Prologue: Ichigo

Kugiyama’s First Love and

Heartbreak.

Ichigo Kugiyama has had a crush on someone since he was

a child.

It was his older childhood friend, Sakura.

She always had the scent of lavender flowers, mixed with

citrus fruit.

Her waist-length black hair was so well-groomed that it

almost looked fake, and it always shone beautifully,

reflecting the light from the sun.

Her skin was clear and fair.

She had a well-defined face with a smooth bridge on the

nose.

Her eyes were a little slanted, but when she closed her

eyes, her long eyelashes showed their presence, giving off a

sexy atmosphere that was unchildlike.

The way she lifted the edge of her peach-colored lips and

smiled was so attractive that it looked like a painting, and it

still remains vivid in his memory.

Near Ichigo’s house, Sakura lived in a large house where her

family ran their business. She was a young lady with a

dignified and cultured manner.

However, she was not pretentious nor arrogant. She had a

friendly and easygoing personality, giving off the impression

of an open-minded girl.

“The weather’s beautiful today right, Ichi?”

Ichi – That’s right, she called Ichigo by his nickname.

She was Ichigo’s childhood friend, three years older than

him.

In other words, she was like a big sister to Ichigo. His

feelings were like a brother respecting his sister.

Those feelings, combined with her appearance, words,

actions, and the time they casually spent together,

somehow turned Ichigo’s feelings into love.

He was in love with Sakura.

She had been with him since childhood, and he found

himself attracted to her.

“Sakura, next time, let’s go play at the park outside of town

I told you about before.”

“Sure, let’s go. Should I make and pack a bento for us?”

When was the first time he became aware of his feelings?

Regarding his feelings, he never uttered a word about it, nor

did he ever search for the cause to be sure that his feelings

had started then.Rather, he was avoiding it.

Perhaps it was because Ichigo himself was embarrassed.

Still, he harbored feelings for her.

He wanted to be with her all the time. He wanted to

entertain her, to make her think he was funny. He began to

have a desire to satisfy her.

To his older girl-friend, he wanted to please her.

A special person… He wanted her to think of him that way.

Different from how she viewed him back then.

“Then, I’ll go to Sakura’s house at XX.XX in the morning.”

“Roger that. I’ll be ready and waiting by then.”

The smiling Sakura was like a goddess overflowing with

compassion.

Whenever the younger Ichigo called her names, she never

got angry.

He felt a slight sense of superiority that Sakura had

accepted him calling her by her first name.

However, for Sakura, it was probably as simple as being

called by her close younger brother. 

Still, Ichigo’s thoughts were different.

Unlike her parents, her family, her friends, and all the other

adults she respected and admired… Ichigo wanted to be

Sakura’s lover.

In order to achieve that, Ichigo, who was only an elementary

school student at that time, did a lot of things. He suggested

that they go to various places, giving her handmade gifts,

and so on. Although all his efforts were only based on a

child’s imagination and limited by financial resources, he did

all those things to make her happy. However, there was only

so much that a child could do.

His financial ability, energy, and knowledge were not even

close to her classmates, let alone her.

Sakura was popular.

Because of her looks and charm, it was only natural that

Ichigo was not the only one who was in love with her. He

often saw her talking with boys in her class.

He felt envious of the older boys who were the same age as

her and could treat her as a person of equal status.

Regardless, Ichigo was seen as a younger brother to Sakura.

She always treated Ichigo with the attitude of an older

sister.

–And ultimately that relationship was not changed until the

end.

While Ichigo was rushing headlong into his love for her, she

was having problems of her own. And before Ichigo was

aware of it, it was already steadily progressing like a

disease… Suddenly one day, he was told the result.

When Ichigo was in his first year of junior high school,

Sakura graduated from junior high school and left for abroad

with her fiancé.

The fiancé was much older than Sakura, and was a well-

known businessman in the vegetable world.

When his parents first explained to me what was going on,

he didn’t understand what they were saying or what was

happening.

Sakura was going to disappear from my life.

He didn’t want to see the dangling messy fact in front of

him. Ichigo was dumbfounded for a few days… but

gradually, he was able to drink in the details of the

situation.

At the time, Sakura’s family had failed in their business and

was in a lot of debt.

It was said that the president of the company saved Sakura

by making her his bride.

Ichigo had no idea.

Behind the smile that Sakura always gave to him, she was

facing such harsh reality.

He felt angry at himself for not knowing that.

At the same time, he was disappointed to realize that he

had made her worried unnecessarily and did nothing to help

solve her problem.

After all, Sakura only thought of him to that extent, he

thought.

The thought of him being nothing more than that to Sakura,

accelerated in his mind.

But… In the end, he came to accept that there was nothing

he could’ve done as a child.

No – It was probably a matter of giving up.

Sakura suddenly disappeared from Ichigo’s life without

saying a single word.

Looking back on it now, it was probably just another act of

kindness on her part.

He hasn’t seen Sakura again since then.

Thus, Ichigo’s young and innocent first love ended in

heartbreak.

Even so, time kept passing…

Standing in front of the coffee machine in the break room,

he pressed the ‘latte’ button.

Perhaps it was because there was nobody else inside the

room, the familiar sound of the machine running, sounded a

little louder.

After a short moment, just the right amount and consistency

of coffee was brewed and poured into a mug filled with

creaming powder, resulting in a light brown liquid.

In the company, many people found it unusual that he only

drank sweet coffee, but the reason why there were so many

people who liked their coffee black was probably because

there were also many people who liked to smoke.

As a person who did not smoke, he was unable to

empathize.

(…I’ve always had a sweet tooth to begin with.)

His hair was black and cut at an appropriate length, so even

if he didn’t style it, it wouldn’t give off a sloppy impression.

On top, he wore a shirt with no tie, and on the bottom, he

wore slacks and walking shoes. He was dressed in a way

that gave a fresh impression of cleanliness and vitality. His

face, while still youthful, had the air of an adult.

Ichigo Kugiyama was standing by the window, looking out as

he sipped his latte from his mug.

In the high blue sky, voluminous clouds with a hint of black

were drifting by – A sky typical of the pre-summer season.

It was the rainy season.

He thought it was Golden Week just a few days ago, but now

the August Obon Festival is already approaching.

(The next busy season is just around the corner…)

As he thought about this, Ichigo let out a sigh

“Not enough sleep?”

