Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 2: The Girl Beside

Act 2(1)

“And therefore, I was given the key to the house.”

The next day, in the library after school, I told Takinami Ruika about a small incident that occurred yesterday.

Just a few minutes ago, the pre-bell rang five minutes before the main bell. I’m at the counter, getting ready to close the library. Looking at the reading section, I see that the students who had stayed until this time are leaving one by one. I was glad to see that almost all the students had left by the time the room was about to close.

And standing right in front of the counter, blocking my view, was Takinami-senpai.

“I guess this means I’m being acknowledged as family, more or less.”

I chuckle, but I can’t help but be self-deprecating.

After all, I’m a child of a mistress. Even though we are half-related, it must have been difficult for Hasumi-senpai to accept me. The fact that our relationship is getting better despite such a negative starting point is probably due to her friendly personality.

“Isn’t that the case from the beginning?”

“I guess so.”

Takinami-senpai’s words convinced me.

Indeed, Hasumi-senpai had a fine line between Uncle’s mistake and me. She also made it clear that I was only born and didn’t do anything wrong.

That said, whether she could accept me as her half-brother, who she met for the first time, as family would be another story. In fact, Hasumi-senpai seemed to be wavering between the two, and her attitude frequently changed.

“I wonder if she’s finally trying to get the environment fixed. At any rate, Hasumi-san hasn’t given it to you yet? Maybe she’ll give it to you when you get back.”

“Un?”

“It’s nothing.”

It seems that it’s something I don’t need to know. If it’s something I don’t need to know, I won’t force her to tell me.

“Alright, it’s great that I’ve been given the key to the house, but I’d like to get Hasumi-senpai’s contact info in case something comes up.”

“Why don’t you just ask her in her classroom? You know her classroom, right?”

“Of course I do. I can if we’re both at school.”

That’s my last resort because Hasumi-senpai would be annoyed if I suddenly went to see her. That’s why I want to exchange phone numbers, email addresses, messaging app IDs, and etcetera.

“For example, if I suddenly have to run an errand right now and have to come home late, there’s no way for me to call her.”

“I guess so. If it’s a date, you’ll just be home a little late, but if you don’t come home, you’ll have to let Hasumi-san know or she’ll be worried.”

“Why that situation? Whatever, you get what I said.”

Takinami-senpai spoke with a serious look on her face, and I answered her in an annoyed tone. Putting the reason aside, the situation was not wrong.

“Why don’t you just ask her?”

“Well, that’s the thing. When it comes down to it, it’s kinda embarrassing.”

I understand how Hasumi-senpai felt yesterday.

“If it was a girl in my class or something, I could just ask casually.”

“Stop right there, Shizuru.”

Takinami-senpai’s voice was sharp, as if she had heard something wrong.

“You can ask a girl’s contact info so naturally?”

“It depends on the purpose and flow.”

When you’re in a group on a field trip, or when you’re given a group assignment in class. Or when you get to know each other in some way, like exchanging business cards. As usual, I know when and how to ask, and I have never been denied before.

“But you didn’t ask mine.”

“In your case, Takinami-senpai, I recognized you as someone I should be wary about from the very first day I spoke to you. I didn’t recognize you that way.”

Nevertheless, I now have Takinami Ruika’s phone number and e-mail address written in my address list, and she’s registered as a friend in my messaging app.

“Well, whatever. I also got a mountain of boys’ contact info, so I’m one to talk.”

Takinami-senpai snorts and says triumphantly.

“I suppose. You’re very popular after all―”

“Of course that’s not true! You know, you should at least be a little concerned about your girlfriend’s relationships.”

“Ah, my bad. It was supposed to be an act?”

I seriously didn’t realize that. When I talk to Takinami-senpai, sometimes I can’t keep up with her because of the difference in our social hierarchy.

“Also, don’t self-proclaim yourself as my girlfriend.”

“I knew you’d say that. Geez.”

Takinami-senpai exhales a sigh.

“Sorry to interrupt the excitement.”

It was Kanata-senpai who let out a voice.

“Shizuru, I’ll be borrowing this. Can I still do it now?”

“Of course. I usually turn off the terminal at the last second”

Some students rush to borrow the room after the bell rings, and because it’s also still within the opening hours.

I received the book from Kanata-senpai. The library card was on top of the book and held by her thumb.

The barcode reader reads the barcodes on the card and the book in sequence.

“The return date will be in two weeks.”

“I know.”

When I told Kanata-senpai about the return deadline, Kanata-senpai curtly replied.

She had already prepared to leave. She received the book and her library card that I returned, tossed them into her school bag, and left the library.

As soon as Kanata-senpai was out of sight, the main bell rang.

“Her demeanor is as unique as ever.”

When it finished ringing, Takinami-senpai uttered in the aftermath of the sound.

“She’s always been like that. I guess it’s something she’s born with. It’s not that she’s playing a character like that.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to talk to people because she’s like that? So as not to scare people away?”

“No, it’s simply her personality.”

That said, I only knew about it four years ago when I met Kanata-senpai, so maybe something happened earlier than that. As for the present, she simply has something she wants to do, and she’s just immersed in it.

“Now then, could please get out, Takinami-senpai? I’m going to close the room.”

“You really don’t have respect for your upperclassmen, huh?”

Takinami-senpai said with a sigh and turned on her heel. She picked up her bag, which was on the reading table near the counter.

“Oh, right. Shizuru. About Hasumi-san’s contact number―”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll ask her myself.”

I replied, interrupting her.

I know that Takinami-senpai knows Hasumi-senpai’s contact info, but I will ask her myself. Since I was entrusted with the key to the house.

However, when Takinami-senpai heard my response, she blinked her eyes for some reason.

“What?”

“No, nothing. It sounds interesting, so I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

I feel like I’m hearing unpleasant things―along with something I don’t need to know. As I said earlier, I….don’t have the hobby of forcing people to say what they don’t want to say.

And so, Takinami-senpai left.