“First love determines a man’s entire life.” (André Maurois)

1

If anyone contacts you on TWINS, tell me. We’ll plan the strategy together Ayase-san had made me promise that, so until now I’d basically kept to it.

But this time the other party was an old acquaintance. My ex-girlfriend, no less.

I hesitated whether to tell her or not. I had no idea what the other side was thinking right now. Would another girl understand something I couldn’t?

Tell her? Don’t tell her?

While I was still agonizing, the next day at lunch break. I was at the library computer doing librarian work when,

“Hey, Sensei. You’re definitely hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

School-mode Ayase-san, who had come right up beside me, asked. Lately she always shows up whenever I’m in the library. Right after lunch starts, almost no one comes here, so she probably thinks we can talk freely. Her attitude is completely different from in the classroom. This is the real Ayase-san.

“N-No… I’m not hiding anything.”

I try to play it off, but she just gives me a knowing smirk.

“What’s with that smile…”

“It’s useless hiding things from me. I can read you like a book. You’re absolutely hiding something. Am I right?”

“Ugh…”

She’s right, of course.

The thing I’m hiding is that my ex contacting me on TWINS.

I still haven’t decided whether to tell Ayase-san.

But she’s sharp. If I half-ass it, she’ll never let me off the hook and will keep digging.

Once she suspects, I basically have no choice but to confess.

“Come on, spill. Come on, come on.”

“Stop—get off me!”

She comes closer and locks my neck from behind. That literary-girl appearance doing wrestling moves. Her soft breasts are squishing against my back—

“Fine, fine! I’ll talk, just let go!”

She releases me, and I continue.

“Actually…My ex from middle school contacted me on TWINS.”

“…Huh?”

Her face says, “What is this idiot talking about?”

“I didn’t ask for a joke.”

She looks genuinely annoyed.

But it’s not a joke.

“It’s true. The girl I dated in middle school.”

“Hmmph. Then what kind of person is she? Show me photos. I’ve never even heard you had a girlfriend in middle school. I need to verify she actually exists and what kind of woman she is.”

“B-But that’s…”

“Why the ‘little privacy’ reaction!?”

“Because it is a little private…”

“Hmmm… hiding it, huh. Got it. Then I won’t help this time. I have my own plan.”

“What plan…?”

“If you end up going on a date with your ex, I’ll tail you, show up during the date, call myself your ex too, and see how she reacts. From that reaction I’ll figure out how she feels about you now…”

“Stop! I’ll show you right now!”

I don’t have old photos, only the ones on TWINS, but I have no choice.

And honestly, I want advice. Going in unarmed against this opponent would be brutal.

“Here.”

Ayase-san stares at the screen… and freezes.

Five seconds of silence.

“You’ve gotta be kidding.”

First words out of her mouth.

“Even if it was middle school, a beauty like this was your ex? No way…”

“Yeah, I get that reaction.”

I can only give a wry laugh. Because she’s right.

Even in middle school she was stunning; now she’s somehow even more beautiful. Sagura Miyu-san.

“How the hell did you date someone like her? Explain!”

“Well…”

To give proper advice she needs the whole story anyway.

So I start talking.

It was about ten years ago…

2

In elementary school I had crushes on 2D beautiful girls, or the popular energetic cute girls in class.

But real “love” began in middle school.

Sagura-san was my first.

I ran into her by chance at a bookstore on the way home from cram school. That was the trigger.

“Kizaki-kun, what are you doing here?”

“Sagura-san, same question.”

She was the class idol, every boy’s dream.

Even to plain old middle-school me, she sparkled.

So of course I was flustered.

“I-I just finished cram school… What about you?”

“Piano lesson. Same.”

“You like piano?”

“I don’t. My parents make me.”

“Ah, sorry.”

“Do you like cram school?”

“…Not really ‘like,’ I just need to study more.”

“? To get into a good high school?”

“Sort of…”

I was so excited to talk to her I ended up telling her about elementary school stories.

I went to a different public elementary school. There was a teacher I admired.

I was bad at sports, average grades, only liked manga and novels, had almost no friends, always alone.

That teacher reached out to me.

