Love Story in College

Chapter 1

Tada Banri ran half crying.

The streets of Tokyo at one in the morning, despite being a "Tokyo", are pitch-black with no signs of life, even a light lit by the window. At noon today (or rather, it was already yesterday), although it was only April, the day was so warm that she simply wore a T-shirt and drank iced coffee, muttering to herself, "That must be global warming." He was now shivering with coldness and anxiety. His flannel hoodie arm descended to his fingertips, his overstretched footsteps making a flapping sound from the sandals with his bare feet, however, if he can get to the main road everything might be fine .. It should be fine. He wants that to happen. With all his heart he ran.

"A nineteen-year-old young man this year shouldn't have run in the streets at night with teary eyes ." I thought, but I understood Banri's feelings.

If I were in the same situation, I might cry too.

He came to the capital with his mother who, for the sake of her son who started life alone, had arranged furniture, utensils, gas, water, electricity, and so on. He had gone through various minor formalities here and there, and then this afternoon (already, so fast!) He returned home with the Hikari bullet train.

And finally, he actually started the first night of his life alone. It's just, tonight's keeping him from the college entrance ceremony tomorrow morning. Late at night, when the new day has just begun, unable to sleep with her worries, she does what she thinks the residents of Tokyo are doing to distract: she: he went from one store to another. Even worse, it seems that somewhere, somehow, he lost the keys to his new home. After all, it was no longer in his pocket.

Banri's feet suddenly stopped and walked three steps back the way he came. He saw a map of the residential area standing on the edge of the sidewalk. "Saving", he said to himself as he approached and searched the apartment building where he now lived, "Motomachi", tracing the route with his finger from "You're here". By the way, as soon as he returned to the front of the apartment building, he intended to walk all the way back to the store, looking for the key.

But .. ahh, enough.

If this voice could reach Banri, I would tell him, "Look more closely at the map. 'That 'Motomachi' is 'Motomachi' in the next district! '" No, I'll say, "You left them in the apartment first of all, forgot to lock! They're in the room! " Sadly, I can't do that.

For now, all I can do is pray for him so that if Banri can return to the apartment somehow and sleep quickly, then maybe he will survive the entrance ceremony tomorrow without any problems. How important will it be someday in your life, this new student acceptance ceremony? Even I — despite having become a wandering soul, can understand.

I cannot believe the possibility that human spirits, even when they have left their bodies, remain and stay in this world to watch over someone. This side of the world is hidden, so I just found out.

I am, you could say, a ghost.

My name was Tada Banri.

No one heard this voice anymore, no one noticed my whereabouts.

I keep watching this new Tada Banri who keeps on living, even though I, his spirit, have been knocked out of it.

"Young man, at this hour what is —, what happened —"

Suddenly, the surviving Tada Banri turned his face forward and a light shone straight in his eyes, freezing him like a deer in a car light.

"Ah, a .. I, I'm lost …"

"Do you have a license, a passport, anything with you that can prove who you are?"

"Eh, ah, yes …"

He was the target of the first police interrogation of his life. It's gonna be a long night. Is this a crisis situation? Is it a gift from God? You never know where Banri is.

Whatever and everything that was put together, his current state was one of "Great Fear", Banri thought as he looked around.

However, the weather is absolutely incredible.

The snowstorm of cherry blossom petals from the clear blue sky danced around in panic, as they wanted to spend their lives as great as possible. The auditorium, which is located between a number of old grey office buildings, seemed to welcome the moment of the drama.

The scene looked like something out of a painting. Cherry blossoms in the sky in April. Young people gather for the opening ceremony. Men and women alike wore new clothes and leather shoes, bright smiles appeared all over the place, anticipating college life. Banri felt like cutting a dark and inconspicuous corner of the painting, where he was standing.

A constant stream of friendly conversation passed before his eyes. The entrance to the auditorium is under the roof of the building. For now, Banri and everyone have the same new suit and the same new leather shoes, in their hands are envelopes with their college names. With dark circles under his eyes due to lack of sleep, he did not see the typical freshman. His right sideburns curled up at a strange angle and some hair near his ears got stuck inside, wobbling, bothering him.

He could not sleep until three in the morning. He's been broke since last night.

He got the idea, in the middle of the night, to go out and buy something, get lost in the streets of unfamiliar neighborhoods (a rather stupid thing to do), and get lost in the streets of unfamiliar neighborhoods, taking time away from the duties of a policeman, explaining his situation and He returned to his apartment, with great difficulty he slept, but because of his nervousness, he woke up at six in the morning. But it was better than sleeping late at night, he thought, as he slowly put down his clothes while he melted the rice his mother put in the fridge, then ate breakfast. After that she took a bath, and dried her hair while sitting on the bed. He shouldn't have done that. His body heated up by the shower, the freshly comfortable bedsheets were cool, he was lying down meaninglessly. He doesn't remember closing his eyes. "Eh ... What should I do now .. What the fuck is .." he said as he realized it was past nine. The opening ceremony will start at ten in the morning.

Jolted awake like a doll, she fell into a panic as she looked in the mirror, her newly washed hair was now in a mess from having slept on it, she said, but he didn't have enough time to wash it again. He cheats with the dryer as much as he can, puts on a suit and flies out of the apartment. At that moment, he was even more crying. He rode two trains later than he should with the schedule, the right shoes, but the wrong socks. Without realizing it, she had been wearing traditional sneaker socks that showed off her ankles. Indeed, with her new stiff shoes, as she sat down, she felt a strange chill down her ankle. He felt helpless.

He ran from the station, somehow arriving at the college admissions ceremony on time. Sitting in his chair, he calms himself down like a perfect freshman while the visitors are greeted, though he finds himself detached from the big event. It was not due to lack of sleep, or from the bed.

