My Younger Stepsister with whom I have never spoken to is an online friend from a game into which I have been fooling around for years. - Chapter 8.6
"Please Rate the Novel in NovelUpdates!"
Click Here
Chapter 8: An Usual Event
Translated by: White Fanatic
Edited by: SevenTails
(Part 6)
“Hey, Sakaguchi, please come to the mixer party with the Hoshi-girl’s school this coming Saturday~ I beg you~”
“It’s a good idea to blow off your load every once in a while. Just for a breather, you know.”
“A–haha, sorry. I’m not at all interested in such things, and I have training that day as well.”
Judging from his behavior, he seemed to be just as what the rumors said he was like, even while he was still declining his best friend’s request with a troubled look on his face. But that, on the contrary, makes me doubt the connection between him and Hiraori, making me wonder more and more about it.
“!”
At that time, my smartphone, which I had set to silent mode, trembled.
《 I have a committee meeting today, so I’ll be a little late returning home. 》
It was from Hiraori. I hurriedly responded to the message due to my confusion.
《 Committee meeting? 》
《 As a member of the library committee. For about 30 minutes after school. 》
That was all she wrote. It didn’t say that I should go home first or stay back and wait for her. Most probably implying that it was up to me. Being picked up in a fight the other day and now today’s backbiting gossip… being concerned about all that right now, going home first wasn’t an available option for me at the moment.
It was after school.
I tried to look into the next class just in case and could not see either Rin Hiraori or Rin Nanjo in sight.
“Subaru, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Both the sun and the moon have already set.”
“Nope, it’s not like that…”
“Ehhh, now, no need to hide it. By the way, how about we stop by somewhere before we go back home?”
“Nope, I’m planning to check out the library today. Do you want to come too, Koutora?”
“Uge~ee.”
Koutora made a strange noise and quickly ran away. I looked back at his dispersing figure with a wry smile.
There was nothing to look up in the library, actually. It was just that, since the word ‘library’ was still lingering in my mind, I decided to take a look.
There was also the option of waiting at the Hatsushiba station. In fact, since there are several shopping malls in the area, it would have been more reasonable to kill some time that way. I thought my fears were unfounded. Since even Nanjo Rin was following her.
Perhaps, this was all just for my self-satisfaction.
However, after listening to the conversation I overheard during lunch, I just couldn’t bring myself to simply go home.
The library is sparsely populated, with at most a few people quietly reading or studying. I don’t have anything I need to look up, but I have some assignments from class. If it’s a big deal, I can kill time with that.
《Let’s do an assignment in the library.》
Thinking that it would be a problem if it were to be misunderstood, I simply sent it to him in a simple manner. Then, I was surprised when my smartphone immediately sent me a notification.
《Kurai, please keep next Saturday free. We will have a Strategy Meeting at my place.》
When I thought he replied quite fast, I noticed that it was not from Shiyori but from Nanjo Rin. Although I was surprised, I also briefly replied with 《I understand》 and decided to start working on the task.
I can’t say that I was able to concentrate very well. I was really worried about the Shiyori. Still, when I checked the time, 30 minutes had already passed, and I was somewhat able to complete the contents required for my assignment. My objective to pass the time till then was completed. Although, I can’t say I made much progress.
“!?”
At that time, out of the window, I saw the long black hair that I had become accustomed to seeing recently, walking toward the back of the school building. But not only that but also the boy whose appearance I had just confirmed during the break earlier―Sakaguchi Kenta was also visible.
―Why? How come? What about the committee?
Various questions ran through my mind, but my body had left the library faster than my thoughts could catch up. I was running down the stairs, skipping two steps at a time. It was as if I would end up rolling down at any moment, yet I sprinted down the corridor without worrying about the surroundings. Is this loud pounding of my heart the result of running fast or the perplexed I was feeling?
“!”
“Oops!”
At the corner to the back of the school building, a male student―I slightly bumped into one of the people with Sakaguchi Kenta while I chased him previously.
My face suddenly got hot when I saw his face in front of me.