Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 3: Daily Attacks In the Library

Act 5

The incident occurred the following Tuesday.

At that time, Uncle was away due to his job, so it was just the two of us, Hasumi-senpai and me, during breakfast.

“What’s with that face? Since we’re in the middle of a meal, why don’t you at least put on a cheerful face?”

“Sorry.”

At the table.

What? Who was it that said to just keep my mouth shut since I looked better that way?

I thought I was hiding it pretty well, but apparently it showed on my face.

“…Did something happen?”

Hasumi-senpai, who couldn’t bear to look at me, asked me reluctantly. I couldn’t help but answer, having been seen in a depressed mood.

“I was fired from my part-time job yesterday.”

I was working on a small part-time job, mostly on weekends. However, I was given a short break due to my mother’s death, and then I forgot to contact my job due to the subsequent chaos, and as a result, I was fired without warning.

“I need to find a new part-time job soon.”

Although, this was just me trying to fill the conversation in. If I’m going to leave this place in the near future and go to my grandparents, there would be no point in looking for a part-time job.

Hearing this, Hasumi-senpai spoke up, looking relieved.

“Hmm, that’s a shame. Well, you can just stay here. My dad will take care of most things, so you won’t have to worry about money for a while.”

“Eh?”

At first, I didn’t understand what she said. But when I understood that it was sarcasm, I gradually became angry.

I didn’t come here for the money. I came here because I was called. I also didn’t just do my part-time job for money, half of it was more of a hobby.

I couldn’t help but glare at Hasumi-senpai.

But on the other hand, the fact that I came here to alleviate various immediate problems, and the fact that I didn’t get as much allowance as others my age were getting because I had a part-time job – I swallowed the words of rebuttal that I was about to spit out.

Immediately afterwards, Hasumi-senpai was flabbergasted – and her expression changed to one of regret.

She understood more than I did about the meaning of the words she had uttered, and bit her lip in regret.

“…”

She was about to say something – but she swallowed her words like I did.

Eventually, we continued eating in silence.

Hasumi-senpai was the first to finish her meal as she munched it down.

“Thank you for the food. I’ll clean up today. When you’re done, put the dishes in the sink and go on ahead.”

She quickly spoke and went up the stairs from the living room to the second floor as if she were escaping.

§§§

After school that day, just as the library was about to close.

“That’s what happened today.”

I reported this morning’s incident to Kanata-senpai for advice.

As usual, Takinami Ruika came in again today and left after a short conversation. Except for Kanata-senpai, all the other people had left the room, and the chime for 6:00 p.m. had just rang.

Now it was just me and her in the library after operating hours.

Kanata-senpai was looking up at me from her seated position while her chair was facing me. She was still reticent as ever and had a cold expression on her face, which made me feel chills, but this was just how Mibu Kanata normally was.

The scene looked like a teacher had called a student in the faculty, more so when she was leaning her whole body at the backrest and her legs were crossed.

“You have every right to be angry.”

“But I shouldn’t be angry.”

“Why do you think that?”

Kanata-senpai asked.

“Because you’re a man? Or is it because you’re a mistress’ child?”

“That’s―”

“Neither reason justifies it. If anything, it’s the lowest of low to despise someone just because of such relations.”

“…”

It was a sound argument. It was however…

“That being said―”

There, Kanata-senpai rearranged her legs.

“From what you’ve told me in detail, Hasumi seems to think she said something she shouldn’t have.”

“Probably.”

I was sure that her expression and behavior at that time were due to the fact that she tried to apologize, but in the end was unable to do so.

“What do you think I should do?”

I asked Kanata-senpai for her opinion.

“Let her apologize. Set the situation up.”

“That’s quite difficult.”

“You should be able to do it.”

I’m glad she trusts me, but she made it sound like it was easy.

‘Create a situation where Hasumi-senpai can honestly apologize… huh?’

Now, how should I go about it― As I was pondering what to do, Kanata-senpai uncrossed her legs and turned her entire chair around. She began to put away her pens and notebooks that were scattered on the table.

“By the way, Kanata-senpai―”

“What is it?”

When I called her out, she responded, but didn’t stop moving her hands.

“Please don’t cross your legs or recross them in a situation like this.”

Although it was a good thing that I was standing there and couldn’t see it, I couldn’t help but be curious about it. No, in this case, it would be more accurate to say that it was precisely because I cannot see it that I was concerned about it.

“It’s on purpose.”

“What?”

The unexpected answer made my eyes widen.

“The other day, Takinami was doing something similar, so I decided to copy her.”

“…Are you inviting me by any chance?”

“Is that what it looked like?”

As I somehow managed to keep my composure and asked back, Kanata-senpai, who had just finished packing her stuff, looked up at me.

“Nah. I bet you’re just teasing me.”

“Yes, you got it right… I’m going home. Don’t forget about the matter with Hasumi.”

“I know.”

Then Kanata-senpai left the library.

After that, I worked on closing the room and left, thinking about the propositions I had been given along the way.

Of course, it was about Hasumi-senpai.

Fortunately, I came up with a few ideas, and after I meet with Hasumi-senpai, I should be able to bring it up based on the situation and the flow of the conversation.

Or at least that was what I thought.

But it was all for naught.

That day, Hasumi-senpai didn’t return home.