Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 1: Makabe Shizuru’s New Daily Life

Act 4(1)

After school, the class ended with nothing noteworthy.

I’m a member of the library committee. What’s more, I’m the only member.

The job is quite simple. I will open and close the library according to the time. During open hours, the main tasks are to handle books to be borrowed, return books, reservations, books to be distributed, and to organize the shelves.

I found out that there are schools where the library committee even selects the books, but our school doesn’t demand for their one and only library committee member to go that far. If I were allowed to do so, I would buy a book by Tsukasa Soichiro, an up-and-coming historical novelist.

Aside from that, the school is also a reasonably advanced school, so having the library closed would create a bad image. I guess they’re just thankful it’s being opened.

After class, I head to the faculty to borrow the key and open the library.

Kanata-senpai, who appears to have been waiting, is the first to enter the room. Even though we have known each other for quite a while, she just goes straight to her seat without ever saying a word to me.

From there, the regulars, who can be counted by hand, came in sporadically―and some unfamiliar faces would come and go.

Then, about fifteen minutes before the closing time, she arrived.

“Good afternoon, Makabe-kun.”

A melodic voice calls my name.

When I looked up, I saw a female student with mature, beautiful features and long hair that looked like it had been carefully set over time.

Takinami Ruika.

“Oh, Takinami-senpai. Good afternoon.”

She comes like this every day some time before closing. Until then, she seems to have been chatting with her classmates in the classroom.

“It’s closing soon, right? Good work.”

“All is well. There’s no good work, since it’s not hard.”

It would be great if I could get paid for this, but unfortunately it’s an unpaid volunteer activity.

Suddenly, I remembered Naoi’s words, You must have been blessed to have the right people around you, and I thought that Takinami-senpai is one of those people. Ever since I returned to school after my mother’s funeral, she had been taking care of me.

As I was thinking while dealing with Takinami-senpai, the pre-bell rang.

It’s only the regulars who stayed until this hour. They knew that I was going to kick them out the moment it became six o’clock, so they immediately started preparing to leave the room.

“Hey, Shizuru.”

When everyone had left except for one, Takinami-senpai called me by my given name.

Takinami Ruika is this kind of a person.

Normally, she acts all ladylike, just like a calm honor student. But when she’s alone with me, her true colors would instantly show itself. If Hasumi Shion is a person without a hidden side, Takinami Ruika is the exact opposite.

She has always been able to look at herself and her surroundings objectively and was adept at reading what people around her demand from her.

People around her expect her to be beautiful and intelligent, and Takinami-senpai continues to respond.

The result of that is her current self. In a sense, she is an idol that embodies the ideals of those around her.

“What is it?”

I answer curtly as I tidy up the counter for the closing of the library.

In front of the real her, I stop playing the role of a serious library board member, or even a male student who admires her very much.

“You seemed to have been watching me a few times while I was talking to others, Is there something wrong?”

“Hm?”

When she mentioned something strange, I stopped what I was doing and looked up.

“…Yeah.”

I thought about it for a bit, and somehow had the idea that it might be that.

Then Takinami-senpai blushed a little and whispered in a subdued tone even though there was no one around.

“Um, just so you know, it’s not the one you picked for me. If you ask me what it is, then I’ll have a hard time answering since it’s not very sexy…”

“I wasn’t watching you with that intention.”

Why do both Takinami-senpai and Hasumi-senpai want to drag this topic out so much? For me, I would like to be over from the moment I picked something.

“Really? Then what is it?”

She didn’t drop the subject. Well, if someone were looking at you impolitely, it would be natural to wonder why.

“I just had a thought. Ever since my mom’s death, I’ve been helped by many people.”

“I agree. I know it’s wrong to say this, but Hasumi-san’s father has a duty to help you as your parent. But I think the rest is the result of your character, Shizuru.”

“I don’t have the kind of character that would warrant people to help me.”

I’m very calculating and above all, I lack something fatal. 

“So I had a thought that you’re one of the people who helped me.”

“Of course I’m going to help you.”

She stated without hesitation.

“I guess so. You’re the type of person who’s equally kind to everybody.”

People around her wanted her to be so, and she responded.

“That’s not it. The reason why I’m helping you is because we’re kindred spirits. You have the same eyes as me and see the same things as I do. You’re special to me.”

“…….”

Takinami-senpai referred to me as her kindred spirit.

Like herself, I can objectively see the situation at any given time, even myself. I am able to determine how I should behave and what kind of facial expressions I should make.

Therefore, kindred spirits.

“It’s natural for me, but if you appreciate it, then you can be my boyfriend.”

“The price is too great.”

“Look here, Shizuru. Calling it a price is a little mean.”

Takinami-senpai said with a half smile. Of course, it’s not funny. She was just about to lose her temper, because she didn’t like the way I called it.

“I’m not cut out for love.”

“That again?”

She was putting advances on me, but I brushed it off with a curt smile.

Let me say this so that there’s no misunderstanding, but it’s not that I don’t have any feelings for Takinami-senpai. On the contrary, I probably like her.

Like most boys, I had admired her since I had only watched her from afar. And even after I got to know her true face, I still liked her clear-cut personality.

But I lack something.

Because I’ve become so good at optimizing my behavior, I don’t know how much of my emotions are spontaneous and how much is just made up.

Therefore, I’m not confident in my feelings of liking Takinami-senpai. As long as that’s the case, I should not respond to her lightly.

“Well, whatever.”

Takinami-senpai said with a sigh.

“If you’re feeling grateful, go home with me today.”

“Well, if it’s just that.”

“Ah, crap.”

Immediately after I answered her, she voiced that.

“If I knew you were gonna easily agree, I should have switched it to a date.”

“……..”

How headstrong.

“Hey, Shizuru―”

“I’m telling you, you can’t change it.”

I interrupted Takinami-senpai and said.

Then a chime rang to prevent further pursuit. It was the main bell. Perhaps discouraged by it, Takinami-senpai let out a sigh of resignation as the chime rang out, “Come on…”

“Alright, I’m gonna close the library, so wait outside.”

“Should I help?”

“It’s fine. There’s not much to do today.”

On days when there are a lot of books returned, organizing the shelves can continue for an hour, but that was not the case today.

“And besides.”

And I showed her my left arm to show that I can use both hands from today. Granted, I have never needed her hand, even when I only had one arm to use.

“Is that so? Okay.”

Takinami-senpai gave a smile and turned on her heels, and left the library.