Chapter 30: Victory. Avoidance. Phone call.

「──I won.」

The start of the new week, judgment day. Test returns.

Lined up neatly on my desk, the brand of failing marks has been avoided. I smirked inwardly.

It's not like showing them to anyone would cause problems.

Nobody cares about a loner's scores.

I'm just a guy openly staring at his test scores in the classroom while grinning.

No, there are two people looking.

It's just that those two can't be seen by anyone.

They don't exist. What a peculiar pair.

「Is this thanks to us, maybe?」

「Kasugai, there were some close calls.」

「...Way to pour cold water on it.」

I smiled wryly while putting away my test papers. Now I can enjoy the approaching summer vacation.

I was also exempt from supplementary attendance.

Of course, I can hear anguished cries from some students, but that has nothing to do with me.

I casually glanced over at Sera.

A crowd had formed around him.

Eavesdropping. Apparently he got perfect scores on several subjects. So even academically he's a protagonist, huh.

「Don't you two need to go? It's Sera, you must be dying of curiosity.」

「That's basically a wall though.」

「No gaps. No room.」

「...True.」

Looking over, it's a wall of female students. For Orimoto and the others to squeeze in, the density was somewhat extraordinary.

They just can't be seen.

Touching is possible. If they dove into that, it would definitely cause a commotion and invite chaos.

──But.

「Just go regardless. Even if there's a commotion, no one can see you anyway.」

While preparing to leave the classroom, I lowered my voice. I have library committee work after school.

「If Kasugai charges in and destroys that wall, Inori will go. It's difficult alone.」

「...So I'm a sacrificial pawn.」

「Mm. Servant, go.」

Certainly, with Michikusa's petite body, breaking through that crowd would be extremely difficult.

That said, there's no reason for me to go either.

If some barely-connected guy suddenly charged in, it would be the height of bizarre, and more than anything, it's too troublesome.

「I refuse. Ask Orimoto.」

「M-Me?! ...Well, um, that's a bit...」

「What's up? It shouldn't be awkward or anything.」

「Kasugai, insensitive.」

Michikusa's comment made me stumble over my words.

「──Suzuka couldn't even give her a birthday present. Right now is a cooling-off period. Think about it.」

Michikusa pointed between herself and me with a jab.

When I casually peeked at Orimoto's expression, she had a troubled air about her, sorting through her emotions.

「...My choice of words was poor.」

Here I straightforwardly offered an apology. I had judged "it'll be fine" based on Orimoto's personality.

On that point, I'm entirely at fault.

「That was really insensitive. My bad.」

Come to think of it, Orimoto has been intentionally keeping her distance from Sera lately.

She's been chasing after him less often too.

While saying she can't give up, maybe somewhere in her heart she's gradually accepting the current situation.

(...I should stop this pointless speculation.)

It would be rude to Orimoto.

Orimoto has feelings for Sera.

That's a fact both she and others would acknowledge.

But there's also awkwardness, perhaps.

She was shot down, her existence was abandoned, yet she continues to love him, I lacked consideration for that.

「I-It's fine, you don't need to apologize... zuun.」

「Stop attacking me with sound effects.」

「Ahaha, I'm just kidding!」

It was brightness tinged with anguish. ...I had unconsciously taken Orimoto's behavior and personality for granted.

I averted my gaze and finished organizing.

It was an obvious way of dodging the issue.

But only for a few seconds. I slung the designated school bag over my shoulder and addressed the two.

「Now then, if you're going home, I'll give you the key.」

「Huh? We're not going home together?」

Orimoto blinked in surprise. Through her casual manner, I could sense a slight consideration.

「I have library committee work.」

「Oh my. What do you think, Inori?」

「...Either way. Going home would just be boring.」

Michikusa swallowed a yawn while swinging around the excess sleeves of my jersey.

...Stop that. Bad manners.

Apparently she's taken more of a liking to the jersey than the yukata. She was also borrowing my shoes.

From an outside perspective, she looks like a relative's child.

The sizing is extremely off, but it's better than suffering from the geta straps and wooden clog pain.

「Library committee, what do you do?」

When we left the classroom, Orimoto and Michikusa both hopped along behind me.

It's like a party in a game.

Behind us, voices praising and extolling Sera echoes through the walls into the hallway.

「Nothing, really.」

「Fuuhn, you do nothing?」

「Yeah, I do nothing.」

Michikusa nodded, looking bored. In reality, library committee work isn't that much.

Getting entangled in mysteries and running around searching for books is just fiction in stories.

In reality, it's desk work at the counter.

Occasionally handling book loans and returns. Sometimes shelving, but that's about it in the end.