“I was like that too when I was a kid.” “That’s fine.” “As you grow up, people who accept you appear.” “I did too.” “Everyone’s different. That’s personality.”

Those words saved me.

I left out the negative parts and told her I wanted to become a teacher like him, so I needed to study hard and aim for the prestigious prefectural high school he graduated from.

“So that’s why.”

She smiled gently.

“Having a dream is amazing.”

Dream.

I’d never thought of it that way.

Dreams were becoming idols, athletes, mangaka, streamers, game creators, that kind of thing.

“I don’t think anyone in our class has such a proper dream. That’s cool. I don’t have anything I want to be… Oh, right. Mid-terms are soon—could you tutor me?”

“Eh…?”

“My grades aren’t great—if you want to be a teacher, think of it as practice?”

She clasped her hands in front of her chest, pleading.

I never imagined I’d get this close to the girl I liked.

Thus began our study sessions together.

We went to libraries and cafés together.

One night on the way home from the library, she suddenly grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers.

Surprised and embarrassed, I instinctively pulled away.

“Ah… sorry, did I startle you?”

She looked a little sad.

I panicked.

“No, I’m sorry… but that kind of thing is…”

“Something lovers do?”

She finished my sentence.

Then she gave an ambiguous smile.

“Hey, Kizaki-kun… do you still think we’re not lovers yet?”

That was the moment we officially became a couple.

(By the way, that day I had my first kiss ever, but I’m too embarrassed to tell Ayase-san that part.)

For the next few months we met after cram school or lessons, went on a few dates on days off.

But entrance-exam prep got intense, mock tests on weekends, we saw each other less and less, drifted apart…

“And it just naturally fizzled out?”

“Why didn’t you talk properly?”

“I felt bad… I thought maybe she hated me. I was scared to bring it up.”

“If you were going to break up anyway, you should have said it clearly. I don’t get it.”

She’s right now that I think about it.

I was scared of hearing “let’s break up.” Scared of getting hurt. Scared it would affect my studies.

I ran from love, chose the status quo.

Or, to sound cool, I chose my dream.

“So you never contacted her after that, and suddenly she messages you now?”

“Pretty much.”

“She’s 100% scamming you! Like those religion or insurance recruiters who target old classmates! Or maybe a pyramid scheme!”

“Sagura-san would never…”

“That’s ex-girlfriend bias. Classic mark behavior. Next thing you know you’ll be brainwashed into terrorism trying to overthrow the government.”

“Don’t say scary stuff. Impossible.”

“When are you meeting? This week? Next?”

“Sunday after next…”

“Then I’ll dig up everything on her before then. Not much time, but I’ll manage!”

“You’re serious…?”

“My goal is to help you succeed at matching. And maybe I’ll find proof she’s in a shady cult!”

“I told you, probably not…”

But once Ayase-san decides something, she can’t be stopped.

And honestly, I want the information.

Even a little insight into current Sagura-san would make talking easier.

Reduce the nerves when we meet.

“But absolutely no weird stuff. No confronting her directly, okay?”

“I know, I know. This is all for you, Sensei.”

I feel a little bad using my own student, but it’s basically zero downside for me.

So I gratefully accept.

(But does this mean I still have strong feelings for… no, maybe lingering attachment to Sagura-san?)

“By the way, Sensei. They say guys never forget the girls they loved in the past—is that true?”

“Eh…? Depends on the guy, right?”

I answer, flustered.

How did she see through me?

“Hmph… First love is a curse, Sensei.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I read it in a book. Men chase the phantom of their first love forever. Only first love is true love. First love determines a man’s entire life.”

Right then the door opened and another student entered.

Conversation over.

“We were in the middle of something interesting, but oh well. Look forward to my report ♡”

She whispered in my ear and left.

(First love is a curse…)

The words echoed in my head.

Now that she mentions it, maybe so.

(Ever since then, I’ve unconsciously judged every woman by how much she resembles Sagura-san…)

Anime, manga characters, even adult videos, same standard.

Because Sagura-san was my first and last real love.

That’s why I’ve never let her go.

I’ve heard “first love determines a man’s entire life” too.

(Still…)

Just how far is Ayase-san going to investigate, and how?

I’m getting seriously anxious.

3

Investigation report time!

