I'll Never Lose To My First Love Who Acts As My Older Sister! - Episode 0: Prologue
TL/ED: Kominatsu子美夏
“Tch, what kind of scum would throw away their newborn life on this hellish day…”
It was a summer day in the first year of high school. The temperature was over 30 degrees and the direct sunlight was so intense that it could burn my skin.
I was thinking about my summer vacation starting tomorrow when I spotted an abandoned cat in the park on my way home from school.
“Nyaa~, nyaa~!”
“Don’t look at me with those pitiful eyes. You lack anger towards the people who abandoned you.”
“Nyaa~ Futsu~”
This guy… did you just chuckle? It sounded like you were chuckling!
“I’m not sure what to say. I was a little confused by your eyes, but I approached you to pick them up.”
“Nyaa~, nyaa~, nyaa~!”
“Be quiet. If you don’t want to die, you’ll do as I say.”
I lifted the cardboard and started to walk from the park shade to the nearest station. But the moment I arrived at the station, I was confronted with a deadly problem.
“I can’t get on the train with him!”
“Nyaa~”
I’m an idiot…! I can’t believe my search for a foster home for the cat stumbled so quickly because of such a rudimentary mistake!
“Huh? Tsugehara-kun, you’re…, right?”
Tsugehara Satou
“…Sato?”
When I turned around, I saw one of my classmates looking at me. She had what’s called a “baby face”, a slightly young and innocent face with large dark eyes. She had big, round eyes. Her long, silky hair, like running water, fluttered in the cool breeze that miraculously blew. Her transparent skin is as white as if it were covered with snow even though it is summer. She was even sweating lightly. However, in a good way, she looked summery, fresh, and clean. I didn’t have any bad impressions. My classmate, Maaya Sato, who had called out to me, came running towards me.
“Wow, isn’t this the first time we’ve met outside of school?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Why? It’s the day before summer vacation, aren’t these girls supposed to be the first to leave school and hang out with their friends in front of the station? Why now of all days? I witnessed this ridiculous scene!
“So, where is she?”
“Hmm? Oh, it’s a cat. It doesn’t have a name yet.”
“Tsugehara, are you going to keep her?”
“No, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be practical for me to keep her.”
“Nyaa~!”
That’s when the cat started clawing at my shirt.
“Hey! Stop it! Anger doesn’t solve anything!”
“Hmmm… you look like you’re about to say something you shouldn’t…”
*Crunch, crunch, crunch.*
“Well, you know what, Kashiwabara-kun? If you can’t raise them, you can’t take them home…”
“That’s not true. Please don’t assume things.”
*Crunch, crunch, crunch.*
“I have no intention of abandoning him. I just can’t raise him. Do you understand the difference?”
“Sorry, I don’t think I do…”
*Crunch, crunch, crunch.*
“Yeah! Whoa!”
“No! You idiot! Stop jumping.”
*Prick, prick, prick! Heck!*
“…fu~fu.”
There are limits to how humiliated you can be. I’m not going to let my classmates see me like this clown.
“A-achoo! Kill me…”
“No, that’s the thing, isn’t it? Tsugehara-kun, you’re allergic to cats.”
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s just a speck in my eye.”
“I think that’s a word to cover up tears, not a word to cover up sneezing.”
“No, wait, Sato, there’s more to this than whether or not I’m allergic to cats.”
“But what are you going to do? At this rate, you won’t be able to keep her…”
“I’ll find a foster home.”
“Even though you’re allergic to cats?”
“I told you not to misunderstand me. It’s just that I keep getting dust in my eyes. So, there’s no problem.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s fine. But wouldn’t it be hard?”
“It’s definitely is a hopeless situation.”
“Well…”
“But this little one, abandoned in the hot sun, is more desperate and in need of help.”
Now, since it’s impossible to take the train, we need to move on to another plan. There’s no need to stay here longer. I turned my back on Sato and began to walk in search of a shade.
“Where are you going?”
“We’ll wait in the shade until dusk and then walk all the way home.
“With all the dust in your eyes?”
“Gosh, yeah, that’s right.”
“If you’re so uncompromising, why don’t you ask your parents to give you a ride…?”
“Mom’s at work right now, like always.”
“Where’s your father?”
“He’s not here.”
This is getting bad. I’ve got to clear some misunderstanding and get out of here before I make a fool of myself.
“I swear on my pride that this is the truth, but I certainly can’t leave this guy.”
