Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 3: Daily Attacks In the Library

Act 2(1)

That day after school, as I was sitting at the library counter as usual, a rowdy group of people came in.

A group of four.

When I saw them, I was startled. I was surprised to see Hasumi-senpai among them, and this was also our second encounter today.

“Hey, why do I have to tag along―”

“Come on. Don’t be such a killjoy. Besides, we’ve come this far already.”

Hasumi-senpai seemed uncomfortable entering the library and was complaining a lot. A petite girl was pulling her hand. That said, she must be a senior as well. The other two girls were pushing Hasumi-senpai’s back. The two were grinning, as if they were amused by her reluctance.

“Um, seniors? Could you please lower your voice in the library?”

Although not many people use it, it was still a library. I had to warn them if they were being this loud.

“Oh, sorry.”

The person who was pulling Hasumi-senpai’s hand smiled bitterly.

Hasumi-senpai, on the other hand, was silent. Of course, it was not because they were warned, but because she met me. She knew I was here and that’s why she didn’t want to come here in the first place.

“See, we need to be quiet… All we need is to find one book, right? It won’t take long with these numbers.”

“Alright! Alright!”

Hasumi-senpai’s group passed by the counter and disappeared toward the shelves.

“……”

I silently watched them go.

I wonder if it will be fine. Do they know where to look? I was a little worried, but decided to leave it alone for the time being.

And after some time later.

“We can’t find it at all.”

“Weird. I thought we would be able to find it right away… I’ll ask the teacher again later.”

That’s what I thought. They went to the shelves without checking the location of the book, and naturally, they wouldn’t be able to find it.

What was the use of a library committee if I were to stay silent here?

“If you’re looking for a book, you can find it with the computer there.”

I called out to them as they were walking past the counter and pointed to a computer nearby for searching the library’s books.

“Ah, really?”

“Yes, that will tell you where to look.”

If I can guide them to this point, I have passed as a member of the library committee. And it seems that a good librarian was one who goes one step further at this point.

“Are you looking for Manyoshu by any chance?” [T/N Ancient Japanese Anthology]

“?!”

The seniors who were about to follow my advice and head for the computer turned around in unison at my words.

“For Tanaka-sensei, native japanese.”

“Yep! Big Tanaka!”

The senior said with a joyful laugh.

Our school has two Japanese language teachers named Tanaka. One was Tanaka Masaru-sensei. He was so large that the students call him “Big Tanaka” to distinguish between the two. [T/N Masaru can be read as “dai” which meant big or large, students can’t really call their teachers by their first name so they had to compromise with “Big Tanaka”]

“Eh, How’d you know?”

“Students have been borrowing Manyoshu a lot these days.”

I caught one of the students and asked him about it. Apparently, Tanaka-sensei(Masaru), the teacher in question, had talked about the era name in class and recommended the Manyoshu anthology in connection with the current era name. The students who were interested in the book kept coming to borrow it.

“I like to keep track of what’s going on when I see unusual activity like that.”

The aforementioned librarian also said that it was the librarian’s duty to watch what was going on in the world and be ready to provide books and information accordingly.

“Huh, that’s amazing.”

The senior was in awe.

“That said, there are different kinds of Manyoshu.”

“Oh, I see. Any recommendations?”

“I do but… it’s currently on loan.”

“What a shame.”

Her shoulders slumped dejectedly comically.

“I think it’s gonna be a while before it will be returned. If you make a reservation, I’ll set it aside for you when it’s returned.”

“Sure. I’ll make a reservation.”

And now she looked up energetically.

“Then, please write your―”

And, as I reached for the reservation form on the counter.

“Hey―”

A voice interrupted.

It was Hasumi-senpai.

“It’s too much trouble. Tell me who’s borrowing it now.”

She demanded looking sullen.

Perhaps she doesn’t like the fact that my advice was readily heeded by her own friends. Even though she knew there was nothing wrong with that, she still wanted to say something.

“Akane said she would decide whether to borrow it after taking a look at it. It’s not too late to ask the person currently borrowing it.”

“I said that but…”

A senior called Akane replied in a troubled tone.

“I’m sorry, Hasumi-senpai. I can’t do that. It would be a breach of personal information.”

Borrowing history was personal enough information because it was linked to hobbies.

“Not very flexible, I see. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

“That’s not the point, telling you is the problem.”

Hasumi-senpai was adamant on arguing, and while I met her gaze head-on, I refused her demand.

It was like a standoff.

The other students had never seen Hasumi-senpai like this and were horrified.

