It had been 4th period on Friday . Just one more time to go before fulfilling the quota for conversations with Izumi Yuzu .

Since I had by this point been talking to her over and over again, I had somehow become used to it, or rather, I had become numb to the feeling, such that even if a conversation didn’t last, I was able to end up thinking something like, Again, huh, that kind of indifference . I had come to be set free from my panic .

Which is why I had been in a complacent state of mind, resembling, In any case, one more to go, if I find the right timing somewhere then I should be able to get it done without having to take it too seriously . On account of having been in that complacent state of mind, when the time came to move cla.s.ses, I had been able to behave in the same way I usually did, killing some time in the library first before making my way towards the next cla.s.sroom at the last moment . Although, instead of my usual studying of ATAFAMI tactics as I pretended to read a book or something, just for today, reviewing my memorized conversation topics was the kind of thing I had intended to devote myself to .

──It was at that time .

「Tomozaki-kun . 」

「Whoa!?」

Suddenly, my name was called in a terrifyingly transparent voice . When I turned towards the direction of that voice, holding a book with both hands while peering into my face was an angel

of light . I mean, Kikuchi Fuuksan .

「……Huh? Kikuchi-san? Why are you here?」

「Even if you ask why, I’m just here as always, though……?」

「……As always?」

Just what might she mean, I wonder . I tried to recall anything that she could possibly be referring to, but with my brain being gently swayed by the aroma departing Kikuchi-san that resembled a field of alpine flowers in paradise, it just wasn’t possible .

「I mean……when moving cla.s.s, it’s always, Tomozaki-kun and, me, isn’t it……?」

「Umm……when we’re moving cla.s.s, always?」

「Ah……could it be……you never noticed?」

Which meant .

「……Ahh, so in other words . 」

「Whenever it’s time for our cla.s.s to move, you’re always here, right……？」

「Y, yeah . 」

「I’ve always been doing the same as well, so……Ah, you’re here again, I would think……」

「Ah, is that so? Sorry, I was concentrating, so……」

Concentrating on my study of ATAFAMI tactics, that is . When I looked at her, Kikuchi-san’s gaze was focused on my open book .

「……Michael Andy’s works, you like them, don’t you……？」

「Eh?」

「Huh……? Was I mistaken? You were always reading them, so……」

Ahh, that’s right, the book that I was always pretending to read . In the library, with my choice of seat being, for whatever reason, predetermined, I would always, from there, pick up a book from the end of the nearest bookshelf, so it might have ended up being this one every single time . ……However, not knowing whether or not it would be a good idea to explain that fact, I ended up saying the following .

「Ahh, well, I guess . Look, I don’t particularly love them or anything, though……」

Right, now what . In the hope that I would be able to gain a vague understanding of the book’s contents

contents and somehow survive this situation, I tried s.h.i.+fting my attention to the contents of the open book for the first time ever, but what came into view was the conversation text「Ebi Daite!」「Mouzun Rekuku!」, which, on top of resembling a ridiculously ambiguous code, were two in number, making me realize that it would be impossible with such hasty preparation .

「As I thought……!」Kikuchi-san’s eyes, which were sparkling with magical power as always to begin with, began to sparkle even more . 「Me too, I really love Andy’s works……!」

「Ah, is, is that so . 」This is bad, now what . 「Wh, what a coincidence, huh……」

「Yes! A huge coincidence!」

Kikuchi-san gently brought her hands together in front of her lips .

「Don’t you think this resembles『Poporu and Bird of Prey Island』……!?」

「Eh? Bird of Prey……?」

「By Andy……ah, have you not read it yet……? Ah, that’s right, the library doesn’t have it……」

「Eh? Ah, yeah, that one! Uh, look, see, I’ve wanted to read that but it was quite difficult to…… you know? Ahaha . 」

When I tried to gloss over the matter, Kikuchi-san, as if having doubled her magical power with a droplet from the spirits, made her eyes sparkle with even more intensity .

「Yes! Quite difficult to find!」

「Eh?」

「That book, there haven’t been any reprints of it ever since the translation of the first one came out twenty years ago, so it’s surprisingly hard to find in stock, isn’t it, even though it’s one of his defining works……! Even though they should stock more of it!」

With even『I haven’t read it』only serving to increase her enthusiasm even further, I had lost my only way out .

「Eh? Ah, y, yeah! That’s true isn’t it, ahaha……」

「Ah, um……」Then, Kikuchi-san’s expression changed, as if she had made up her mind

her mind about something . 「If it’s Tomozaki-kun……it should be fine, right . 」

In a small voice, as if persuading herself .

Ah……might this be that? How should I put it, the mood right now kind of felt like she was about to reveal an important secret . Were this an eroge or light novel, that would definitely be the case . It had that flag-like scent . However, I was conscious that this was probably something that came about from me being a supposed Andy-Something comrade . In the time that I was thinking to myself, If that’s the case, it might be best to not hear her what she has to say, though, Kikuchi-san was already opening her mouth .

「To tell the truth, I’ve been……writing a novel . …… It’s influenced by Andy’s works, though . ……If it’s not too much trouble, would you mind reading it?」

「Eh!? Uh, a novel?!? You’re writing one!?」

Receiving this attack from an unexpected angle and seeing those pupils which seemed moist with morning dew from a sacred tree, my mind was shaken .

「Yes…… . As expected, that’s a no? ……Of, of course it would be, after all, it’s such a, sudden……inconvenience……」

「Ah, no, no! Not at all! Fine, it’s fine! If you’re okay with me!」

When I inadvertently replied in that way out of reflex, Kikuchi-san’s expression lit up like the sun .

「Re, really? Thank you! I, I’ll bring it next time, all right……!」

「O, okay! Um……Th, thank you too . 」

「Yes!」A transparent, buoyant voice . 「……I still, haven’t shown it to anyone yet . 」

「Ah, is that, so……? Are you really okay? With someone like me……?」

In contrast to Kikuchi-san’s glowing expression full of warmth, my back was

my back was growing colder with guilt .

「It’s fine! Um……rather, it’s because it’s Tomozaki-kun that…… . N-no, I mean! Um, sorry, but! ……This matter……it’s a secret, all right?」

In the face of the enchanting form of that question, my neck, as if brainwashed, was already nodding in return .

「Y, yeah . Got it, it’s a secret . 」

Then, Kikuchi-san, with a simple「……Well then . 」, got up and left her seat . Just before exiting the room, she spun around, and with a mischievous facial expression and tone of voice, said the following .

「Ebi Daite!」

Ahaha . It’s hopeless . There’s no turning back here . I don’t care anymore! After swallowing the poison anything goes! [1]

「Mouzun Rekuku!」

Hearing those words, Kikuchi-san illuminated the library with a smile akin to a fountain of light . Then, in a way that was difficult to imagine based on those forest sprite-like dainty looks, she took off in a half-run, her small steps pitter-pattering away .

There was still some time to go before the next cla.s.s . How should I put it, she might have been in an identical state of mind to the me during that experience several days ago, where, since the conversation had been going so well, I had brought it to an end before I had a chance to mess up . Or so my a.n.a.lysis went, being the only option I could use to vacantly escape from reality . Well, now I’ve gone and done it .  Now what .

Translator Notes:

[1] The original is 毒を食らわばなんとやらじゃ, which seems to be based on the proverb 毒を食らわば皿まで (If you’ve swallowed the poison you might as well eat the plate too . )