Shiina Hiyori Is a Little Concerned

"You and Hirata Yousuke..."

"There's nothing between us at all."

"I haven't even finished my sentence, why are you so quick to deny it."

Meeting my half-smiling expression, she crouched down with a hint of sulkiness.

"By the way..."

Karuizawa lifted her head, looking straight at me.

"Why did you pretend not to know me during the campus tour last time?"

"I didn't."

I denied it.

"You say you didn't? You clearly recognized me, didn't you."

"I saw you with your head down, like you had something on your mind. After thinking it over, I decided not to greet you."

"What the hell, you jerk."

She suddenly puffed out her cheeks in anger.

"You... I bet you've got too many girls around you, you've already completely forgotten everything from before school started."

"Why are you suddenly getting angry."

"...Leave me alone."

"Your personality is really nasty."

"What do you mean..."

"..."

"Hey!? Why are you just hugging me like that, you bastard."

Her clenched fists pounded against my back, but I didn't react.

She bit down hard on my shoulder, strongly expressing her displeasure.

"Hiss... Are you a dog or something."

Karuizawa lifted her chin with a smug look.

"Consider this your punishment."

"Punishment for what?"

"You clearly knew I was at this school too, right? You could make friends with Kushida Kikyo, who you didn't know at all, but you never came looking for me."

"You didn't come looking for me either."

"...That's different!"

"But I really didn't notice you were at this school either... When I saw my own name on the Class B roster at the start of the term, I just went straight to the classroom."

"I'll reluctantly accept that explanation..."

I loosened my arms around her waist, but she still kept her cheek pressed against my chest.

Looking down, her golden ponytail swayed gently.

Suddenly, I felt her tightly gripping the hem of my shirt.

The sound of the waves carried a quiet sob.

For some reason, I felt a stir of emotion.

She must have been struggling all along.

I put the books that needed to be returned into my backpack and locked the door to the room.

It was getting a bit late. If I didn't hurry, the library would close, and that would be a problem.

Today was the last day for returns.

What a hateful procrastinator personality. I'd finished reading these books a few days ago, but I kept thinking there were still a few days left before the due date, so no rush.

I hate my procrastination, which delays my efforts to cure my procrastination.

Walking to the entrance of the main building, I saw many students returning in pairs or groups.

Walking against the flow of the crowd made me stand out a bit.

I'd better pick up the pace. If I can't return the books, I might not be allowed to borrow this many at once next time.

Of course, I don't just skim through them carelessly.

I especially enjoy savoring what the author intended to express while reading the content of a book.

Between the lines, everything reveals the author's own experiences and thoughts.

To feel what the author was trying to convey when they wrote those words.

I naturally respect the strokes of their brushes.

But whenever I encounter a passage of true emotion, it feels as though I'm crossing time and space, bridging distances to converse with the other.

Why did they choose those tender turns of phrase, and why do I find myself so deeply moved?

This is merely my own personal feeling.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with treating it as nothing more than a pastime to pass the time.

All in all, this is something very important to me.

Along the path, I vaguely made out the glow of light spilling from the library.

Climbing to the second floor, I headed straight for the front desk.

Huh... there's no one here.

I glanced around—only people quietly reading or whispering in low voices.

The librarian, slacking off?

Clutching my bag, I began searching through the library.

Huh?

In front of the shelf labeled "Mystery Novels," a little gray-haired figure was standing on tiptoe, straining to reach a book on the topmost row.

With her back to me, her long gray hair swayed gently.

She seemed to need help right now. I looked around.

Everyone was absorbed in their own business; no one noticed the small scene in the corner.

If I delayed any longer, what if I ended up on the library's blacklist?

I couldn't keep asking others to borrow books for me every time.

I decided to skip this section and go look for the librarian instead.

Ah...

I'd made up my mind, but I couldn't bring myself to leave.

Honestly.

Someone like me—not even capable, and when I do have the ability, I don't know how to use it.

Even I find it hard to approve of myself for acting like this.

I stepped forward and took down the book she was reaching for.

"Thank you, I was really struggling to put this book back in its place."

"You're welcome."

I replied politely.

With one hand holding the book, she smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes with the other.

Only then did I get a clear look at the book in her hands.

Wuthering Heights.

A book that clearly shouldn't have been in the mystery novel section.

She's really diligent...

Wait!?

I shifted my gaze from her lovely face to her coat.

Pinned to her chest was a nameplate reading: "Librarian: Shiina Hiyori."

I couldn't help but feel a surge of delight.

The librarian I'd been thinking about was right here.

"Shiina-san, you really are the librarian here!"

She looked down at the nameplate, then back up at me.

She seemed a bit surprised by how quickly my attitude had changed.

"That's right... Is something wrong?"

"Great, I need to return a book, but I couldn't find the librarian anywhere."

"If I ended up blacklisted as a student, it would really trouble me."

"Then wait for me at the front desk for a bit. I'll sort this book first."

"Thank you for your trouble!"

Just as I was worrying about ending up on the blacklist, a new turn of events came my way.

It was only an ordinary, trivial matter—so why did it feel like I'd gone through twists and turns to finally reach this point?

Was it because I'd read too many novels that the trivial details of life involuntarily shaped themselves into storylines?

Of course, I'd dabbled in romance novels too, but to say that something this minor could kick off all sorts of tales—that was stretching my imagination a bit too far.

It felt more like the joy of success after accomplishing some great ideal.

Really, my emotions were running way too rich.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"No, not at all. Please help me return these two, and renew this one for another week."

I handed over the books I'd prepared.

She nodded as she took them.

"These two need to be returned... and this one needs to be... Huh?"

Just as I reached for the book to be renewed, I noticed she was still gripping it tightly.

"Um, if the paperwork's done, can I have it back?"

"...Of course."

"Thanks for your help."

I nodded and tucked the book away.

But then I saw her staring at me with bright, animated eyes.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable under her gaze, I gave a polite smile and turned to leave.

"Hajima-kun..."

"Is something wrong?"

I looked back and asked.

"...No, just remember to take care of the books."

"I will."