Chapter 1

Spring, the season of parting and meeting, is a common notion.

When you hear that it's March for a third-year high school student, anyone would understand that it's the season of parting.

Today, with the exception of those who have to repeat a year, everyone is graduating.

The graduation ceremony has ended smoothly, the diplomas have been received, the homeroom teacher's tearful speech has concluded, and the final homeroom meeting is over.

It's now time for each class to take their last photos, and it's okay to go home.

But no one is leaving.

They remain in the classroom, talking with friends, crying together, and reflecting on their three years of high school.

Most people don't want to let this last day of high school, this last moment, end easily.

After a few minutes, when everyone is thinking about leaving the school,

A boy looks around, searching for someone.

He doesn't find the person he's looking for and momentarily thinks they might have gone home, but quickly dismisses the thought.

They are probably still in the school, just not in this classroom.

He thinks they might have gone to see Shigemoto Yuuichi or Fujise Shihō and heads to the neighboring classroom, but they aren't there.

After thinking about where they might be, he heads to a place where they have talked a few times before.

It's the school's rooftop, which is usually off-limits.

The person he's looking for isn't the type to break rules, but today is graduation day.

It wouldn't be strange for them to break the rules just this once and be in their favorite place alone.

Thinking this, the boy leaves the classroom and heads toward the stairs leading to the rooftop.

The door to the rooftop is usually locked, but for some reason, it's open today.

As he opens the door and steps onto the rooftop, he feels the spring breeze.

Today, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and a few petals are carried by the wind up to the rooftop.

On the rooftop, a girl is standing with her elbows on the railing.

"Shimada"

The boy calls out the name of the girl, who is facing away from him.

Shimada Sei is surprised to hear her name called and turns around, calling out the name of the person who called her.

"…Kuramura?"

Kuramura Tsukasa, who was looking for Sei, greets her with a casual "Hey" while holding his diploma and stands next to her.

"What are you doing here? Fujise was looking for you."

"I wanted to be alone and think. I'll contact Shihō later."

"Think? What kind of thing do you think about, being alone in such a beautiful place, watching the sunset?"

"Heh, if you put it that way, it's not that serious, but I couldn't think of any other place to be alone on graduation day except here or in a girls' bathroom stall."

"Haha, if those were the only two options, I'd choose this one too."

The two lean on the railing and talk while looking down at the cherry blossoms.

Many students are taking commemorative photos near the cherry trees.

"…You decided not to confess to Yuuichi, right?"

"…Yeah, that's right."

Sei had fallen in love with Shigemoto Yuuichi.

She doesn't know when she started to like him.

By the time she was a third-year student, she had acknowledged her feelings.

She thinks she liked him before that, but she had always denied it.

Because Sei's best friend, Fujise Shihō, had a crush on him.

Shihō had liked Shigemoto since they were first-year students.

Knowing this, Sei started talking to Shigemoto to find out what kind of person he was and whether he was suitable for Shihō.

In the process, she also started talking to Kuramura, who is standing next to her now.

After investigating, she found that Shigemoto was almost flawless and thought he was suitable for Shihō.

However, as she interacted with Shigemoto, she was drawn to his personality and developed feelings for him.

But she kept those feelings hidden from both Shigemoto and Shihō.

For some reason, the boy next to her seemed to have noticed.

"Are you sure? Yuuichi isn't dating anyone yet, not even Fujise or Tōjōin. If you confess now, you still have a chance…"

"It's fine."

Sei interrupts Kuramura's words.

"Shigemoto said he would give an answer by the time he graduates. If that's the case, he must have already decided who to choose… If I confess now, I'll only confuse him."

"…I see."

"Are you more concerned about me than your sister?"

"Riné?"

"Yeah, is she going to confess to Shigemoto?"

"Riné had already given up. She said Shigemoto sees her as a 'troublesome little sister' and that she couldn't compete with those two."

"…I see. Shigemoto is a cruel man."

"True. He rejected my cute sister and many other cute girls."

"It can't be helped. We made him choose this path."

"Sure, but…"

"To reduce his burden, I won't confess to Shigemoto. Being rejected is a significant burden."

"I've never been confessed to, so I don't understand."

"Hehe, maybe you will someday."

"I'd rather not. I don't have Shigemoto's thick skin."

The two laugh lightly and then look down at the cherry blossoms again.

The number of students has decreased significantly.

"…Do you regret not confessing?"

"…Not right now, but maybe in the future."

Rationally, she knows it's better not to confess.

But the thought of ending her first love without expressing her feelings to the person she likes makes her feel sad and possibly regretful.

Still, Sei has no intention of confessing to Shigemoto.

"If confessing would add more burden to Shigemoto, I'll choose to regret not confessing."

"…I see."

"So, my first love ends here."

Sei whispers to herself, as if convincing herself.

It was a wonderful first love, even if it didn't come to fruition.

The fact that she fell in love will never disappear, even if she didn't express her feelings.

With such memories, it's enough.

A slightly warm spring breeze blows across the rooftop, lifting Sei's hair.

Kuramura, who is standing next to her, smiles lightly and asks,

"Then, do you have no intention of starting a new love?"

"Out of the blue… Maybe someday, I'll start a new love. One where I can focus on just the two of us, without thinking about others."

