Chapter 4: Companion

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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[Miyuki POV]

I was able to talk to Kuon-kun. Just as he appeared in the library, despite his tough exterior, he was a very charming person.

“Don't worry, just talk to him when you see him!”

Encouraged by Nagisa-chan, I managed to approach Kuon-kun without hesitation when I saw him. As we talked, my nervousness gradually faded, and I even found myself teasing him a bit. I felt like we could become good friends.

And I also got to talk to Morimoto-kun. Until now, I had only been watching him from a distance.

And he even remembered me.

As I expected, he was a friendly person.

Even so, talking to Morimoto-kun still made me nervous.

“You did it, Miyuki! Not only did you manage to talk to Takumi-kun, but you also talked to Morimoto-kun! If you can become friends with Morimoto-kun, you won't have to push yourself to get close to Takumi-kun. Don't worry, I'll back you up. Just be proactive and go for it!”

Nagisa-chan spoke excitedly. It was only natural, since not only did I manage to talk to Morimoto-kun today, but we also made plans to go to a café after school. I owed it all to Nagisa-chan.

“Haha, but I'm still nervous. Besides, I feel like I can become good friends with Takumi-kun, and I want to talk to him a bit more.”

The friendly Morimoto-kun and the surprisingly approachable Kuon-kun. Especially with Kuon-kun, I wanted to have the book conversation we couldn't have that morning. What kind of genres does he read? Which authors does he like?

Having common interests is the best tool for building communication. As a book lover, becoming true friends with Takumi-kun could greatly influence my high school life and beyond.

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That evening, since the other three were in their clubs, I decided to wait in the library until they finished.

I walked through the door, which made a creaking sound as it opened, and sat in the same seat Kuon-kun had been in previously. I pulled my favorite book out of my bag.

It's a story that became well-known a few years ago when it was adapted into a film. It's about a deceased wife who returns, younger, and they fall in love all over again. I've read it countless times. My paperback was so worn out from rereading it that I bought a hardcover version.

Fortunately, there were no other people around my seat, and the only sounds were the occasional page turns from my book.

How much time had passed since I started reading? By the time I looked up, the sky outside the window was tinged with the colors of sunset, and there was no sign of any other students in the library.

“Hayakawa-san?”

Startled, I looked up and saw Kuon-kun standing a bit away from me.

“Huh? Kuon-kun, what about your club?”

“Oh, it just finished. I came to return a book I borrowed. But more importantly, that book…”

His gaze was fixed on the book in my hands.

“Oh, this? It's mine.”

“You like that author?”

Not the book, but the author.

“Yeah, I've read their other works too. They're romance novels but with a bit of a sci-fi twist, a unique world. Do you like them too, Kuon-kun?”

“Well, uh, maybe it's not what you'd expect from someone like me, but yeah. I really like their unique world and I've read quite a few.”

Seeing this tough guy reading romance novels might seem mismatched to an outsider, but…

“I think it's great. Your character doesn't matter when it comes to what you like. Being able to say you like something is wonderful, isn't it?”

When I looked straight into Kuon-kun's eyes and said that, he scratched his head and muttered “Yeah” with an embarrassed smile.

On the way to the school gate, we chatted about our favorite books and shared our thoughts.

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On the second floor of a café near the station, we deepened our friendship, talking about middle school memories, hobbies, and cooing over the adorable photos of Morimoto-kun’s cat.

“Alright! To get closer, we should start with names. Can I call you two by your first names? And please call me Shinobu! So, Nagisa and Miyuki, is that okay?”

For me, who had never had close male friends, this was quite a high hurdle.

“OK, I don’t mind, Shinobu-kun. But Miyuki, is it that you only let special people call you by your first name?”

Sensing my hesitation, Nagisa-chan playfully provided some cover for me.

“Ooh! An innocent maiden, huh? You don’t have to force yourself, just call me whatever you like. Should I stick to calling you Hayakawa-san?”

“No, it’s fine! It’s just that I’m too embarrassed to call you by your first name.”

I thought that if it would help us become friends, I could handle calling Morimoto-kun by his first name.

“Alright then, nice to meet you, Miyuki.”

For the first time, Kuon-kun called me by my first name, with the kindest expression I had ever seen on his face.

After that, we all exchanged contact information and created a group chat. The group was always lively; we made plans to go to the summer festival together, organized a Christmas party, and arranged to meet for the New Year’s shrine visit.

In the individual chat with Kuon-kun, we exchanged book recommendations, shared our thoughts, and made plans to go book shopping or watch movies together.

But now, no new messages come in from either of them.

“We weren’t even friends, were we?”

It was me who destroyed it.