「Are you free, You-kun?」
「That’s a malicious question.」
「Well, a little.」
「A little, huh.」
It was a familiar conversation.
In fact, it was the conversation from yesterday.
On Monday, with school back in session, I went to the library during lunch break to escape the approaching zombie. As I quietly read in the back, Sakasegawa-san sat across from me just like yesterday and asked the same question.
Today, she seems to have some malice. Probably more mischief than malice, though.
She meaningfully shows me the spine of a paperback titled “The Unsolvable Equation of Love”, but all I can make out is that it’s mostly pink with some green accents.
The next book she pulls out is “An Unequal Society”. Clearly too highbrow for casual reading in the library, but it seems appropriate for Sakasegawa-san──or rather, for a mud dauber wasp. I ignore the feeling of “What kind of book is appropriate for a mud dauber wasp anyway?”
「Haa…」
「They say sighing makes happiness escape.」
「I’m sighing to catch happiness.」
「That’s unusual.」
Like a section chief dealing with an uncomprehending subordinate, Sakasegawa-san holded her forehead. In one hand, she has a paperback titled “Call Me by My Name”.
I wonder how many books she has.
「The world is unequal after all, isn’t it?」
「Isn’t that too heavy a topic for lunch break?」
「That’s why I think we should start resolving it from the things close to us.」
「Indeed.」
「…Right?」
「What’s with the “Right?”」
Haa~~~~~~~.
It was a sigh that seemed to echo throughout the library.
Of course, that’s a metaphor.
But it was a sigh that seemed to carry such deep emotion.
I couldn’t understand what was troubling her.
A human probably can’t solve the worries of a mud dauber wasp anyway. Maybe she’s worried about not finding enough caterpillars or green worms to feed on.
「What do you think about men who are bad at picking up on things?」
「You want a general opinion?」
「You-kun’s personal view.」
「They’re scum.」
「I see.」
Sakasegawa-san looks at me as if I’m scum.
I understand even less.
「You-kun.」
「What?」
「Sakasegawa-san.」
「…What?」
「You-kun.」
「…Wha」
「Sakasegawa-san.」
「……」
As she was about to continue with “You-kun” again, I finally got it and stopped her with my hand.
Sakasegawa-san tilted her head in confusion──probably 90% acting though.
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
「…Um.」
「What is it?」
「……」
「Fufu.」
It’s embarrassing to say it straight out.
Especially since I’ve only called her by her last name until now.
I hesitate for a moment and look up at the ceiling, but even that seems amusing to her as she watches me with her hand on her cheek. Like a black boy gazing longingly at a trumpet in a shop window.
It’s irritating to feel like I’m being led, but it would be uncool to rebel now. They say it’s a man’s shame not to eat what’s set before him, so I’ll say it all in one breath.
Though in this case, the meaning of “what’s set before him” seems to change.
「Miho.」
「Fufu.」
「…….」
「Did you say something, You-kun?」
「…Miho.」
「Yes, what is it?」
Sakasegawa Miho, looking very pleased, lines up the books she had presented on the table.
“The Unsolvable Equation of Love”
“An Unequal Society”
“Call Me by My Name”
I really don’t understand the meaning of the first book, but the second and third books are clearly indicating something.
It’s really irritating.
「Oh my, where are you going, You-kun?」
「Bathroom.」
「Then, shall we go together?」
「Consider our genders, will you?」
She throws away even her shame just to tease me.
What drives her to do this?
Pleasure, or joy derived from mischief.
Either way, it’s infuriating.
I put the chair back in its original position after trying to stand up, look at Sakasegawa-san’s──Miho’s──insect face, and somehow read her emotions clearly, and let out a big sigh.
It’s no wonder I sit down a bit roughly.
The library committee member on duty this week looks at me disapprovingly from the counter, but if you have complaints, take them up with Miho. I’m probably not at fault.
「Did you know? There’s an off-campus study trip coming up soon.」
「I know.」
「Since each class chooses its own destination, we’ll probably be going to different places.」
「Yeah.」
「It would be nice if we ended up going to the same place.」
Not really.
Why on earth should I go on an off-campus study trip with a mud dauber wasp who bullies me into calling her by her first name?
If we do end up going to the same place, I feel like I’ll be teased endlessly.
She was supposed to be a quiet literature girl until recently, what on earth changed her? Maybe she just shed her herbivorous literature girl skin because mud dauber wasps are carnivorous.
「By the way, even though we made those pop-up displays, not many people have been coming in.」
「That’s because──」
I swallowed the thought that no one would be interested in entering with such a terrifying pop-up display that looks like it could kill you if you see it three times, knowing it would definitely be met with teasing as a counterattack.
Even so, it seemed Miho somehow read my mind.
She killed her smile, rested her chin on her hands on the table, and clearly enjoyed the situation. While I found nothing enjoyable about it.