The afternoon library was profoundly still.
Especially on a holiday. During these rare, brief breaks, everyone was usually off relaxing.
Few would spend such precious time trying to broaden their horizons. So the library on holidays felt particularly deserted.
And a holiday afternoon? Even more so.
Even the usual book lovers were probably taking naps around this hour.
Who'd possibly come out just to read?
Shiina stepped into the library.
Her eyes swept across the empty hall. Then she quickly made her way toward the reading area.
The librarian, looking drowsy, propped her head up with an arm.
She seemed on the verge of dozing off at any moment.
Better not disturb her, Shiina thought.
She reached the reading section. Her gaze immediately landed on a spot near the window.
There, a girl sat reading alone. Golden sunlight streamed in through the bright window, falling perfectly across the pages of the book in the girl's hands.
Bathed in the warm glow, she rested her head on one hand, her fair fingers casually turning the pages, her purple eyes sparkling in the light.
Along with her flawless profile and that… silly grin on her lips.
Hmm.
It was definitely Amane.
But this scene, so perfectly harmonious with the surroundings, left Shiina staring in a daze.
It was the first time she had truly looked properly at Amane's face, as one girl regarding another.
Before, when Amane claimed she was cute or things like that, Shiina had just thought she was being shamelessly boastful. But now, it seemed maybe Amane had simply been telling the truth.
As if sensing the gaze from behind, Amane turned slightly.
Spotting Shiina, she looked absolutely delighted.
She waved her over.
Only then did Shiina snap out of it and walk to Amane's side.
"Sorry, I'm a little late."
Some trivial matters had delayed Shiina on her way out, so by the time she reached the library, she was about half an hour behind schedule.
So her first words were an apology.
"It's fine. If it's for you, Hiyori, I'd wait as long as it takes."
Amane's words brought a blush to Shiina's cheeks. She fidgeted slightly as she sat down beside Amane.
A faint, floral scent of shower gel drifted steadily to Amane's nose.
"You smell really nice."
"Huh?"
Shiina blinked.
What was this sudden, out-of-nowhere comment?
Seeing Shiina's puzzled look, Amane leaned close to her ear and whispered,
"Hiyori, you smell really lovely today."
Wha—!!
Hearing such a direct compliment from Amane, Shiina quickly covered her cheeks with her hands.
Her face felt burning hot, as if scalded.
"Miyako-san, please don't say such embarrassing things in public," Shiina complained to the girl beside her.
But her voice was so soft and meek, it sounded more like she was coquettishly whining.
"So Hiyori means it's okay to say embarrassing things in private, then?"
Amane's sudden counter left Shiina flustered and at a loss, but she quickly gathered herself.
"Ahem! Miyako-san, didn't you invite me to read an interesting novel together?"
Her attempt to change the subject was a bit clumsy.
But Amane didn't mind.
Her goal had already been accomplished, after all. So she slid the book in her hand over toward Shiina.
Just as Shiina prepared to delve into this masterpiece reputed to blend romance, monsters, adventure, and legend…
Her eyes fell on the title on the cover.
She felt her vision go dark for a second.
"Miyako-san!!! This is Momotaro! You lied to me!"
Perhaps the gap from her expectations was just too wide.
Shiina stared angrily at Amane.
But her expression wasn't stern enough—it just made her look terribly cute.
"I didn't lie to you, though."
Faced with Amane's cheeky grin, Shiina felt an urge to just reach out and pinch that smirking face. All that time she'd spent guessing, and it turned out Amane was fooling her with a children's book.
"Just think about it, Hiyori. First of all, it's famous, right?"
Confronted with Amane's question, Shiina paused.
Even though Momotaro was a children's story, its fame was undeniable—pretty much everyone in the country had heard of it.
In her own memory alone, Shiina had heard the story countless times, and even several different versions.
Seeing Shiina's anger falter, Amane secretly took hold of her hand.
"And doesn't it have monsters and adventure?"
"Well, now that you mention it…"
Shiina couldn't really argue with that. Even if the story was simple, it did include those elements.
Shiina's hand was smooth.
Nice to hold.
"See? I told you I didn't lie. And as for legend… Momotaro's tale is pretty old, right?"
Shiina bit her lip in frustration.
Amane looked triumphantly at her pouting expression.
"But there's no romance in it!"
After thinking hard, Shiina finally found what seemed a reasonable point to argue. But instead of being stumped, Amane grinned even wider.
She leaned close to Shiina's ear and whispered something.
In an instant, Shiina's face turned several shades redder.
"Miyako-san, you're so mean!"
"I never said I was a good person."
"You—!"
Shiina's vision darkened again. It was her first time meeting a girl who could be this shameless.
The only person in her mind who could possibly compare was Ryūen. But even Ryūen wasn't as much of a cheeky rascal as Amane.
"So, does that kind of thing count as romance or not?" Shiina turned her face away.
Pouting, she clearly didn't want to speak to Amane anymore.
Amane, as if she'd expected this, pulled from her bag a package of cookies quite similar to last time's.
"Hiyori, look what yummy treats I brought!"
As soon as she opened the wrapper, a tempting aroma wafted out, making Shiina sneak a glance at the bag.
Unlike last time, these cookies were also bear-shaped, but came in all sorts of colors. The rainbow assortment reminded Shiina of poisonous mushrooms.
She hesitated for a long while, not quite daring to try one.
"Here, try this pink one—it's strawberry flavored. Say 'ah~'"
Amane held a pink cookie up to Shiina's lips.
"I can take it myself." Shiina hurriedly reached for it.
Being fed like this in public was just too embarrassing.
But Amane, as if she'd anticipated this, moved her hand out of reach.
"Let me feed you."
Seeing how determined Amane was, Shiina had no choice. Blushing, she nibbled the cookie.
Then slowly took it into her mouth.
"Is it good?" Amane leaned in close.
So close Shiina could feel her warm breath.
"It's good…"
"If you like them, next time I'll make you…"
"Well, well, if it isn't Amane? So you hand-feed Shiina when she likes something, but when your own Suzune wants a treat, I don't see you being this attentive."
A familiar voice came from behind them.
Amane's body went rigid.
"Suzune, let me explain—ow ow ow, not in front of others, have some mercy, waaah—"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.