Before he came to realize, another person had arrived in the

break room.

Judging from the lighter and cigarette he was holding in his

hand, he seemed to have just come back from the smoking

room.

Unlike Ichigo, he was wearing clothes that were more work-

appropriate and easier to move around in.

He was a subordinate male employee, younger than Ichigo.

“Lately, we’ve been busy with a lot of new events, like

changes to the sales floor, and construction of new

facilities.”

“I guess… But it was thanks to everyone that we were able

to accomplish all of that.”

Ichigo smiled as he said this.

“Again with this… It was all thanks to the manager’s-“

“Manager Kugiyama.”

Then, another staff member came into the break room.

It was a new female employee who just joined that spring.

“The Regional Manager is here.”

“Is it urgent? Right now, the manager is on break, so talk to

the regional manager and buy time for a wh-”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll see him right now.”

Ichigo poured the latte down his throat in one gulp and put

the mug in the sink.

“I’m probably going to start patrolling now, if anything

happens, call me on the extension.”

“Roger.”

“Yes.”

After saying that, Ichigo left the break room.

Inside the room, the new female employee and the other

male employee were left behind.

“It’s tough for the manager, isn’t it?”

“Yeah… But I respect him.”

The male employee said as he made himself a cup of coffee

on the coffee machine.

Truly, he respects him from the bottom of his heart.

“I guess that’s the kind of ‘capable adult’ that this company

trusts.”

–Fifteen years have passed since the day Sakura

disappeared.

–The 28 year old Ichigo Kugiyama, is currently working as a

store manager at a large and nationwide chain department

store.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

“You seem to be doing pretty well for your first time as

manager.”

The department store, which has a vast sales floor area, was

crowded with visitors.

The store Ichigo’s in charge of is located at the corner of

NSC / Neighborhood Shopping Center. An outlet mall where

independent stores are scattered throughout the site, built a

little farther from the center of the city.

The department store sells everything, from daily

necessities, to furniture, to materials and tools needed for

renovation, construction, and even the now popular DIY

projects.

While taking a look around the store, Ichigo was currently

talking to the Regional Manager, the person in charge of

overseeing and managing all the stores in the area.

The Regional Manager was a small, stocky, short,

bespectacled man of mature years. He has had a long

career with the company and was a relatively mild-

mannered and easy to deal with type of boss.

“The proposal you submitted seems to be very effective.

Keeping the best sellers in mind, developing the sales floor

area so that it stimulates the people’s motivation to

purchase stuff, does seem to lead to better results. Sales

are as strong as ever.”

To the manager who showered him with excessive

compliments, Ichigo returned a wry smile.

“I just made the proposals based on staff, surrounding

stores, and hot sales topics on social media. I did make the

plans, but it’s the subordinates and part-time workers who

did all the work.”

To Ichigo’s humble reply, The Regional Manager patted him

on the shoulder and said, “That’s the job of a good

manager.”

As they were just approaching the storefront.

“Huh?” There, at a special corner set up in the store, The

Regional Manager noticed that several part-timers were

doing some kind of solicitation. “That is…?”

“As I reported in the Weekly Management the other day, this

is a strategy aimed at increasing the number of customers

by assigning more staff to do more advertising in the

stores.”

“Ah, I thought the store was focusing on getting app

members?”

A relatively elderly customer was seen having difficulty

operating a handheld smartphone, and a group of part-time

students stood beside him, helping him install an app that

the company had previously created and distributed.

“Yes, we have young part-timers who are mechanically

inclined to help older customers sign up for the app. We also

inform them about the special deals and systems we have in

place, so that they would come back again and again. Our

goal is to get repeating customers.”

“As expected, you’re quick to act once you find your target.”

The Regional Manager looked up at Ichigo with a smile on

his face. “Ambitious and talented. It might not be long

before you get your next promotion.”

“Haha, I’d rather work and lounge around in this position.”

As the two of them were having this conversation,

“Oh, look, it’s The Manager and The Regional Manager.”

While Ichigo was taking a look around the store with the

manager, the staff noticed them.

It was the part-time college students who were advertising

at the store.

“Looks like The Manager is getting compliments again.”

“So he gets along with The Regional Manager…”

“Is the manager a promising prospect?”

“Of course… In the first place, it’s amazing that at the age

of 28, he’s already the store manager of an S-ranked store.”

“S-ranked store?”

“The top-selling store of the year. That’s how highly the

company values the store

When one of the part-timers raised a question, another

explained.

“Eh…? Then, his pay must be pretty good, no?” A part-time

female college student also joined in.

“If you exclude the executive class, he’s getting one of the

best treatments from the company, but that’s only a rumor I

heard.”

“Eh, is that so?!”

“What are you all talking about?” Sensing they were excited

about something, Ichigo approached them and said.

“Oh, Store Manager, where’s The Regional Manager?”

“He just finished his patrol, so he’s heading back to his

office. So, did you see him talking to me in any way?”

“Nothing, sir.”

“We were just talking about some prime real estate.”

Two part-time female college students looked at each other.

“Prime real estate? Are you looking for a place to live?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Is Manager an airhead?”

The part-time girls were laughing at him. Of course, Ichigo

himself knew what he was saying.

“Hey, does Manager have a girlfriend?”

“Right now? I’m free.”

“Eh, that’s surprising. I thought you’d be popular with the

girls, Manager.”

The part-timers got excited.

Ichigo was praised, but he didn’t look too happy about it.

…Whenever talks about romance come up, he always

seems reluctant. That was why he had a dim look on his

face.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

The sun was setting, and the night was falling in the sky.

“Yes, yes …I understand. Then, you can leave the office as

you are. Thank you for your hard work.”

Ichigo received a call from the assistant manager at the

store.

After receiving the report that the store was closing, Ichigo

hung up his cell phone.

Ichigo had left the store early today, and upon returning

home, he visited the station near his house. The area

around the station was quite prosperous, with many

restaurants and apparel stores lining the street.

At a café terrace in one corner of the building, he was doing

some paperwork, and he was just finishing up.

“I should go home.”

Turning off his laptop, Ichigo left the cafe.

It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the store to his

house that the company provided. Today, Ichigo chose to walk as a form of exercise.

“Hah…”

Walking with a laptop in one hand takes a certain amount of

energy.