That was because, he realized, he was the only one who was alone.

He did not even attempt to be observant: the place was noisy the entire time from people talking. That's because everyone has someone to talk to. If they come from an affiliated high school, they already form groups of friends, boys and girls together, and if not, they usually sit down with their parents. Ordinarily.

"Parents haven't been going to college entrance ceremonies lately!" "That may have happened in Toudai, but in this place it is too much. Everyone's gonna think I'm some kind of mama boy!" "Rather ridiculous!" "Parents don't usually come to the college entrance ceremony!" After Banri's complaint, his mother returned home the day before. "Well, I brought this just in case ..", he said, then put the escort ticket for the reception ceremony back to his wallet, as if it was something valuable. He had not seriously expected for the girl not to come. But then she whined like a child, "I don't want you to come", in what she thought was a normal parent-child relationship.

And now, having arrived here, it was already discouraged, but above all, felt guilty for being disloyal to its parents. () It weighs heavily on him. He hasn't even waved a hand yet. Her mother's back had passed through Yaesu's north entrance gate, disappearing the moment she saw him.

Unconsciously, he sighed pitifully as he stood still at the entrance, looking at the hair of the people coming down the stairs, laughing together.

From where he stood, he could not see anyone else who was alone. He rubbed his eyes with his middle finger. Maybe pollen, or maybe lack of sleep, but his eyes feel strange itching. A man who forgets his handkerchief will certainly not bring eye drops.

Things don't look good — yes, even as early as today, it looks like things will keep going bad.

"You're going to take the train? Or walk?"

"Why bother getting to the station? It just makes me tired. I'd rather walk."

In front of the paralyzed eyes of Banri, two men walked in suits, loosening their ties.

From the auditorium, he had to move into the new student orientation alone, an hour later in the department's section of the campus. Therefore, according to the guide map that had been distributed to them, it was only one station away by subway. Even though he had just arrived at the House of Representatives building, it did not mean he had just crawled in from the wilderness, or that he was too nervous about what he should do. What is confusing from Banri's point of view is that the crowds who left the auditorium, for some reason, split into two.

Perhaps, the people who turned north went to the station. Those who go south walk. With his weather so good, he wanted to walk, but his route was not recorded on the map. Memories of last night's disaster were still fresh in his mind, he didn't want to get lost again on the streets. "But from now on, I have to find my way everywhere alone ..." "But still ..." Banri stood there muttering, still hesitating for a moment, still hesitating for a moment, then he finally made up his mind and went down the stairs to the street.

He decided to stay close to the couple, who preferred to walk. "From this point we are a trio!", he whispered into the backs of the two in front of him. They were both wearing thin dark grey suits, like Banri.

Still lacking the courage to speak, Banri followed them, matching their speed. Although things are a bit uncomfortable now, eventually their classes and lessons will bring them together as friends. He would say things like, "Honestly, at the opening ceremony I hopelessly followed you two", and then they would be able to laugh about it all. Banri's chase is still unknown, both of them are running steadily. Eventually an entire crowd of freshmen had flowed out of the auditorium, into the streets, where, like a river that came together, they mixed into the crowd of people in the passing weekday city. If you don't look too closely, you can confuse new students and employers. When, when,

"Ah, it's a bit hot today, right? Let's go get some ice cream."

"Yes very hot."

The right man spoke on a whim. Staring at the back of the man's head, Banri's eyebrows rose without thinking.

"really. Why don't we stop by the next convenience store? I'll eat ice cream."

Do you really want to eat ice cream now? The opening ceremony has just ended, and you want ice cream from a store halfway to orientation, when the time is limited? He looked at the back of the left man's head. "Forgetit." You on the left, say! What he would do when those people ate ice cream, he had no idea.

"Then I will have it too. There should be 7-Eleven around here."

"Yes, there's a 7-Eleven. But where is it, I wonder?"

They did not hear Banri's silent message. Leaving behind a slow stream of pedestrians, the two turned into a narrow path. This was the moment when he should have said goodbye to them, clinging to the other freshmen. Banri should have done that, but he suffered a misjudgment. Walking straight ahead, it was not easy to distinguish the new student and the entrepreneur, so without thinking he went along with the two on the side of the road. "Ah ah ah." Ignoring Banri, whose conscience is trying to hunt him down, the two men say things like, "Hmm, 7-Eleven, 7-Eleven. Over there? In here?" The two remained calm and collected as they walked down an unknown path. Perhaps they want to get rid of him ..among such doubts, he turns left and right, deviates from the right path, he turns right,

"Ah, after all it's not 7-Eleven."

They were in front of the Family Mart.

The two of them entered the store without hesitation, not yet realizing the presence of Banri, who was standing there blinking his eyes rapidly in dismay. Not knowing what else to do, he followed after her, leaving little distance between them. He turned his head towards them, pretending to stare at the magazines, while the two fished inside the ice cream container. After ten seconds, he decided, "I should eat too." To look normal, he thought he should do the same thing that those people did. After looking to the side to make sure the two men went to the ice cream cashier table in their hands, wearing her most innocent expression, she peered into the ice cream container as well. Without wasting any time in choosing, he took the first one in hand, "Ah .. Anyway, I want ice cream ..." making such a face while both of them pay the bill, anyway, he stood behind them at the registration. However,

"But of course, from here we have orientation, and ice cream can be quite messy. We don't have much time left, maybe we should change our minds."

"Well, maybe so. How about we just go? I'm sorry, sir, the register is yours, we're leaving."

"Ehhh !?"

