Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 4: Lastly, Creating Memories.

Act 2(2)

“Ah…”

It was Hasumi Shion who let out a sound.

Karube and I went to the vending machine in the corner of the cafeteria, where we ran into Hasumi-senpai’s group. She had brought her own lunch, so she must have come here to buy something to drink after lunch.

Hasumi-senpai was standing still, perhaps not expecting to see me.

Naoi’s group would have been very excited and would strike up a conversation, but that was not the case with me and Karube. Karube Kagemitsu was a constant person who was always on the edge of his seat at all times, and while I was good at keeping the conversation going, I was definitely not a person who gets excited over trivial matters.

Ignoring them… would probably be impossible.

“Oh, if it isn’t Librarian-kun?”

Just as I was thinking, I was interrupted at the right moment. It was Shiiba-senpai.

“Good afternoon, Shiiba-senpai.”

“Yep, afternoon. Hey, listen, listen. I’m reading that book.”

Shiiba-senpai looked up at me with a gesture reminiscent of a puppy.

“As expected of a library committee, it was certainly easy to read.”

“Well, my first recommendation got thrown off the window though.”

“Wah, Shion-chan, look, Librarian-kun is being mean to me.”

Shiiba-senpai clung to Hasumi-senpai.

“Don’t get me involved. Besides, isn’t it a fact that you can’t read it so you got recommended to another book?”

“Gununu… Don’t I have any allies…?”

But, it looked like that was enough fooling around, since her expression suddenly turned bright.

“Let me know if you find any good books, alright?”

“I understand… then, see you later.”

Then I safely passed Hasumi-senpai and went to the side of them.

I took out a hundred yen coin and a ten yen coin from my wallet and was about to buy a café au lait from the vending machine―,

“Hey, you.”

I reached for the slot to slide my money in, but suddenly my hand was grabbed. Two coins fell from my hand. 

It was Hasumi-senpai.

“Come here.”

“Eh? Ah, hey…”

Hasumi-senpai pulled me by the hand and took me away. The coins I dropped were still scattered on the floor… Well, I’m sure Karube, who was looking away with a blank expression on his face, will pick them up. Knowing him, he’ll probably buy me a café au lait.

I was taken to the side of the cafeteria doorway.

The cafeteria was at the end of the school building. In other words, we were at the end of the hallway. The students coming in and out of the cafeteria were wondering what we were talking about, but they couldn’t stop and walked past us, looking at us from a sideways glance.

Hasumi-senpai had a difficult look on her face, as if she wanted to say something.

“I’m sorry. I would like you to think that our meeting here was just an accident.”

I will do my best to avoid seeing her at school, but I would be glad if she allowed me to bump into her in places like this where all students have access.

“I don’t care about any of that.”

“Ah, so it’s fine?”

Then, what was that face that seemed to be angry?

“Nevermind that,”

“Okay.”

I responded to her words, after which I thought she was about to cut to the chase.

“Lunch, how was it…?”

“Yes?”

However, what came out of her mouth was something unexpected, and this time, I made a dumb sound without realizing it.

“Um, it was plain delicious, though?”

“Really?”

For some reason, Hasumi-senpai looked doubtful.

“I mean most of it was just frozen food…”

“And I made the other half, didn’t I?”

And then, she got angry.

“It’s just a tamagoyaki, but if it doesn’t suit your taste, what’s the point?”

“I’ll put up with it even if it’s not to my liking.”

“I’d rather have you tell me what you want rather than putting up with it. Come on, spit it out.”

In short, even if it was more work she’ll do it, and if she made something, she wanted to make something that satisfies the other person.

“No, that’s just me saying that I’m simply grateful that you made me some, so I will not complain, and as I said at the beginning, it was delicious.”

“Oh, really? Then, good.”

When I stated my impressions, Hasumi-senpai returned to her usual blunt attitude.

If it was her boyfriend, a boy she liked, or someone she wanted to say how good it tasted, she would probably be pleased, but for someone like me, it seemed that she would only feel “If there’s no problem, then good.”

“Well, I wasn’t worried about anything, since the food we eat at home was delicious to begin with.”

“Yo-you don’t have to answer questions I didn’t ask.”

She slapped me on the arm.

Hasumi-senpai’s face was red. Is it possible that she was embarrassed? She becomes embarrassed when you like it and praise her, even though she was concerned about whether it suits my palate or not. What a difficult person.

“Come on, we’re going back.”

“Sure.”

She turned her feet away as if she was running away, and I followed Hasumi-senpai as she headed back toward the cafeteria.

“I knew it. You two seem to be close. A date perhaps?”

It was Akane Shiiba-senpai. She was grinning wickedly, probably amused by the fact that the two of us were secretly talking in private.

“Of course not. Also, do we look like we get along?”

“You do, you do.”

Shiiba-senpai nodded her head repeatedly, looking to be enjoying herself.

In response, Hasumi-senpai turned and looked at me. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes were asking my opinion.

“I wonder?”

I could only tilt my head.

“Librarian-kun, Librarian-kun.”

Shiiba-senpai called out to me and pulled me closer to her as she put her arm around me.

“I’ll leave it at that, so you tell me how Shion-chan looked on your date later.”

“Akane, stop being silly and let’s get going.”

Since they were only a few steps apart, Hasumi-senpai could hear her, and perhaps Shiiba-senpai said it so that she could let her hear on purpose.

She stuck out her tongue and quickly backed away from me.

Hasumi-senpai’s group then left, and I saw them off.

Suddenly, something was offered to me from the side of my view. It was a can of coffee, and the hand holding it belonged to Karube.

“It’s the usual one.”

“Thanks.”

As expected of Karube. He was very thoughtful. He had already bought my usual coffee with low sugar content and opened the pull-tab while he was waiting.

I decided to drink it right away.