Issei Hyoudou—that’s my name, but my friends and family just call me Issei. I’m in my second year of high school and enjoying the springtime of my youth.
I honestly can’t say just how recognizable I am, but every now and then, someone will call out: “Hey, isn’t that Issei?”
Maybe that’s got you thinking I’m incredibly popular. I’m not. I have a reputation for lechery—so much so that I’ve even been accused of trying to peep into the changing room of the girl’s kendo club.
I would never do anything so shameful…
Well, actually…I was there, in the storeroom next to the changing room. And I did try to catch a glimpse through a hole in the wall. I wasn’t able to see anything, though. I mean, Matsuda and Motohama wouldn’t get out of the damn way…
I had to put up with those two as they got themselves all worked up. “Whoa! Look at Murayama’s breasts! They’re huge!” one of them would exclaim while the other drooled, saying, “Katase sure has great legs…”
There’s no way I didn’t want to peep on that! Before I even had a chance, though, we heard footsteps approaching the storeroom, so we had to make our escape.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, happiness came flying right into the arms of this perverted second-year.
“Will you go out with me?”
A confession from a girl! For a guy like me, who had never had a girlfriend before, it was a breath of fresh air. I was ready to taste the complicated flavors of adolescence.
My first ever girlfriend—Yuuma Amano, a slender girl with silky, jet-black hair. She was so cute. I fell head over heels in love with her at first sight. I mean, wouldn’t you jump at the opportunity if an incredible beauty came running your way, calling out: Hyoudou! I love you! Will you go out with me?
Given my history with the opposite sex and how long I had been waiting to get a girlfriend, this situation was beyond my wildest dreams. You might think that sounds like a dating sim, but it really happened! It was a miracle! A beautiful young woman actually confessed her love to me!
Honestly, I thought it was a prank at first. I couldn’t help but wonder whether Yuuma’s friends had put her up to it, as revenge for something I’d done. They could’ve been hiding out of sight, watching us. Can you blame me? Up until that moment, I’d always believed I’d been born under some unlucky star, forever doomed to lack that certain appeal.
However, from that day on, I had a girlfriend! My world had changed. I don’t know how to explain it, but I had found my place on this planet. I wanted to charge down the corridors, calling out I’ve finally done it! to everyone I passed.
I started pitying my girlfriend-less buddies, Matsuda and Motohama. That was just how generous of heart I had become.
So Yuuma and I became a couple, and the day of our first date quickly arrived. The time had come to put the plan I had laid out way back when into action.
Heh-heh, I must’ve brushed my teeth a dozen times the night before. There wasn’t a speck of plaque left to be found. I even bought new underwear. You never know what might happen… My whole life had been in anticipation of this moment, after all!
I arrived at the meeting place three whole hours ahead of Yuuma and waited. To pass the time, I counted the number of girls in glasses who went by. Result: over one hundred!
After a while, some weirdo handed me a suspicious leaflet. YOUR WISHES GRANTED! it read, complete with an occult-looking magic circle.
…I wanted to throw it away but couldn’t afford to leave our meeting place, so I stuffed it into my pocket.
At last, Yuuma finally arrived.
“Good timing. I just got here myself,” I called to her. Bull’s-eye! I’d always wanted to say that!
We held hands while we walked. The whole thing was pretty moving. I was on a date, strolling hand-in-hand with my gorgeous girlfriend! Really, I was so touched, I felt like I was going to break into tears. Don’t rush it, I warned myself. This wasn’t the time to get cocky.
From there, we made the most of our first date. Yuuma and I checked out a few clothing stores, had a look at some home decor—that sort of thing.
We had lunch together in a chain restaurant, just like your typical high school couple. Yuuma seemed to really enjoy her chocolate parfait. I was having my fill just watching her.
Ah, so this was how other teenagers felt when they went out on dates. This was living.
Mom, thanks for giving birth to me. Dad, I admit I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep the family line going, but you don’t have to worry about that anymore.
Before I knew it, one of the staff came to tell us it was getting late. I had almost reached the climax! A kiss?! A good-bye kiss?! So much blood was pumping into my head, I thought it might explode! Maybe I could even take this to the next level?!
Can you blame me for such thoughts? I’m a high schooler at the height of my budding sexuality!
At dusk, we went to a park on the outskirts of town. It wasn’t a particularly popular area. There was no one there but us. Maybe that’s why my mind kept going to dirty places. Should I have better prepared myself by reading more erotic how-to guides? Before I could do anything, Yuuma let go of my hand and walked up to the fountain.
“I had fun today,” she said with a smile, the fountain behind her.
Whoa! She was already super-cute, but damn, with her back to the sunset, it was almost like a movie or something.
“You know, Issei…”
“What is it, Yuuma?”
“I want to do something to commemorate our first date. Could you do me a favor?”
This was it!
You know I was ready for anything! What else could she have been talking about?! My breath—check! I was prepared! My heart was racing!
“Wh-what kind of favor…?” Ah, my voice was a little high. Yuuma was going to know I was having dirty thoughts! I had come so far, only to slip up in the most idiotic way imaginable… But Yuuma just smiled back at me graciously.
Then, with her voice loud and clear, she said, “Could you die for me?”
………
…Huh? What?
“…Eh? You… Um, sorry, could you say that again? I think there’s something wrong with my ears.” I must have misheard. Yes, I was mistaken, obviously. That’s why I asked her to repeat herself.
And yet…
“Could you die for me?” Yuuma asked again, her innocent voice still as clear as it had been a second ago.
It didn’t make any sense. I forced a smile and was about to tell her how funny a joke it was when…
Whoosh. A pair of huge, black wings burst out of Yuuma’s back. They beat back and forth violently, and a jet-black feather came flitting through the air to land at my feet.
What on earth was going on? I mean, Yuuma might have been as sweet as an angel, but this…