The two very politely gave a turn to Banri and went to return the ice cream to their case. The part-time shopkeeper was not even bothered. "Please," he said, waving forward. Not knowing what else to do, he reluctantly hands over the ice cream, takes out his wallet, and without a dime, ends up spending 10,000 yen. "First, greater change", five thousand, six thousand, seven thousand. "Then the little one", jingle jingle jingle. Getting his change back took a long time, and during that time, the two left the store.

—What what? What am I supposed to do?

Shocked, saying "no, thank you" for a bag, he took the ice cream, and while keeping his wallet, Banri left the store in a daze. "In which direction did the two people turn?", he could not see the shape of the two people. "Calm down for now, I haven't lost yet", she kept reminding herself. "We came from here, and maybe, from there. I know that, no problem."

When he saw her, he realized what he was buying was a Gari-Gari-Kun. Whatever, let's eat. I just have to worry after that. Banri shook his head to clear his panicked mind, then opened his ice cream pack. The soda-colored bar was difficult because it was too frozen, so after biting it, "I have to put off eating this", she realized.

He took a deep breath.

"… What is this? … What do I do …"

How foolish.

By the time he realized it, the orientation that seemed to matter was within thirty minutes or so. Without knowing where he was, he ate ice cream alone in front of the store. The form of an idiot, who fell into this overly absurd situation was reflected in a mirror attached to an ID-image machine across the street from the store.

He was wearing a dark gray suit, with a large light green envelope. He held a light blue popsicle in his hand. The drooping hair on her cheeks were reddish, lighter than expected. Despite this, biting into the ice cream, his own features seemed much calmer than how he had previously felt. Even at a time like this, "Wow. If I look at myself objectively, I'm quite .." Thought Banri, putting his hand on his chin, but

"… what?"

He noticed that the image in the mirror did not move along with him. Like an open fool, he turned around.

What is reflected in the mirror of the photo-ID machine is not itself.

Wearing the same colored suit, holding the same envelope next to him and eating the same ice cream was someone else. Their eyes met, then threw away a moment. Even so, Banri raised his eyes again and saw the man doing exactly the same thing as himself. There was no other possibility, the man was a freshman at the same college. Ignoring it is unnatural. Uh, don't we do the same? Ah, what, maybe we're from the same university? With this said, he wanted to keep things light, though,

"… Huh? Uh? You yeah?"

His mouth was not working well, chilled by ice cream, and only an ambiguous groan came out.

Nonetheless, with body language, pointing at himself and then others, he managed to get his point across,

"Ho .. gu …"

The man, too, when he painstakingly swallowed the large ice cream, was staring back at Banri's face. Holding the fingertips to his mouth and chewing, he,

"… Well ..., actually, I ... way to campus, I don't know very well …"

His voice was lower than expected from his appearance.

Without a second thought, Banri stared at the couple's face. Although it was only for a moment, to think that the man was truly inexcusable, because the man had a much calmer feature. He was also slightly taller than Banri, his hair was neater, his suit fitting on his strong shoulders.

"I thought I'd follow someone, so that's why I ended up walking right behind you .. And when you got in there, I thought, 'What am I going to do now? … Well, why not? … Why not stay together? '"

"And from there .." the man waved his ice cream, flaunting it.

Without a second thought, Banri laughed. "What !?" he said, his voice now coming out naturally and brightly.

"Then really, we do exactly the same thing, both of us. I don't know the way either, and I followed the others from the auditorium until I got here! But after falling behind, 'What will I do? ', I thought. "

"… Huh? Really true?"

"really. I don't know the way at all."

Still holding their ice cream, not knowing what to do with it, they looked at each other for a few seconds. In the end, they laughed again. Aren't they just a pair of weird balls? They felt like heavy lids were stuffed into their stomachs, swept away by laughter.

"Somehow, unexpected encounters of similar people. I'm Tada Banri. 'Tada' means 'many fields', and although my name consists of 'Human' and 'ri', it is not 'Manri', but not 'Banri'. I am studying law. You can call me Banri. "

"Oh, good, I'm also going to study law. I'm Yanagisawa Mitsuo. That means 'thick willow trees on the side of the swamp', and 'light in the middle'. You don't have to be formal with me, 'Yana' will be done. Did you come here straight from high school? "

"I'm one year late. What about you, Yana-ssan?"

"Yana-san? Wait – a year older !? … Really? You don't look like that — Well, that's okay. I'm straight from high school ... but, even though, ah, really? OK if I talk casually like this? "

"of course. I mean, you don't even have to ask."

"I'm from Shizuoka. Since last night I've been living alone. Where you from?"

"I live close to here, but alone too."

"Yes, freedom! We're same! Let's be friends!"

As if toast, Banri raised the half-eaten Gari-Gari-Kun to the level of his eyes. Yanagisawa lifted it up the same way, and then the two of them finished their snacks in one breath. Throwing away the sticks, they left, and finally before long they could return to the main road.

After all, being alone, it seemed like a difficult journey, but together they did not care much. Compared to the streets in the soulless residential area that lived around late at night, this time they could only ask someone. When he was alone, he could not even imagine doing that.

While chuckling to himself, he glanced at Yanagisawa who was already too familiar to him.

"Because unfortunately there was no one to talk to until now, I was really a bit worried. I saw that others were already among my friends, and my loneliness was getting worse."

"Ah, I thought about that too. Especially for me, the feeling of being expelled was something I hadn't had in a long time: since elementary school I went to an affiliated school."

"You've been going to an affiliated school since Elementary?"

Nodding, Yanagisawa quickly muttered the name of the place. Although Banri is not from Tokyo, he still recognizes the name of the prestigious private school. Over the next four years, they would both attend this private university, but the other schools were ranked higher in every possible way.

