Chapter 37: Invitation

Translator: Soafp

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“Oh, there they are. Abe! Ishikawa!”

I was about to return to the classroom from the gym after the closing ceremony when I was called by Obata-san. Miyamoto-san was next to her.

“Ah, Obata-san. Many thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Are you all right?”

“Yes, I think so.”

I returned to the classroom just before the end of lunch break, so I don’t know if there was a lack of time to get involved or if no one was trying to get involved with me, but so far I haven’t heard anything about it. Maybe it’s just a matter of time before I’m accused of being cheating, but fortunately it’s summer vacation starting tomorrow, so I’d like to think that I won’t be accused of anything until after the vacation is over.

“So, what’s wrong?”

　I wondered if there was something she wanted since she seemed to have taken the trouble to wait for me, but Yuki asked me before I did.

　To this question, Obata-san gives a “Eh?” before answering with a laugh.

“Oh no, I just thought, when I go home after this, it’ll be summer vacation already.”

“Oh, that’s what you mean.”

“Well, that’s all there is to it, so I’ll see you later.”

　After saying that, Obata-san waved her hand in the air and said, “let’s go, Mizuki,” as she turned to leave the place with Miyamoto-san in tow. As I lifted my hand to see her off, Miyamoto-san came a little closer to me.

“Ishikawa, let’s go have a lot of fun during summer vacation, okay?”

“Ah, yes.”

I could only reply in a small voice to Miyamoto-san, who looked a little nervous and said so with a laugh.

　After that, after the last homeroom before the summer vacation, I went to the library. Before the homeroom started, I heard some people sneaking glances at me and saying something, but I was able to come to the library peacefully without any problems.

　I entered the library and looked at the spot where Tokizaki-senpai had been sitting for the past two times, and there she was again today. As usual, she was reading a novel, and there were two books beside her.

“Tokizaki-senpai. Hello.”

“Hello, Ishikawa-kun. T-This is …….”

Tokizaki-senpai slammed the book she was reading and greeted me back.

　I took out of my bag the book that was recommended to me the other day.

“Thank you very much for this. It was very interesting.”

“Ishikawa, you read very fast. ……”

　Tokizaki-senpai murmured. I can’t say, “I’m just reading because it reminds me of bad things if I’m not doing something,” so I reply in an appropriate manner.

“Ah…… I had quite a bit of time.”

“I see.”

After such a conversation, we talked about our impressions just like before. This time was different from the last time, as Tokizaki often offered her opinions on what I was saying, and it was fun to see the content from a different perspective.

“I think this one was more to my liking.”

“I see. …… T-Thank you very much.”

“No, thank you for introducing me to such an interesting book.”

　When the conversation came to a close like that, a silence fell between the two of us.

Let’s go back ……. I don’t have anything else to say, and it’s kind of awkward.

“Oh, ……, well, I’ll go back–“

“Uhm!”

“Eh, yes”

　Suddenly, Tokizaki-senpai started to speak louder, which startled me. I thought to myself, “This is the library, if you speak too loudly, people will stare at you,” but Tokizaki in front of me was in no mood to argue.

“It’s….”

“…”

Tokizaki-senpai seemed to be trying her best to say something, so I waited silently for her to say something, but she seemed determined and opened her mouth.

“……Would you like to join our Literature Club⁉”

“……”

　”Aah ……, so that’s it?” was my first thought. Well, without something like that, it would have been strange for her to introduce me to books like this. I’m not a library elf.

　But …… I see.

“Right now, we don’t have any members at all, and, you know, Ishikawa seems to like books,…….”

“I’m sorry. I don’t intend to join the club.”

　There was no hesitation in answering that. I don’t want to join club activities. The reason being the fact that the incident in the third year of junior high school was caused by the human relations in the club activities, I absolutely hated to be in the same club activities.

Tokizaki Senpai is a quiet person, and I don’t think she would do anything to me just because I refused to join her.

“I-I see. ……”

Tokizaki’s immediate answer was a little sad.

　Let’s go home this time. It’s really awkward.

“I’m really sorry. I’ll leave you alone.”

“Yeah ……”

I felt somewhat sad thinking that if I turned down club activities, there would be no more reason for her to introduce me to new books, and that this would be the end of my involvement with Tokizaki-senpai. The two books Tokizaki-senpai recommended to me were interesting. Well, it’s not that I like the books, so I can say that I don’t mind.

　I guess we won’t have anything more to talk about once the summer vacation is over.

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