Hatsukoi no Atosaki

Nishima has built a successful career at a prestigious company, yet his professional achievements offer him no real comfort. Following the end of a deeply loveless marriage, he finds that his outward success feels entirely hollow. Searching for some sense of meaning in his newly single life, a casual visit to a local cafe unexpectedly changes his trajectory when he crosses paths with the establishment's owner, Miyama. To Nishima's surprise, Miyama turns out to be an old classmate from their high school days. At first, it appears that Miyama has completely forgotten their shared past. However, this assumption is quickly shattered when Miyama pointedly asks why Nishima is no longer wearing his wedding ring. The conversation takes a deeper turn as Miyama brings up a specific remark Nishima made to him ten years earlier during high school, revealing that their history is far more significant than Nishima realized. This unexpected reunion forces Nishima to confront the lingering echoes of his past and the true weight of words spoken long ago. This volume also includes the one-shot story Double Line.