I strolled through the bookshelves with Fujiharu tagging along. My eyes scanned the spines of books, checking out each title and cover. A good title and cover is key for grabbing my attention. I had a particular penchant for titles that were evocative and had an air of intrigue, for those that promised something more than just a mundane story.
Although I had considered picking up a novel, the selection was lacking. I think they restricted the distribution of the books, with only mildly interesting works available, all of which were rated E10+.
In the midst of my browsing, Fujiharu's incessant chatter interrupted my concentration.
"I remember how we used to read together back then~"
Despite my straightforward responses and occasional grunts, she persisted in her questioning. I grabbed a book and looked around for a seat, although it was more of a cursory glance than an actual search, since the library was rarely crowded.
The table closest to me caught my eye, and I made my way towards it. As I settled into the chair, I could feel the cool wood against my back. Shortly thereafter, Fujiharu also claimed a seat at the same table.
She sat across from me, staring right at me with her hands on the table. As for myself, I avoided her intense stare, instead fixating on the book I had placed before me.
My life had been relatively peaceful…
—for the time being.
It's said that humans are always in search of peace and serenity. Yet, it's in the nature of humans to constantly seek conflict. While I'm not actively seeking out conflict, it seems to follow me like a shadow.
It is almost as if I speak of myself as though I am not human, as though I lack any inherent human nature. But in truth, there is no definitive answer or consensus on what it means to be human, or whether there even exists a fixed set of characteristics that define human nature.
I sensed a gentle pressure on my right cheek, as if the tender flesh was being gently compressed against my own teeth. Lifting my gaze, I observed Fujiharu's slender finger delicately poking my cheek.
She flashed me a smile before withdrawing her hand and placing it back onto the table.
"Wow, Ayato, your cheek is so soft for a guy…"
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Fujiharu's actions were becoming increasingly aggressive for every meeting, her touch unhesitant and unrestrained. I couldn't help but feel annoyed, I knew I needed to address this behavior before it became a problem in the future.
"What book did you take, Ayato?" she asked, shifting her gaze from my face to the book that lay on the table.
It dawned on me that I had yet to even touch the book, and so I slowly opened it, grasping the edge of the cover and flipping it open.
"It's just the usual book that you would see me reading."
"Is it something similar to Nietzsche?"
I was taken aback by her recollection, but simply nodded and continued reading. Though I had already perused its pages, having exhausted all other options of interest, I found myself compelled to revisit its contents once more.
Suddenly, Fujiharu shifted her chair closer to mine, settling down right beside me.
"Are you not invading my personal space?"
"Quite the opposite~ this is normal."
The sudden alteration in her behaviour led me to believe that she had caught wind of something - more specifically, something concerning me.
Abruptly, my concentration was disrupted.
"You are not reading, are you?"
I opted to respond with a mere gesture, flipping the page of my book and disregarding the introductory section entirely. Although Heidegger's work is comparable to Nietzsche's in many ways, it possesses a distinct complexity that sets it apart.
"This looks complex…"
We were close enough that the scent of her hair wafted towards me, its floral essence both delicate and airy - it was a manufactured scent, rather than a natural one, as expected.
"Eh?"
A familiar voice disrupted the tranquillity that had surrounded me. Raising my gaze, I was greeted by the sight of Hamasaki and her friends sauntering over.
"Are you two going out?" Hamasaki asked, her words coated with a subtle hint of curiosity.
In response, Fujiharu nonchalantly reclined in her seat while I answered with a flat denial, of course.
"No."
It was imperative that I steer the conversation elsewhere - the notion of dating one of the school's most popular girls was not something that I was eager to entertain, for it would inevitably thrust me into the limelight.
"Are you an avid reader, Hamasaki."
"Hmm, not particularly…"
Fujiharu remained silent, her expression inscrutable. It felt as if I were being accused of something illicit, although I couldn't fathom why.
"What brings you here, then."
"And what about you, Mizuhara?"
"I'm just reading."
I've observed that girls often take delight in discussing the topic of love, and Hamasaki was certainly no exception. Her musings piqued my interest, but I knew I had to tread carefully - this could spell trouble for me.
'You two seem to talk quite frequently recently. Is there something going on between you?'
"Yeah, we're friends."
Fujiharu, on the other hand, seemed unfazed.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with it," she interjected, her eyes trained on the book.
"I don't think you two would make a good couple. Your worlds are just too different," she opined, her tone dismissive.
It was clear that her friends were not particularly invested in this discussion, as they continued to chatter amongst themselves about other matters.
"Speaking of which, I must take something from the library. Enjoy your reading session with Fujiharu," she said before turning on her heel and making her way towards the reception desk.
"That was a close one, huh~?"
"I'm not quite sure what you're getting at."
"Oh, come now, isn't it clear? Ayato, you're not one to enjoy being in the spotlight, are you?" she replied, a small smile gracing her lips.
Her sudden shift in behaviour had me on edge.
"What's gotten into you today."
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[Volume 3 END]
The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel