Chapter 281: The Protagonist Wants to Experience a Perfect Day #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 281: The Protagonist Wants to Experience a Perfect Day #2
“Hello. Could you tell me where I can find the College Prep Math II books?”
When I asked the female clerk with a bright smile, she flinched while organizing books and then glanced around hurriedly, as if searching for something.
Then, she extended an arm and pointed.
“The math section is over there… Come this way. I’ll show you.”
This was why I’d approached the female clerk who was farther away, even though there was a male clerk at the entrance.
Because they're much kinder than the men. The reason for that is probably my face and voice.
Isn't it better to talk to someone genuinely kind, even if it's excessive, than to get a blunt or fake response?
“College Prep Math… College Prep Math… Ah, here it is.”
The clerk not only led me to the aisle lined with math books but even found the book for me.
As she handed it to me, I said.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. Would you like to check out now?”
“No, I’d like to look around a bit more.”
“Okay. Please let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will.”
After the clerk hesitantly walked away, I scanned the inside of the bookstore.
The sheer size of the place, the bookshelves and display stands packed tightly with books…
I felt strongly that this was not a place I belonged.
The distinct smell of new paper was starting to give me a headache.
I should just pick up a few manga and get out of here.
With that thought, I headed to the comics corner and was browsing the titles when I heard something.
“This looks interesting. Right, Hiyori?”
“Yeah. I was thinking the same thing.”
A familiar voice drifted from a nearby section.
The clear, melodious voice I had hoped to hear today.
It belonged to Hiyori.
I'd held onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, Hiyori might be at the bookstore. I wanted to see her, and now it was actually happening.
Today is a very lucky day.
The protagonist buff… isn't this a little too sweet?
As I’ve thought before, I can’t be too direct with Hiyori.
Especially now… when our relationship is as casual as a cafe part-timer and a customer. If I act like I know her, she’ll think I’m a stalker.
I have to act according to the situation. After all, I really did run into her by chance.
Like easing a kitten's wariness, I have to get to know her slowly… and naturally.
Pushing aside my fluttering heart, I pretended to browse manga and slowly moved toward the section where Hiyori was.
“What genre is this? Romance?”
“Looks like a romance thriller… The cover is scary.”
The conversation between Hiyori and her friend grew clearer.
From the context, it seemed they were picking out a romance manga.
Having quietly arrived at the corner, I snuck a sideways glance in the direction of the voices.
From a distance, I could see Hiyori squatting down, her flawless, pale white thighs visible beneath her skirt.
Haa… What is she thinking, letting others see like that?
It's not like I can gouge out everyone's eyeballs. She's so careless.
It doesn't look like she's wearing stockings. Isn't she cold, in winter?
Peeking at her like this really makes me feel like a stalker.
I can't become someone like Tetsuya.
My wish to see her came true, so I should stop the spying here.
Feeling a bit of self-loathing and embarrassment, I was about to turn away from Hiyori, who was whispering with her friend, when…
“Um, excuse me…”
Hiyori's characteristic voice, with its rising intonation at the end, came from right behind me.
I never expected her to call out to me, and my heart leaped in my chest.
But I forced myself to suppress the excitement, and after calming down as much as possible, I turned around.
“Yes?”
“I want to get that book on the top shelf, but I can’t reach it… I’m sorry, but could you please get that one for me?”
Hiyori pointed upward with a cheerful grin.
For some reason, the red nail polish on the tip of her outstretched index finger looked strangely sensual.
With a dazed expression, I nodded and touched the book near where Hiyori was pointing.
“This one?”
“No. The one next to it.”
“This one? ‘That Man, That Woman's Obsession’?”
“Yes, that’s it.”
Is it a romance manga about two people obsessed with each other?
The cover has a rather mysterious vibe. Since it’s a book Hiyori chose, it’s probably good.
“Just the first volume?”
“Yep.”
She had a mischievous, tomboyish expression, as if she'd just thought of something fun.
Many people misunderstand when they see that face.
They wonder if maybe, just maybe, Hiyori is interested in them.
But they’re wrong. That expression was just her playful personality showing through.
Simply put, it was just her usual expression.
Anyway, does she not recognize me?
I don't exactly have a forgettable face or build... I'm starting to feel just a tiny bit disappointed.
When I handed the book to Hiyori, she bowed her head slightly.
“Thank you. But… don't you work at a cafe? Cafe 24.”
She recognized me. The disappointment vanished completely.
The thought that I’d remained in Hiyori’s memory made me feel good.
Should I pretend to recognize her too?
If I act too friendly, she might feel burdened.
But wait, why am I being such a wimp?
I think the guidebook saying her conquest difficulty is the highest keeps coming to mind, making me chicken out. This isn't like me.
Hiyori doesn't have a forgettable face either.
She wouldn't find it suspicious even if I recognized her.
It would be a different story if she misunderstood and thought I was following her, but if I add a hint of surprise, it should be fine.
“That’s right.”
I nodded in agreement and looked back and forth between Hiyori and her friend.
Then, gently scratching the side of my head with my finger to show I was trying to remember something, I continued.
“Are you… the customers who came in the other day? The ones who ordered a free drink with a coupon…”
“That's us! How did you… Oh, sorry…”
She answered with a pleased look, then covered her mouth.
She must have felt embarrassed for raising her voice in a bookstore.
Barely suppressing the urge to mess up her hair—she was about half a hand-span shorter than Miyuki—I said with a smile.
“It’s rare for regular customers to order with a coupon, so I remembered.”
“Regular customers?”
“Most people who fill up a coupon card are employees from the companies or shops around the cafe.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes.”
Does Hiyori think of this meeting as fate?
Looking at her expression, it doesn't seem so.
When she asked how I knew, it was probably just a formality, right?
Hiyori is friendly even to strangers.
Anyway, using honorifics with each other creates a subtle distance.
Of course, that’s to be expected, since our current relationship is one that won’t progress or regress unless one of us makes a move.
Honestly, I could have kept the conversation going if I wanted to, but I have a gut feeling that it’s best to stop here.
The real affection building will start after Hiyori enrolls in the academy.
There’s a good chance we’ll run into each other a few times before then, and since Hiyori doesn’t seem curious about anything else, I’ll be the one to cut it short.
It was a bland conversation without much impact, but I'm satisfied that I could engrave my face further into her memory.
“Well, I’ll be going now. Please come again.”
“Thank you for getting the book for me. Goodbye.”
I answered with a bright smile, then randomly grabbed a book and headed for the checkout counter.
“Let’s go look at the fashion magazines now.”
Hiyori’s voice came from behind me. She had already started chatting with her friend again, as if she’d forgotten our conversation instantly.
I wonder how she’ll react when she sees me at the academy.
I hope she’ll think it’s fate then.
With that thought, I looked at the manga I’d picked up and silently freaked out.
Because it was a pretty lewd manga about paraphilia.
Why the hell are they selling this kind of thing in a regular bookstore?
Surely Hiyori didn't see it, right?
I didn't hear them say anything about the weird book that guy picked out, and they weren't lowering their voices to whisper, so… probably not.
On a lucky day, something bad always has to happen.
I feel like shit. To put it more precisely, it feels like Tetsuya interrupting a conversation with the heroine.
* * *
I was lazing around at home when Miyuki suddenly barged in, making my eyes go wide.
“What's this? I thought you were staying home.”
“Matsuda-kun. Let’s study.”
“Study? Isn’t that tomorrow?”
Tomorrow was the day we were supposed to go to Tetsuya’s house.
That was the plan, so what was her intention in suddenly bringing up studying?
I soon found out the answer.
“Tetsuya-kun's house is under construction, so we have to study somewhere else.”
“Construction?”
“Yeah. The basement in his house is pretty old, so I guess the smell of paint and cement is really strong. There are loud banging noises, too…”
“They’re suddenly doing construction?”
“She said the construction is taking longer than planned.”
I was curious to see how beautiful his mother is, and whether that tanned girl I saw last time was his older or younger sister, but now there's sudden construction.
Could it be that Tetsuya is making excuses because he doesn't want me in his house?
No, as pathetic as Tetsuya is, he wouldn't tell a lie that would be so easily exposed.
Does this mean God is giving me a sign not to steal that guy's family?
If so, then God has no taste.
A family stolen by a friend who bullied you or you hated. It's a classic NTR trope with countless variations in porn and manga, with a solid fanbase… It guarantees a certain reliable flavor…
How truly tragic.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. He said he was sorry.”
“Well, if it can’t be helped, it can’t be helped. But why study today? We can just do it somewhere tomorrow.”
“Since your desire to study must have been soaring after you went to buy books, I thought it would be good to do it while you're motivated.”
“It actually went down. My head started hurting the moment I saw the math book.”
“It was that bad? Then we definitely have to do it today. I need to build up your passion.”
“What kind of forced logic is that?”
“You’re not going to do it?”
How can I say no when she changes her tone to sound so mournful…
This feeling of having to play along even though I know it's an act… who could possibly understand?
“It doesn’t matter to me if we do it today or tomorrow, but where are we going to study?”
I let out a hollow laugh, showing I was about to give in. Her expression immediately relaxed as she answered.
“I was thinking we could go to a cafe.”
“A cafe? Which one?”
“The cafe where you work, Matsuda-kun. But are we allowed to study there?”
Studying there?
Perfect. It's a chance to vaguely show Renka what my relationship with Miyuki is like…
Plus, Chinami is there now too, so it's also an opportunity to build closeness between the three of them.
Perhaps the construction at Tetsuya's house and Miyuki's whim right now were all part of God's brilliant plan.
I feel bad for doubting him, even for a moment. I should go to the shrine tomorrow and make an offering.
“It should be fine. Have you told Miura?”
“He said he’ll come on time.”
“If you already told him, that means you just assumed I'd agree.”
“Yep.”
How dare she pull such a foxy move… So shameless.
Still, I’ve done a lot of wrong, so I’ll let it slide.
I nodded weakly and said.
“If we do it today, we're taking tomorrow off, right?”
“We have to study tomorrow, too.”
“...Are you serious?”
“I’m kidding.”
You're scary when you say jokes like you mean them.
I swallowed those words and chuckled as Miyuki approached, struggling with my bag.
The things she does are too cute to hate.
Not that I ever even thought of hating her.