“What? Uh…”
“But that doesn’t make the choice to abandon a newborn life any more unlikely.”
I’ve said what I needed to say.
I’m not sure what to say, but I’m going to say it.
“~~~~, wait a minute!”
“What?”
I felt something lightly tugging me. When I turned around, Sato was still holding the hem of my shirt and looking up at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was just about to say that I’d help you too, in finding her a home.”
“What…?”
“Tsugehara, you don’t listen to anyone, do you?”
“It’s summer vacation tomorrow. It’s nice of you to cooperate, but honestly, what’s in it for you?”
I heard that the heatwave will continue for quite a while. I’m sure Sato has plans to hang out with his friends.
“Isn’t that the same case with you, Tsugehara-kun?”
“It’s a simple matter of pride on my part! It’s not a matter of gain or loss! And when it comes to friends, there’s nothing to worry about. And as far as my friend is concerned, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t have any friends to hang out with on vacation, so there’s no problem.”
“Is it my imagination? Isn’t that a problem?”
“What about you, Sato?”
“Well, actually, I’m kind of the same way, I guess. It’s true that I go to swimming pools and summer festivals with all my friends, so I don’t think I can help out every day.”
“Then there’s no need to push yourself.”
“But you know what? In the end, I think it’s best for boys to be kind, even if they are a little bit unique! So, That’s why I wanted to help you.”
Huh? Damn, isn’t Sato the one who’s being too nice? But don’t get me wrong! For a moment, I was romantically aware of… But it’s not even been five minutes since we met!
“No, I just tried to protect the cat, but I’ma little less than unique.”
You’re right. I’m aware of that much. Or rather, I’m too conscious.”
“I want to be alone, to deploy mental barriers, to keep others out of my domain.”
It’s not that I’m trying to stand out because I want people to understand the real me. I was bullied in elementary school, and as a result, I decided that I would never be afraid of anyone.
I understand that the price for that is being called a freak in school, but…
“I’m a self-conscious and hurtful person. Can’t you see that?”
“I can tell by looking at you, somehow, that you’re pure at heart.”
You must not misunderstand. And yet, I can’t deny that I am happy to be told that.
“I’m begging you, don’t say such kind things with such a cute face.”
“What?”
A truly kind person doesn’t tell anyone.
You shouldn’t be in love with her because you can understand that there is nothing behind it!
“Oh-”
“Oh?”
“Please, don’t say I’m pretty with that face…”
When I said that, Sato blushed and was embarrassed in a pure and dainty way. But I don’t know what that implied.
“I’m not sure what you mean, but with your looks, you’re bound to get a lot of compliments, regardless of gender.”
“It’s the first time in my life that I’ve been told straight out with such a thoughtful look on their face!”
“But it’s true. Moreover, you’re missing the point. Are you sure you want to cooperate with a person like me? With this kind of behavior?”
“First of all, I’m really happy when people say I’m cute without making fun of me! Now, back to the topic at hand, I Kashiwabara, wanted to help you, not because of your impressions, but because of what you’re trying to do!
~~~tsu, She looked me straight in the eye, and she said it forcefully. To be honest, I’ve started to be perfectly aware of her as a girl.
“Of course, we’ll do our best to make it work. But even if I have plans with my friends, during the summer vacation… I’ve decided to give priority to Shuichiro-kun!”
“First name basis……? No, chill out! Making friends with me will only bring down your reputation!”
“This is simply a matter of pride! It’s not a matter of profit and loss! It’s a matter of pride! That’s it!”
“What a stubborn girl…”
“I don’t want Shuichiro to be the only one to say that. Besides, if you’re so concerned about it, just hide the fact that we’re friends and there won’t be any problems!”
What is with this girl… a communication skills monster?
“…Sato, I’d certainly appreciate it if you could help me out, and it’d be good for this guy too.”
“Yeah, yeah!”
“So, what I’m asking is, you’re willing to help me because you want to, even though there’s no benefit to you? But again, well, you know… that…”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Well, I guess I don’t need to ask that to Maaya about it.”
“No, of course not! So, Shuichiro, let’s get right into it.”
“What is it now?”
“Well, my nose is starting to drip a little bit…”
“I didn’t want to be humiliated, so I turned my back on you and tried to leave!”
“Haha, you’re right! I don’t think we were able to show each other our true faces earlier.
That’s how the relationship between Maaya Sato and me began so abruptly. Our conversation must have lasted about five minutes. But at this moment, in this place…