The Fourth Period Is Modern Chinese (Continued)

Back when I attended cram school on the second floor of the same building, I always stopped by this bookstore before class. Even though I only returned home for the Obon Festival and New Year now, my body still remembered the old habit.

Of course, this bookstore was nothing compared to the big ones in Tokyo, but to me in high school, it had already seemed huge. I often dreamed of buying every book on its shelves.

Deciding which book to buy with my meager allowance required consulting the depths of my soul. Perhaps that was why people who loved reading tended to reflect on themselves.

When I went over to the Light Novel section, Volume 14 of My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, released last November, was laid out on the display table.

I had bought the first volume here. I remembered it clearly—even the date: March 21, 2011.

According to the records, the maximum seismic intensity here during the Great East Japan Earthquake had been lower 5. The quake had destroyed all the books in this store, forcing it to close for several days. It had only reopened on March 21. I remembered My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected had apparently been delayed because of the disaster too.

Out of a little curiosity, I came to the bookstore and stood before the Light Novel section. The cover of that book caught my eye. This girl with long black hair was probably the heroine. She looked innocent and cute. The guy beside her with the fierce eyes was probably the protagonist. The title was... "Youth Romantic Comedy" and "Wrong"—what did that mean? I turned to the back cover and read the synopsis. The protagonist was named Hachiman. The heroine was named Yukino... I