Stories that land

A Birthday Message for Nobu

Nobu of Vintage was crazy about his high school girlfriend. Then a message from her arrived on his birthday.

Nobu of Vintage

In this story, Japanese comedian Nobu of Vintage looks back on his high school girlfriend and a message she sent him on his birthday.

My high school girlfriend

I'm Nobu from Vintage.

This is about my girlfriend in high school. I was crazy about her, but there was one thing that bothered me: she had really strong B.O. The smell from her armpits was overpowering, even right after a shower. But I loved her, so I accepted that, too. I really did.

Then, on my birthday, out of nowhere, I got a message on my phone. It was from her: “Let's break up.”

Hold on. I'd accepted her B.O. and everything, and SHE was the one breaking up with ME? I was furious. I wrote back, “Tell me why.”

Her reply: “I don't like people with B.O.”

…Wait. ME?!

She was the one with B.O., but she went around telling everyone in our class that I was the one with it.

From then on, my nickname was “B.O.”

A smiling girl with long hair in two low pigtails holds the receiver of a corded telephone to her ear. She has flushed cheeks and wears a pink top, with red hearts around her.

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