Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 5: Makabe Shizuru Is Not Cut Out For Romance

Act 2(2)

At the library, after school.

Takinami Ruika showed up a little earlier than usual.

“Good afternoon, Makabe-kun.”

“Good afternoon.”

We greeted each other as usual.

However, our conversation didn’t continue from there. Takinami-senpai was standing in front of the counter, looking like she wanted to say something, but couldn’t seem to proceed.

“Um, about this morning―”

Eventually, she made up her mind and opened her mouth.

“I took it too far. I’m sorry I got carried away. I got on that train since I thought I would be able to meet you, Makabe-kun.”

She sincerely apologizes.

“No, I’m sorry too. I acted on impulse. I’m very sorry.”

“No. Besides, it’s not your fault that Takajou-san hugged you.”

“Well, that person likes to fool around.”

I chuckled.

“But I don’t think it’s right for someone like you to get carried away when meeting me.”

“I suppose.”

Takinami-senpai then moved her face a little closer. She continued whispering as if she was telling a secret.

“I’ll be careful when people are around.”

“Do it even if no one is watching. It’s surprising how much people notice when you’re slacking off while no one is looking. My late mother used to say that.”

I responded to her mischievous reply. I tried to keep my tone as light as possible so as not to make the atmosphere heavy since I was bringing up my mother who passed away.

“I think it’s a nice saying.”

Takinami-senpai went back to her original position. She had a faintly dubious expression on her face.

“Speaking of which, we’re going to the movies tomorrow.”

And then she changed the subject.

“Come to think of it, there was something like that. We’re only going to watch one movie so it’s a relief.”

“We’ll be dismissed before lunchtime So if you’d like, Makabe-kun, we can have lunch together.”

“Thank you for the invitation, but I’ll refrain. I don’t want to make enemies with every guy in the school.”

I softly declined.

This isn’t me playing hard to get, I’m more or less serious. As Takinami-senpai had said, tomorrow we will watch one movie and seperate by noon. Many students will probably have lunch and play with their good friends. I don’t know where the students of Akanedai High School would be, or rather, they would be everywhere. It would be too scary to have lunch with Takinami Ruika in such a situation.

“Alright. But there’s still time, let me know if you change your mind.”

Takinami-senpai gave a gentle, mature smile.

Soon after, the bell rings. The remaining students began to put away their belongings with a look that said, “Is it that time already?”

Then, right after all the students except Kanata-senpai left the room,

“Say, Shizuru? If Sannomiya is not good, I know a place not too far, how about it?”

As usual, she changed her tone.

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same. Look, Takinami-senpai, please go home. I’m going to close the library soon.”

“Wait, Shizuru.”

She didn’t hesitate to call me out again.

“I’ve been wondering for a while. What’s with that way of speaking?”

She asked me with a stern look.

“What do you mean, isn’t this how you treat someone older than you?”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s the correct way. But you should treat me differently. You should be blunt and curt, just as you always have, Shizuru.”

Judging from an outside perspective, that sounds like a bad junior.

“I’m trying to change that attitude.”

“Stop. Don’t give me that conventional smile. Don’t talk to me like a polite underclassman.”

Takinami-senpai and I faced each other.

She glared at me and I met her gaze.

“Say, Shizuru? What are you angry about? I already apologized about what happened this morning, didn’t I? Or are you still mad at me?”

“I’m not angry.”

I was never angry in the first place.

“Takinami-senpai, it’s almost time to close the room. Please get ready to leave the room.”

“?!”

When I quietly told her as a member of the library committee, she lightly choked.

Takinami-senpai glared at me once again, picked up her school bag from beside her feet, and left the library. Her back figure looks very firm and resolute.

It makes my heart ache a little.

It’s probably the same guilt as this morning. It’s all right. It will eventually numb me out. Or maybe Takinami-senpai will give up on me first.

“That was an interesting scene.”

As I stared at the doorway where Takinami-senpai had disappeared, I heard a voice behind me. I turned around and saw Kanata-senpai standing with her back resting on the table.

“I don’t think Takinami would give up with just that.”

“…”

Kanata-senpai is probably right. But she needs to, otherwise, it’ll be a problem.

“So you’re not going to ask why.”

“I know what’s on your mind.”

She easily told me that. Well, I think I’m being hasty if I say so myself.

“Are you okay with that?”

Kanata-senpai continues to ask.

“It’s not about me being a good or bad choice. This is the best option. We need to treat all factors equally otherwise we won’t get the right answer.”

“Really? If you ask me, you seem to be turning away from the most important factor. Isn’t that exactly why you should treat all factors equally?”

“What’s that important factor?”

“I’m surprised. Are you that stupid to ask me that?”

“……”

I involuntarily fell silent.

“Besides, you’ve got it all wrong.”

Oddly enough, those were the exact words I had said to Izumikawa during lunch break.

“Why should you give the right answer?”

“Huh?”

A dumb sound escaped from my mouth.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong. Think about what you want to do and come up with an answer that works for you.”

I looked closely and saw that Kanata-senpai had already finished preparing to leave.

“The right answer is easier to find than you think. It’s just that sometimes you know in your head that it’s right, but you can’t do it, and a series of right answers is not always the right path.”

After saying this, Kanata-senpai left the library.

“What a way to imply things…”