"Who? Did ya? Why don't you just go to university !? If you stay on the escalator always works .. What do I say? Am I just …"

Banri reflexively shut up, stopped running in the mouth. It'swrong. How stupid he is. He's not sensitive. Maybe it wasn't him, but it couldn't go forward. Suddenly lifted from the depths of silence, his joy was detached from his control.

"Mm, forgive me …! What I said was wrong .. I'm really sorry, we had a good start on this day .. Ah, the atmosphere became very strange …"

All these apologies are sad. Looking at the face of Banri, who had covered his mouth this time, his eyes wandered aimlessly,

"Absolutely not, I don't mind at all. Well, if I say it, it'll be a long story."

Yanagisawa waved one of her hands in front of her smooth-shaped chin. His attitude "Let's talk about this slowly the next time", reached Banri as well. "Slowly, next time." I'll let you know when we have more time. By the way, come visit, OK? You can even have Bubuzuke. —Ah!

Slooowly she took one step away from Yanagisawa. "Eh, what?", Yanagisawa looked at the strange smile of Banri, who looked like a fool.

Banri thought he had gone and done it. Last night, before getting lost in the neighborhood, she was already searching the internet. Among the tips for college students posted on a site, there is a human relations item: 'Give special attention to avoid familiarity that is too at the first meeting! There is a possibility of landmines! ' … What should he do in a situation where he is the one who needs special attention? Unable to contain himself, he slapped his head like a comic storyteller.

"I'm really an idiot, a landmine idiot .... has caused Yana-ssan such unpleasant feelings, after she took so much trouble to become my friend …"

"Huh? What was? Are you having trouble with what just happened? It's not a big deal. It's not a long story, ..well, it looks like you're worried for an unknown reason, so I'll explain it in short. I have caused some problems with regard to the opposite sex in affiliated schools. I'm fed up, and need my space. I wanted a new life as a student, so I took an outside exam of my own accord. "

"It's no big deal, really" Yanagisawa said as she scratched her protruding brows. After considering it,

"… Hyuuu …!"

Banri could not whistle, so he instead said this.

Carefully halfway back to where he was before, folding his hands on his chest, waving his fingers while his shoulders trembled, he intended to express, "You are great!" the best way he can, within acceptable limits.

"Huh ... the opposite sex?"

… If he maintains his excitement at this level, then there should be no problem. But, actually Banri wants to be more excited. Opponent type!? So cool! Arguing with the girls is so cool! Love triangle !? The affair!? Forbidden Love!? Let me hear it! I mean, share your luck! Make trouble girl! Get that power! Super Jump! … Around his heart tension rises,

"Sooo, if someone is as cool as Yana-ssan, such things happen to them !? So, did you fight with your boyfriend? Uh, uh, am I getting upset !?"

He stopped there.

"…No, not you."

"Don't make stuff!"

With half a quick step, he drew right next to Yanagisawa.

"… No, but, there's no problem talking about it. And by the way ..he's not my girlfriend."

"Not ..your boyfriend !? What did you just say !?"

Wasn't he? And, while letting Banri get close, the strangely serious Yanagisawa nodded. Later,

"That's not a good thing, not at all. That's .. right. So you could say,"

Stopped by the red light at the crossing, he looked slightly into the distance and then back at Banri.

"… disaster ..., it seems."

"Although so, what did that," he tried to find out more, and as luck would have it, at that moment the light turned green.

On this side of the crossing, a taxi is parked. Banri, with Yanagisawa beside him, had just started crossing in front of him under the light. Hit it! Taxi doors open. On the asphalt down the spike of the high heels, a loud sound echoed like a hammer.

They look there with reflexes.

Banri jerks. In an instant, all his thoughts were swept away.

The storm of cherry blossoms has become something to behold, but this, this is incredible.

Almost as if rushing forward, out of the cab came a large bouquet of red roses. Shining in stark contrast to the deep blue, deep red sky.

Banri's gaze was torn towards him, as it was raised diagonally up by the man.

"…Pump!?"

"…Pump!?"

With all his strength, he hit the side of his face. "It hurts!", he shouted, "No! Cold!", He shouted again, but in the end he had no voice.

The cold drops of water watered everything around it. Completely astonished, Banri fell to the ground. The back of her new suit pants touched the ground, and she watched as more and more sparkling water gushed out. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It was Yanagisawa, who was being attacked. Yanagisawa was slapped in the face from above and to the side, three times, four times, by a bouquet of fresh red roses. Each time, a few petals of lively flowers fluttered away, falling like drops of blood.

And then, the final blow! From just above the head, the wreath fell, thrown into Yanagisawa's collapsed chest.

Banri.

Yanagisawa.

The rose petals fluttered clearly, flooding their senses with an extremely sweet scent of nectar. In the midst of this deep red air attack,

"… I've removed the thorn."

Showing a wide, "perfect" smile, even her breath was calm from the woman.

Who he was, who he was, such questions faded like fog in the morning. There she was, a glowing snow-white form, gleaming as if gently sprinkled with water droplets — petals of a deep red flower as if an aura about her, the queen of roses was completely.

"Congratulations on your acceptance! That's all I want to say."

"This is impossible", Yanagisawa groaned in a low voice, holding a rose in her hand. As if he was unwilling to accept the reality, he shook his head left and right. Banri, still a dumbfounded outsider, simply raised his eyes to smile.

Her skin was perfect, shining like the finest silk. Her hair was perfect, dark brown, curly without strands of hair. His figure was perfect, his head slightly tilted to the side. Wearing a snow-white one-piece lace dress, her neck and ears were highlighted by pearls, with delicate high heels and a dark purple handbag on her wrist, in every way the woman was perfect. That such a person can even live and breathe is a complete mystery, he is so unrealistically perfect. Even his voice was as clear as a bell ringing.