As he walked along the sidewalk, lit by streetlights, Ichigo

let out a deep breath.

He took a look around, but at that hour on a weekday, the

streets were sparsely populated.

Then, from across the street, a couple, a man and a woman,

could be seen.

They’re probably students – Ichigo thought.

As the couple were chatting and laughing, the couple and

Ichigo passed each other.

(…Eh? Is this a present…?)

At a glance, the woman could be seen holding a paper bag

which seemed to be containing something important. From

what could be heard from the conversation, it seemed to be

a gift from her boyfriend.

(Is this perhaps… a present for my birthday?)

Ichigo pondered over what the present could be. At this time

of the year, he thought it was probably a room fragrance or

a body soap…

Ichigo realized that he guessed that way probably because

he’s running a department store of his own. From looking at

how they looked, they were probably high school students.

So the present was probably something more

straightforward, something like… accessories…

“……”

As he thought about this, memories of his childhood friend –

Sakura, came back invading his mind. 

Ichigo had also given Sakura a birthday present. However,

as he was only a child back then, he was unable to prepare

anything expensive.

Therefore, Ichigo, who had always been good with his

hands, decided to make up for his lack of financial resources

with his creativity. Using his mother’s lifestyle magazines as

a reference, Ichigo made his own scented candles, sweets,

and other things to give to Sakura.

And for her birthday present, he made her silver accessories

out of sterling silver clay… Looking back, the idea was so

childish that he almost shuddered from embarrassment.

‘Wow… Thank you, Ichi. I’ll cherish it.’

He couldn’t believe that even now, he still remembers

Sakura’s voice and expression of delight.

In response to his present, Sakura made homemade sweets

for Ichigo’s birthday.

It was a faintly sweet and sour memory.

Her long black hair that looked like it was fake, her smooth

nasal line, her long eyelashes, her peach-colored lips, her

smile....

It has been 15 years since then. Ichigo is currently living a

fulfilling life, both financially and socially.

However, when it comes to love, he is still a little hazy. He

knows that it’s crazy that a 28 year old man is still dragging

the memory of his first love at his age… But that’s just how

much Sakura means to Ichigo, and that’s a memory that will

never fade.

As he felt a sense of helplessness at the current situation,

Ichigo lowered his head and let out a sigh, “Hah…” 

Feeling small and depressed, Ichigo said, “Maybe I’ll get a

drink and go home…”

As if attracted by the light, Ichigo entered a convenience

store that was just around the corner. 

He already had the ingredients for dinner at home, so he

was just going to buy some alcohol. Today, he wanted to

drink something a little strong to take things off his mind.

Ichigo bought whiskey and soda water. Leaving the

convenience store, Ichigo resumed his walk home, thinking,

“I’m going home and have a highball.”

–That’s when it happened.

“Hey, it’s fine, right?”

Just outside of the bustling shopping area, on a cobblestone

sidewalk, Ichigo found himself in the middle of the street,

and he heard the sound of such a wild and crude voice.

He looked over and saw a man and a woman who seemed

to be in some kind of dispute. No… Upon closer observation,

it seemed that the woman was in the midst of being tangled

up by the man.

The man, who looked mature, was acting suspiciously.  

There was a can of high-alcohol liquor lying at the guy’s

feet, probably bought at a convenience store nearby, or

maybe even the one Ichigo just stopped by.

Apparently, he was drunk. 

The girl, on the other hand, seemed to be in high school

given her uniform from an all-girls school, which was quite

famous in the area.

She was just a little outside of the street lamp light, so

Ichigo couldn’t see her face clearly, but he could tell that

she had a vaguely feminine atmosphere.

“Let’s talk for a bit.” The drunk man said as he asked her to

be her companion. 

Ichigo couldn’t even tell if the guy was serious or just

playing around.

But the high school girl did not take an overtly disgusted

attitude.

“Um, I’m in a bit of trouble, so I’m in a hurry…” She said

with a strained smile.

However, even if she seemed calm on the surface, she was

clearly in trouble. Perhaps it was the time of day, but there

were not many people around the place. Passersby who

happened to pass by ignored them, probably because

they’re either in a hurry or not wanting to get involved.

Can’t be helped… Ichigo thought.

“Excuse me.”

Upon his spontaneous decision, Ichigo immediately stepped

in between the drunk and the high school girl.

Even in his own store, part-timers sometimes get tangled up

with customers. Ways to deal with such a situation firmly

are already ingrained in Ichigo’s head.

Both the drunk and the high school girl stopped in their

tracks when Ichigo suddenly appeared in front of them.

“She doesn’t seem to like it, so could you please stop?”

Ichigo said as he stood in front of the drunk man.

The guy then said, “What?” Sounding upset and slurred.

“She’s a minor, and excessive behavior could be considered

coercion.”

Without raising his voice or becoming overly coercive, Ichigo

simply stated the situation. Ichigo took a very mature

approach to the situation.

The drunk man, on the other hand, said with increasing

hostility, “You are? It’s none of your business.”

There was no other way, Ichigo thought.

“It actually is. The girl is a part-timer at our store.”

If Ichigo insinuates that she is connected to him, the two-on-

one composition would be more strongly embossed, and the

other person might be deflated. 

It was a legitimate lie to set the scene, and it would be a

good excuse later on.

However, the drunk didn’t listen, saying, “I don’t give a

damn about that.”

The situation escalated. The drunk didn’t seem to want to

talk to him… No, the conversation never even started in the

first place. In other words, he must be very drunk.

Ichigo could tell that the high school girl behind him was

frightened by the drunk who bared his fangs with empty

eyes.

On the contrary however, Ichigo was relieved. The guy not

being able to communicate was actually very convenient for

them.

Ichigo whispered to the high school girl, “Can you run?”

“Eh?”

In the next moment, Ichigo took the high school girl’s hand

and ran from the scene at once. 

The other party was an elderly drunk. He couldn’t react to

Ichigo’s sudden action, and by the time he realized, they

had already disappeared from right in front of him.

Screams could be heard, but the drunk didn’t seem to be

chasing after Ichigo and the girl.

With that, the situation was handled.

If he was that drunk, he probably won’t even remember

what just happened when he wakes up – Ichigo thought.

The two of them ran for a while and came to a residential

area.

“I think we’ll be okay here.”

