Chapter 1 - The beautiful blind girl next to my apartment
“Um, what do you need in my apartment?”
December 25 — Christmas afternoon.
I don't have anyone special I can spend Christmas Eve with, so after I finish shopping, I head back to my apartment, number 303 of the five-floor condo, but there's a girl standing in confusion in front of my apartment.
— A girl who can't see.
It's been almost a year since I moved into this condo.
Even if I don't know who my neighbors are, I still know the faces of the residents here.
But, I've never seen the girl who standing in front of me.
For a moment, I thought she was a suspicious person, but the front door of this apartment was locked automatically so outsiders couldn't get in easily, and most importantly, when she looked back, my suspicions just flew away in the wind, and disappeared into nowhere.
She's a really pretty girl…!?
She have medium height with a lean body, white skin like snow. Her long black hair glistened and shone brilliantly in the twilight rays.
Her face, which was facing me, was well-groomed and slightly babyfaced , and had beauty
“Ah, um, is this your apartment?”
That girl asked, with her big hazel eyes.
“That's true, but…”
“T-Thank goodness… it looks like number 305 doesn't have anyone in it, so I wonder if there's no occupant next to me either…”
“Ah, only 3 rooms are occupied on the third floor. Numbers 305 and 304 are blank…”
Wait a minute? A question crossed my mind.
She says she's next to numbers 305 and 303 (Me), that means...
“Could it be, you transferred from number 304?
"Oh, right. Yesterday just moved. So, I thought of greeting my neighbour.”
"Oh, I see."
Yesterday, all day I was in the house so I didn't see it, but it's true I felt the third floor was a bit noisy. It must be from the person who helped her move.
“Um, if you look around, it looks like your age and mine aren't that much different…”
Everyone knows that asking a woman's age is rude.
I'm a little confused whether I should ask or not, but since she seems to be the same age as me, I thought it would be fine.
"Oh, right. I am, now 15 years old, a first year high school student.”
“Hey, same with me. By the way, the way you talk bothers me a bit, am I really that old in your eyes? It makes me kind of sad, you know.”
I don't look young, and there's no way I'm looking old… no, it must be because I look mature.
When I was sad to hear his words, the girl hurriedly waved her hand.
"Ah, no, I didn't mean it that way. Sorry, my eyes can't see… so I didn't know you were the same age as me…”
“Eh…? ah, so that's how it is. No, now I understand… of course you don't. Sorry…"
I didn't do it on purpose, I thought.
Even though there's nothing around me, there are a lot of people out there who can't see.
Though I should have known about it, but I discarded that possibility and continued the conversation as if I didn't notice.
Apologies continue to be spoken in my heart.
Then, the situation became awkward — or so I thought…
"No, no, you don't have to worry. Um, it's not that I can't see at all, I also… I'm sorry. Though I could have talked about it first, but I went past it.”
The girl didn't seem too offended, instead, she smiled apologetically.
Then, she seemed to remember something, then distributed the paper bag she was carrying.
“Um, here, there is a souvenir from my parents' house… It's a small gift, but please accept it.”
“Y-Yes… I gladly accept…”
When I looked in the bag I received, there was bread in plastic packaging. “Misumi Shrine” was written on the packaging.
“Wow, your parent's temple huh. It was incredible."
"No, no, because it's a countryside temple."
“However, it is rare for people to move during this semester. Where is your school?”
She said he could barely see, but when I spoke to her at this distance, she still couldn't see me.
I thought she went to a special needs school, but apparently not because the school is far from this condo.
“Um, after winter break is over, at Rinsei High.”
"Eh, seriously? I'm also in Rinsei…”
"Is that true?"
I look forward to your cooperation at school, she said while showing his sweet smile.
To think we were in the same school.
Around here there are three schools, Rinsei is the closest to this condo.
Rinsei is a high school that not only has higher deviation scores than other schools, but also has excellent club activities, literally claiming to be a school of liberal arts and martial arts.
Which means, she's a girl who can study well.
No, because she had already passed the transfer exam, which was said to be quite difficult, so she was probably one of the best students in her class.
When I thought about how cute and smart she was and how scary… she looked as if she suddenly remembered something.
“A-Anyway, I still haven't introduced myself.”
“Ah, I forgot about that too.”
We both chuckled.
“I'm Sayo Misumi. I just moved from the countryside, so I don't really understand the area around here, my eyes can't see either, so I might ask you for help later, so please help.”
She, Misumi, lowered her head, and bowed politely.
Maybe it had something to do with her parents' house which was a temple, her bowing gesture was beautiful to my eyes, and I was mesmerized by her.
Uhum, after coughing, I found the composure to introduce myself.
"My name is Souta Tsushiro. If you don't mind me, you can count on me. I just happen to have a lot of free time.”
"Well. Once again asking for your help, Tsushiro-kun."
“S-Sure…”
Since I'm not called –kun that often , it tickles me a bit.
“Also, there's no need to use Kengo, you know? We're the same age after all."
"Fine, but it's like my habit. Um, if you don't like it, I'll be careful…”
How is this …, muttered Misumi in confusion.
Not that I'm forcing her to change her way of speaking.
If she's more comfortable talking like that, I don't mind.
"No, it's not that I don't like it. Just talk as comfortably as you want.”
"Okay, I understand."
Then, I'll excuse myself first, said Misumi, smiling.
"By the way, do you live alone?"
"Oh, yes. I live alone."
“You must be having a hard time with a lot of things, right?”
I know because I also left my hometown and entered high school at the same time, living alone is difficult.
You have to do all the housework that your parents did yourself, because here is a strange place, you also need to compare where and what is.
Even I was having a hard time at first, but the efforts of Misumi, who was barely able to see, couldn't compare to mine.
“Well… I'm pretty good at homework, so there's no problem, but it seems like it will take some time to get used to the town. I don't really know the location of the school either, so during winter break, I might as well visit it once.”
A fellow person living alone, I can understand her predicament.
"Should I take you?"
Words like that, suddenly came out of my mouth.
To be honest, I was surprised myself.
I'm not very friendly, and I never really thought about doing things for other people.
However, when I moved, maybe because she was going through the same difficulties as me, I thought I wanted to be a support for her---that's what I thought.
“Um, that, I live alone too and go through the same predicament. Plus, when we're in trouble, shouldn't we help each other?"
I explained that I had no ulterior motives, not that I was helping Misumi because she was a pretty girl and wanted to be close to her, but I sincerely wanted to help her.
Then, Misumi, who blinked her eyes for a while, for some reason, giggled.
“Fufu, I'm sorry. Tsushiro-kun said it as if you were desperately trying to find an excuse.”
“Oh, no, I mean…”
"It does not matter. I understand that Tsushiro-kun said it with good intentions.”
Apparently, she already understood what I meant.
I averted my eyes, scratched my cheek, embarrassed, but Misumi couldn't possibly see my behavior.
However, I felt that she knew that I was embarrassed.
The proof, now he was giggling.
"Okay. If Tsushiro-kun says wants to take me, I'll gladly accept."
That's how I promise that tomorrow I'll take her around this town...
Translator: Exxod
Editor: Janaka