"It's so stupid of you, Mitsuo."

Suddenly intense, she stared fixedly at Yanagisawa from under her long, thick eyelashes. Her lips glowed deep red and shiny like a rose, like flower petals, she continued to smile perfectly.

"Do you think you can fool me completely, sneak into college? Do you seriously think you can escape? Not likely. You can't fool me with a trick like that. In order for Mitsuo to escape from my perfection, our future perfection, such a thing is impossible. "

Mitsuo – – – He called my Yana-ssan, no, it doesn't mean he's mine, Yanagisawa by his name.

Still dumbfounded and planting on the ground, their previous conversation flashed through Banri's mind. This could be a trouble-making girl who isn't her boyfriend, maybe, after all.

"Mituo has been mine forever."

"Wr ... wroooongg!"

"You're mine. Don't make a useless fight anymore. So, see you soon!"

He half ran back to the taxi, which was still parked there. Just before entering, he saw flower petals clinging to his hair. He took it gently with his fingertips and placed it on his palm, then blew it like this — I mean towards Yanagisawa, like a kiss. The petals fluttered in the air, clinging once to the tip of Banri's nose, but soon the wind carried him away.

Leaving them both and roses behind on the road, a taxi departs.

"What,"

He looked at Yanagisawa.

"Whaaaaaa!"

Still holding a bouquet of roses, her hair was disheveled, Yanagisawa let out a long scream. Banri managed to stand up first, and extended his hand towards her, saying,

"Yana-ssan, get yourself! Who is that !? I mean, what just happened !?"

Many people looked towards them, Banri realized. Mostly, everyone stared at Yanagisawa. He was still sitting on the ground, holding a huge bouquet of roses, looking somewhat out of place in the usual street scene. He's like a time traveler out of some trendy soap opera from the bubble era. Passing the way, a seemingly new group of college students and entrepreneurs look for this way. Staring at the surprised expression mixed with a thin smile. Some of them pointed their fingers, laughing.

Hey look. Wow, that's amazing. What's with the rose man? With that envelope and the others, he's one of the new students from our school. Very mysterious! What the hell is he doing? Isn't that a little awkward? There were murmurs and whispers all around.

Somewhat confused, Yanagisawa stood up. Just then, it was as if in one last strike, piled flower petals came fluttering from his head. Watching them fall at his feet, seeing the bouquet of roses on his chest, he said,

"O. the rest ... my student's life .. in one day, it's over …! Haha .. ahahaha!"

"Wait, Yana-san, you really have to master yourself! After all, look ... we have to reach orientation on time!"

"Am I going to bring this beautiful rose to orientation !? I will just feel embarrassed, stand like a sore thumb, and then, for four years of student life, what will I do !? What the hell are they doing? mean by 'Rose Man' Anyway! Like some kind of 'Ham Man' …! "

"Alright, ah, please take this: Congratulations on your acceptance on campus."

Some new girls were staring at them as they passed by, and their eyes met. Suddenly, Banri pulled some roses from the bouquet and extended them to the girls. Then, while saying things like "Eh, is that for me?", They happily reached out to them. Seeing this, some other girls said, "The guys gave me roses?" "You're kidding! I want one!" And they came.

It might really work, he thought.

"That's right! I'm giving out roses! Congratulations on your acceptance into college! I am the Rose Man, please ask for a rose!"

"… What are you doing, Banri?"

"Yana-ssan, you should also give it to her. Ah, here it is."

Attracting them one by one, they distributed more and more roses to the people.

"If all the freshmen go to orientation, holding the rose, the only memory that will be left is not 'On the day of the entrance ceremony, there is this freak holding the rose', but it will be 'On the day of the reception ceremony, the freshman received a rose, 'was I wrong? For that reason, Yana-ssan too, come on, we are distributing a million roses for you and you and you and you! Yes yes, here you go, there's more! Congratulations on your acceptance! "

Even the Bibi Army, who did not look like freshmen, shouted, "They are very pretty!", and "They are free!", and rushed over. "Can we please!?", their smiles directed at them.

"… Here it is!"

Even Yanagisawa smiled in despair, showing her teeth with a wide grin while handing out roses.

"You're right! If I stumble out of the gate, Kouko will definitely have her own way. Even if he finds out, we'll be apart. We will live in our own world. For that, I went back and forth to cramming school so that I could be accepted here. In such a place, I will not stumble! I won't be what Kouko wants me to be! My life as a student is not over! Got a rose!"

They have about fifteen minutes before orientation starts.

Kouko Kaga.

It seems to be his name.

He had met Yanagisawa Mitsuo during his first year in elementary school. In those days, Kouko was a bullied little girl, whom she had been protecting. Because of this, he locked it away with all his might, saying that Yanagisawa was the 'prince of his dreams'.

"Since that moment onward, Kouko's dream has always been one thing. 'Married to Mitsuo!' … scary, really. "

"Thrillingly? Wh why? Isn't that a very romantic talk? Childhood promise .. bound by fate to your childhood friend. That's good, really. I mean, she's a very pretty girl, full of charm, like an actress."

"You don't understand. You really don't know what it's like!"

Her voice only slightly rose, but the girl sitting in front of them looked towards Yanagisawa for a bit. Lowering their voices, the two muttered "Sorry", and slightly lowered their heads. They whispered too loudly.

The orientation of new law students takes place in a somewhat college-like manner, in spacious classrooms with chairs arranged in stair-like levels. On the platform, a member of the Student Affairs department read out to the microphone, "You have an obligation to bring ..." "Every effort to prevent accidents ..." and so on, as he recited a number of important points about smoking, smoking, drinking and such.