As Ichigo let go of her hand, the high school girl put her

hands on her knees and began to breathe deeply.

“Sorry, I started running suddenly like that.”

“N-No…”

Eventually, her breathing calmed down, and the high school

girl looked up.

Earlier, it was dark, and Ichigo had to deal with the drunk so

he didn’t get to see her face clearly. Now that they’re here,

Ichigo was finally able to see her face.

He was surprised and speechless.

Her hair was long and black and it reached her waist.

Her skin was clear and transparent.

Her face was well-defined with a smooth bridge on her nose.

Slightly slanted eyes with long, sexy eyelashes.

Peach-colored lips.

It’s what she looked like back then.

It’s the same as it was then.

Her face looked exactly like that of his childhood friend,

Sakura.

“Um…”

The shock was so great that Ichigo’s eyes widened and he

was left speechless. 

Sakura is… No! She was only in the form of Sakura.

“Thank you very much.”

“…What?”

“You helped me, didn’t you…?”

“…Ah, no… But I’m glad I didn’t butt in unnecessarily.”

“It wasn’t unnecessary at all… I was really scared that I

couldn’t even ask for help. You really helped me.” The girl

said, a little teary-eyed.

Trembling, she wiped away the tears on her long eyelashes.

It was the same. Ichigo’s chest heaved and the back of his

throat quivered. 

His mind was perturbed, so much so that he couldn’t even

analyze the situation whether it was just a hallucination or

reality. 

“Um… Excuse me, my house is actually just around the

corner.” The girl said as she pointed towards a dark alley

where the street lamp was out. “So… If possible, I would like

to thank you.”

Even in the midst of confusion, frustration, astonishment,

and various other emotions… Ichigo knew that a working

adult following a high school girl to her home was in no way

fine.

“You don’t have to thank me.” 

But then,

“…But It’s late at night, and it’s not like there’s no

possibility for you not to get in trouble again, so I’ll take you

home.”

Ichigo said that, and he felt as if he was driven by an

unseen force.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

“We’re almost there.”

“Ah, yeah…”

After saving a high school girl from a drunk man, Ichigo

ended up walking with her to her apartment. At first, he was

shocked that a girl with a face that looked exactly like

Sakura appeared in front of him, but as time went by, he

was finally able to start thinking calmly.

(…I’m just sending her home… I have no other intentions.)

Ichigo tried to not be conscious for a moment as she looked

like his first love, even exactly as when he fell for her.

If he’s taking her home like this, Ichigo thought he should at

least explain the situation properly to her family.

So, while envisioning what would happen later, Ichigo asked

the high school girl next to him,

“Is your family at home right now?”

“I don’t have any family. I live alone.”

“……”

In terms of high school students living alone, Ichigo has met

many people with different situations in his career. In this

day and age, he doesn’t think it’s strange. However, that

would mean that she’s the only person living in her house.

There was no way he would be allowed to go up to the room

where a high school girl is living alone.

“We’ve arrived. It’s here.”

While Ichigo was thinking about this, they arrived at her

apartment.

For a woman living alone, it was an apartment with

reasonably good facilities, equipped with an auto-lock

system. It was close to the train station and had good

security.

This would give parents peace of mind letting their children

live alone, Ichigo said to himself

“This way.”

The high school girl led Ichigo up the stairs to the second

floor.

Then, in front of the room just after turning from the landing

of the stairs, the high school girl took out a key from her

bag.

Apparently, this is her house.

“Come in.” The high school girl opened the door and led the

way inside.

“No, I’m just taking you home.” However, Ichigo tried to

proceed with his original plan, rejecting her invitation. “More

than here is…”

“It’s fine!” The high school girl grabbed the sleeve of

Ichigo’s clothes. Not backing down, she tried her hardest to

get him inside. “Don’t worry about it. It really is just me.”

(…That makes it even more troubling…)

The high school girl refused to give up on the confused

Ichigo, saying she wanted to thank him.

In the form of Sakura, she grabbed the sleeve of his shirt

and pulled it tightly. As she looked up at him, she looked

exactly like Ichigo’s first love.

“…Can’t be helped then.”

By no means did Ichigo lose to the temptation. He just didn’t

reject her and make do with what’s happening in front of

him.

“Then, I’m sorry to bother you.”   

“Yes.”

It would be best to suppress his emotions, get things done,

and get it over with quickly. With that in mind, Ichigo went

through the door of the high school girl’s room. As he

walked in, the lights were turned on, revealing the interiors of the room. The room was slightly larger than a usual 1LDK

apartment.

The bed, the desk, the clothes on the hangers on the wall,

the sweet scent wafting through the room. The decorations

and the knick-knacks. They were all exactly like that of a

high school girl’s room.

“Please make yourself at home.”

After saying that, the high school girl went to the kitchen,

turned on the electric kettle, and started boiling water. In

addition, she seemed to have taken out teacups and tea

leaves from the cupboard and started preparing to make a

cup of tea.

Naturally, Ichigo didn’t sit on the bed, the chair, or even the

floor.

(…I’ll just have one cup and then leave when I get a

chance.)

Whether I’m being careless or negligent, I’ll make sure I

don’t do anything that could make people get the wrong

idea – Ichigo said to himself.

“…..?”

Suddenly, Ichigo’s vision caught sight of a photo frame on a

desk. It was a family photo. A man, a woman, and a young

girl, about the age of elementary school, standing side by

side…

“…Huh.”

Ichigo’s thoughts stopped then and there.

“What’s wrong?”

The high school girl came back from the kitchen with a

teapot and cups on a tray.

She noticed Ichigo staring at the photo on her desk,

restraining himself.

“Ah… That’s my family pho-”

“Sakura?”

“…Eh?”

Ichigo muttered to himself as he looked at the woman in the

family photo.

He understood. In Ichigo’s memory, time had stopped at the

last time he saw her, when she was 15 years old… but there

she was, having grown older and more mature since then.

If he had been told that he had the wrong person, then so

be it… But his intuition kicked in.

If she’s in this photo…. That means…

“Do you know my mother?”

Mother.

The high school girl’s words made his heart throb faster.

Ichigo turned around and looked at the girl’s face again. The

face that resembles the image of his first love, left behind in

his brilliantly shining memories of that time, time that could

be said to have been beautified.

