I Chose the Plain Girl Instead of the Class’s Top Three Beauties, and Somehow She Became the Heroine - 23

Chapter 23: Book Exchange

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《Sora Mukei’s POV》

On Monday morning, I chose the light novel I would exchange with Anno-san, picking a mystery fantasy I could finish even in a single read. I thought it was the most talked-about light novel of 2024. I entered the classroom. The chalk dust on the blackboard shimmered faintly in the sunlight coming through the window. As I set my bag on my desk, a bright scent approached.

“Good morning, Mukei-kun!”

It was Yua Miura. She had a thin layer of concealer under her eyes, and her smile was as cheerful and charming as ever.

“Good morning. Did you get some rest over the weekend?”

“Yeah, I restocked on mint gum~”

I remembered the mint gum she had given me before and realized I had learned her preferences. After seeing Miura-san off, my gaze met Anno-san’s.

“Good morning, Anno-san.”

“…G-Good morning, Mukei-kun.”

She returned my greeting, just like last week. Her “good morning” was half a tone louder than last week. I hoped she was gradually getting used to speaking out loud. Then Akira slid in.

“Sora, good morning!”

“Hey, good morning.”

While greeting Akira, I quietly told Anno-san.

“Courtyard at lunch.”

“Yeah.”

It was a small reply, but for some reason, it made me happy. Just before the bell, the classroom door banged open.

“Safe!”

Kai Okabe called out loudly. His hair was neatly styled, but there were faint shadows under his eyes.

“Out, Okabe. You’re late.”

“Sensei!”

Laughter broke out. It should have been the usual volume, the usual exchange—but to me, it seemed unusually strained. At lunchtime, I had bread and milk in one hand, and a paperback in the other. In the courtyard, a stone bench sat half in sunlight and half in shade beneath the camphor tree. When I arrived, Anno-san was already seated, gently aligning the corners of her paperback cover on her lap.

“Did I keep you waiting?”

“N-No.”

The rabbit keychain jiggled like a tiny bell.

“Shall we exchange, then?”

“Yes!”

I had slipped in the message card I bought at the large bookstore yesterday.

『For your one-station commute. If it doesn’t suit you, I’ll try another story. —Sora』

I hoped she would notice it when she opened my book. From Anno-san came a short collection of poems. A few tiny sticky notes peeked from the page edges, each with a one-line comment from her. For some reason, I found it cute and wonderful. It was my first time reading a poetry collection, but just having words from someone I liked made it feel like we shared the same feelings, and I could exchange my impressions with hers.

“Thank you… Next, a light novel and romance exchange, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll read the short stories one by one on the way home.”

“I’d be glad if you liked them…”

We sat side by side on the bench and opened just one page of each book. Reading too much would spoil the fun of the impression-sharing session.

“Shall we set some rules?”

“R-Rules?”

“Bookmark position for one station. Impressions in one word, during exchange.”

She quietly adjusted her hairpin. I looked at her profile and placed a word next to it.

“Your posture’s beautiful today, too. I think it’s wonderful that you’re trying to change every day, Anno-san.”

“…T-Thank you.”

Her subdued lipstick reflected the daylight softly, different from the weekend. At the edge of my vision, movement stopped. Down the cobblestone path leading to the school building, Mizuki Kiritani walked carrying a stack of handouts. Okabe appeared a half-step ahead from around the corridor corner. They were far enough that I couldn’t hear their voices. But from the angle of their shoulders and height of their gaze, I could roughly understand what was happening. Okabe wasn’t blocking the corridor as usual. Not directly in front, either. He stood slightly to the side, leaving a little distance. He received part of the handouts, said something short, and smiled faintly at the corners of his mouth. Mizuki-san said “Bye then.” with her lips and walked quickly toward the staff room.

“…We saw that, didn’t we?”

Anno-san muttered, a beat behind me.

“Yeah. She’s being unusually kind today.”

“Yes… I felt a little relieved.”

Her voice was soft, but it carried against the wind through the camphor leaves. It looked like Okabe was apologizing to Kiritani-san and taking over some of her work. I had no intention of interfering with their friendship. I wouldn’t go any deeper. I didn’t want our own space to be disturbed. A sip of milk, a sip of her warm tea. When the straw made a small “psst” sound, she chuckled slightly.

“So, milk again today?”

“Yeah. I guess I’m particular about having milk with bread.”

Even though it had only been a few days, the small routines between us were becoming comfortable. Soon, the bell rang faintly in the distance.

“Shall we go back?”

“Yes… Uum, Mukei-kun.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m looking forward to the next impression session.”

“Me too.”

She stood slowly, straightening her posture, and lightly tapped the rabbit ribbon with her fingertips. The shadow of the camphor shifted a little, casting faint daylight along the two plastic-covered books. Just before leaving the bench, I glanced once more down the cobblestone path. Mizuki-san aligned her handouts in front of the staff room door, and Okabe leaned against the corridor wall, exhaling deeply. We only watched and then returned to the classroom. The first lunchtime exchange. Our private, secret time was comfortable, and it gave me something to look forward to.

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