“Oh, everyone, what’s the matter?”

Then another voice came.

I knew who it was just by the sound of her voice, and I let out a sigh inwardly. What a time to appear.

Everyone in the room except me turned around.

“Ah, Takinami-san.”

Yes. Standing there was, of course, Takinami Ruika. Perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere, she tilted her head with a dubious expression.

“Nothing really.”

Hasumi-senpai replied with a lingering grumpiness.

“Is that so? I hope that’s the case.”

Takinami-senpai walked up to the counter with everyone’s eyes on her.

Knowing her. She must have read the mood of this place and was acting completely oblivious.

“Here, the return date was still a little away, but I’ve finished reading it and came here to return it. As expected of Makabe-kun’s recommendation, it was certainly easy to read.”

Then she put a book on the counter.

Now the book was the center of the limelight.

“Ah, that’s…”

Somebody let out a small voice.

The book that Takinami-senpai returned – it was the Manyoshu.

“What about this book?”

“I was just recommending it to these seniors.”

Takinami-senpai asked and I answered.

“Really? What a coincidence.”

Takinami-senpai smiled as if all was well.

“I asked him to tell me who borrowed it, but he wouldn’t budge. He’s so inflexible.”

This should have settled the matter, but then Hasumi-senpai didn’t stop, as if to put a damper on the situation.

Hearing this, Takinami-senpai pondered for a while.

“Sure, it may seem inflexible, but apparently that’s something you’re not supposed to do as a librarian.”

“Is that how it is?”

The senior who was called Akane asked back.

“I heard there was a scene in an old drama where the heroine, a librarian, checks out the borrowing history of a guy she’s interested in, and there were protests from the industry. They said librarians don’t do that and it was misinterpreted.”

“I see. You sure know a lot, Takinami-san.”

“Makabe-kun told me about it… It needs to be managed carefully, so you should understand his position, right, Hasumi-san? He’s quite diligent.”

“Well, if you say so, Takinami-san.”

When Takinami-senpai asked for understanding, Hasumi-senpai nodded her head reluctantly.

“Thank you. Then, Makabe-kun, lend it out right away.”

“Alright.”

The first step was to return and process the Manyoshu, which was returned by Takinami-senpai.

“Do you have a library card, senpai?”

“Hmm, I’m pretty sure I made it during freshman year.”

The school produces library cards for students who wish to borrow books only. It was not unusual for students who have no connection to the library to remain without a library card until graduation.

If this senior had not already made it, I would have had to start there, but it appears not to be the case.

“Ah, found it, found it.”

With that, the senior pulled out a library card from among the student handbook. When I received it, her name was written in the name field as “Shiiba Akane.”

I scan the barcode on the card, then the barcode on the book. The book was now ready to be checked out.

“Thank you for your patience, senpai. The due date is two weeks from now.”

“Thanks. I’m Shiiba Akane. I’ll be back again, so pleased to meet you.”

She thanked me as she introduced herself, showing me the face of the card, and left with Hasumi-senpai and the others, looking satisfied.

“I wonder if this will add another user to this lonely library.”

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

I hope so, but the problem was that the library might be closed unexpectedly.

“But it’s a little complicated to think that there will be more girls targeting you, Makabe-kun.”

“You have nothing to worry about. As a member of the library committee, I treat everyone equally. Including you, Takinami-senpai.”

As I let her words go down the drain, I suddenly looked towards the doorway and saw Hasumi-senpai looking at me. She was probably just about to close the door. As soon as she realized that I had noticed her, she immediately closed the door.

“Say, Shizuru.”

When the library was about to close and all the students except Kanata-senpai left the room as usual, Takinami-senpai came to the counter and called my name in a casual manner.

“Did you notice anything strange about Hasumi-san earlier? I’ve never seen her behave in such a manner.”

“……”

I bet. Hasumi Shion would not behave like that unless she was dealing with a person she doesn’t like.

“…She doesn’t like me.”

Which was me.

“Did you do something?”

“Nothing really.”

Yes. I didn’t do anything in particular.

“I know you’re good at getting around.”

Takinami-senpai let out an exasperated sigh.

“Well, yeah.”

I can certainly see my own position objectively and know what kind of facial expression will not make the other person uncomfortable, what kind of remarks will make the conversation go smoothly, and the best solution at any given moment.

But not in her case.

Hasumi-senpai cannot forgive my very existence. After all, it was proof that her father betrayed her mother.

In short, denial of existence.

As long as it was not about something I did, I cannot solve this by standing up for myself.