“Your name, what is it?” It had been a long time since Ichigo had been this upset in

his professional and personal life. He couldn’t breathe well,

and inevitably, he couldn’t even utter words cleanly.

Even so, she understood Ichigo’s question – The high school

girl answered with a puzzled look on her face.

“My name is… Luna Hoshigami.”

“!!!”

It’s the same. Her surname is not Sakura’s maiden name,

but that of the company president she married.

“You are… Sakura’s child?”

The high school girl, Luna, nodded her head in response to

the words that came out of Ichigo’s mouth.

That explains why they look so alike.

In all the confusion, such a funny thought came to Ichigo’s

mind.

(This girl is… Sakura’s daughter.)

Still, this fact brought a surprise to Ichigo he had never felt

before.

At the same time as he was surprised, Ichigo couldn’t

contain his curiosity about the questions he had been asking

himself, resulting in his curiosity overflowing into his voice.

“Where is your mother now?”

“……”

Luna’s expression visibly darkened at the question aimed at

her.

What the hell is going on? Are there any circumstances that

make it difficult for her to say something? – Ichigo thought

to himself.

A slight feeling of uneasiness ran down Ichigo’s spine in the

form of numbness.

“Mother is…”

And his premonition turned out to be true. Not just a slight,

it was the worst way possible.

Luna uttered, “My mother was in an accident a few years

ago… She is no longer with us.”

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Ichigo rescued the high school girl who looks exactly like his

first love by chance when she was tangled up with a drunk.

Her name is Luna Hoshigami. 

Surprisingly, she is the daughter of his childhood friend,

Sakura, from whom he was once separated. 

When she told Ichigo that her mother was no longer in this

world, Ichigo felt like his head was being shaken to its core.

“Not only my mother, but… My father also passed away

long before her. Now, my mother’s family is my acting

guardian.”

Being bombarded with a torrent of information, Ichigo

managed to keep vaguely hearing her words, but…Ichigo was in a state of mindlessness.

Sakura’s death – A fact too heavy for him to accept.

He staggered and sat down on a nearby chair.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah… Yeah.”

Luna became concerned as she saw Ichigo’s sudden

dejection. Eventually, Luna asked,

“Are you acquainted with my mother…?”

Based on what she was seeing, it was a natural question to

be asked.

“Ah… Well, I guess we’re childhood friends… But I haven’t

seen her since she got married.” Ichigo spoke honestly

about his relationship with Sakura.

But then…

“Could it be you’re… ‘Ichi’, Ah, Ichigo Kugiyama-san?”

“……”

When Luna unexpectedly said ‘Ichi’, Ichigo was blindsided.

Nostalgic – He thought. This was because it was the

nickname Sakura used to call him. But, more important than

that, another question arose.

“How do you know about me?”

In response to Ichigo’s question, Luna answered with a

somewhat sullen expression.

“My mother used to talk about Ichigo-san a lot.”

“I see…”

Even though they were far apart, she hadn’t forgotten him…

The moment he thought this, the innocent smile of his older

childhood friend looking back at him, came back to Ichigo’s

mind… 

As if a dam had been broken, tears began to flow from his

glands. Once again, he swallowed the fact that she was no

longer in this world, and he could no longer suppress his

emotions.

“Ku-Kugiyama-san…”

“I’m sorry, it’s okay.”

For the short moment when Luna looked worried, Ichigo

immediately acted like an adult and kept his composure.

Normal thoughts came back to Ichigo’s mind, and he

realized something once again. 

He realized that he had made Luna talk about her mother’s

death… A painful experience for a girl that young to speak

naturally about.

“I’m sorry.” Ichigo bowed his head and apologized for his

inconsiderate attitude.

“No, no, please don’t worry about it.” In response, Luna

hurriedly replied.

“But if that’s the case, then right now, you are…”

“Yes, as I said before, I don’t have a family.”

Ichigo wasn’t actually asking about that, but Luna

misunderstood it.

The so-called ‘Loneliness’.

(…No, I’m sure there are families on her mother’s and

father’s sides, so I guess I shouldn’t exactly say that.)

As Ichigo was pondering over the situation of the girl in front

of him…. Suddenly, a distracting voice “Growl~~” could be

heard.

The sound came from Luna’s stomach.

“Oh no…”

For a moment, they both stopped and rolled their eyes, but

then, Luna realized that the growling sound came from her.

Immediately, her face started blushing red with

embarrassment, and she pressed her stomach.

“Are you hungry?”

“I’m sorry…”

“No, there’s no need to apologize. It’s already time for

dinner anyway.”

Ichigo, who had somehow put the image of the person he

admired on top of Luna’s face, felt a slight sense of relief

when she showed him her vulnerable appearance for the

first time.

At the same time, the fact that she is Sakura’s daughter,

and that she is a lonely girl who lives alone, aroused the

desire to protect inside him.

He had planned to leave early, but he could no longer bring

himself to do so.

“Luna-san, what are you having for dinner?”

“Eh?” At the sudden question, Luna was momentarily at a

loss for words.

The fact that a man who was more than ten years older

than her called her by ‘-san’ might have been one of the

factors.

“Well, I was just planning on cooking dinner…”

“If you’d like, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

“Eh?!” Luna was also surprised by the sudden suggestion.

In Ichigo’s phone, there is an app registered for delivery. It’s

from a restaurant that he usually visits when he’s too lazy to

cook dinner. He could call the restaurant, but judging from

what Luna just said, it seemed that she had already

prepared the ingredients for dinner. If that’s the case, then it

shouldn’t be wasted.

“Well, I know I said I’d treat you, but I’ll cook dinner for you

if you want. You just have to wait, that is if it’s not too much

trouble.”

“No, it’s not a problem. In fact, I’d rather not have you go

that far…”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to worry about it. It’s just for my

own satisfaction.”

Ichigo chuckled to himself as he realized that he was doing

exactly the same thing as Luna, who earlier, had refused to give up her desire to thank him at any cost.

However, Luna seemed unable to accept the offer without

even a second thought.

“How much did your mother tell you about me?” Ichigo

asked the bewildered Luna, “Did she ever tell you that I’m a

good cook, or something like that?”

“Ah… Yes,” Luna said and nodded as if she had an idea.

“Mother said that she liked the food that Kugiyama-san

sometimes cooked.”

“…I see.”

