The Lazy Occultist Boy and the Quiet Girl Who Loves Mystery Novels

Hiyori Shiina looked at the book in his hand—the very one she had been searching for in vain—and a flash of obvious surprise crossed her purple eyes.

She spoke instinctively, her voice rising slightly higher than before: "You... how did you..."

The words died on her lips, her confusion evident as she wondered how he could have pinpointed the exact book from the crowded shelves so precisely and without a moment's hesitation.

She was certain she had checked that section thoroughly just moments ago.

Seeing this, Linmu Fujimiya found this classmate of his rather amusing.

He waved a hand dismissively, his tone carrying a playful, teasing lilt as he leaned into his all-purpose shield of an identity:

"Actually," he lowered his voice, feigning mystery, "I'm a very talented fortune-teller.

This is the location I just... well, 'divined.' Do you believe me, classmate?"

He blinked, watching the doubt in Hiyori Shiina's eyes deepen rather than fade.

Clearly aware that his excuse was too ridiculous, Linmu chuckled and added a more "reasonable" explanation:

"Just kidding. Actually, I have a bit of an interest in mystery novels, and I happened to have read this book before, so I vaguely remembered it was in this area."

However, he shifted the tone, steering the conversation back to "divination." "I have been studying the occult lately, and my fortune-telling is actually quite decent. Would you be interested in learning more about it?"

Noticing the conversation hitting a lull, he naturally threw out a question to keep things from feeling too dry:

"By the way, why do you like mystery novels? I've noticed many of the girls... don't seem to be into this kind of book."

He recalled that Kikyo Kushida seemed to prefer romance novels or light essays.

Hiyori Shiina took The Murders in the Rue Morgue, her fingertips pausing slightly at the cold touch of the cover.

She lowered her head, her fingers gently tracing the raised texture of the book, her expression softening now that she had found her target.

Hearing Linmu's question, she looked up, her purple eyes meeting his, and replied softly:

"The rigorous logic in mystery novels, and the often unexpected truths revealed at the end, are very attractive to me."

Her voice remained quiet, but her speech quickened just a fraction when talking about something she enjoyed.

"The process of taking the scattered clues provided by the author, thinking through them myself, eliminating the wrong options step by step, and finally solving the puzzle...

I find it very satisfying, like completing a workout for the brain."

After speaking, she seemed to feel she had said too much and paused for a moment.

Then, she looked up at Linmu with a hint of genuine curiosity and asked in return: "And... what about you, classmate? What is it about the occult... that attracts you?"

She seemed skeptical of Linmu's "fortune-teller" persona, but she had developed a bit of interest in talking to him as a person.

"The occult, huh..." Linmu leaned back against the cold bookshelf, raising a hand to shift the nearly dissolved lime-flavored lollipop to his other cheek, clearing space to speak.

His tone was casual, yet carried a bit of his own insight, no longer just making things up.

"That exploration of unknown forces, the interpretation of fate and symbolic meaning—I find it very interesting. Although..."

He shrugged, "Many people think it's nonsense, a scam.

But I think it's connected to mystery in a certain way."

"Oh?" Hiyori Shiina tilted her head slightly, signaling her willingness to hear more.

"Both are searching for a kind of 'truth'."

Linmu explained, "Mystery searches for the factual truth of a case, while the occult searches for...

Perhaps the projection of the human heart, a mapping of the subconscious, or simply a self-consistent system of symbols.

They both require observation, association, and even a bit of intuition."

He paused, his tone turning slightly self-deprecating, "It's just that most people in this world use the occult as a front for fraud, muddying the waters."

Hiyori Shiina nodded gently upon hearing this, a glimmer of agreement appearing in her purple eyes, and the faint layer of detachment on her face seemed to dissipate slightly.

Clutching the book to her chest, she said softly: "You have a point.

In fact, they both require careful observation and rigorous thinking; it's just that... the targets of the search and the methods of verification are different."

One seeks a chain of objective evidence, the other interprets subjective symbolic meaning, yet they share a strange, essential connection.

