Chapter 12 – No Talking During Reading Time, Apparently

It was Wednesday, the halfway point of the week.

This is the day of the week you really start to miss the weekend.

For a member of the go-home club, the weekend is far more valuable than it is for those who have to go to school for club activities.

For the record, yesterday Nee-san tried to give Hayasaka-san a special lesson on virginity, but Hayasaka-san had no idea what kind of “business” men and women get up to at night, so the lesson has been postponed indefinitely.

“Akira-kun, what’s the lewd thing that guys and girls do at night? Is it kissing?”

The morning classroom.

Hayasaka-san comes up to me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

By the way, Shinichi, who has become a permanent fixture behind me, is completely appalled.

“More importantly, Hayasaka-san, how’s your test studying going?”

“It’s not going well at all.”

Whether she’s just honest or an airhead, she readily accepts the change in topic.

“More importantly, Akira-kun… um… call me by my first name.”

Glistening lips.

Slightly flushed cheeks.

What came from that sultry voice was a completely unexpected request. Hayasaka-san has been so forward these past few days that I’m actually a little bewildered.

“…Hinami-san.”

“Without the honorific.”

“Huh?”

“You call Hasebe-san by her first name, right? Then I want you to call me by my first name, too.”

Apparently, she has a rivalry with Chifuyu. Maybe. I dunno.

“Hinami. Is that okay?”

“Yep. I’m satisfied.”

Good. I’m glad she’s satisfied.

I should probably cut the conversation here and enjoy my morning reading.

I open my school bag and take out the three books I’d carefully placed inside. Two are light novels, and one is a manga.

Manga are forbidden during morning reading time, but with about five minutes of free time left, I figure it’s fine. I’ve only got about two chapters left, so this should be perfect.

“Is that ‘Empire’?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“I love it.”

“Huh?”

“My favorite manga in the entire world is ‘Empire’.”

“Oh, that’s what you meant.”

“What did you think I meant?”

For a second there, I thought she was confessing to me.

“‘Empire’ is great, isn’t it? My favorite character has to be Caesar.”

“I like Caesar, too.”

This is what’s great about Hayasaka-san—I mean, Hinami.

She can adapt to any sudden change in topic on the fly.

The manga “Empire” is a popular series from Weekly Shounen Hop, currently out to volume 34.

It’s a work that presents the history of the Roman Empire in an entertaining way, a must-read for any world history buff. Hinami sleeps through most of her classes, but she’s wide awake during history.

I’d thought she must like history, and I guess this is why.

“Ahem.”

That person behind me cleared his throat.

“If it’s manga you’re talking about, leave it to me. To think you’d discuss ‘Empire’ without me… you’ve got some nerve.”

“You could’ve just jumped in whenever you wanted.”

“No, I knew Hayasaka liked manga, but I couldn’t see which one she was reading. Because of the angle.”

Right, the angle.

“You like ‘Empire’ too, Nanba-kun?”

“Of course. I have read every manga in this world.”

Is that even possible?

“Wow, Nanba-kun, you’re actually an incredible person.”

And here we have someone who believes him.

“I do have some issues with the ‘actually’ part of that statement, but fine, I’ll let it slide.”

Shinichi’s way of speaking is even more peculiar than usual.

It’s probably because he’s talking to a girl. The last time he spoke to one was probably in kindergarten.

“Hey.”

Just as I thought a peaceful discussion about manga was about to begin, another voice called out.

“Chifuyu?”

Showing up a whole two minutes earlier than usual.

I didn’t think she’d talk to me the second she got to school.

Shinichi makes an awkward face, while Hinami watches Chifuyu with cool eyes. The reason Shinichi is awkward is that he’s the one who spread the news of my breakup with Chifuyu to the entire class.

The gazes of our classmates are gathering on us again.

“About yesterday… I’m sorry.”

The entire world was stunned.

Chifuyu is a bit of a stubborn girl.

For someone like her to bow her head while the whole class is watching…

Yesterday…? Oh, right, I’d completely forgotten. Come to think of it, I think I got pretty angry at Chifuyu yesterday.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s fine.”

“But…”

By my internal clock, it should be just about time for that.

—BRRRNNNGG, BRRRNNNGG—

The chime rang, signaling the end of free time.

“Hasebe, it’s reading time. You’re free to bother your ex-boyfriend Akira, but let’s make a clear distinction between break time and official school time.”

The class representative, Ryuuji, called her out with a crisp voice.

He’s a serious guy, but you can’t forget that his words are laced with teasing, sarcasm, and humor. I can feel the malice in how he emphasized the words “ex-boyfriend.”

“Let’s talk later—”

“Hasebe. Let’s get back to our seats. The student handbook says that talking during reading time is forbidden.”

To think he’s read the student handbook that closely.

That’s our resident overachiever for you, aiming for Harvard.

“And you, Akira.”

“Huh, me?”

“The student handbook says that flirting with your ex-girlfriend during reading time is forbidden.”

With the exception of a few of us, like me, Chifuyu, and Hinami, most of the class burst out laughing.

For now, I decided I’d spend today’s reading time reading the student handbook.