That’s nice to hear. Sakura remembered such things, and

even told her daughter like it was a precious memory –

Ichigo thought as he was deeply moved.

“Then I guess you can call that a good review. What do you

think, Luna-san? Since we’re here, wouldn’t it be interesting

to see if my abilities are genuine?”

When Ichigo said this in a joking manner, Sakura pouted for

a moment, but then, as if she couldn’t stand it anymore, she

bursted it all out.

It was a cute little gesture.

“Hahaha… Kugiyama-san, you’re an interesting one, aren’t

you?”

Ichigo felt relieved when she laughed. The atmosphere that

had been getting a little heavy seemed to have dissipated a

bit.

“Then, I will take your word for it… Ah,” Luna readily

accepted Ichigo’s offer to cook dinner. But then she said, “I

don’t like the idea of being treated one-sidedly, I feel

uncomfortable… Ah, that’s right, why don’t you join me for

dinner, Kugiyama-san?”

“Eh?”

Luna proposed the idea. Perhaps it was because she was

incapable of accepting favors from others with open arms,

much like Ichigo.

“Even if the food is homemade, I’d be lonely eating by

myself. Also, could you tell me more about your memories

of my mother, Kugiyama-san?”

“……”

She’s a strong girl – Ichigo thought.

At the same time, Ichigo thought about her mentality that

didn’t fit her age she must’ve inherited from Sakura.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Well, I was the one who said it – Ichigo thought to himself as

he went into the kitchen of Luna’s house and prepared to

cook dinner for the two of them.

The kitchen area was well equipped, as you’d expect from a

good apartment building. 

It was a system kitchen. Realistically, the kitchen was

probably a bit too big for a single student to use.

“Let’s see…”

Checking the ingredients prepared in the refrigerator, frozen

rice, eggs, chicken and vegetables could be found. It was

the fridge of a high school student who lived alone, so of

course there wouldn’t be much to it.

Even so,

“Alright, I’ve decided on the menu.”

A long time ago, Ichigo made it for Sakura, and now, he

decided to go for the same dish. 

With that in mind, Ichigo began to cook.

First, Ichigo prepared the chicken, onion and green pepper

while heating butter in the frying pan. He then put the

prepared ingredients into the hot pan and seasoned them

with salt and pepper. Once cooked, he mixed in the thawed

rice and added ketchup.

“It smells good.” Luna said as she came over to check on

him, “Wah! Chicken rice!”

“That’s right.”

As she said that, Ichigo put the cooked chicken rice on a

plate.

“But of course, this is still not finished.”

Well, I think it’s pretty obvious at this point – Ichigo thought

to himself. 

“I’ll let you enjoy it after it’s done.” Ichigo said as he sent

Luna back to the next room to continue cooking.

Continuing, he cracked an egg and beat it in a bowl. Then,

he quickly washed the hot frying pan and wiped off the surface. He then poured the beaten egg into the pan, and

spread it flat to heat through.

The resulting fluffy omelet was then placed over the chicken

rice on the plate.

“Here, it’s finished.”

The result was an orthodox omurice. 

Ichigo returned to the living room and laid them out on the

table.

“Wow…”

Luna’s face broke out in excitement when she saw the

omelet rice that had been brought to her.

The look on her face suddenly reminded Ichigo of Sakura’s

face when he gave her a birthday present when they were

kids. A memory he just remembered a few hours ago.

It was a dazzling smile.

After setting the plates on the table and finishing the

preparations, Ichigo and Luna sat down on the chairs and

faced each other.

“”Itadakimasu.“” The two voices overlapped.

“Fufu…” Luna giggled funnily.

“…Anything wrong?”

“Ah… No. It’s just that it has been a long time since I’ve

eaten dinner with someone else.”

Thus began the dinner of a man and a girl who just had a

miraculous encounter today.

“Delicious!” Luna exclaimed as she took a bite of the

omurice. “You’re a really good cook, Ichigo-san. I’ve never

had such delicious omurice before.”

“That’s an exaggeration.”

There were no special ingredients used. No special

seasonings and no expensive products. It was just supposed

to be normal omurice, but her reaction seemed to be a bit

over the top…

“But I’m glad you like it. This omurice… I’ve made them for

Saku- Your mother once before.”

“So for mother too…”

Hearing that, Luna looked down at the plate in front of her.

Of course, compared to now, Ichigo’s cooking skills were

completely amateurish, and even now it still is. Even so,

Sakura at that time, just like Luna, also exaggeratedly said

that it was delicious.

Sakura even commented, ‘If I marry Ichi, I’ll be able to eat

such delicious food every day.’

As someone who harbored feelings for her, Ichigo was very

excited to hear that.

(When I think back on it, I can’t believe she was only three

years older than me. She was so mature…)

“Kugiyama-san!?” As he was having such a sobering recollection, Ichigo

seemed to have burst into tears once again.

No good, no good – Ichigo thought.

Ichigo didn’t want to make Luna worry so he hurriedly wiped

his tears.

“…Seeing you care this much about her, I’m sure mother is

very happy in heaven right now.”

She smiled in consideration of Ichigo.

After that, Ichigo continued to talk about Sakura over dinner.

Luna was listening to him, and Ichigo spoke as if he was

reminiscing about his past.

Sakura was a childhood friend of Ichigo’s and they had

interacted often since when they were children. They played

together, studied together, and went to various events

together. Sakura was a young lady, so there were many

times when she had to go out of town or had conflicting

schedules due to family matters, but she would always

invite Ichigo over whenever she had the time.

And once again–

“So, Kugiyama-san’s nickname, as my mother called you in

the past, was Ichi.”

“Don’t laugh too much, okay?”

Seeing Luna’s smiling face, Ichigo felt embarrassed.

“I always felt like my mother was a very strong person, even

when she was a child. But somehow, listening to Kugiyama-san’s story and from the nickname ‘Ichi’, she seemed a bit

childish.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.”

Thinking back, she was probably just another young girl at

that time.

(…Well, memories can be beautified.)

They continued the nice conversation like that, and before

they knew it, both Ichigo and Luna had eaten all the food on

their plates.

“”Thank you for the meal.”” Finishing their meal, their

voices overlapped yet again.

“Ah, Kugiyama-san. Would you like a drink?” Suddenly, Luna

asked Ichigo.

“Eh?”

The offer was so sudden that Ichigo stopped in his tracks.