The message came just over a week later, Saturday afternoon the day before the date with Sagura-san.

Deadline-day delivery. Either she dug until the last second or gave up.

I’m heading to your place now.

No asking permission, just declaration. I let out a huge sigh.

(So Ayase-san, but getting used to this is wrong.)

She’s my student; I shouldn’t be inviting her over to talk about my love life.

Yet my heart raced waiting to hear what she found.

An hour later the doorbell rang.

I opened it, and there she stood, expression unusually dark.

“Hey, Sensei…”

“W-What…?”

Her whole vibe was off; I tensed.

“Good news and bad news—which first?”

“S-So there is bad news…?”

“Mufufu~☆”

She grinned at my obvious nervousness.

“You were so fidgety at school staring at me, I knew you were dying to know.”

True, I’d been restless all week.

“So that attitude just now was a joke?”

“No, both good and bad are real. Let’s get to it.”

She marched in, sat at the low table as usual. I sat opposite.

“Which do you want first?”

“Even if you ask…”

“Time’s up—bad news first. This is the most important for you. Look.”

She held out her phone.

A photo: a young woman walking beside a man in his 40s–50s.

“That’s—”

“As you see, Sagura Miyu.”

Zoom in—definitely current Sagura-san. Same face as on TWINS.

“One more.”

Next photo: her eating with a different young man.

Same woman.

“Meaning that woman is either running romance scams on multiple guys through apps, or she’s a total slut!”

“Romance scam or slut…”

“She’s absolutely sleeping around. Sugar daddy or pillow business!”

“Evidence?”

If she had hotel photos or recordings of cult/insurance pitches, she’d show them.

“Well… no…”

“Then maybe she’s just actively wedding-hunting like me…”

“But that first guy is way too old!”

“Maybe she likes older men…”

“Then why contact you?”

“N-Nostalgia…?”

She gave me half-lidded “are-you-stupid” eyes.

“Could be coworker, relative, even her dad. They’re not even linking arms.”

“Mmm, true, but they looked close, and the dinner vibe…”

“If that doesn’t bother you, fine. Now the good news—for you. Bad for your ex, maybe.”

“?”

“You’ll be a hero if you play this right.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Want to know? Then massage my shoulders♪ This intel is huge. If things go well, you can save the day.”

“…”

I have no idea what she’s on about.

“Shoulders. Girls get stiff shoulders from breast weight, you know.”

“…Good grief.”

Muttering, I stand behind her on the carpet and start rubbing.

(Why am I doing this…)

Normally the older teacher should be the one getting the massage.

I suddenly picture elementary-school Ayase-san beaming “I’ll massage your shoulders, Sensei!” She’d be adorable.

Reality:

“Haa…♡ Ah…♡ Nnnn…♡”

“STOP MAKING THOSE NOISES!”

“

“Eh? What? Your massage just feels good, what’s the problem?”

“You’re doing it on purpose.”

“Practice makes perfect♪ Come on, harder.”

“Harder…”

“Did you just think something perverted? Peeking down my shirt? You got curious after I mentioned boobs, right?”

“Stop saying stupid stuff. Tell me the hero info already.”

I press harder.

“Ow! Ow! I’ll tell, just be gentle!”

“Then talk.”

“Okay, okay—there’s someone else secretly tailing that woman besides me. Wait—”

She pulls away, grabs her phone, shows me the screen.

“Look. Suspicious, right?”

A person about 170 cm (my height), wearing a deep cap, face hidden.

“Definitely getting stabbed. Stalker, no question. Your ex did something to earn that much hatred.”

“Stop with the violent predictions.”

“Make sure you don’t end up like that after she dumps you again.”

“Sagura-san wouldn’t, and I wouldn’t become a stalker.”

If I were that obsessive I’d have done something back in middle school, and things might have turned out differently.

“If you spot this person on the date, ask them. You might actually get to play hero.”

“Hmm…”

I guess…”

I’m not sure that’s a good idea, but…

Who the hell is that suspicious person anyway?

4

The day of the date with my ex, Sagura Miyu.

I arrived early at the station, killed time, used the restroom (fixed hair and outfit), and reached the café ten minutes early when a message from MYU♡ (Sagura-san) arrived.

