Shiina Hiyori

Saturday morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting shadows across Kazehara Tetsu's room.

The air still carried the lingering scent of last night's passion, not yet fully dissipated.

The bed was in disarray, marked by traces of what had transpired.

When Kazehara Tetsu opened his eyes, the spot beside him had already gone cold.

From the bathroom came the sound of water splashing.

A few minutes later, the water stopped.

The bathroom door slid open, and a wave of steam billowed out.

Kamuro Masumi wore yesterday's school uniform, her shirt buttons fastened meticulously, as if last night had been nothing but an illusion.

But the faint dark circles under her eyes and the slight stiffness in her gait betrayed her body's true state.

"Are you okay?"

Kamuro Masumi's body stiffened. She shook her head without turning around. "I'm fine."

With her back to him, she adjusted her collar and skirt, then walked straight toward the door.

"Leaving just like that? Not staying for breakfast? My cooking's pretty good." Kazehara Tetsu watched her retreating figure, a hint of teasing in his voice.

"No need."

Her hand rested on the doorknob, pausing for a moment. "I... need to go back and catch up on sleep."

The door slid open, then closed softly behind her.

Kazehara Tetsu lay in bed for a few more minutes before lazily sitting up and stretching.

Last night had drained his stamina, but right now, his mind was unusually sharp.

He got out of bed barefoot, first cleaning up the traces on the sheets, then stepped into the bathroom.

Steam still hung in the air.

He turned on the shower head, and cold water cascaded down from above, instantly enveloping him.

The water struck his body, bringing a biting chill, but it also dispelled the last remnants of drowsiness.

After showering, he changed into his uniform but didn't rush out. Instead, he sat down at his desk.

His consciousness sank into the system interface in his mind.

code
[System Store]

He swiftly scrolled through the list of items, his gaze locking onto the next target he had planned long ago.

code
[Skill: Eidetic Memory]
[Effect: Grants the host perfect memory. All information received through sight and hearing can be selectively and permanently stored in the brain.]
[Price: 200 Points.]

For the various Special Exams ahead and the games he would play against others, a powerful memory was undoubtedly the most fundamental and crucial weapon.

Relying solely on vague memories of the original story from his past life was far from enough.

code
[Purchase: Skill: Eidetic Memory - 200 Points]
[Confirm.]
[Points -200. Remaining Points: 273.]
[Skill: Eidetic Memory - Equipped.]

A cool sensation spread from deep within his brain. He felt his thoughts become clearer than ever before.

He picked up a random book from the desk, flipped to a page, swept his eyes over it once, then closed his eyes.

Every word, every punctuation mark on that page rearranged itself in his mind, as if he were reading a copy etched into his own consciousness.

"Very good."

Kazehara Tetsu closed the book with satisfaction, pocketed his phone, and left the room.

It was the weekend. He had only one item on his schedule today—the library.

Kouyoku High School's library was a multi-story building with a strikingly modern design.

Huge floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls flooded the interior with bright light.

Kazehara Tetsu stepped inside. The library was eerily quiet, broken only by the occasional rustle of pages and soft footsteps.

Rows upon rows of towering bookshelves divided the space into countless aisles.

He didn't immediately start looking for books. Instead, he first checked the library's layout map at a terminal in the main hall.

The library's collection was staggering, covering nearly every field of study.

Just as he was about to delve deeper in search of a few interesting books, his line of sight was drawn to a figure not far away.

It was a girl. Her Silver White Hair cascaded softly, and her Purple Eyes made her look like some kind of harmless little animal.

She was standing in front of an extremely tall bookshelf, on tiptoe, arm stretched as far as it would go, struggling to reach a book on the very top shelf.

She tried several times, but her fingertips always fell just short, unable to grasp it.

Frustrated, she puffed out her cheeks, looking utterly adorable.

A fixed NPC of the library.

Shiina Hiyori.

A student in Class C, a pure, fervent book enthusiast.

Kazehara Tetsu stepped forward, moving silently until he stood behind the girl.

Just as she rose on her tiptoes again and stretched out her arm, a large hand reached over from above her head, effortlessly plucking the book from the shelf.

Shiina Hiyori froze. She felt a tall figure looming behind her.

She turned around and looked up, seeing a boy much taller than herself holding the book she had been reaching for, smiling down at her.

"Is this the one you wanted, classmate?"

"Ah... yes, yes it is! Thank you so much!"

Shiina Hiyori quickly bowed, taking the book with both hands, her face brimming with gratitude.

It was a thick hardcover book, its cover bearing the title: Offering to the Void.

"A book by Nakai Hideo," Kazehara Tetsu remarked casually, looking at the volume. "An anti-novel structure, along with deconstruction and critique of the mystery novel itself... a fine choice, but for someone encountering it for the first time, it might be a bit of a 'tough sell.'"

Shiina Hiyori had been lost in the joy of obtaining her beloved book, but at this comment, she Looked Up sharply. Those Eyes instantly sparkled with the delighted surprise of finding a kindred spirit.

"You—you know this book too?!"

Her voice rose with excitement, but she immediately remembered she was in the library, clapped a hand over her mouth, and lowered her voice. "Sorry... it's just that very few people know about this book."

"As a fellow mystery novel enthusiast, isn't it only natural to know some classic masterpieces?" Kazehara Tetsu's smile didn't waver.

"A mystery novel enthusiast!"

Shiina Hiyori's eyes grew even brighter. Clutching the book, she unconsciously leaned a step closer to Kazehara Tetsu. "Um... what kind of mystery novels do you like? The logical deductions of the Honkaku school, the ingenious tricks of the Shin Honkaku, or the atmospheric immersion of the Hard-boiled school?"

She fired off a rapid string of specialized questions, looking at Kazehara Tetsu with eyes full of anticipation.

For a true bookworm, encountering a potential fellow enthusiast was an excitement no less than Columbus discovering a New Continent.