Though Yuu doesn't stand out at school, thanks to his handsome and clean appearance, he's received confessions from many girls since long ago. They came about once a semester, from his class or others. He doesn't remember most of their names—after all, he always turned them down.
Among them, the most special was probably Yuigahama Yui, his classmate in middle school. In their third year, they were in the same class.
Yuu often went to the school library to study for the Sobu High entrance exam and happened to run into Yuigahama, who secretly went there to borrow romance novels. At first, they were just classmates who rarely spoke, but after a few chance encounters, Yuigahama took the initiative to talk to him, and after several chats, they grew close.
They initially had little in common, but when Yuigahama learned Yuu was preparing for the Sobu High entrance exam, she immediately said: "I'm also preparing for Sobu High's exam! I didn't expect we'd have the same goal! What a coincidence!"
Hearing that, Yuu still remembers how Yuigahama looked at him like he was a snail trying to outrun a rabbit, saying with disbelief and pity:
"Are you daydreaming? No wonder your grades are the lowest in class."
She promptly threw books at him in frustration.
Later, as if to prove she wasn't just talking nonsense, Yuigahama canceled most of her hangouts with friends and often followed him to the library to study after school. She'd persistently ask him about problems she didn't understand, undeterred even when he brushed her off in annoyance. After realizing Yuu was stubborn but soft-hearted, Yuigahama even struck a pose like [If you don't tell me, I'll helplessly cry in front of my textbook for you to see], making him genuinely want to avoid her.
The reason he didn't actually do so was that, unknowingly, Yuu had come to see her as a comrade-in-arms and one of his few friends at school. Plus, he wanted to witness the inspiring story of a ditzy girl making it into a top high school.
The result goes without saying. With his… no, their combined efforts, not only did Yuu succeed, but Yuigahama, previously at the bottom of the class, also got into Sobu High, the school with the highest deviation value in the city.
The school was abuzz back then. Not only did teachers and staff view them differently, but Yuigahama was praised at the morning assembly. Among students, a heartwarming tale spread about a girl who worked hard to attend the same high school as the boy she liked. Congratulations for them echoed everywhere.
So, as if it were only natural, in the library corner they often visited, Yuigahama casually said to him:
"Since everyone's talking about those rumors… how about we actually try dating?"
She didn't outright say she liked him. But Yuu could tell it was a shy, hesitant confession hiding her genuine feelings.
At the time, he was consumed with responsibility for his little sister, busy balancing work and studies, and had no interest in dating. Yuu also didn't think his feelings for Yuigahama had crossed the line of friendship.
After politely rejecting her, he made up some excuse to deflect, asking her to ignore the rumors and saying they'd stay friends in the future. Even in high school, their bond shouldn't drift apart, and despite being in different classes, they shouldn't grow awkward.
Yuu clearly remembers all these words. The only thing he doesn't recall is the expression Yuigahama had when they parted.
In their first spring at Sobu High, they weren't in the same class and rarely met at school. They became strangers for a year. It wasn't until this spring, when they ended up in Class 2F, that Yuigahama took the initiative to greet Yuu like before, trying to ease the awkwardness and become one of his few friends again.
This is the story between him and Yuigahama.
He's not sure if it counts as a page of youth, but it lingers in his heart, and every time he sees Yuigahama's face, Yuu recalls it.
As for whether she still likes him as she did back then, Yuu doesn't care, nor would it change how he treats her. After all, with his Boyfriend System, he can't date any girl outside his targets—otherwise, he'd be too much of a jerk.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"It's been over a month since school; the classroom smells so unfamiliar…"
"Eh? Did you cut your hair? Haha, are you planning a debut for the second semester? So cute~"
As more people enter the class, the lively atmosphere thickens, its purity so intense it's hard to breathe. As if they hadn't spoken to anyone during summer break, the boys and girls eagerly move their lips, either bragging about places they visited or casually showing off changes in themselves, always observing others' expressions and reading the room to respond.
This, too, is a page of their youth.
So, the idea that youth is a crime, youth is a lie… Yuu doesn't buy into that. He's used to this routine at the start of the semester. As long as they don't spread their overly foolish enthusiasm his way, he doesn't care if they're a crime or a lie.
There's still time before the morning assembly. Yuu pulls out a novel to pass the time. The book is Love Metronome, a romance novel once mocked by Yukinoshita Haruno—because it left an impression, he recently passed a bookstore and bought it, along with the newly released second volume.
On the cover of the second volume, there's not only a synopsis but also an eye-catching tagline:
[A passionate work by a beautiful high school girl author! A sweet and complex chapter of youth, unstoppable tears, a new chapter touching countless readers!]
"Is there really a beautiful high school girl author in real life? Wonder where she's from."
Muttering in awe, Yuu opens the first volume. After reading the first sentence of the first chapter, he instinctively takes a sharp breath, showing a deeply shocked expression.
"T-this…"
Without even mentioning the subject, the opening sentence is drenched in sentimentality, as if a big "Whining without cause" note were written beside it. (Typo to avoid filters)
Yuu closes the book, takes a deep breath, silently boosts his poison resistance, and sighs:
"No wonder Haruno mocked it like that… It really is high school-level writing."
Compared to this novel, he prefers the opening of Snow Country: "Crossing the long tunnel at the prefecture border, it was the snow country."
Norwegian Wood isn't bad either: "I was thirty-seven years old, sitting in the cabin seat of a Boeing 747." It pulls you right into the author's story through scene description.
However, the second chapter of Norwegian Wood feels a bit dull, with too many of the author's personal insertions. He had to slog through it—unavoidable, really. A work written for oneself, without some personal touches, isn't a novel but a thesis.
Placing Love Metronome on the desk, pressing the cover with his palm, Yuu glances at the old clock above the blackboard, thinking that if Yuigahama doesn't show up in ten minutes, she'll be late. He quickly pulls back his hand and gaze, reopening the book.
But before he can look down, a soft, melodious voice sounds in front of him.
"Morning, Yuu."
His movements pause. Yuu looks up at the boy before him, with snow-white skin, slender and delicate, sweet as a snow fairy.
"Morning, Totsuka."
One of his few friends, Totsuka Saika, smiles sweetly at him—don't ask why a boy's smile is described as sweet. It's just a subjective description, like how some find milk coffee delicious while others think it tastes like expired milk tea, yet it remains coffee.
His clean fingers are half-hidden in his sports jacket. Totsuka leans slightly on Yuu's desk, his cheerful tone filled with nostalgia:
"It's been a while. How was your summer break?"
"Pretty good, you?"
Replying with a Nice to meet you, and you? style, Yuu closes his book, props his head with one hand, and looks at him.