When Ichigo looked over, he saw that Luna was pointing at

his bag containing his laptop. No, to be precise, she pointed

at a plastic bag from a convenience store placed next to the

bag. 

It contained the whiskey and soda water that Ichigo had

bought, but the plastic bag allowed the contents to show

through.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t subtle about it.”

“No, you don’t have to worry about that…” Luna’s attitude made Ichigo think that she was really

disciplined and polite.

“I don’t know much about it, but people drink whiskey with

soda water, right? I saw it on TV.” Contrary to before, Luna

said to Ichigo with a motivated feeling, “I can make it if you

like. I’ll pour you a drink.”

“Ah, no, it’s fine…”

The offer from Luna was gratifying. However, a pang of

moral compunction hit Ichigo.

The situation where he would be in was one where he’d be

an adult drinking alcohol in front of a minor, and at the

minor’s house! 

Ichigo couldn’t help but feel that it was against public

morals. Although, that depends on the time and situation.

“Ah, maybe you live far from here? Or do you actually have

a car parked nearby?” Luna said with concern as she sensed

Ichigo’s unsettled mood.

“No, my house is within walking distance. That’s not a

problem.”

“That’s good to hear. It’s been a long time since I felt so

happy so I was hoping that Kugiyama-san would enjoy it as

much as I do.” Luna tilted her head and said with an upward

glance.

“Please, let me pour you a drink, Kugiyama-san.”

(…Ugh…)

Luna had no ill intentions. She suggested it completely out

of the kindness of her heart. 

In any case, it’s not like I’m forcing her to drink with me. It

should be no problem – Ichigo thought. 

Of course, Ichigo would have to be very careful not to let her

get a taste of alcohol.

(…Just a little bit then.)

To the girl in front of him, Ichigo decided to take her up on

her offer.

“Then, it’ll be ready in a moment.” As soon as she said that,

Luna immediately brought back a glass from the kitchen.

“You put ice in it, right? I saw it in a commercial.” Moreover,

she added ice from the freezer into the glass. 

Luna placed the glass on the table, followed by opening the

bottle of whiskey. Then, she tried to pour it into a glass,

but…

“…Um, how much would be appropriate…?”

Of course, she didn’t have any detailed knowledge, so she

didn’t know what to do next.

Seeing Luna at a loss, Ichigo couldn’t help but smile. Ichigo

felt that it was as if she was his own child, playing acting as

an adult.

“Well, about this much.” Ichigo offered a helping hand as he

took the bottle and poured it to about a tenth of the glass.

“You don’t have to pour so much whiskey in the glass.”

“Heh…” “Do you have a spoon?”

Borrowing a spoon from Luna, Ichigo used it to stir the ice

and whiskey. When the ice had slightly melted, he mixed in

the soda water.

“Well, something like this.”

Ichigo sipped the resulting frothy liquid, which was a light

amber color. With the flavor of aged whiskey plus the

stimulation of carbonation, the mixed liquor tasted rich.

“I understand. I’m going to practice now…”

“Practice…”

Luna brought out another glass and made a highball on her

own. The same way Ichigo had done earlier. 

She had enthusiasm plastered all over her face.

“What do you think?”

“Let me have a taste… Yeah, it’s good.”

“I’m glad.”

She seemed to be a fast learner and Luna’s skills improved

quickly.

After that, while enjoying the highball made by Luna, Ichigo

continued to share his memories.

However, as he guzzled the highballs she made, he started

to feel quite drunk. And he didn’t have time to regain his

consciousness.

Since then, Ichigo wondered how much time had passed.

Luna’s energetic pace, typical of the youth, had caught

Ichigo off guard and he found himself on the verge of

drunkenness.

“And then, Sakura, she…” With a burning head, Ichigo

passionately talked about his memories with Sakura.

“……”

For some time, Luna just stared at Ichigo’s face in silence.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Luna-san?”

“…Kugiyama-san, did you like my mother?”

He spewed out the highball he had been sipping.

Fortunately, the liquid didn’t splatter on the floor, but the

amber bubbles scattered in the air and Ichigo choked on his

breath.

“Wh-What are you talking about…”

“I can tell from the way you talk, Kugiyama-san.”

At the very least, Ichigo thought that he had taken into

consideration that she was Luna’s mother and only talked

about Sakura as a childhood friend who was a good friend of

his. 

Perhaps, the alcohol had made him talk a little too much,

and Ichigo said something that Luna could sense.

“I’m jealous of my mother. To have had someone cool like

Kugiyama-san, liking her so much.”

“…No,” Ichigo immediately tried to deny the comment that

Luna had made.

At that time – Perhaps it was because his state of

intoxication became stronger, Ichigo’s thought process had

stopped working properly.

“…That’s not true.” Before he could deny it, his true feelings

came out of his mouth. Correcting Luna’s words, Ichigo said,

“At the time, I was really just a kid… I think Sakura only

thought of me as a younger brother.”

“That’s not true!” Luna flatly denied Ichigo’s self-

deprecation.

“Eh?”

“I… I respected my mother very much. She was a strong

person. Even after father was gone, she raised me all by

herself.”

“……”

“She taught me about gratitude and how to live a good-

natured life… She also taught me how to be polite and

respectful in society.”

Luna adored Sakura, and Sakura also raised Luna as her

daughter with love and affection.

Even if Ichigo were to exclude the fact that they were similar

in appearance, he could feel the atmosphere of Luna that

reminded him of Sakura…

The story of Sakura after she disappeared from Ichigo’s life –

Even with a drunk and confused mind, Ichigo listened

carefully to the story Luna started telling.

“Mother used to tell me stories about Kugiyama-san in the

past.”

“Eh…”

“Talking about those days… Mother seemed so happy and

joyful. That’s why I was able to immediately recognize

Ichigo-san earlier. That’s how strong the impression was left

on me, so I’m sure, Mother, she…” Luna said with a serious

expression. 

“I think she liked you, Kugiyama-san.”

“……”

“Ah, this is just what I assumed myself. She never told me

anything directly. Regardless of what happened, my mother

and father had a happy and harmonious married life, and I

also loved my father very much…”

But putting that aside – About the boy from her mother’s

stories,

Luna had said that she was interested in Ichigo Kugiyama.