The two stood there between the bookshelves, where only dust danced in the beams of light, and chatted casually.

The topic drifted from Edgar Allan Poe's pioneering mystery techniques and his gloomy, ornate style to the logic of interpreting different Tarot Cards spreads and the mythological archetypes behind the cards.

From Edogawa Ranpo's Japanese-style orthodox mysteries to the historical origins and psychological interpretations of crystal ball divination...

There was no forced small talk; they simply followed the points where their interests happened to overlap, letting the conversation flow naturally.

Occasionally, they would fall into a brief silence, but it didn't feel awkward; instead, there was a comfortable tranquility.

As they talked, they naturally came to know each other's names and classes.

"Linmu Fujimiya, Class D, first year," Linmu introduced himself, his tone flat.

"Hiyori Shiina, Class C, first year," Hiyori Shiina replied softly, giving a slight nod.

Different classes, similar introverted and solitary personalities, and the unexpected discovery of a wonderful resonance in a niche branch of reading interests.

It made them, if not immediate close friends, at least "compatible" and "easy to talk to" special acquaintances in each other's eyes.

"It was a pleasure talking with you."

After chatting for about twenty minutes, Lin Mu glanced at the time on his phone and decided it was about time.

He prepared to leave and return to continue his "grand plan of slacking off."

As he spoke, he naturally pulled a neatly wrapped strawberry-flavored lollipop from his uniform pocket and held it out toward Hiyori Shiina.

"Here, consider it a... small gift because we hit it off?"

He smiled and added, "I'm in the habit of carrying candy to replenish my energy. The strawberry flavor should be pretty good."

Hiyori Shiina looked at the pink lollipop in his hand, a flicker of obvious surprise passing through her purple eyes.

She stared blankly at the candy, then looked up at Lin Mu, seemingly unaccustomed to accepting gifts from strangers, even if they had just had a pleasant conversation—especially one that was... a slightly childish snack.

She hesitated for a moment, her cheeks flushing with a faint, delicate red, though it might have just been an illusion of the light, and she finally reached out her hand.

Her fingertips lightly brushed against the fingers Lin Mu used to offer the candy, and she pulled back quickly as if scalded, clutching the lollipop in her palm. Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible:

"Thank you... I, I rarely eat these. But... I'll accept it for today."

She lowered her head to look at the candy in her palm, her long silver eyelashes drooping to hide the emotions in her eyes.

"I hope you enjoy that book."

Lin Mu watched her slightly flustered but seemingly not averse reaction, and the smile on his face became a little more genuine.

He waved at her casually as a farewell, "I'll be going then. See you in the library again sometime."

With that, he turned around and walked with unhurried steps through the rows of tall bookshelves toward the library exit.

His short white hair caught a soft glint of light from the sunlight slanting through the windows, gradually blending into the background where the dimness and brightness of the library intertwined.

Hiyori Shiina remained standing where she was, clutching the copy of The Murders in the Rue Morgue to her chest.

In her palm, she held the strawberry-flavored lollipop, which still retained a trace of warmth from Lin Mu's fingertips.

She looked toward the direction where Lin Mu's figure had disappeared, bit her lower lip gently, and a complex emotion that she herself might not fully understand flashed through her purple eyes.

What a... truly interesting person. She thought to herself silently.

He was completely different from the chaos and laziness rumored about Class D.

Calm, a bit mysterious, knowledgeable about many obscure topics, and... unexpectedly easy to get along with.

Perhaps... he would be the first person she met at Advanced Nurturing High School who could be called a "friend"?

Meanwhile, Lin Mu stepped out of the library doors and was embraced once again by the bright afternoon sun.

He raised a hand to rub his mouth, which had grown stiff from maintaining a smile, and crunched the last bit of candy residue in his mouth.

Fresh air rushed into his lungs, carrying the scent of grass and trees.

Thinking about the brief encounter and conversation just now, the corners of his mouth curled up into a subtle arc involuntarily.

Hmm... a little interlude like this in life.

It feels... pretty good.

It's nice to have met a classmate with similar interests and a compatible personality.