Chapter 1

“An Old-Fashioned Love Letter”

Yukino Miyako, a student on her 2nd year of high school and is at the peak of her time. Her personality is just someone plain and simple, is kinda bad at thinking things too deeply and loves to eat. One day, as Valentines day is approaching, she found a white letter on her locker.

“Wha- what is this”

She hurriedly took the letter with a trembling hands. On that plain white envelope her name was addressed in it. 「To: Yukino Miyako-sama」Our protagonist checked her locker to make sure that it’s really HER LOCKER and she’s not being mistaken for somebody else. When she flip the envelope, a「From: Masaki Arakawa」was written.

“Arakawa… Masaki? The who!?”
“Yako~ Morningg~”

Her friend Kozue greeted her from behind.

“Ah! Morning- right, do you know someone named Masaki Arakawa?”
“Arakawa.. hmm.. ah! You mean that dark & gloomy kiddo? And also, you should remember boys that are in the same class as you!
“Ehhh?? What kind of person is he?”

She tried to recall if she knows someone like that but no matter how much she crack her head open, she couldn’t remember anyone that fits the bill. With a「Haaa..」Kozue flicked her forehead.

“Ouch, ouch!”
“You’re such a yogurt brain! Isn’t it the transfer student who got enrolled on second semester. Which despite him getting admitted midway, he still rank first on the end of semester. He might be dark and gloomy but with his intellect, he’s a good guy.”
“Aaahhh.. so he is that huh. Hmm.. so he’s named Masaki.”

Kozue let out a sigh saying「You..」, then put the letter inside her pocket.

“That’s right. He’s someone who’s intellectual substance in comparison to you is almost heaven and earth. No, maybe underground? Nah, the complete opposite, right.”
“That’s too mean!!!”

Thinking she doesn’t need to be that cruel, she got mad as Kozue who made a half opened eyes from getting scowled at.

“It’s not harsh, it’s your head that is bad. You’re eternally average 2 him.”
“Waaaahhh.. but I barely managed to get an 3 average on second semester!”

They head to the classroom as she loudly complain, which is a usual scene. Homeroom eventually started, as the teacher is absorbed in lecturing, Yako stealthily took the letter out from her pocket. It made a soft noise upon opening and inside the white envelope comes another white paper. The simple white paper has no fancy decorations put in it that it gives of a delicate feeling and the letter was written in an aesthetic handwriting.

Yukino Miyako,

I apologize for the suddenness of this letter.
I may have only transferred this second semester but I already liked you immediately. You who is always so cheerful, lively and smiling, made me ended up watching nothing but you. This feelings of mine might be a bother to you but no matter how many times I tried to give up, it’s hopeless. I… I want you to smile at me. I tried to stop this desire but it’s no use. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for liking you. But I will at least in a letter, want to convey my feelings. If you feel unpleasant because of me, then you can ignore me. But if, just perhaps, you care about me a little then please go out with me. Today of January 1st, after school in the rooftop underneath the water tank.

Arakawa Masaki

(I-IT’S A LOVE LETTER!!)
Her heart was pounding. It was the first time she received this kind of thing, what’s more a confession from a boy. If it was from a cool senpai nearby then it’s expected one will go ‘kyaaa~ kyaaa~’ but having not yet experience an earnest love as such, Miyako folded her arms while murmuring “hmm..”. For the time being, she carefully close the letter and put it inside her bag. Eventually, home room end. Before the first period starts, she nimbly turn around a searched for Arakawa Masaki.

(Uhhh.. let see.. Ah! There he is! That person!)
Her eyes open widely as she stare at Arakawa Masaki. The boy was seriously writing something in his notebook, his hair always covers his eyes it almost masks his face so you can’t see his facial expression. It’s probably why her impression is weak towards him, when she thought that he suddenly raised his head and their eyes met which took her by surprise. He look at Miyako and gently smile at her. It was a kind and dainty smile. If you look at him closely, he doesn’t look that bad at all. His lips curved in a nice shape making a happy face. Upon seeing that spectacle, Miyako turn her head back in a flash.

‘doki doki doki’ her heart is pounding and she’s becoming aware of her face blushing.

“Ughhh.. why am I getting excited over this!?”

And so, the first class went by with almost nothing barely going into her head. Came lunch, she was dazing & listlessly picking on her lunchbox while her other arm is on her chin.

“Yako? If you wear such a stupid face like that, I will take your mini hamburger.”
“Wah! What a barbaric thing to do, are you a monster!”
Coming back to her senses, she stretched her arms to protect her bento. She’s always been the type to leave her most favorite side dish lastly.

“What’s wrong? You’re in a daze.”

Kozue asked while eating cherry tomatoes yet still, even saying a name makes her hesitant but somehow or other, Yako thought that she wants to try making consultation.

