?”

“Nope, we’re just going home together.”

Although Nanase shook her head, we were planning to have dinner together at her place tonight, so we were essentially going home to the same place. Nanase was excited about making stuffed cabbage rolls tonight.

“Are you heading home, Sacchan?”

“I’m waiting for Hiroki to come.”

“I see! See you later then.”

As we left the cafeteria together, we walked side by side towards the bike parking lot. Her brand-new spring-colored skirt fluttered in the wind.

Although I had gotten used to it, walking with Nanase often attracted intrusive stares. Walking alone, no one would pay attention to an unfashionable guy like me, but having an idol-level beauty by my side was a different story. The envious and jealous stares pierced through me, and it stung a bit. I knew all too well that I didn’t match Nanase.

When we arrived at the bike parking lot, we both got on our bicycles. It’s unavoidable, but riding home in a line doesn’t create a very romantic atmosphere. On a whim, I asked Nanase,

“Hey, Nanase. Don’t you ever want to try riding double on a bike?”

Nanase seemed to yearn for a “rosy college life” and frequently demanded “youthful situations” from me. Last week, for example, we ended up swinging on swings in a nearby park. While standing on the swing for the first time in over a decade, I felt a sense of futility wash over me, wondering what I was doing, but Nanase seemed satisfied. Next, she wants to blow bubbles on the university lawn. I’m still debating whether to join her or not.

Given that Nanase wants to swing with her boyfriend in a park, it wouldn’t be surprising if she also dreams of riding double on a bike. However, Nanase answered with a serious face,

“Sagara-kun, riding double on a bike is against traffic laws.”

“…You’re right.”

Of course, it is. It was such an obvious thing, but I couldn’t help but laugh. I love this about her.

We rode our bikes, one in front of the other, down Nishioji Street. On the way, we stopped at the supermarket closest to our apartment to buy dinner ingredients. I usually only buy cheap udon noodles, but Nanase seemed to consider nutritional balance properly.

When we returned to the apartment together, we entered Nanase’s room. “I’m home!” Nanase said, looking at me expectantly.

“…W-Welcome back?”