THE BLOSSOMING CAMELLIA FLOWER (カメリア)

Chapter 1

-APRIL 2010-

Every girl around my age would spend her teenage years hanging out with friends, going to the mall, watching movies, eating at a café, visiting a cat café, or something like that. The typical things teenage girls do. But for me, I was different. You see, I was a boyish nerd who occasionally hung out with my friends—most of whom were boys. I had girlfriends too, but they were more girlish than me. When I started high school, I joined the school's softball team.

One day, I was at my apartment, just relaxing. I had decided to live on my own after an argument with my parents. My apartment was fairly close to the school I was attending.

While I was relaxing, my friend Nao texted me, saying she was coming over. Nao was my best friend. We had been friends since middle school, and we were very close. She was also on my softball team. Last week, she and my other teammates decided to pull a prank on me by placing a bucket of water above the locker room door. I got so drenched that my softball uniform was completely soaked, and my socks were wet too—I had to walk home with soggy feet. Thankfully, I didn't get sick after that. But now, I guess it was time to return the favor...

I filled up a bucket with water and added a bit of lime juice for extra effect. Then, I placed it above the door, leaving it slightly open. After that, I turned off the lights and hid in my room.

A few minutes passed, and I heard footsteps outside the door. Then, after a brief pause...

BAAM!

The bucket fell, and I immediately ran out—

It's a boy.

???: "AaaAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Cami: "OH MY GOD, I THINK THE LIME JUICE GOT INTO HIS EYES!!!"

A Few Minutes Later

I suddenly remembered that a week ago, the landlord had informed me that I would be sharing the apartment with someone else. I was confused at first—I thought I might be sharing the place with someone older than me. But they reassured me that it was someone younger. I didn't bother asking about their gender because I just assumed it would be a girl.

Unfortunately, it was a boy.

Cami: "So... you must be the one moving in, right?"

Boy: nods

Cami: "Can you speak?"

Boy: "Sorry... me... no... speak... Japanese..."

Cami: "Oh, really? It's okay. You can speak English with me. I understand English very well."

Maybe that's why he was silent at first—he couldn't speak Japanese yet. I guess he was new here. Just by looking at his face, I could tell he was from somewhere else.

Cami: "Where are you from?"

Boy: "Oh... I'm from the Philippines."

Cami: "The Philippines? Where is that?"

Boy: "It's a country in Southeast Asia."

Cami: "Oh... I guess you're far from home. What made you decide to move here?"

Boy: "My parents sent me here to study. I'm going to this school called Kyoto University."

Cami: "Oh, really? I go there too... I guess we're schoolmates then."