Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 2: The Girl Beside

Act 5

The next day.

Takinami-senpai came to the library after school unusually early.

I’m guessing that, based on the situation, there’s something she wants to say or ask, and from past experience, it’s usually not a good thing.

“Makabe-kun, have you made any plans for the weekend?”

Takinami-senpai asks with a friendly smile.

For example, if this is her indirectly asking me on a date, it’s fine. But in reality, she’s trying to dig for info about me and Hasumi-senpai’s schedule.

I wonder why she has such a big smile on her face in spite of this. I guess it’s partly because there are a few people around, but the problem is what she’s doing doesn’t match her facial expression.

“Yes, I think so.”

I answered.

“Can you tell me for reference?”

“……”

What reference? If I ask that, I would be doing exactly what Takinami-senpai wants.

“The location is Sannomiya.”

“I see. Sannomiya, huh?”

As Takinami-senpai and I have been to Sannomiya before, you can’t go wrong with that place. There are many entertainment facilities, and even if you suddenly decide to go somewhere on a whim, there are several JR lines and major private railways, so you can go anywhere you want to go.

That would be the normal reason to choose it, but Hasumi-senpai seemed to have strong feelings about it when she decided we would go there.

“So when are you going?”

“We’re gonna match it up with lunch, so I think we’ll be there by 11:30 am.”

It takes 18 minutes to go from Myodani to Sannomiya by the Kobe City Subway, so we will be leaving the house by 11:00 am.

“Alright.”

Takinami nodded her head and inputted the information into her head. At any rate, I guess she got all the information she needed.

“All things considered, you guys are getting along really well now, so much that you’d go out together.”

“I think I owe it to you, Takinami-senpai.”

When Hasumi ran away from home before, Takinami-senpai helped me to catch her. That was the start of our relationship getting better.

“Is that the case? I only gave you Hasumi-san’s contact information. The rest was between you siblings.”

“If that’s what you think, don’t try to collect my debt.”

Who was it that asked me to go on a date with her?

“We have to use whatever we can.”

“You’re the same as usual.”

I honestly admire the style in which she tries to use whatever weapons she has as a woman.

“By the way, Takinami-senpai…”

I leaned forward a little and let out a whisper.

Takinami-senpai also seemed to sense the mood of the private conversation and leaned her upper body slightly towards me. Our faces became closer to each other.

“Can you please not use the word siblings in school?”

“Oh, why not? Isn’t it fine? It’s the truth after all.”

Her response sounded like an attempt to get my true feelings out of me.

I leaned my body against the back of the office chair to keep our faces far apart.

“I don’t want people to know that Hasumi-senpai and I are siblings.”

I continue to speak in a toned-down voice.

“Please don’t ask why. Of course there is the matter of our parents’ relationship, but more than that, it would be lame for Hasumi-senpai to have me as her younger brother.”

On one hand is a popular and beautiful girl who’s admired along with Takinami Ruika, and on the other hand is just an ordinary male student. It’s certain that she doesn’t want anyone to know that she has an unremarkable younger brother.

“Is it really?”

Takinami-senpai tilts her head.

“Did Hasumi-san say that?”

“No, she didn’t. Okay. I’ll stop assuming Hasumi-senpai’s feelings. But even without that, I feel a little bit drawn back by the fact I’m that person’s little brother.”

“I see. Alright, I’ll be careful.”

“Thank you.”

Also, the only people who know about the relationship between me and Hasumi-senpai are Karube, Heshikiri-san, and Kanata-senpai. They’re not the kind of people who would bring up this subject in talks. Even if they were to talk about it, they would consider the situation.

“What do you think, Makabe-kun?”

Suddenly, Takinami-senpai asked.

“What’s with the sudden question?”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

Takinami-senpai says with a friendly smile.

Although there’s a distance from the counter to the reading table, it’s natural she has that expression on her face because she’s under the public eye. However, she usually returns to her true face and demeanor at times like this. Conversely, now that she’s not doing it, it seems as if she’s hiding her true intentions.

“I’m sure that Hasumi-senpai is a very open and honest person. She has a good reputation after all.”

“Does being in close proximity change that?”

“Yes. Since we started living together, I got to know a different face from the one I saw at school, but I guess that’s just another side of Hasumi-senpai.”

She would sulk and run away from home, or get angry and pinch Uncle’s cheeks. Or, on the other hand, she would comfort me when I’m down.

“I’m honestly glad to be that person’s brother. Although I might just be an inconvenience for… Hasumi-senpai, though.”

“Is that so?”

Takinami-senpai smiles. Again, it was the tender smile that everyone wanted from her. And her only response was that brief phrase.