「Hey, Kasugai. There's something I want to say.」

It happened while descending the stairs toward the library. I felt a tug on my uniform sleeve.

I turned only my gaze while walking.

While skillfully avoiding the wave of passing students, she murmured quietly. The content made question marks fly through my head.

「Boring during class. Standing is also boring. Boring.」

「Don't say "boring" three times.」

Just how bored is she?

「No chair either, so playing with Kasugai is the only thing to do. The lesson content is easy.」

「...Oi, I can't let that slide.」

「Which part? Classes are hard??」

「That's not what I meant!」

Treating people like toys.

Michikusa's my-pace nature almost disrupts my composure. I raised my voice in denial.

But it had no effect.

Michikusa was unconcernedly using my jersey to sweep the school floor in a dragging fashion. Are you a mop?

(...Should I buy some in different sizes?)

If my clothes are exceptions, then purchasing them might make them exceptions too.

I rub between my eyebrows.

When we reach the library, there's the wood-grain door. When I swung it open, it creaked with its usual weight.

The humid air of a summer afternoon.

Print media is gradually being phased out, but I find this distinctive scent pleasant.

──It's somewhat tranquil.

Student chatter and noise can be heard from somewhere. A space that feels cut off from all that.

「What, I'm alone today...」

Library committee work is on a rotation system.

Sometimes my shift overlaps with someone from another class, and sometimes I handle it alone like today.

The supervising teacher for the library committee isn't here either.

During the exam period, the dimly lit room that had been bustling with students diligently studying is today, with no sign of anyone besides us.

「Looks like it's especially slow today. That's nice.」

It might look like I'm muttering to myself, but if no one's here, it doesn't matter.

「I haven't really been to the library much.」

Michikusa was curiously looking around, as if drawn in, spinning round and round the room.

「Right~ I don't have a habit of reading either.」

「Books are great. They're not noisy.」

「Hmm~? I wonder who you're talking about?」

At Orimoto's pressurized smile, I quietly averted my gaze. It's definitely not a loss.

I quietly walked over and picked up a book from the desk.

Someone must have left it behind.

If you read it, put it back where it belongs. I wish they'd at least do that much──but it's hard to enforce.

I'd posted plenty of warning signs about it.

Suddenly an idea strikes me.

「Hey, Michikusa. If you're bored in class, why not read books? Slack off while broadening your education.」

「...Are you making fun of Inori?」

「You are a bit lacking in common sense.」

She's excellent academically, but I've been having trouble with her somewhat airheaded quality.

If I were to describe Michikusa... fumu.

She's like someone who might get kidnapped, like the founder of some suspicious religion, like a lost brat.

That kind of vibe.

「Being compared to Kasugai is offensive.」

「I have common sense. Obviously.」

「──Fell off a cliff. Zero cooking skills. Communication deficiency. There's more, wanna hear?」

I raised both hands. A gesture of surrender.

Maybe I don't have common sense either.

Anyway, this is it. Michikusa has a fleeting, fragile impression like she might vanish if I take my eyes off her.

Sullen, sulking.

Michikusa stood beside me while harboring faint dissatisfaction. We're in a position where I'm looking down at her.

She'd never let on, but she couldn't seem to reach not just the top shelf but even the middle shelf.

I look at the bookshelf and take one book in hand.

It's a book that was recently added to the display.

What kind of books does Michikusa prefer?

「Do you read books at all?」

「...I used to, somewhat. Not at all now.」

「I see.」

I return the book and pull out another.

The cover corners are worn out, and the spine is faded. It's a mystery classic.

(It should be good for killing time.)

Michikusa seems to have been away from reading.

I wondered what to recommend.

Getting turned off by recommending light novels would be pointless, so I chose a safe selection for now.

It's a mystery, but entry-level difficulty. Someone who's been away from reading should still be able to enjoy it.

「Here.」

「What's this?」

When I handed it over, Michikusa accepted it with both hands.

She's staring intently at the cover.

「Look at it and you'll know, it's a novel.」

「What kind of content? Is it interesting?」

「A fair number of people die. But by the end, things work out. ──Well, it's a mystery after all.」

There are several factions in mystery.

Those who want the culprit exposed to the light of day.

Those who want the perfect crime to succeed.

I belonged to neither faction. If I had to say, I don't do well with dark endings.

「Kasugai, that explanation was lazy.」

「I'm trying to avoid spoilers. It might become a trigger to start reading again.」

「Consideration. For Kasugai, that is.」

"For" is unnecessary.

While looking sleepily spacey, Michikusa stroked the cover and began flipping through the pages.