Sorry… Might be five minutes late. Go in first.

Got it.

I replied and entered the café.

Old-fashioned Western-style café with Showa vibes.

No reservations, weekend, might have to wait, she’d warned, but only one pair ahead of me.

The place was spacious with lots of seats, so I got in right away.

I told the staff my companion would arrive soon and was seated at a window table for two.

Sent Sagura-san the info and waited, drinking water, nerves making my throat dry.

Five minutes passed.

I looked around, and my eyes locked on one woman.

Last time I saw her in person was coming-of-age ceremony.

We were too awkward to talk that day.

Almost five years ago.

Hair shorter now, more mature aura, might not recognize her passing on the street.

But the woman walking toward me was unmistakably Sagura-san.

Our eyes met.

“Ah, found you.”

First words in nearly ten years.

“L-Long time no see.”

“Same.”

She smiled gently at my shaking voice and sat opposite.

(She really has become so mature and beautiful…)

“Found you instantly. You haven’t changed, Shuu-kun.”

Shuu-kun, same as always, my heart skipped.

The waiter brought water and menus.

“Um… here.”

I handed her the menu first. Ladies first, Ayase-san’s lesson.

“I’ll have this fruit tea. You?”

“Same.”

Looked delicious, so I copied.

I called the waiter and ordered.

Order done.

Now until dinner reservation time, we sit face to face, just the two of us.

How do I even start?

Like a casual fighting-game player against a pro at the match start, fists sweating.

“But really, I was shocked. Never thought I’d see Shuu-kun on TWINS.”

She opened first, stepping right into my guard.

“A college friend recommended it…”

I answered and instinctively drank water.

“Are you nervous?”

She asked suddenly; my heart jumped.

“Your hand is shaking.”

“Ah…”

She was right.

Totally exposed.

“You really haven’t changed. You look like a proper teacher now, though.”

“I-Is that so…?”

“Your fashion sense is way better than back then too.”

“Eh, ah, well… thank you.”

Back then I just wore whatever my mom bought, super lame in hindsight.

She still dated me anyway, amazing.

I could only give an embarrassed laugh.

(Though right now I’m wearing clothes my students picked…)

How was Sagura-san back then?

I barely noticed fashion, but now I can tell she’s stylish.

She even complimented my outfit, so I should thank Ayase-san and the girls later.

Ayase-san’s words flashed in my mind.

“Complimenting the other person is important.” “No woman dislikes being praised.”

Perfect chance.

“You too, Sagura-san… you’ve become so mature and beautiful.”

She looked surprised for a second.

“…Thank you.”

She smiled, a little shyly.

“You’ve learned how to say stuff like that, Shuu-kun.”

It felt like a really good reaction.

Fist pump in my head.

Thanks to Ayase-san’s coaching, my choice had clearly been a huge success.

Her favorability had definitely gone up.

(…Not that this is actually a game…)

Right then our fruit teas arrived.

This time my hands didn’t shake when I picked up the cup.

“Fufu, it’s good,” Miyu said.

She was right. It really was delicious.

“But it’s so nostalgic, isn’t it? Remember when we used to go to cafés like this back in middle school? After the movies.”

“Y-yeah…”

One of the few dates we had while we were together. Our very first one.

“We had something like this fruit tea that time too, didn’t we?”

“Eh, did we?”

“Yep. You don’t remember.”

“S-sorry…”

I’d gotten pretty comfortable tutoring back then, but on actual dates I was a nervous wreck. I barely remembered what we’d even talked about five minutes earlier.

“I never thought I’d run into you again like this… And on TWINS of all places. You never struck me as the type.”

“What do you mean?”

Her expression stiffened a little.

Did I step on a landmine?

“N-no, I just… you’re obviously really popular, so I figured you wouldn’t need a dating app. To me you’re so out of my league that I’d never dare send a like first unless you liked me back…”

I tried to recover, but I think I just rambled more.

For a second she looked stunned, then she broke into a sly grin.

“Well, I do get a lot of attention.”

“Of course…”

Always had. It still felt like a miracle that I’d ever dated her, even briefly.

“But getting hit on by people I’m not interested in doesn’t help. And I’m not at the age where I’m willing to settle. Everyone around me uses apps. Girls are always looking for that fateful encounter, you know?”

