「好きです。俺と付き合って下さい」

"I like you. Please go out with me."

「ごめんなさい。佐藤君と付き合う気はありません」

"I'm sorry. I don't want to go out with Sato-kun."

十年前、高校二年生だった俺は一世一代の告白をした。

Ten years ago, as a sophomore in high school, I made the confession of a lifetime.

相手は誰もが恋い焦がれる高嶺の花。

She was the unattainable dream girl everyone yearned for.

結果は撃沈。

It was a crushing defeat.

平凡な俺が彼女と付き合えるはずもなく——。

There was no way an ordinary guy like me could ever go out with her——.

誰にでもある苦い青春。そう思い、俺はもう忘れていたのに。

A bitter memory of youth that everyone experiences. Or so I thought, having already forgotten about it.

「久しぶりだね。佐藤一樹くん」

"It's been a while, hasn't it, Kazuki Sato?"

十年後、俺は彼女と再会した。

Ten years later, I reunited with her.

もう出会うはずもないと思っていた、初恋相手に。

My first love, whom I never thought I'd meet again.

「ひ、久しぶりだな。白川結奈」

"L-long time no see, Yuna Shirakawa."

俺と彼女の差は変わってなかった。

The gap between us hadn't changed.

ブラック企業に勤める俺と、一流企業に勤める彼女。

Me, working for an exploitative company, and her, working for a top-tier company.

と言えど、久々に再会しただけだ。

Even so, it was just a reunion after a long time.

これ以上は関わらないと思っていたのに。

Yet I thought I wouldn't get involved with her anymore.

——隣の家に住んでたんだ……これって運命かなー？——

——She lived next door... could this be fate?——

——もうー。何を暗い顔をしてるんだ。一緒に頑張ろう！——

——Come on. Why the long face? Let's do our best together!——

——引け目を感じても何も良いことないぞぉ！？——

——Feeling inferior won't do you any good, you know!?——

これは一度終わってしまった青春を取り戻す物語。

This is a story about reclaiming a youth that had once ended.

あの日、付き合う選択肢を選ばなかった俺と彼女の。

The story of me and her, who didn't choose to go out that day.

『カクヨム』でも連載してました。

Also serialized on 'Kakuyomu'.