Shiinamachi-senpai no Anzenbi Volume 1 Prologue

■July 25: sunny with clear skies

"The arrival of death, the joy of rebirth, the bonds of involvement."

"Today is my safe day, so please pay me a visit at my room."

One morning, barely a few days into the summer vacation, I was taking summer supplementary lessons at school as usual.

Walking in the corridor, I happened to meet s.h.i.+namachi Kaguysenpai, one of the library monitors. Hearing such a bold confession all of a sudden, I was so shocked that I didn't know how to react. Unable to figure out the true meaning behind these words, I couldn't help but push my gla.s.ses that served only as decoration.

"s.h.i.+namachi-senpai, may I ask... What do you mean by that?"

I stared at Senpai's face but she only tilted her head slightly. Her gentle eyes glanced downwards slightly before looking back at me with an unbelievable expression.

"Jirou-kun, basically... Today is my safe day. Tonight, just before midnight, could you pay my room a visit? My room is in the clock tower."

Senpai was even more explicit. Guessing from what she had said this time, I was not imagining what I heard the first time.

Now what was going on? What on earth was happening? When did the relations.h.i.+p between me and Senpai develop to such close intimacy? I couldn't help but s.h.i.+ft my gaze away from s.h.i.+namachi-senpai's face... to her chest.

Even covered by her uniform, the shape of Senpai's magnificent bust could still be seen clearly, slightly out of place in consideration of her pet.i.te physique. Since her figure was quite slim and delicate, I suspect her cup size must surely be quite astounding.

At the Prefectural Oukayama High School, most of the boys were obviously quite attracted to s.h.i.+namachi-senpai. Senpai was very beautiful and elegant while her pet.i.te stature also instilled one with an urge to protect her carefully. After seeing that magnificent bust that contrasted strongly with her height and appearance, boys would inevitably find it difficult to repress thoughts of "s.h.i.+namachi-senpai is really too awesome! (gulp)"

Naturally, I, Sakuradamon Jirou, am no exception.

"So what you mean is... At midnight...?"

"Yes. Please come find me at around 12am midnight."

s.h.i.+namachi-senpai always looked sleepy-eyed and it was hard to see significant emotional changes from her facial expressions. Hence, no matter how hard I tried to look into Senpai's eyes, it was difficult to read her emotions. Right now, Senpai was looking upwards at me, having proposed an unexpected invitation, currently waiting for my reply--Evidently, this series of events were absolutely part of reality.

But... Even if Senpai, whom I've been crus.h.i.+ng on, invited me on her own, could I really accept her request so lightly? Just thinking over things slightly calmly, I knew that I had never spent much time together with s.h.i.+namachi-senpai. Within these brief moments, when on earth did I inspire such feelings in her? Or maybe, for s.h.i.+namachi-senpai, her feelings towards me are along the lines of love at first sight?

No, how could something so wonderful actually happen for real? I warned myself. Love at first sight--That's totally a cliched plot from love stories. That kind of thing could only happen in movies or television dramas, okay!?

But... This kind of cliched love story, if it actually happened in real life, that would be kinda nice, wouldn't it?

I decided to change my way of thinking.

I should make the most of the springtime of my youth. At least within this school, I hoped to reach this goal. I wanted to study seriously, get a girlfriend and graduate while surrounded by many perfect memories. Since that was the ambition in my heart back when I transferred to this school, isn't what's happening right now a perfect and rare opportunity to make things happen?

"Are you... unwilling?"

c.r.a.p. While I was stuck in my mental dilemma, s.h.i.+namachi-senpai asked with apparent worry.

As a girl, she must have mustered her courage with great difficulty to deliver this kind of confession! As a man, how could I take this kind of wavering look-and-see att.i.tude? I have to show my mettle as a man all at once.

"O-Okay!"

The answer coming out of my mouth nowhere lived up to the surging thoughts in my mind. I was even stuttering a bit. I hope Senpai could forgive me.

After all... In all the years I have lived so far, never had any girl courted me so pa.s.sionately.

"Really? Wonderful... I've always felt that everything would be splendid if I could choose Jirou-kun as my partner. Thank you for being willing to become the first man in my story."

First man! Come again? What did that mean? Calm down, Jirou, calm down a bit.

I frantically pushed up my vanity eyegla.s.ses that were sliding down, then adjusted my almost irregular breathing.

This was the first time in my life to encounter something that shook my mind so much. I see, whether the meaning on this level or from various angles, s.h.i.+namachi-senpai was naturally my first time too. No no no, hey hey hey, what the heck was the meaning? "My story" sounds far too poetic as a term... Yes, no matter how hard I tried to use other thoughts to dissolve my panic, all this only served to make me feel even more panicked.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I feel very honored."

"Yes... Me too. I am really happy that you agreed, Jirou-kun."

Senpai smiled with gentleness.

A laid back smile surfaced on her face like blooming flower, once again drawing my gaze.

My heart would beat faster and faster uncontrollably just from the sight of her smiling face.

"Fufu."

Seeing such a sweet smile, any man would feel a sweet sense of antic.i.p.ation surface in his heart!

Was this feeling of dull pain at the bottom of my heart evidence that I had completely fallen to s.h.i.+namachi-senpai's charms already?

"Well then, please do your best for the summer supplementary lessons today as well."

"Yes, I will definitely do my best."

No matter what they're gonna teach today, I don't think I'll be able to take any of it into my mind, right?

To me, the encounter just now had shaken me to the core so much, I believe that today will surely be a day in my life worth commemorating.

--Back at the time, never in my wildest dreams would I have expected it to be the day when my life approached its end.