「You were to supposed to be explaining the book, but we got sidetracked, so what do we do?」

Uehara-san is right that I may be a bit logical. I am ashamed to speak highly of my classmates.

「I desire a book that will make me as mature as Tōyama!」

「Then you can read all of the books in the school library, and like me, you’ll only have superficial knowledge of that subject.」

「I’m going to be loner like Tōyama, and I don’t like it.」

「I’m not denying that I’m a loner, but not because I was reading books. I’m a loner by nature.」

「I can’t tell if that’s a self-depreciating gag or not.」

Uehara-san chuckled.

Her smile was the kind of expression that a man would be proud to see in her face. I wondered if this was kind of genuine expression that could not be seen in the classroom, but only in front of me.

We eventually left Hanseidō without buying anything. Uehara-san said she wanted to talk more, so we moved to café and ended the day with some casual conversation.

Our initial goal of choosing a book was solved by me choosing a book from the school library and Uehara-san borrowing it. The school library also has a selection of novels, although they do not have books with extreme contents or covers.

It was interesting to see Uehara-san’s surprise when she found out.

◇ ◇ ◇

Immediately after Uehara-san and I went to Hanseidou, she started coming to the library when I was on duty as an after-school library committee member.

「Tooyama! I’m here to return it.」

Was it the kind of book Uehara-san returned that you can found in a school library? It’s a romcom of a novel, as they say. Now she seems to be hooked on reading and is borrowing books at a fair pace.

I first selected a pure love type of novel for Uehara-san to read, and she enjoyed it and said it was well received. I then recommended romcoms and other romance-related books, which she seemed to be able to read surprisingly well.

「There aren’t usually girls who look like heroines in romcoms. Boys dream too much about girls.」

Often, she leaves the library with comments like she’s not a fan of the reality where the boys who dream of such a thing.

Uehara-san was steadily walking the path to becoming an otaku.

And Takai is a resident here whether I am here or not, so it is safe to say that she is always there after school. Uehara-san has been talking to her a lot lately.

「Hey, hey, Takai-san, this novel is interesting, have you read it?」

Uehara-san offers a pure love type of light novel.

「I don’t read that kind of stuff. Uehara-san, you’re not allowed to talk in the library. Don’t talk to me anymore because it interferes with my reading.」

The pattern of their exchanges was like this: a word or two were exchanged, and then Takai unilaterally terminates the conversation.

And Takai does not read ordinary romance novels. She prefers sloppy cuckold stories but Uehara-san did not yet understand Takai’s preferences.

Uehara-san was undeterred by Takai’s saltiness and tried to find out what Takai liked each time they met.

「Hah… Today, too, I couldn’t figure out what Takai-san liked. The books Takai-san reads in the library are too difficult for me.」

Most of the books Takai reads in the library are pure literature and philosophy books. They are too much for Uehara-san, who’s a reading beginner.

「Hey, Tooyama, what kind of books Takai-san likes to read? Tell me please?」

「Why don’t you tell me what title Takai is reading right now?」

「I can’t understand that one because it’s too hard for me! I’m talking about more general novels and stuff.」

「If you want to be friends with, you have to ask her.」

Naturally, I know Takai’s preferences, but I will not tell her because I believe it is meaningless unless Uehara-san finds out from her.

「Ugh… Tooyama is stingy!」

I am hoping that Takai will open her heart to Uehara-san and become friends with her. I feel that Takai is trying to fill something in her heart that she has lost in her complicated family environment by having sex with me.

But that is only temporary. The hole she have filled will soon open up. I am just a high school student, and there are limits to what I can do for Takai. All I can do is respond when asked.

Takai does not want to tell me her true feelings. She probably doesn’t want me to play that role.

But, I am wondering if having a non-judgmental friend of the same-sex like Uehara-san would make any difference. If only she had someone to at listen to her… maybe something would be resolved and I wouldn’t be needed anymore.

I am okay alright with that. That is normal.

「I’d like to borrow this book, please.」

After finishing the check-out process for the book Takai brought, I offer her the book.

「It will be returned in two weeks.」

Takai did not accept the book, but grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward her. I leaned forward and when my face was close enough to kiss her, I could smell her softly and pleasantly.

Then Takai put her shapely lips to my ears and murmured.

「Let’s have sex today. I’ll wait for you at home.」

Uehara-san was sitting in a chair and turned her back, so she probably did not notice. But what on earth was going on when one wrong move would make her aware of my relationship with Takai?

I was still a shady person who was unfamiliar with the subtleties of a woman’s mind.



That night I visited Takai’s room and lay on her bed.

As I was lying on the bed exhausted, Takai spoke to me.

「Hey, Yuuki.」

「What?」

「Why is that girl bothering me?」

「You mean Uehara-san?」

Takai nodded cockily.

Uehara-san wanted to get along and would be willing to tell her.

「She wants to be friends with Takai.」

「Why?」

「I don’t know, I have no idea as well. She said it’s because we’re in the same class.」

「Hmph… she’s a strange girl.」

「I wonder? She’s not prejudiced, and she’s a good girl.」

「…Does Yuuki like her?」

「Eh? I don’t really feel that way, but…」

「I see.」

「What wrong is with you? I can’t believe you asked me that?」

「It’s nothing.」

「Why don’t you be a little nicer to her, Takai?」

Takai did not respond to my words.

I don’t know for sure how Takai feels about Uehara-san, but the day when the two of them can talk amicably may be near.

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