"Hehe, you're such a romantic, Shimada. I knew that."

"Hey, is that bad? I'm a girl, you know."

"No, it's not bad. If that's the case—on the rooftop of a school on graduation day, starting a love with a boy… What do you think, romantic Shimada?"

"…Huh?"

Sei's eyes widen in surprise at Kuramura's words.

The situation he described is exactly what they are experiencing now.

As she looks at Kuramura's profile, she notices his cheeks are slightly red.

"Ah, I feel a bit embarrassed doing something I'm not used to…"

"What do you mean?"

"…You know, but I have to say it."

Kuramura takes a deep breath and turns to face Sei.

With a very serious expression, he looks straight into Sei's eyes and says,

"I like you, Shimada. I truly love you."

"Wh-What…!?"

Sei is taken aback by Kuramura's unexpected words and her face turns red.

Kuramura smiles, a bit embarrassed, at her reaction.

"Hehe, I've never seen you make that face except when you're with Shigemoto."

"Wh-What do you mean by suddenly saying that!? Are you teasing me!?"

"I'm not teasing you. I'm serious. I really like you, Shimada."

"Ugh…!"

Sei can't help but look away from Kuramura's intense gaze.

"You never showed any signs of liking me."

"From my perspective, the people around Shigemoto, including you, are terrible at hiding their feelings."

"Wh-What!?"

"Yeah, Fujise might be an exception. But in the end, she was trying to show off a lot. Anyway, usually, people's feelings are only revealed when they confess, like this."

"Ugh…"

Sei can't think of a response, knowing she's not good at hiding her feelings.

"Wh-When did you…"

"Start liking me?"

"Ugh… Yeah, that's what I mean."

"I don't really remember when it started. Maybe when we started talking more often, or when I wanted to see the cute reactions you show to Shigemoto only for me, or when I saw your selfless side in supporting Fujise. I can't pinpoint it, but after seeing all of that and interacting with you, I fell in love with you."

"Ugh…! How can you say such embarrassing things…!"

Sei's face turns red just listening to him.

Kuramura's face is also red, though not as much as Sei's.

"Confessing is embarrassing, right? Plus, I have a bad example right in front of me, teaching me that if you don't confess properly, your feelings won't get across."

"Wh-What are you talking about!?"

"Like I said, I can't hold back my feelings like you do, and there's no reason to. If I can comfort the girl I like, I'll confess."

Sei, blushing, tries to hide her embarrassment by getting angry.

"So, Shimada, did my feelings get across?"

"Ugh… Do you really mean it?"

"I've been saying that all along. Do you want me to list all the things I like about you from the beginning? We can see who gives up first."

"Stop it! I can't see a future where either of us wins!"

Sei takes a deep breath and speaks, glancing at Kuramura.

"Your feelings are very touching, but it's sudden…"

"I don't need an answer right now."

"…Really?"

"If I ask for one now, you'll probably say no. I think you still have feelings for Shigemoto."

"Ugh… Well, that's…"

Even though she decided not to confess and step back, Sei can't easily let go of her first love.

"Then, why did you confess?"

"I can't hold back my feelings like you, and there's no reason to. If I can comfort the girl I like, I'll confess."

"But I don't feel comforted…"

"Hehe, sorry about that. But you don't seem as troubled as before, which is good."

Indeed, she was a bit troubled on the rooftop on graduation day.

"Then, do you really not need an answer?"

"Yeah, not now. I'll start showing you how much I like you."

"Wh-What kind of declaration is that…"

"I'll make sure to make Shimada very happy. I can't let such a kind and cute girl end up as a supporting character."

"…K-Kuramura…"

"So, be prepared, Shimada Sei. I'll make you forget about Shigemoto and make you happy."

"…"

Kuramura says this, and after a moment of silence, they both smile at each other.

"Hehe, Kuramura, that's a bit too cheesy, isn't it?"

"Don't say that. It was really embarrassing. It's your fault for being a romantic."

"Ah, if I can hear such words from you, being a romantic is fine."

They laugh and look down at the cherry blossoms again.

There are almost no students left around the cherry trees.

"…Thank you, Kuramura."

"I didn't do anything that deserves thanks."

"No, thanks to you, my graduation day will be unforgettable."

"Is that in a good way or a bad way?"

"Hehe, who knows."

Sei's face is very beautiful and cute, and Kuramura finds himself even more attracted to her.

"Let's go home now. See you at university, Shimada."

"Ah… Wait, I don't know which university Kuramura is going to. Could it be…"

"The same university as you, Shimada."

"Really!? Not the same as Shigemoto and Shihō!?"

"It would have been fine if you were there, but you're not. I studied really hard. Shimada, you're too smart. You could have gone to a lower-ranked university."

"Really the same university? I thought Kuramura's academic level was a bit lower."

"I studied really hard because I wanted to go to the same university as you. Plus, I wanted to see your surprised face."

"Ugh… What a bad character. You're almost a stalker."

"Hehe, that's true. But I worked hard for the university entrance exam, so I want some reward. Like if you start calling me by my first name."

"First name? Is that all you want?"

"And I want you to allow me to call you by your first name too, Sei-chan."

"Sei-chan!?"

They talk like this as they walk the last path of their high school days.