Insensitive Bocchi-kun ~Reluctantly Heading to School Today~ [Dropped] - Chapter 23: Library (2)

Chapter 23: Library (2)

“H-hey. I read the book Mamiya-kun recommended to me the other day.”

Hmm…

Did she really read it?

Right now, Saya Yamamoto was in front of me, returning a book to the library.

Ah… it’s already been a week.

“It was really interesting…”

“I see… That’s good to know.”

“Yeah…”

Beep.

“…”

I scanned the barcode on the back of the book I loaned out with a dedicated machine and confirmed that her book has been successfully returned.

“Return complete. You’re good to go.”

“Eh, uh… yeah.”

Yeah.

So what now? Why is she still standing in front of me?

As I said, the return process is already done…

Even after returning the book, she continues to stand in front of me, showing no sign of leaving for some reason.

But she doesn’t make any attempt to talk to me either, just nervously shifting her gaze towards me.

What’s going on…

If she’s finished with her business, I want her to move away from in front of me for now.

The stares from other people are bothering me…

Well, her presence is undoubtedly the reason…

Yamamoto… You don’t belong in the library.

You’re not the type to come here…

In fact, according to the records, this was her first time borrowing a book.

I don’t have any particular feelings about her coming to the library, but her recent behavior has been quite mysterious… That’s how I feel.

“H-hey. M-Mamiya-kun, do you, um, not read romance novels or anything like that?”

“No, I don’t…”

It would be weird if I did.

I mean, what kind of question is that right after finally opening her mouth?

Well, Yamamoto does seem to like those kinds of books, though…

“Um, aren’t you interested in romance or anything?”

There’s no way I would be…

I’m a loner.

Until middle school, I had the desire to be popular too, but now those feelings don’t arise in me at all…

Honestly, if I had encountered that calculating Yamamoto back in middle school, it might have been dangerous…

Well, now I truly have no interest.

“Not really.”

“I-I see. H-have you ever liked someone…?”

That’s something from the past too.

Even though I’m a loner, I’m still human, you know…

“I wonder?”

I don’t like being asked nonsensical questions, so that’s how I respond to her.

“I see. Um, hypothetically… Wh-what if, let’s say… there’s a girl who likes you. W-what will you do if she confesses?”

What kind of question is that?

There’s no way that would happen…

And her face is turning red for some reason.

Is she about to burst out laughing…?

Depending on how I answer, it could become gossip material.

No, it definitely will.

“Well, it wouldn’t happen in the first place…”

This answer should be the right one.

There’s no other option.

“I guess you wouldn’t know… though.”

You think so? Are you mocking me?

“That kind of girl won’t appear. Absolutely not…”

I’ll say it again, but I’m a loner.

Or rather, what’s up with her since earlier?

I don’t understand at all.

“Excuse me, there’s a book I can’t find.”

“Oh, sure.”

Before I knew it, a boy who appears to be a first-year student approached me.

“I’m fine like this…”

I said that to her and was about to go search for the book the guy wants.

“Um, sorry, just one more thing.”

But still standing in front of me, she says that with a serious expression.

“What is it?”

“Well… um…”

What is it, really?

I want her to say it quickly because there are people waiting.

“Um, do you still hate me?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, do you still hate me?”

Suddenly, she looks straight into my eyes.

“Eh?”

She continues to maintain her serious expression.

And I remember what happened before.

“No, I don’t hate you… I was also at fault back then.”

For now, I express my true thoughts to her.

If I were asked if I still hold any resentment towards her, I don’t think I do anymore.

Yeah.

In fact, I think my earlier words were a bit harsh considering who I am.

I thought I wouldn’t care if someone like me was hated, but it seems that humans are sensitive to the word “hate.”

I reflect on that.

“I-I’m glad…”

However, saying that, the girl in front of me loosens her expression slightly.

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, sorry. I’ll come now.”

After being called by the boy from earlier, I immediately head towards the shelf where the book he’s looking for is.

“Here…”

While I sense that Yamamoto left the library, I don’t really understand the reason behind it.

Why was she here for?