A sweet fragrance floated across the vast space, coming from the deep red roses in the hands of a number of students.

"… Have you not obtained it since then before? Just because I didn't move to the same college as him, he ambushed me at the opening ceremony, beat me in the face with a huge bouquet of roses, and after he finished bothering me, he said, he gave me a big bright smile and left, such a woman. "

"She's really messy," she repeated in a soft voice like a groan.

"As far as Kouko is concerned, she has her life scenario that matches her so-called 'perfect self'. He just stuck to me as part of his perfect life scenario. Every time I try to do something,"

Yanagisawa turned her face towards Banri. He separated his crest to the side, narrowed his eyes with almost crossed eyes, pushed his chin, and with a strange tone of voice,

"'Mitsu! That's not true!' "Mitsu! That's not what I planned!" "Mitsu! Do as you are told!" "Mitsu! Faufaufaufa!" "Mitsu! Fafsaphaa!" … That's what it feels like. Not a way of life. "

It was funny, but not at all like him.

"His face is not like that. It's kind of like this,"

Banri pulls his chin back, swings his eyelashes up and down while looking up, moves his shoulders slowly forward and backward, and combs his pony up,

"'I ... have already removed the thorn .. n. ..' swayed ~ ... isn't this like this?"

Yanagisawa looked at him coldly and shook her head.

Yanagisawa looked at him coldly and shook her head.

"Whatis that? No, he's not like that at all. What do you know from just one meeting? He's like, 'Fuaaa! Mitsuo! Nuovaaa!' 'It's Fuafua! Fuafua! Don't Fafa! The faa! Mitsuo! Faaaa! '"

"Eh, isn't that just some lunatic? All I see is 'Oh, how stupid .. Mitsuo ... h'."

"No, no, he's not like that at all! He's more like this! 'Faffaa! Faaaaay! Mitsuo! Faan!', but also,"

Yanagisawa probably wanted to show her expression even more, the veins on her forehead showed, she lifted herself up a little in her chair, twisted her body, when finally, she was,

"You're in there! Stop all that whispering!"

"…"

From the stage speaking, a finger pointed at him as a warning. Yanagisawa flinched, awkwardly stiffened, and quietly sat on a more comfortable chair, like a wooden bench. Her cheeks flushed red, she lowered her head while saying, "Excuse me .." and that's how she curled up. Even Banri was injured due to the piercing appearance that came from around the classroom. This situation seems more embarrassing than the rose attack.

He glanced at the blushing Yanagisawa face, who also stared back at Banri, "Don't say anything", Yanagisawa revealed by simply raising her finger in front of her mouth. And instead of causing trouble with more whispers, he wrote something in pencil on the edge of one of their leaflets.

'After all, I will be far away from Kouko four years for sure!'

'I won't give up just because of that much humiliation! I will enjoy my life as a student! '

'Hore for a new life !!!'

'Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed !!!'

And from the side you can see him grinning. Its straight white teeth form a perfect arch. Yana-ssan must be from a good family and place, Banri thought. Then, picking up his pencil, instead of writing an answer, with a big smile, he drew a cat that shouted "YES !!!".

Turning to an explanation of the classes and lectures required for graduation, specific courses required by those wishing to proceed to law school, specific courses required for the civil service exam, etc, all kinds of special qualification tests and so on furthermore, they heard all sorts of important explanations, and the orientation of the day ended around noon. When he heard "The club's recruiting ban will be lifted from this afternoon," Banri looked at Yanagisawa and their eyes met.

To truly enjoy student life, you must have a club. At least, Banri thought so. Choosing a club is, of course, the most important requirement, he thought. It happened when accompanied by Yanagisawa, he was just about to rise from his seat.

"Mitsu! Faafapha! Faufaufaa!"

"… Eh !?"

Suddenly a voice came from behind them. Banri and Yanagisawa look back together. Banri saw the white fingers firmly placed on Yanagisawa's forehead. … Berderit ..., only Yanagisawa's head was made to turn, as if to be twisted from his body.

"Faufaufaufaufaaaaaaaa! … Do I like this?"

Yanagisawa's face paled, as if blood dried from her head. Reaching the table from the chair just behind and slightly above them, with both hands holding his head, there floated Kaga Kouko's perfect smile. Alone between shades of blue and gray, white shines in a two-piece lace dress, there she is.

All the time – – – he was right behind them. Might as well.

"WWWW .." Yanagisawa's lips twitched.

"Why ... why are you ... what are you doing here !?"

"For orientation, of course. It's natural to be here."

Watching Yanagisawa's face, which was trembling all the way to her nose, turning pale right in front of her, Kouko smiled, her reddish-red lips opening slowly. Of course, beautiful white teeth shone between those lips.

"I told you before, right? I said, 'See you later'. Did you not hear me? Or maybe ... Fafafafafaa!"

With a caress-like motion, Kouko's beautiful finger slowly swept over Yanagisawa's hair.

"… what do you hear …?"

His hand was firmly swept away, and perhaps out of frustration, he,

"What's that for?"

Kouko, still smiling but with a cold voice as sharp as a knife, folded her hands. While putting on a pose with his chin raised slightly, he looked at Yanagisawa. Her large eyes shone like black jewelry, reflecting the shadow of her long eyelashes. In all of this, he didn't seem to notice Banri at all.

"Don't you ask that! What are you doing !? Why are you here at this orientation !?"

"I'm following your wish and matching it with me! I signed up here too."

"Mfa …"

"Well, that's a happy face. For another four years, we'll be able to study together."