“Fateful encounter…”

“Maybe running into grown-up Shuu-kun like this really is fate.”

“…Eh?”

The tiny murmur she let out was enough to make my heart skip.

Everything we talked about after that is pretty much a blur.

Before I knew it, my tea was gone.

“Looks like it’s about time. Shall we go?”

5

We moved to the dinner place we’d reserved.

Most of the conversation was middle-school nostalgia—who’s doing what now, who got married, which teacher is still at the school. Being a teacher myself, I still hear stuff from the old alma mater.

A little alcohol helped loosen me up, so I talked a lot too. It felt like a mini class reunion. I was having fun.

I hoped she was too.

We both carefully avoided anything about when we’d actually dated or the breakup.

No insurance pitches or religious recruitment so far either.

Ayase-san’s paranoia had been completely unfounded.

“So what do you do now, Miyu-san?”

The conversation had lulled, so it just slipped out. Her TWINS profile had listed “freelance.”

“Actually… nothing at the moment.”

She answered casually, like it was no big deal.

“I quit my last job for various reasons. Right now I’m thinking about what I want to do next. Soul-searching, I guess?”

“O-oh, okay…”

I panicked a little, worried I’d asked something awkward, but she didn’t seem bothered.

“You’re amazing, Shuu-kun. You knew what you wanted back then and actually went for it.”

It was embarrassing, but it made me really happy.

▼ ▼ ▼

Dinner flew by, we finished eating, I paid, and we stepped outside.

We were supposed to head to the station and part ways, but…

“Thanks for dinner. So… what now?”

Miyu pressed herself against me and whispered in my ear.

“Like I said earlier, I’m basically unemployed right now… I don’t have anything tomorrow.”

For a second the world stopped.

She was clearly hinting at what came next.

She was inviting me.

The situation left no other interpretation.

(So things are going well…?)

Maybe thanks to all of Ayase-san’s coaching.

If so, I owed her big time.

(Which means maybe tonight, Miyu and I…)

Old flames rekindled—this is exactly what that phrase is for.

But straight to a hotel would be way too fast.

I’d look like I was only after sex and totally turn her off.

“T-then how about… one more place?”

I’d looked up a few bars that would work after dinner.

If the vibe stayed good there, then maybe…

I was just about to suggest the closest one—

“SENSEI, RUN!!”

A voice suddenly rang out.

I knew exactly whose it was.

(Why the hell is Ayase-san here…?!)

She’d promised she wouldn’t follow today—!

The thought barely formed before something slammed into me.

Ayase-san had sprinted over and tackled me from the side.

I hit the concrete hard.

Miyu went down with me.

“Ayase-san, what the— Miyu-san, are you okay?!”

I held Ayase-san off me, sat up, and checked on Miyu.

“…I’m fine, but…”

Miyu sat up, frowned at Ayase-san—who was basically on top of me—and asked,

“Who’s she?”

I turned to Ayase-san.

She was staring wide-eyed.

“Sensei, that’s the guy!”

“Eh…?”

She pointed dramatically.

There stood a man—about 170 cm, cap pulled low over his eyes.

Exactly the guy from the photos Ayase-san had shown me.

Miyu noticed him too, eyes widening in shock before glaring daggers.

“Why are you here…?”

“That’s my line! Why are you on a date with him, arms linked?!”

“What? That’s my business. I’m not your property.”

“Miyu-san, this guy is…?”

“Some dude I met on an app a while back. After I stopped replying, he started showing up at my part-time job…”

“Why did you block me on LINE and the app?! You said you had fun with me!”

“Because I didn’t know you were… like this.”

“I love you! If I can’t have you, then nobody can…!”

He pulled something from his pocket.

A folding army knife, small enough to hide in one hand.

“Miyu-san!”

“Kyaa!”

My body moved on its own.

I pulled her into my arms to shield her.

“Get out of my way! If you’re in the way, I’ll start with—”

“Guh!”

A scream—not ours.

I looked up.

Ayase-san landed lightly, skirt fluttering—she’d just spinning-heel-kicked the stalker in the face.

The knife clattered to the ground.

