Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 2: The Girl Beside

Act 4

At the library after school that day.

Suddenly, while I was looking at the wall clock, thinking that it was almost time for Takinami-senpai to show up, Hasumi-senpai arrived.

“……”

For some reason, she appeared to be in a bad mood the moment she entered, and remained silent as she walked up to the counter.

“Um, is there something wrong?”

I couldn’t help but call out to her first.

“L-Listen…”

“Yes?”

Hasumi-senpai was unusually not straightforward.

“About earlier… don’t take it seriously, okay?”

She says in a whisper.

The thing earlier, that would be about Shiiba-senpai.

I looked at the reading room first. The library is about to close in less than 30 minutes. Usually, there would be a few people left in the library, but for some reason, today, all the regulars left early and Kanata-sensei was the only one left. As usual, she’s writing something in her notebook.

I turned my eyes back to Hasumi-senpai.

“I won’t… Although it’s just half, we’re still related.”

“Well, yeah, I guess so…”

I sighed in exasperation as she responded in a sulking manner.

“I’m sure Shiiba-senpai has mentioned that kind of thing often. Shouldn’t you get used to it by now?”

“T-that’s true. Sorry, I was too flustered.”

And she reflected. 

“You came here only to talk about that? You could have just talked about it when we got back home.”

“Well, I just wanted to say it in a public place, before we’re alone…”

I really don’t understand her reasoning. It must be a very stressful thing for Hasumi-senpai.

“Hasumi-senpai, do you have any experience with men?”

“O-of course not!”

She slammed the counter as hard as she could, leaned forward, and yelled.

I looked at the reading table again. Kanata-senpai was looking at us. I raised one hand to signal to her, “It’s nothing.” In reality, such a simple gesture doesn’t exist, but it seems she understood what I wanted to say. Kanata-senpai looked down at her notebook again.

“I’m sorry, I made a mistake. Have you ever dated someone…?”

“What kind of mistake is that…?”

Hasumi-senpai took her body away from the counter and glared at me with her arms folded.

“…No.”

She reluctantly answered.

“I wonder if that’s the reason why you were so flustered by Shiiba-senpai’s jokes. You don’t have the tolerance for it.”

“By that logic, does that mean you’ve had a girlfriend before, Shizuru?”

“……”

Why the past tense?

“Eh? You really had one?”

It seems that she misunderstood my silence.

“I don’t have anyone like that. In my case, I was born with a personality like this.”

“Ah, I get it. You’re strangely calm, and sometimes I can’t tell if you’re joking or serious when you say things.”

Of course, it was actually something I acquired.

“Oh my, Hasumi-san is here.”

A voice suddenly came, which belonged to Takinami Ruika.

Hasumi-senpai made an unexplainable expression and turned around. I have a bad feeling about this.

“Are you talking about something interesting?”

“I guess so. In a way, we were talking about something that you would like very much. But unfortunately, It’s already over.

I couldn’t help but laugh. It’s true that talking about relationships with the opposite sex is something that Takinami-senpai would like to talk about.

Then, Hasumi-senpai looked at me and Takinami-senpai alternately, and she seemed to have a slight thought―and then it appeared that something in her mind flashed.

She continued her words.

“Ah, right, Shizuru. About the promise of us going out together, we’ll do it this Sunday.”

“Yes?”

Is that something to talk about now?

Sure enough, Takinami-senpai’s eyes turned sharp.

“Wait a moment you two. A date? Is it a date?!”

“Of course not.”

In contrast, Hasumi-senpai was surprisingly calm. Has she managed to gain understanding by reflecting on the incident earlier? No, no. It was simply within an acceptable range.

“It’s just a family going out shopping. A family.”

“Guh….”

When Hasumi-senpai spoke with a special emphasis on family, Takinami-senpai was speechless.

If this had been a date, she could have interfered. Well, if that really was the case, I’m still not sure about her interfering. But if it’s a family out shopping, that’s it. She just has to sit and watch.

“It would be tasteless to just go out and buy something and come back home. Maybe we could watch a movie while we’re at it.”

“……”

In that case, what would Uncle do? Will he stay home alone and eat whatever?

“Shizuru, is there somewhere else you want to go?”

“N-no, I don’t really…”

“Is that so? Well, you should think about it by the end of the week. Then, I’ll head home first. Oh, Takinami-san, take care of the rest. You can do whatever you want with Shizuru, at least for now.”

Thus, Hasumi-senpai gave a victorious smile and left the library.

And the agitated Takinami-senpai stared at the doorway in frustration.

In short, it was probably payback for the other day. Back when Takinami-senpai and I were on our so-called date, she was agitating Hasumi-senpai. As a result, Hasumi-senpai started following us. Well, Takinami-senpai had her own ideas.

Hasumi-senpai also came up with an unbelievable idea.

Takinami-senpai looked at me.

“Shizuru, you should have said something smart too.”

The sharpness of her gaze was not so different from when she was staring at the doorway.

“What smart thing?”

“Like, ‘You’re the only one I will go on a date with.’ or ‘I’m just playing around with that woman.’ or something!”

“Of course it’s going to feel out of place if you spit out dialogue that ignores the character’s settings. Would there even be a demand demand for such an inconsistent character?”

She’s so angry that she’s mumbling crazy things. I think she must have understood a little of how Hasumi-senpai felt at that time.

§§§

At closing time, I somehow managed to get rid of Takinami-senpai, who had become a real pain in the ass, and headed to Kanata-senpai’s seat.

She looked at me with cold eyes. Her stuff is already packed, as if she was waiting for me to come.

Kanata-senpai’s stare is so sharp that even when she is acting normally, her gaze can chill the hearts of those around her… is what I would like to say, but that’s not the case right now. I almost want to turn back.

“Don’t you have something to say to me?”

“I’m sorry, Hasumi-senpai forced me into her schedule.”

In other words, Kanata-senpai was now angry, exactly as she appeared. Hasumi-senpai, Takinami-senpai, and I―she must have been watching the exchange between us three.

“I thought I told you we’re gonna go out, so you should follow me.”

“You did.”

That’s right, I had a promise with Kanata-senpai.

That was right after I decided to stay with the Hasumi family. I made a promise in the library when it was about to close. As she had just said, we were going out, so she asked me to follow her. It may sound like a one-sided order, but Kanata-senpai and I are always like this.

We had originally planned to do it after the exams were over, and then we delayed it a bit until this weekend.

“What should we do? If I tell her I have plans on Sunday, I’m sure she’ll change it.”

That’s what Hasumi-senpai also said. If it’s not convenient for you, just say so. The reason she was so forceful in her decision earlier was probably because she was in front of Takinami-senpai.

“It’s fine. I’ll take you some other time.”

“I knew you would say that, Kanata-senpai.”

Then she let out an exasperated sigh.

Then she continues chillingly.

“When did you become such a spoiled man? Or have those two been babying you?”

“Could you please stop talking about that?”

A chuckle escaped my mouth.

“You’ll have to ask yourself if it is true or not. I’m going home.”

“Oh, yes. Please take care…”

Kanata-senpai gets up from her chair and heads for the exit while I look on in amazement.

“Somehow, it felt like I got pushed aside…”

It seems I’m not the only one… who’s angry that my schedule was ruined because they forced me.

After this, I met Takinami-senpai who was waiting for me as if it was natural. Needless to say, she insisted that I go home with her, and I had to listen to her complain endlessly.

And when I got home, Hasumi-senpai was waiting for me with a bad mood and said, “I-It’s not a date. Don’t misunderstand.”

What a long day.