Yanagisawa held her breath, combed her hair three times, and as her hair was now in a mess, when she looked at Kouko, she looked like the angry ghost of a defeated warrior.

"… Y, your plan, what about them …!? In your plans for the future, don't you want to advance in studying French Literature, spend three years studying abroad in France !? Didn't you decide to build a career in the fashion business !?

Sighing in a small breath, Kouko slipped her fingers into her shiny hair that reached down where her chest swelled.

"Small changes are necessary, but they are not difficult. The student life without you by my side would be meaningless. I've been thinking that you and I are going to college together, taking classes in business so we can take over dad's business. But I don't mind. It's the same for me whether my husband owns his own business or works as a corporate lawyer. Mitsuo, you betrayed me, planning to secretly take the outer exam. When I knew I was shocked, of course .. but, rather than making a fuss to stop you forcefully, I thought it was better to follow you. So I took almost all the entrance exams you took as well. "

"… How, could my school of choice, get out .. I asked my homeroom teacher to keep it a secret, but .. I didn't tell my friends, I didn't tell them, no one I took the test for … "

"This year they completed the medical faculty building. Know ye? It's called the Kaga Memorial Building."

"It doesn't matter to hear as much as the school you have chosen" Kouko said, once again showing a calm expression, relaxed lips with a wide smile. On top of her bangs horizontally, a tie of blue silk hair in a red-orange pattern framed her round white forehead. From her silhouette, following her small chin, and continuing past her long and slender neckline, she could not be much different from the other peers passing behind her. He's too sophisticated.

She had different features, which could not be explained in any other way other than her beautiful form.

"Are you unhappy too, Mitsuo? That I gave you my whole heart."

— More than anything, her expression of radiant confidence made her prettier than any other girl, Banri realized. However, he did not even notice Banri's whereabouts.

Yanagisawa, making a face like she ate something bitter, stared back at Kouko, dumbfounded.

"really? You're happy, right? Answer me, Mitsuo."

"…not happy…"

"Truly happy, right?"

"… Forever unhappy …"

"Really. You're happy, right?"

"Not happy, I said! You're troublesome! Even though I took the outer exam so that I could stay away from you, you've already left and messed things up! It's not something that makes you happy!"

Suddenly, Kouko seemed to notice Banri's presence. He suddenly smiled kindly at Banri, who was standing beside Yanagisawa.

"Don't mind him. He feels weird. Mitsuo, it could be said, was famous for it."

Tsu, n, de, re.

Heh.

She tapped gently near her mouth with her cream-painted nails, and shrugged her small shoulders. Like an actress on stage, she gave an exaggerated wink. Banri doesn't know how he should react,

"Well, hmm, .. My name is Tada. What to say .. well, nice to meet you .. heh!"

Bending loosely, he advanced forward. Pushing Banri aside, Yanagisawa chose a primitive way to escape, by trying to escape. "Oh! Mitsuo escaped!", with Kouko running after him, the highheel rang boldly, running up the stairs. Kouko's beautiful form stands out, catching the eyes of many new students, who then turn to each other to say something. There are some of them, who know that the beautiful rose in their hands was originally the gift. Uh, there must be people around who saw the attack at the crosswalk.

"…I mean…"

Then she realized, after all, that she was alone again.

Left behind in the lecture hall, Banri looked around. Yanagisawa and Kouko's arguments have already attracted attention, and some views are still directed towards Banri as well. Sick, he hurriedly threw the remaining stationery scattered on the chair, into their envelopes.

"Yana-ssan has left everything …"

Gathering under his arms handouts printed important things, syllabuses, and various things belonging to Yanagisawa who had forgotten them, Banri left the lecture hall with long steps up the stairs. They have exchanged their cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses, so returning them tomorrow will not be a problem.

Leaving one of the many exits to the corridor, he joined a horde of freshmen. The plan to get out, the first introduction, the voices and laughter here and there resounded like a small explosion. The school building is old. The light coming from the fluorescent fixtures turns yellow, there are braces here and there to harden the walls against earthquakes, and for some reason the windows are equipped with iron grills. It is said that at one time this college had become a scene of violent student demonstrations, and those things must have been remnants of that time.

Carrying an envelope worth two people by his side, Banri slowly went down the stairs. In the designated smoking corner in the lobby, some freshmen (doubtful whether they were already twenty or not), who were still wearing, were already hanging out. Glancing to the side, seeing the aim of the smoke they were blowing, following the man in front of him, Banri also left the building.

That time too.

"New students, congratulaaaataoooooons!"

"… A …!?"

With a huge commotion, before his eyes fluttered a storm of confetti. There are many students, more than just freshmen.

"… A …!?"

With a huge commotion, before his eyes fluttered a storm of confetti. There are many students, more than just freshmen.

What began to surround Banri and the other freshmen who were flashing due to this unexpected change, were all the big members of the American football club, shouting, and standing in the first row of the students. Their huge bodies crammed into their uniforms, chanting their team names in a strange way, they grabbed those who caught their attention and easily lifted them above their heads.

"You there, freshman, con-grat-u-lations! Go!"

"It's not me, it's not me, it's impossible! Sorry meee!"

His eyes had met one of them with a helmet, Banri lowered his head to the call and dashed down the entrance stairs in haste. In front of his eyes, above his head,

"Are you not interested in comic books? We are hosting a live event for students!"

"Waa, waa, waa ♪ Come and do Glee Club ♪"

"You're there, you look like someone who loves camping! The research camp is here!"

"The welcome to the Freshman Comedy Club will begin at two o'clock! Free of course, and there will be drinks!"

