Chapter 28: Volume 2 - Prologue

Folding origami, stacking them, and folding them again.

In a classroom bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Hinano was alone, folding origami cranes. It wasn’t exactly because origami was her hobby, nor because she was good at it. It was simply because she needed to do it.

“A hundred more until I meet the quota….”

She squinted her eyes, which were hidden by her outstretched bangs, and compared the number of completed origami paper cranes with the remaining papers waiting to be folded.

That was when it happened.

“Oh, is someone here?”

“…!” Hinano’s whole body stiffened as she heard a boy’s voice coming from the classroom entrance.

She was quite timid and struggled to communicate with anybody other than her family. Not to mention someone of the opposite sex and the same age as her.

The guy walked in front of Hinano’s seat, despite her pleas to be left alone.

“There’s really someone here. Let’s see, you’re Hiiragi, right?

Upon being called by her name, Hinano reflexively raised her head. He had a newly bought school uniform that was too big for him, and a childish face with a friendly expression.

She knew him. He was a boy in her class, Izumi Yamato.

“Ye- yes, that’s right…”

Hinano’s nerves rose to the limit as she faced a guy she had never talked to before. But he didn’t seem to mind, and picked up an origami crane on her desk.

“What’s this, you’re folding paper cranes?”

“Ye-yes. the women’s basketball team, and it’s, um….” she tried to explain, but she was overwhelmed with nervousness that made her unable to think right.

However, Yamato nodded lightly, as if he already understood from just that.

“Oh. The third years are about to retire1, so you’re folding these paper cranes. Wow, it’s tough being on the women’s basketball team. I’m glad the boys don’t have to do that.”

It was then that she finally remembered that this boy, Yamato, belonged to the men’s basketball club.

He must have a lot of friends, because he often joked around with his friends during breaks from club activities, and she could often hear his voice in the women’s basketball team.

The boy was cheerful and had many friends– the complete opposite of Hinano, and he was the type she found difficult to deal with.

“‘But why are you folding it all by yourself? There are other members in the women’s basketball club, right?” Yamato poked her where it hurt, with a face that seemed to bear no ill will.

“Th-the other members already finished with theirs…with the help of their friends. I’m the only one who hasn’t finished mine…”

──Because I don’t have any friends that I can ask.

She swallowed those words that she almost said as her throat tightened because of the shame. She was too embarrassed to even look up, she couldn’t bear being made a fool of herself for that.

“Oh, I see. So, how many more cranes needed to be folded?”

But despite Hinano’s concern, Yamato took the chair in front of her and sat down opposite her. Then he started humming and folding origami.

“Eh, oh, um…why…?”

When Hinano was confused, Yamato replied with a puzzled look.

“Why, it’s faster if we do it together, right? The other girls also asked their friends for help, so there’s no reason why Hiiragi shouldn’t do it too.”

“Yes, but…”

He was not wrong, but she wondered why he would help her, a person with whom she had no connection. She had that doubt but could not bring herself to ask another question successively, so she turned her head to avoid eye contact with him and blocked his gaze with her bangs.

“…Hmm.”

However, Yamato nodded his head as if he was satisfied with what he was seeing, and started rifling through his pockets.

“Oh, here it is.”

He took out a hairpin for women. With that in hand, Yamato got up from his chair and leaned toward Hinano.

“Hiiragi, don’t move for a second.”

“I-Izumi-kun?” Hinano stiffened up at Yamato’s unintentional actions, without even being told.

He put the hairpin to clip Hinano’s bangs.

“There you go. It’s hard to see with those bangs when you’re folding origami, right?” Yamato said to her with a carefree smile.

Indeed, the view was clearer and easier to see.

“Yeah, th-thanks…”

It was the first time anyone of the opposite sex had ever touched her, and she had a delayed reaction of shyness.

“You’re welcome. In fact, I bought it for me to wear, but I was met with a lot of criticism from people who said it was lame or I couldn’t pull off a woman’s hairpin, blablabla… I was being too adventurous…” with a sullen look on his face, Yamato shared his blunder.

“…Fufu” Hinano laughed as she imagined the scene.

Then Yamato also stopped being sullen and smiled cheerfully,

“Yeah. Hiiragi, it’s better when I can see your face properly. You’re so cute, it’s a waste to keep your head down.”

“I-I’m not cute…”

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For a moment, Hinano’s nervousness almost dissipated, but the unexpected compliment made her stiffen again.

“You think so? I think you have something that can shine if you polish it up enough. Okay, since you’re here, I’ll give the hairpin to Hiiragi.”

“N-no, how can I…”

“Oh, well. Just think of it as an offering2, and I won’t be wearing it anymore anyway.”

If he said so, it would be wrong for her to refuse. Hinano was embarrassed but nodded mechanically.

“Th-thank you…”

I was given a gift. It was my first gift from a boy. What should I do? Should I give something back? But I don’t have anything at the moment. I don’t want him to think I’m rude…

“Oh, um, here…from me.” After much deliberation, Hinano picked up the crane she had folded earlier and handed it out.

But she quickly calmed down. What am I doing giving him such a thing? It will just become garbage.

“Oh, I can have this? Wow, it’s folded so beautifully. You’re pretty skilled, Hiiragi.” Yamato didn’t seem to be bothered, and took the crane, smiling somewhat challengingly.

“I can’t lose, too. I’ll make a beautiful crane for you to see, so watch me.”

Then he went back to folding the paper cranes with an enthusiastic look on his face. Seeing this, Hinano felt foolish for having been so nervous for nothing.

“…Yeah. Thanks.”

It had been three months since she entered junior high school. It was the moment when Hinano made her first friend.