Chapter 20: The Ancient World

Reading Settings

Translator: soafp

---

Sunday, 6 AM.

Drinking coffee made from carefully selected beans (just wanted to say that) while eating naan I made as breakfast.

“It's hard.”

What's this? It's rock hard.

What happened to the fluffy naan?

I hope you don't call this the same as that (the voice of an Indian in my heart).

……Well, this is how it goes at first. No choice but to brush it off and move on to dance time.

Exercise after breakfast.

---

“……Wow.”

Following the dance beginner's guide, I try squatting and opening my arms.

Pulling my body back and pushing it forward…… The key is to record and reflect on my movements, so I watched the recording.

But I stopped watching after three seconds due to the feeling of “introvert struggling to dance (worst).”

This is bad. I need to practice seriously. I thought I could dance decently, but it's not enough. When I get serious, the flaws show.

“Horizontal bar and dancing are both difficult……”

Drinking a sip of each type of natural water lined up on the desk, I list my points for improvement in my notebook.

With so many hobbies, I end up needing separate notebooks for each one.

“……But it's fun.”

I found myself saying this because I really enjoyed the horizontal bar and dancing.

I thought moving my body would be tough since I've been studying so much, but in reality, it's the opposite. I might even like it.

Even if it's a bit awkward, no one is watching.

“This is――○”

Closing my eyes, I chug from a selected PET bottle.

When I say it proudly――the package says “Sparrow's Drop.”

……I'll steadily work on tasting natural water as well.

---

500: Username: 1

Dancing is difficult.

501: Username: Anonymous in Love

Of course it is.

502: Username: Anonymous in Love

Is it true that dancing is a required subject in recent high schools?

503: Username: Anonymous in Love

We were made to do folk dances, even in an all-boys school.

504: Username: Anonymous in Love

Hell, lol.

505: Username: Anonymous in Love

It's actually quite fun. Couples formed from it, too.

506: Username: Anonymous in Love

???????

507: Username: Anonymous in Love

1, hurry up and learn the moonwalk or something.

508: Username: 1

I'll do my best.

Also, I think it's fine to have various kinds of love.

509: Username: 1

Oh, I'm almost at the library. Is it damaged books I'm looking for? I wonder where they are.

510: Username: Anonymous in Love

The library, huh? You'll find many in used book sections.

511: Username: Anonymous in Love

Well, they're often restored neatly. So neat you might not even notice.

512: Username: Anonymous in Love

Recent technology is amazing.

513: Username: Anonymous in Love

Probably old books, right? The ones that are too aged and have turned brown.

514: Username: 1

Got it. I'll look for them while reading.

515: Username: Anonymous in Love

1, you spend your weekends reading, while we're stuck on the bulletin board……

516: Username: Anonymous in Love

Maybe I should read some of my stacked-up paperback books……

517: Username: Anonymous in Love

I've only read one page of the e-book I bought on sale lololol

518: Username: Anonymous in Love

Maybe I'll do some writing.

---

《――In front of the ○▲ Library――》

From that point on.

I got off the bus and arrived at my destination.

It's a large city library.

The selection is rich…… There's a self-study room, and even a planetarium, if anything.

Of course, the library itself is huge.

“……Phew.”

First, I'll study for an hour in the self-study room.

Then I'll look for books to read, doodle, and search for damaged books (?).

There are people with all sorts of hobbies in the world.

But honestly, if there are doodles in library books, that's a problem too.

……I'll hand them to the staff as soon as I find them.

---

“……I feel something.”

From then on, I focused on my studies at the desk in the self-study room.

Partway through, I could feel a gaze piercing my back.

Given my hair color, it's understandable, but still, it's been coming from the same direction this whole time――

“Maybe it's just my imagination……”

When I check the clock, an hour has already passed.

The quiet atmosphere of the library really helps with concentration.

If only it were closer to home, I'd want to come here every day.

Lately, with the rise of e-books, I've stayed loyal to ‘paper books.’

This place, filled with books, is so comforting. For someone like me, who's an introverted loner, books are my friends (a one-sided love).

“Ah, this one.”

I stood up from my desk and wandered around, looking for a book to read.

Though a book on hobbies would be fine, right now I felt like reading a story.

Then I randomly stumbled upon the name of an author――

It was the same author whose novel had been adapted into the live-action movie I watched yesterday.

“……They've written quite a lot.”

A whole row of books with the same author's name.

Some were part of a series, while others were standalone――I picked up one of the latter.

---

“……”

This book is incredibly interesting.

What is this?

For a moment, the voice of a broken-voiced actor from the movie echoed in my head, but I quickly erased it and focused back on the story.

The shocking final 50 pages, the friendship between the characters throughout――

It was so engrossing that I lost track of time.

If they ever adapt this one into a movie, they should just stick to the original, please.

“……Well, time to keep my promise about the old books.”

Having finished one book so quickly, I decided to keep my promise to the thread posters.

If the book is old enough, it might have torn pages or other damage.

“……!”

As I walked around, I came across a book by a famous historical figure, the type you'd see in a language arts textbook.

When I checked the publication year, it was from three eras ago.

It's really old. I wasn't even born when this was printed. It's been around three lifetimes.

……I might as well take a look.

I sat down at a single-person desk right behind the bookshelf and started turning the pages.

“……”

There was a faint scent, like almonds mixed with vanilla. Even though the paper had turned from white to a light brown, the content written on it hadn't faded.

“Ah……”

Then, I found it.

There were signs of repair, possibly with special tape.

It was obvious some pages had been copied onto newer paper.

Several parts throughout the book had been repaired and copied over, done carefully――as if to hold the pages together.

As I flipped through the pages while reading the content, I found myself being pulled into the world of the book.

It must be due to the weight of history that this book has carried.

Of course, the content itself is fascinating, but I feel that the passage of time has also contributed to its depth.

“……That was great.”

Finished reading.

I carefully returned the book to its original place and took a breath. It's already this late, huh?

I should head home to prepare for the club meeting.

“Hmm?”

At the same bookshelf of old books, there was one that stood out.

It was lying on the floor, unlike the neatly lined-up books above it.

Feeling sorry for it, I picked it up on instinct.

The author's name was one you'd find in a modern literature textbook.

It probably got knocked off when someone carelessly put it back. Seriously, can't people put books back in their proper place? It's disrespectful to the book…… it's practically crying.

“……Aww man.”

From the fall, the spine of the book was crushed.

Well, whatever…… I'll just take it to the front desk on my way out.

---

“!?”

“Ah—hello……”

At the front desk, the librarian was startled when they saw me.

I'm so used to this reaction by now.

This hair color is great for mental training (rainbow vibes).

“Is there something wrong?”

“This book was on the floor…… the spine got damaged. I figured it wouldn't be right to just put it back like this.”

“Ah……”

“Do you think it can be fixed? This book.”

The librarian took the book from my hands.

Come to think of it, it wouldn't be surprising if they thought I was the one who damaged it.

Well, it's too late now.

“Hmm… yeah. This much is fine. We can fix it quickly. It’ll be back to normal in about a day.”

“Oh, really? That’s a relief.”

“Thank you for finding it before it got worse!”

“No worries. Please take care of it.”

After bowing my head, I left the front desk.

Next time I come back――I’ll check to see how it looks after being repaired.

If someone has already borrowed it by then, that would be nice too.

A small new joy has been added to my list.

Now it's time for the club meeting (preparation not complete).