「I'll read a bit. Got time?」

「Yeah. There's time until we lock up.」

「Mm.」

Michikusa carelessly sat down in a chair, swinging her legs while following the text.

Watching her fall silent from the corner of my eye, I quietly sighed inside my chest. A certain person had loved books.

Becoming a library committee member was their influence.

(...Killing time, huh.)

Something rough sinks in my chest.

It clung to me every time I remembered. Even though there's no need to recall it, it shows its face at every turn.

「Kasugai-kun! Recommend something for me too!」

While I was doing paperwork at the reception counter, Orimoto popped up. She also hit me while she was at it.

When I looked up, it was a full-faced smile.

「...Are you bored during class too?」

「Nope? I'm busy teasing Kasugai-kun.」

「Stop that hobby right now.」

Orimoto deepened her untroubled smile.

She quickly surveyed the library.

「But with this many books around, you'd get curious, right? I don't read at all.」

「Books really don't suit a woman like you.」

「Muki That's not true!」

She mimed pushing up glasses. Despite her appearance, Orimoto is actually on the excellent side academically.

Yes, despite her appearance.

She somehow seems stupid. Her way of speaking is typical of students these days, which also seems stupid.

「Fake glasses would look good on me, you know.」

「Not like I asked for that information.」

Bam, Orimoto places her hand on the counter.

「Any-way! For me too!」

「...Fine. Follow me.」

「Yay! Wakuwaku, wakuwaku!」

I stand up and fold my arms in front of the bookshelf.

While the library is only the size the school can manage, the collection is constantly being updated.

More titles than I expected were dancing there.

「What genres do you like?」

「Book genres? I told you I don't read.」

「Dramas, manga, stuff like that.」

「...Hmm~, definitely romance!」

It was a genre I hardly ever read.

But still, working on the library committee naturally keeps you updated on what's popular and what's not.

I picked up a title that's been gaining popularity among girls. Apparently it's a guaranteed tear-jerker.

It's hard to recommend something I haven't read myself, but it's definitely a solid pick by society's standards.

The cover depicts a rooftop and sunset.

「This is apparently interesting. I haven't read it, it's... how do I put it, it makes me feel itchy.」

「Romance doesn't suit Kasugai-kun, does it?」

「...Even I have──」

「Do you? Romance?」

Orimoto stared straight at me.

There was a color of seeing through me.

「No, I don't. Don't be surprised. Not to brag, but I've never confessed to anyone or been confessed to.」

「That setup with self-deprecation...」

Orimoto accepts the book with an exasperated look.

If these two actually get serious about reading, library card registration is mandatory, but I can just put it under my name. They don't scrutinize it closely anyway.

「Hey hey, Kasugai-kun. You just threw this at me based on the title alone...」

「Your emotions are too rich...」

「Because it's definitely a bad ending, this one!」

「I don't know, I haven't read it either.」

While sniffling and crying, crybaby Orimoto sat down in a chair. ──So she is going to read it.

Anyway, I've granted her wish.

「Kasugai, one person died.」

「──That's a pretty bizarre report, Michikusa.」

「I'm still in the opening. But not bad.」

I remembered now, someone does die in the opening. Another person dies in the first half too. Pretty gruesome.

But in the end, the foreshadowing is neatly resolved.

Mysteries are deep.

「I'll borrow this. I'll tell you my thoughts.」

「Got it. I'll wait without expecting much.」

「Because Kasugai told me your thoughts too.」

Michikusa murmured quietly. That was about sweets. Come to think of it, I did share my thoughts.

No, it wasn't sweets, it was a bomb.

「Should I write my name in the lending notebook?」

「That'd be fine if people could see your name.」

「...Inconvenient.」

I pulled out the lending register from the counter and scrawled my name hastily.

Kasugai Koutarou. I think it's a long name.

「I'll put my name down this time. We're going the same direction home anyway. Return it whenever you want.」

「Being taken to your house.」

「I'll kick you out, brat.」

I spat poison.

「From now on, if I'm bored I'll read books.」

「That's a good mindset.」

Michikusa's words are all bland.

Through such exchanges──I furrow my brow.

Suddenly, my smartphone vibrated, its LCD screen.

(Again, huh. …It's been happening a lot lately.)

A phone number was displayed. I know who's calling, but I won't register it in my contacts.

I wanted to avoid maintaining that connection.

Orimoto, apparently sensing something odd in my behavior, looked up from her book and spoke in a considerate tone.

「? Kasugai-kun, something wrong?」

「...It's nothing. Just some tedious business.」

I didn't answer the phone and I just hung up.