“…Kugiyama-san, are you very drunk?” Luna murmured to

make sure. “…I’ve always admired Kugiyama-san since I

was a little girl. My mother used to tell me stories about

you, and I imagined you as a very nice person. You have

always been the ideal person that I have always admired in

my heart.” Luna confessed her feelings as if she had been

pent up.

Just like when Ichigo talked about Sakura, in a feverish tone

of voice, Luna continued,

“…I’m so glad we met today. Now, I’m convinced that the

stories were true.”

“I see…”

Hearing those words, the thought that Sakura might have

felt that way about him, Ichigo felt  something inside him, as

if his heart was being ripped out of his chest

“Luna-san.”

The drunkenness was causing a light cloud to form in

Ichigo’s head. 

While trying to process all the thoughts inside his mind,

Ichigo called out Luna’s name.

“Yes?”

Luna just stared blankly at Ichigo. 

For some time now, even though she hadn’t been drinking,

her cheeks seemed to be somewhat flushed,

“If you ever have any problems, you can count on me for

anything. I will help you.”

Although she had lost her parents, she must still be

receiving support from her parents’ family. Financially, she

wouldn’t be in any trouble. Ichigo knew but still felt like

saying that.

“Anything…?”

“Yeah, it’s a good thing we met today. Even if it’s just a

small request, just let me know and I’ll do whatever I can.”

He was speaking in an air of maturity. Things Ichigo couldn’t

say or do to Sakura back then. As if to atone for his sins,

Ichigo said that to the girl who retained a trace of her.

At the same time, he leaned back limply. Apparently, he had

drunk so much that he couldn’t control himself. Feeling a sensation that could not be described just as drowsiness,

Ichigo plopped down at the desk.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ichigo could see Luna making

an expression that was a mixture of surprise and

embarrassment at his words earlier.

“…Yes, thank you very much.” A beat after, in response to

his offer earlier, Luna then said, “I’ve always loved you,

Kugiyama-san. Will you make me your lover?”

Ichigo, who was already unable to think straight and barely

managed to catch her request, jokingly replied, 

“Haha… I’d love to…”

That was all that Ichigo could remember of that night.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

“…Mmm.”

A slow and gradual pain hit Ichigo’s head as he woke up.

Ichigo could feel a soft sensation enveloping his body. From

the feeling that covered his back and abdomen, he knew

that he was lying on a bed.

“…Hmm?”

Apparently, he had fallen asleep before he knew it. His

memory from the time before he fell asleep was fuzzy. And

he was having a slight headache.

(…Did I drink?)

Looking up at the ceiling with sleepy eyes, Ichigo’s thoughts

wandered.

Recalling the events of last night, He helped a high school

girl who was being tangled up with a drunk. After that, he

went to her house because she wanted to thank him. And

then, when he found out that she was Sakura’s daughter…

“Hah…”

At the too-unrealistic recollection, Ichigo let out a sigh and

turned over in his sleep.

There’s no way. Such a coincidence, I’m sure It was just a

dream – Ichigo thought to himself.

“…No.”

It was then that Ichigo noticed that the ceiling he had looked

up to was not the same from the one he usually sees in his

house.

His house, a housing rented out by the company as part of

the benefit of being a manager.

There was something different from the ceiling. Different

from the ceiling of his bedroom, where he usually sleeps

alone in a house a little too big for a single person like

himself.

(…This room is…)

“Good morning, Ichi.”

He heard a voice calling him. At the same time, something

landed on Ichigo’s stomach as he was wrapped in the futon. 

There she was, the high school girl he saved.

She was wearing a school uniform, and she called Ichigo by

the nickname that Sakura, his childhood friend, used to call her. 

The girl – Luna Hoshigami, straddled Ichigo’s abdomen

through the futon with a dazzling smile on her face.

The tips of her lustrous black hair arched over Ichigo’s

chest, wafting the soft scent of shampoo.

“Breakfast is ready.”

“Eh… No, um…”

“What time does your job start? Is it okay if you don’t

hurry?”

“There’s still time… Wait, that’s not important. Um, Luna-

san, this is…?”

As Ichigo panicked, Luna explained with a chuckle.

“Last night, Ichi almost fell asleep on the chair because you

drank too much. That’s why I carried you to the bed and you

ended up staying at my place.”

“I-I’m sorry!” Ichigo immediately said as he realized he had

done something wrong. 

He got so drunk that he ended up falling asleep in a high

school girl’s house. 

Ichigo was ashamed of his blunder.

“How pathetic of me…”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize.” 

Luna then continued as if it was natural,

“We are lovers anyway.”

“…Eh?”

To Ichigo’s dumbfounded face, Luna smiled. Her slightly

cherry-red cheeks seemed to be embarrassed, and her

smile was a mixture of bashfulness and joy.

“You said it was okay if we became lovers.”

“…Ah…” Ichigo said as he remembered what happened last

night.

Just before he lost consciousness, it seemed that there had

been some sort of misunderstanding in the conversation

they were having. 

In the state and situation then, Ichigo was absent-minded.

Yes, indeed Ichigo did say that.

“…Wha-”

But that was only a joke.

“-What are you talking about? There’s no way that could

happen.”

Ichigo knew It was definitely his fault for replying so

carelessly. However, such an unrealistic request can’t be

approved so easily. There was no way Ichigo could meet it.

“With Sakura’s daughter… No, in the first place, a working

adult and a high school girl in a lovers relationship is…”

“You don’t like it, Ichi? You don’t want me to be your lover?”

Luna said as she straightened her back, lifting her upper

body.

In Ichigo’s field of view, he could see her near full body

figure. She was dressed in an all-girls high school uniform

that was both clean and dainty.

She had long black hair, a straight nose, transparent white

skin without a single blemish, slanted eyes, and long

eyelashes. It was a form that could be admired for its

beauty free of charge.

No – More important than that, there was an element of

immorality that made it unrealistic and impossible for Ichigo

to accept her request.

“Yesterday, after Ichi saved me, I wondered if maybe I could

do something to repay you. I thought Ichi would be very

happy if we could become lovers…”

“For that reason…”

“I’m serious.”

She looked and sounded just like Sakura, Ichigo’s first love

and Luna’s mother.

With a serious look on her face, she brought her face closer

to Ichigo’s.

“Hey Ichi…” 

Luna said,

“Will you make me your lover?”