In the After School Library, A Refined Lady's Romantic Comedy Can't Be Compromised - Chapter 4 - Act 5(1)
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- In the After School Library, A Refined Lady's Romantic Comedy Can't Be Compromised
- Chapter 4 - Act 5(1)
Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii
Chapter 4: Lastly, Creating Memories.
Act 5(1)
And so came the long awaited Saturday.
The meeting place was at the east ticket gate of the Sannomiya Municipal Subway Station. From here, we can go almost anywhere.
As I waited in front of an advertisement for a new apartment, Takinami-senpai showed up about five minutes after the meeting time.
“Good morning, Shizuru.”
“Good morning.”
Today she was wearing a shoulder-less top, wide pants, and a cap on her head. The other day, she was talking about settling scores, but for the time being, it appears to be a tame fashion style that takes into account the season of early summer.
I met Takinami Ruika in April. One thing led to another and she has been aggressively courting me for some reason. This was the first time we have met outside of school, perhaps because I have no desire to do so. This was also the first time I saw her in casual clothing.
“You’re quite early.”
“I can’t exactly keep you waiting after all.”
I was about to say, “You’re late though,” but swallowed my words. It was just my usual light-hearted remark, but I didn’t want her to think I was a narrow-minded man.
And then, Takinami-senpai looked around.
“Ah, I knew she’d be here.”
And then, she found something.
Yes. There was a familiar face watching us. If I’m not mistaken, that was Hasumi-senpai. She was wearing an asymmetrical camisole and low-rise skinny denim jeans.
“Of course she’d be there. You provoked her that much yesterday after all.”
“Oh, I wonder what you’re talking about?”
Takinami Senpai blatantly feigned ignorance.
After all that talk about the date, even Hasumi-senpai would be curious and would want to come check on us.
But, even though she was curious, she didn’t want to interfere, so she didn’t talk to me while I was waiting here alone for Takinami-senpai.
Sadly, she was fatally ill-suited for spying because of her eye-catching appearance. I recognized her immediately, and even now she was being approached by a couple of guys who were either students at our school or guys who were just picking up girls. Probably the latter, as their flashy, gruff appearance and jangly accessories were unlikely to be students.
“They seem persistent. I’ll be back.”
“Wait up.”
I thought I should go in to help, and was about to head for Hasumi-senpai, when Takinami-senpai suddenly grabbed me by the arm and held me back.
“Don’t worry. When it comes to us girls, it’s not uncommon for guys to approach us, so she can handle guys of that caliber.”
“Really…?”
It sounds like she was being self-conscious, but I guess it must be true. And Hasumi-senpai also didn’t make eye contact with the men, waving her palms in the air and seemingly not taking them seriously at all.
“Shall we?”
“S-sure.”
Takinami-senpai started walking toward Center Gai Shopping St. I followed her with some reluctance.
§§§
The first stop was a bookstore, as I requested.
From the second floor of the Center Plaza building, we entered the large bookstore via a connecting walkway over Center Street.
“Shizuru, how is life at Hasumi-san’s house?”
As I looked around for books, she asked about Hasumi-senpai.
“Uncle is taking care of me as much as he can. I’m doing well with Hasumi-senpai now. So, on the surface, I am at peace. It’s just―”
“Just what?”
I was a little at a loss for words, but Takinami-senpai urged me to go on.
“It’s hardly a healthy family structure.”
It was fatal for a mistress’s child to take shelter in his father’s home, no matter how much the biological father wanted to. It should not continue for a long time, and if it continues for a long time, it will eventually collapse. That was why I decided to leave the Hasumi residence after the summer vacation started.
“I bet.”
She chuckled.
“But that’s not what I want to hear.”
“What?”
Now I urge her to continue.
“You live under the same roof with Hasumi-san, don’t you? If that’s the case, you’ll see her in something other than her school uniform, won’t you? You know, like those manga-like developments…”
“……”
I remembered the time when she came out of the bathroom wearing only a bath towel.
“Wait a minute, Shizuru. What’s with that silence? Did something happen? Something happened, right? What did you see? Tell me.”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
Takinami-senpai suddenly grabbed me by the collar, and I raised both hands in the air as if saying “Violence is not good,” “Let’s talk about it.” Isn’t this a common pattern these days? I don’t want to get used to being grabbed if I can help it.
Everyone saw her grabbing me by the collar and I heard things like, “What? What? A bloodbath?” “The man should get down on his knees and apologize.” “Men should just die.”
“As you know, Hasumi-senpai is broad-minded, so her loungewear is just like that. To be honest, I’m having trouble looking at her. Well, In that sense, this is the development that you fear.”
“Oh, that’s what you meant.”
It seemed Takinami-senpai was somehow convinced. She removed her hands from my collar. Although I’m downplaying it a little bit, I was not lying.
“‘If you want to look at something, just look at me,’ is what I would like to say, but it wouldn’t suit me to dress like Hasumi-san.”
“Well, you guys are polar opposite after all.”
The only thing that could be imitated and suited would be the naked bath towel fashion. I don’t want her to do it, though.
“Alright, found it.”
Turning my attention back to the flatbed again, I finally found what I was looking for. I quickly picked it up.
“Is that what you were looking for?”
“Yep.”
It was a new book by the historical fiction writer, Tsukasa Soichiro.
“Historical fiction? Surprising. I didn’t expect you to read this kind of thing.”
Takinami-senpai also picked up a book from the pile and looked at the front and back covers alternately.
“Is this the kind of thing you like?”
“No. Just the writer.”
“That’s it? Is it interesting?”
I read this for one reason. Because she wrote it. I bought it for the author. [T/N She?]
“At least to me.”
Unfortunately, however, even though she was regarded as an up-and-coming writer of historical fiction, it does not seem to be translating well into sales figures.
The fact of the matter was, as far as Tsukasa Soichiro was concerned, selling was easy. There may be some favoritism, but the content was unquestionably good, so it was a matter of being noticed. So she should just be featured in a light literary magazine. A great one would be Michelangelo, a recent general literary magazine with lots of color pages. If you can get your work featured in that magazine, it will sell like hotcakes.
Although, the author herself wouldn’t want her work to increase sales with that tactic.
“Hmm..”
Perhaps out of interest, Takinami-senpai began to read the back cover.
“If you’re curious, go ahead and read it. I have all the previous volumes, so I’ll lend them to you anytime. I’ll just go ahead and buy this.”
I left her there―I walked past a girl standing in the magazine section, who was hiding her face, and headed for the cash register.