Among the fliers that were pushed towards him, hands invited him, and then tons of smiles exploded, Banri's path was blocked repeatedly. On the verge of being crushed in the bustling chaos, all the freshmen, swinging their idiot faces like pigeon-eating heads, were being persuaded to march in front of the club booth table. You can't say that the campus in the middle of the city is vast, but every club that shows up there has now started their club recruiting meetings, with costumes, music, and everything imaginable.

her ear. He looked up in shock. From the other side of the campus, a group of people, who play Latin music with a strong rhythm and can dance, are separating the flock, cutting through the crowd. The annoying samba whistle. They have messed up hair, their own hair or fake hair, showy beads woven into cornrows and very long dreadlocks, both men and women wore tight, bright green clothes. They all have musical instruments in their hands. Singing out loud, they parade.

Incredible — mouth is already open.

His ears were broken and his body trembled at the sound of the whistle, Banri's eyes were wide open. College is so cool. He doesn't think it's cool like this. From this point on, of course, life is going to be really cool.

This fast and exciting rhythm toyed with his body and made him feel like he was losing his instincts. He's sure. In this place, for sure, he could be a new person. The wasted days he spent pursuing his lost vision had come to a complete end.

Dancing confetti. Countless leaflets fluttered in the wind. Rows drums. The men screamed hoarsely. The voices of the women with their high-pitched laughter. Your Majesty, enchanting, spring madness. The rhythm of the parade shook him greatly, pulsing violently. He closed his eyes, fainted, unable to see anything more.

Tada Banri's.

If you open your eyes, you may be able to see yourself reborn. You wake up in a new room, meet new friends, and fall asleep in that new room.

Before opening his eyes again, he tried to imagine something like making a request. He would definitely see a beautiful new world with his new eyes. Fun, cheerful and satisfying, even if she misinterprets it as loneliness or solitude — the whole shimmering gold, like being fascinated all the time.

Let's live like that every day. So many people to meet, so many people to love, so many people to live with in this world. Banri celebrates the sprouts of new life, and wishes this of a season called spring.

If he could live like that, then surely before long he would fall in love.

He wants to love.

One person, he admired someone so much, that nothing could enter his heart. It might indeed be a worldly desire, perhaps, but since Banri was an ordinary person, it was inevitable. He wants to meet a single girl. He wanted to risk it all on love. He wouldn't mind if he wasn't such an outstanding partner in everything like Yana-ssan's.

He wanted to plunge himself into the flow of fate. Dive into this rush of new worlds, the people you must meet, the ones you must find, reach for it with your own hands, Tada Banri!

With his eyes still closed he let out a strong sigh,

"3, 2, 1 .. Ready …"

Go for it!, he thought, and opened his eyes.

Come on, fate meeting!

Drumbeats all over the place.

"… Uh !? Whoa !?"

Shining before his eyes — there was a crowd of dancers dressed in brilliant emerald green. All the dancers gathered in rows around Banri, and stepped in an extraordinary place. His eyes were closed, joyfully, lost in daydreams, and by the time he realized, the second part of the parade group, a dazzling samba squad had surrounded him. Or vice versa, because Banri just stood there, he blocked all the dancers, and the parade could not flow through him.

"Excuse me, excuse me", apologizing while trying to get past them, hands and feet moving in rhythm blocking his escape. Bending back and forth desperately in order not to disturb their choreography, the steps of the dancer were pierced between his legs, to avoid hitting anyone he had no choice but to match their steps. Little by little, kicking his legs, swinging his hips, then in despair, he said,

"Heeeeeeeeeeey!"

Stretching out both hands, the index finger pointed at the sky, he gave a powerful pose, shouting wholeheartedly.

At almost the same time, someone spun behind him, his headdress scoring a hit directly behind Banri's head. Crack down! An easy KO, he almost fell clumsily on his face — or he thought for a moment.

His arms were firmly gripped, he was pulled.

As if dragged along with his crooked legs, Banri is pulled out of the line of dancers.

Stumbling a few steps he fell to the feet of another student,

"No, 'Hey!' from you, amateur. What the hell are you doing? "

"…Well.Ah…"

He saw the guy.

"New student?"

He's nodding.

The spectacle was real.

The person who helped Banri — wore a kimono, white with a floral pattern. Bright red obi belt. And the hat is shaped like a crescent moon. With his hat secured under his chin with a red rope, his face was almost half hidden. What he could see was his eyes drawn: full lips, deep red. Like a scene from a period drama, in the position of a traveler collapsing and nearing death on the road, Banri has been captured by a savior goddess who looks as if she is from the Edo period.

"What department are you from?"

"I ... legal department. I'm Tada Banri."

"I'm Linda."

Linda.

Reality is changing again. He thought he had been saved from samba by someone from the Edo Period, and that person turned out to be a stranger —

"My name is Hayashida, that's why Linda. I'm a sophomore. See you soon."

— Ah, Japan.

"Errr …!"

As soon as he stood up, he subconsciously called out to Linda. When he turned around, under his hat a white face could be seen for a moment. Contrary to his expectations after his blunt words, he seemed to be a good person.

"… Um, your lipstick ... It's so pretty …"

He said it before he realized. What an abnormal thing he said. He said it accidentally. That's what's going through his mind, right now.

"Disease!", He would leave her with those words, but Linda gave him a brilliant smile from under her hat. And then, swinging her slender, slender waist into an intense rhythm, she left Banri and turned to the richly colored marching ranks.

When his form was on the verge of disappearing into the crowd, he turned around at the last moment. She could see her kimono arm swinging as she kissed him.

It knocked Banri for a round, and he subconsciously patted one hand over his stricken heart.

Already twice in one day, she received a kiss from the opposite sex. But, uh,

"…WOW…!"

After forgetting his lonely future for now, the new spring began to seem interesting.