“I took karate when I was little.”

But the guy quickly sat up.

“Who the hell are you people?! All of you ganging up on me—damn it!”

He looked normal, but his actions were anything but.

He scrambled for the knife.

I stomped on it instantly.

That should keep him from grabbing it.

“You bastard!”

He started to stand.

I needed to kick the knife far away—

But there were people everywhere.

What do I—?

Tweet!

A whistle.

Footsteps running toward us.

“Hey! What’s going on here?!”

Two police officers.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

The guy snatched the knife and bolted.

“Stop right there!”

The cops gave chase.

I left him to them and turned to Miyu.

“You okay?”

She nodded.

“…Sorry. This is my fault. And also…”

She looked at Ayase-san, who was still glaring at her.

“Who is she, really?”

“Ah, well…”

No way around it now.

I explained:

• Ayase-san is my student.
• She’d been using TWINS too.
• We matched by coincidence and she’d been coaching me.
• I’d even consulted her about Miyu.
• Ayase-san suspected insurance/religion scams and had been… keeping an eye on things.
• She’d spotted another stalker following Miyu.
• I had no idea she was watching today.

I left out the part where Ayase-san sleeps over at my place sometimes. That would cause way too many misunderstandings.

“If you’d told me earlier… well, I guess it wouldn’t have been possible.”

Miyu sighed, half-amused.

“You really haven’t changed, Shuu-kun. Still way too soft. She’s got you wrapped around her finger.”

Couldn’t argue with that.

Three souls till a hundred, as they say.

“Anyway, thanks—for saving me.”

She turned to Ayase-san with gratitude.

Ayase-san just huffed and looked away, refusing eye contact.

What do I even do with this situation…

The two officers came back.

“Mind coming with us to answer a few questions?”

6

We were taken to the local koban.

Miyu and I gave statements first—middle-school classmates, first time seeing each other in years, had dinner, then got attacked by her stalker.

Ayase-san was questioned separately, but since I’d already told the police I’m a teacher, I jumped in and explained she’s my student who just happened to be there and rushed to help.

Obviously I kept quiet about the date-stalking part.

No need to make our relationship look weird.

It really was an insane coincidence, maybe sounded a little fake, but they didn’t press.

Ayase-san picked up on my cover story and just agreed with everything I said.

Miyu didn’t contradict either.

Right as we wrapped up, news came in: the stalker had been arrested for violating the Swords and Firearms Control Law. No serious injuries—probably because witnesses saw Ayase-san’s kick.

Police said it looked like justifiable self-defense, but they’d contact us later after questioning him.

They decided any contact with Ayase-san would go through me first.

At her urging, they agreed to let me inform her parents instead of doing it themselves.

Meaning—she didn’t want them called.

I wasn’t thrilled, but with all the dirt she has on me, I can’t exactly call her parents myself.

The police, unaware, trusted me because I’m a teacher.

Miyu also filed an official stalker report while we were there.

Then we were released.

With Ayase-san still there and the whole mood ruined, continuing the date was impossible.

We all walked to the station together.

Walking with my ex and my student felt incredibly weird.

We reached the station quickly.

Because of the lines, I was getting off first.

“Well, this is me.”

I started to say goodbye—

“Ah, Shuu-kun. I’d like to redo today properly—as thanks and apology.”

I was stunned.

I’d been planning to suggest the exact same thing later.

“If you’re okay with it, that’d be great…”

“Then… how about next Sunday, July 7th?”

“Eh—”

Ayase-san suddenly exclaimed.

“Why are you reacting like that?”

“…Nothing. Just realized it’s Tanabata.”

She looked away.

I checked my calendar.

“Nothing scheduled.”

A Tanabata date.

Kind of romantic.

That must be why Ayase-san reacted, right?

“Perfect. I’ll message you. See you, Ayase-san—was it? Thanks again for today.”

“…Yeah.”

She answered awkwardly under Miyu’s friendly smile.

Of course—she’d been stalking the woman.

When I added, “See you at school the day after tomorrow,” she stayed silent, looking somehow upset.

Not her usual self.

I didn’t understand why at the time.

A few days later, I found out.

The Tanabata date I’d made with Miyu—

was Ayase-san’s birthday.