“Uhhmm.. so.. uhh.. do you have someone you like or something?”
“Someone I like? What’s this, such kind of love affairs question coming from you~ Well, if you’re asking if I have, I do but, what’s the matter?”
“EH!? YOU HAVE!?? WHO?”

Bending herself forward in curiosity, Kozue made a ‘sshh!!!’ and silence her with the chopsticks.

“It’s a senpai in my club. Enough about me, why are you asking something like this?”
“No, this is… I was just wondering how does it feels to like someone~”
“HUH!?”

“Like, does it make your heart beat crazily? Does it make you blush… does this situation make you happy …” she uttered clutching her chest. As if seeing something unpleasant, Kozue’s face distorted as she put the bacon roll in her mouth.

“What.. Yako… Don’t tell me you like someone?”
“Who knows, I wonder?”
“For now, you still can’t properly tell it so it’s hard to say…”

Thinking that might be so, she tidy up her bento and drink the hot tea from her thermos.

“Well..…what about deciding on a confession? Something like that?”
“………….”

Stunned, Kozue’s mouth opened widely. She tremblingly pointed her index fingers to Yako.
*TL: insert pikachu meme here

“Like, when you see someone who made a confession and such to you, then you get giddy inside, and… huh? Kozue? Are you okay?”

When she found out Kozue was strangely out of herself, she flicks her fingers in front of her while asking ‘Earth to Kozue?’. Kozue trembles that cause her hands to shake and with wide eyes, she made a loud voice.

“Youuuu… DID YOU GOT CONFESSED??”
“Gyaaaaahh!! Y-you’re too loud! Shhh… shhhhh!!!”

However, it was already too late and the students eating inside the classroom already looked at their way.
“Ehh!? Yukino got confessed to?”
“You’ve got to be kidding! Who? Who is it?”
“For Yukinon to get confessed to….”
“It’s probably someone who likes troublesome people.”

Her classmates came dashing to her while making a ruckus. It droves Yako to be flustered as she shook her hands in denial while saying “You’re wrong, that’s not it!”. She glanced over at Arakawa’s seat but the boy seem unperturbed and was just quietly reading a novel.

(NO CARE AT ALL!? Wah! Was the letter really from that person?)
She thought perhaps, he was pranked by someone and had his name put in the letter since he’s this calm about this mess. Because normally, one would feel agitated over this. Looking for a way to get off from the commotion, Miyako sneakily flee among the crowd and went out of the classroom.

“Brrr… co-cold..”
Regretting that she should’ve put on a jersey underneath her skirt, Miyako approach a vending machine to buy hot lemon. She sat alone in the bench and took out the letter from her pocket. The letters that were written is very beautiful that it doesn’t really feel like it’s a prank.

“Hmm… I don’t know anymore..”
She’s very confused as it’s not her forte to think too much. And so Miyako raised her head and made up her mind.

“Let’s just think of it after meeting him. It’ll be easier that way.”

Whether it’s really him or the fake one, she’ll find out when they meet. Miyako thought that from there she’ll decide if it’s good to date him. Waiting for after school, she run up the stairs alone. When the 6th period finished, she noticed that Arakawa Masaki was already gone. Since she is on a cleaning duty today, she’ll be a little late so she naturally have to double time.

I’m nervous. I wonder who’ll be there? What do I do after this? Having boyfriend and such, can I really do it? Speaking of boyfriend, it’s really embarrassing! What should I do? Do I hold his hands? Go to dates?

In spite of confusion, the maiden’s heart is happy when confessed to. Unconsciously, Miyako’s heart was erratic. With a loud noise, the rooftop door opened. ‘Dokidoki’. Her heart was throbbing. She probe quietly as she approaches the water tank. Upon doing so, she saw a back of a young man.

“IT’S HEREEEEEEEE!! No. Really?? Maybe it’s just someone who came here by chance?”

But still, she can’t stand idling there. Moreover, the rooftop is too cold in midwinter. Miyako wants to quickly finish this talk and head back. She firmly catches her breath and went under the water tank.

“Uhmm.. ano..”
When she spoke, the male student turn around and that person was….

“Ah! So it was Arakawa-kun after all!”
“Hello Yukino-san”

With his hair covering his eyes, there stood Arakawa Masaki. The student who’s intellect possessed the first place of the school year. Yako came closer to him as she gently scratch her head to hide her embarrassment.

“Well then.. that.. le-letter.. it was from you right?”
“That’s right..? I believe I properly wrote my name in it.”

Recalling whether he forgot to write it, Miyako blushed and said “That’s because!!” and told about the incident happened on lunch break.