“Oh, right, Makabe-kun. There’s a book I’d like you to tell me where to find.”

She spoke in a bit louder tone.

I wonder if her voice could be heard all the way to the reading area. Perhaps it was an appeal to make it look like she was asking for books because the conversation has gone on for an unexpectedly long time.

“Sure. What book is it?”

“The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.”

“Oh, that would be at the backmost bookshelf.”

No need to search for it on the computer. Literature is last in the Nippon Decimal Classification (NDC). Among them, Italian literature is at the back of the list.

NDC, as the name implies, is a Japanese classification, so naturally the literature at the top of the list is Japanese. From there, Chinese literature, English, German, French, Spanish, and finally Italian literature.

“Thank you. I’ll look for it.”

Takinami-senpai then left the counter and walked to the stacks.

With her gone, I return to my unfinished work.

Even so, I’m getting more and more knowledgeable. I’m answering questions based on proper knowledge. I wonder if this is thanks to the seniors who graduated from the library committee and to him who stood on the podium that day to give a lecture.

As I was chuckling to myself, I noticed that Takinami-senpai had not returned.

I looked at the clock on the wall. I don’t know the exact time she went to look for the book, but it felt like five minutes had passed. The book she was looking for was at the far end of the stacks, but even so, it shouldn’t take that long.

Or can she not find it? I put a note on the counter that said, “Currently out of commission. I will be right back.” and stood up.

At the far end of the stacks, where Takinami-senpai disappeared.

There she was, sitting on a stool used to take books from a high place, reading a book. It seems she had turned the pages of a book she had found and is currently in the middle of reading it.

“You’re late.”

She noticed my presence and spoke.

“I started reading it because you were so slow, Shizuru.”

“……”

In other words, the situation is not that I came looking for Takinami-senpai because she didn’t come back, but rather she started reading a book because I didn’t come looking for her? More to the point, the fact that she was looking for a book was probably a lie to lure me here. And if she was looking for Italian literature, it would be at the very back of the library.

“This is surprisingly interesting.”

In front of me, Takinami-senpai fluttered a hardcover book. ―The Name of the Rose.

“It’s the last masterpiece of the twentieth century. So, what do you want?”

“Want to kiss?”

The way she asks me is so casual, as if she’s inviting me out to play since the weather is nice.

“Isn’t it wonderful that our first kiss would be in the school library? This is exactly what you would call a high school experience.”

Takinami-senpai speaks of such things innocently and somewhat upliftingly.

“You long for the weirdest things, huh?”

“I’m just a little jealous because you’re going to go on a date with Hasumi-san and even said it’s nice to see another side of her.”

She stood up as she interrupted my words.

We faced each other between the narrow shelves of books.

Now, what to do?

It’s hard to get through to Takinami Ruika, but as usual, if I choose the best words and facial expressions, she will let me off the hook here. It would be even easier if I could just turn my back and say, “Stop being ridiculous.”

There are several ways to work through this situation.

But all is dismissed.

I recalled it.

Kanata-senpai’s words, that I’m being spoiled.

I don’t know if this is what she meant. But I thought she was right that I was being spoiled by Takinami-senpai.

It’s a blessing that Takinami Ruika favors me so much. But it’s neither infinite nor for granted. If I take advantage of it and give nothing in return, she will eventually leave me.

“I’m just one male student out of many.”

“You think?”

Takinami-senpai curiously tilts her head.

“I’m just an ordinary boy, at least to the extent that I can only admire a famous senior student from afar. But what makes me a little different from the others is that I know a different side of Hasumi-senpai that she doesn’t show at school.”

“I guess so.”

“And also, I know the other side of your face, Takinami-senpai. I guess that’s where I feel a little superior.”

“…..”

Takinami-senpai became silent.

It was very quiet. It was probably because this was the library and we’re at the back of the room. From the window, I could faintly hear the voices of the athletic teams practicing. The floor was carpeted, and there were hardly any footsteps. I wondered, if anyone came in here now, would they notice us? I was thinking of such useless things.

Eventually, Takinami-senpai opens her mouth.

“Shizuru, you are surprisingly cunning.”

“We’re kindred spirits after all.”

When I replied, she puffed out her cheeks a little.

“I also know the real face of the kind librarian.”

“Please keep that to yourself, Takinami-senpai.”

“Of course, that’s the plan.”

Takinami-senpai smiles mischievously.

Or smiling like an accomplice who shares a secret.

“Then, I’ll go back.”

“I’ll stay here a little bit longer. I kind of like it here. It’s good for when I need to think or be alone.”

“It’s a library people rarely come to after all.”