“Even though everyone was making a ruckus out of it… Arakawa-kun isn’t agitated at all that’s why I thought it was a prank made by someone.”
“Ahh.. I did heard it but if join in the uproar then Yukino-san will be troubled right? And if I said I kinda like you then an unpleasant rumors might rise, you’ll be pitiful.”
“How! Arakawa-kun isn’t the type of person who starts strange rumors right?”
When she said that, Arakawa made a bashful smile. Even though his eyes is covered, you can tell from his smile that he’s making a very happy face right now.
“My letter… you read it right? Then, you coming here means that.. you’ll be going out with me, yes?
“EH!???”

Now that he mentions it, Miyako had a hunch something like that was written in the paper. She hurriedly took the letter from her pocket and reread it again.

“If you care about me a little then please go out with me- AAAHH!!! It’s true!”
Miyako flail her arms around in flustered because she didn’t seriously think about it to that extent. However, before she knew it, Arakawa already had this sad look on his face.

“Was I mistaken?”
“Eh? No, mistakeuhh… rather, that… uhhh.. a-are you really serious?”
“Serious? If I wasn’t then I wouldn’t have written a letter.”

Indeed, since the contents of the letter was very sincere. Though a love letter at this day and age… just what era do you think you’re confessing in. But Miyako understands about how earnest his intention are.

“Yo-you like… me.. right?”
When she asked that, Masaki look directly at her and comb his hair up. For the first time she had the view of his visage, not only that but he is very good looking. He’s slender and delicate looking. What’s more, his handsome features gives off an immaculate image.

(Woaaahh.. How cool! You have such a beautiful face, Arakawa-kun)
As she thought: ‘Why does he have to hide his face? That’s such a waste!’. Arakawa fixedly stared at her eyes. Unintentionally, she also look back at him, now the two of them stares at each other.

“I like you. I really like you. From the moment I transferred here, I liked Yukino-san.”
“…..gh..”

Her face turned beet red and her heart was beating so loudly.
“Are you blushing? How cute.”
“Uuuuu.. no, it’s just.. this is is a first.. uhm”
“Really? I’m glad! Nee~ What about Yukino-san? What do you feel about me? Are you going to go out with me?”
“although it’s someone like me..”

Miyako thought, why does he depreciate himself like this even though he had a handsome face. But still when when she imagined herself doing things like going on a date with him, and holding hands- she feel happy.

(How do you go out btw? My friends who has boyfriends looks like they’re happy everyday though so for sure I will be too.)She link her hands together from shyness.

“You see.. I still don’t know much about Arakawa-kun so I still don’t know if I like you.”
“un.. *nods”
“But.. if you take good care of me and cherish me, then alright.”

Masaki’s eyes spread widely in circle as she try to hold herself down from staggering.
“Really???”
“Un.. I will also do my best to like Arakawa-kun back. So if it’s okay…”
“Of course!! I’m glad … nee~ really? You will?”

When Masaki who was overjoyed from the bottom of his heart saw Miyako nods in agreement, he lost it and pulled her and embrace her.

“Awawawa-“ *she’s surprised and shy
“I’m so happy I could die. Nee~ can I call you Yako?”
“I-it’s fine but..”
“Then can call me Masaki, okay? Aaahh.. so happy.. Also… I might be a bit (deeply) jealous and insisting than other people, even so are you still okay with me?”.

TL: ALRIGHT BITCHES, ALL ABORT!!! A FLAG IS RAISED!!! I REPEAT!! A FLAG IS RAISED!!!!

Combing his hair up as it is, he look down on Miyako. Having his beautiful and delicate face shown in front of her, she frantically replied to hide the loud noise inside her chest.

“It’s fine, since I’m not a popular kid.”
“That’s not true! I need to check everyone just in case. Nee~ Yako, is it alright to kiss you?”
Having requested by such a charming and sweet face, Miyako who’s a beginner in love had her shit went into circles and felt like fainting.

“You want to … k-k-kiss!?”
“Shouldn’t we? Because we’re already dating and lovers do things like kissing.”

‘right..’ she murmured softly. That’s right, they became lovers. From this moment on, Arakawa Masaki is her boyfriend. Ahhhh.. but still it’s too embarrassing. Because things like kissing is something she only sees in the movies or TV.

“Uhh.. well.. the thing is.. kissing is a first to me so..”
Masaki gigles upon hearing it and he whispered ‘I’m glad’ to right to her ears.

“Hyaahh.. don’t- my ears tickles..”
“But you’re so cute. I’ll be gentle, okay?”
“un..”

Wondering how she’s gonna do it, she obediently raised her face. Thinking she needs to close her eyes in kissing, she shut her eyelids. She heard a ‘pffft’ coming from Masaki and then he eventually put his hand on her chin to prop it while the other hand was tightly hugging her. It was the first hug she had with an opposite sex that gives no gap at that!

“I like you, Yako. I love you.”