The Library's Literature Girl...?
"The library's literature girl...? Quite a lot, huh?"
I muttered quietly to myself. The stacks of books in front of the library looked like no small amount.
Books tied with string. Books toppled over because they couldn't stay balanced. Books Na-ri had cut free with scissors and moved aside. It was a paradise of books, plain and simple.
As I stood there staring blankly, Na-ri came scampering over and said apologetically,
"S-sorry. It's just... there ended up being more than I thought..."
Yoo Na-ri glanced around nervously as she spoke. Even she thought it was a bit much—her voice had no energy left in it.
I recalled the message she'd sent me.
A simple request for help like that. We'd met a few times by now, so I'd headed straight to the library right after arriving at school.
There was plenty of time before first period. The homeroom teacher handled all the important stuff at end-of-day homeroom anyway—no need to worry.
I glanced down at Na-ri. She still looked so sorry, head bowed, not even thinking of lifting her face.
This won't get anything done, I thought. Acting like it was no big deal, I picked up a stack of books.
"It's fine. Where do these go?"
"Ah, wait a sec. These go inside."
Na-ri pulled the library key from her pocket to unlock the door. I was curious why she had the key on her, but clearing the books from the doorway came first.
And then, as the library door swung open—
"......"
"Ah, ahahaha.."
My silence and Na-ri's dry laugh.
The state of the library... was a total mess, to put it mildly. Most of the books had lost their jobs and escaped the shelves, and the shelves themselves had grown personalities, positioned every which way.
I shot Na-ri a sidelong glance. My look was the one you give someone who's caused trouble, so she waved her hands frantically.
"I-it's... there's a deep reason for this."
Her voice trailed off smaller and smaller.
In the end, Na-ri dropped her head with a thunk and spilled the whole story.
"It... happened yesterday."
Na-ri started haltingly. According to her, she'd planned to tidy up the library yesterday.
"I've been helping out here and there, but... I'm the only library committee member, you know?"
That was true. Yoo Na-ri was the sole library committee member. There used to be more, but smartphones spread among the students, so they cut the numbers.
Most kids get their info from phones now. As everyone got used to smartphones, they stopped coming for books. Before long, the library space was naturally fading away.
Brushing aside my thoughts, Na-ri kept going.
"So yesterday, the librarian teacher and I were pulling books off the shelves..."
The story was simple. The two of them sorting the library. Not enough manpower, and the new teacher barely had a foothold at school. Still, the two kept at it diligently. Pulling books from shelves, sorting them for reorganization.
That's when it happened.
"Aack..!"
"T-teacher?!"
"My back... my back..!"
The librarian teacher's back gave out. The books were heavier than expected, and after repeating the motion over and over, her back went on strike.
When the body strikes, there's no fixing it. In the end, the teacher got carted off to the hospital naturally enough, and she was still recovering.
"So that's why you have the key."
"The librarian teacher... handed it over like it was some treasure."
According to Na-ri, it was like a scene from a movie. The teacher, collapsed and in patient garb, handed the library key to Na-ri with a solemn face.
"I entrust this to you."
"The library key?"
"Yes... my gift to you..."
And then she passed out, or something. For a teacher obsessed with books, even passing the key was fantastically dramatic.
More importantly, though.
"What movie was she watching this time?"
"No idea. I heard it was a romance flick?"
A question mark popped up over my head at that. Romance? Did romance movies have scenes like that?
I thought for a sec, then shook my head. With how many movies are out there, one of them had to have a scene like that.
Anyway, the two of us moved the new books inside. Na-ri marveled as I hauled stack after stack in one go.
"Sung-hoon, you're stronger than I thought?"
"Maybe? I work out every day."
"...Can I touch?"
Na-ri said softly, cheeks flushing. It was such a casual suggestion that as I lifted the last bundle, I gave permission.
"Go ahead. No pinching with your nails."
"I-I wouldn't do that..! Probably..?"
She wasn't denying it? Looked like pinching was an option in her head.
Her strength wouldn't hurt anyway. Na-ri poked my forearm with her finger. It barely dented my skin, so she turned and poked her own arm for comparison.
In the meantime—
"Hyup~!"
I'd brought in the last of the books. The hallway was left with just some stray strings, and right on cue, the pre-bell rang.
"Phew, made it just in time."
"Good work. I'll buy you coffee later."
"Thanks. You too, Na-ri."
I said that and stuck out my fist. Na-ri smiled faintly and bumped her fist against mine.
With that, Na-ri and I headed back to class.
Lunchtime. Na-ri finished eating and headed straight to the library.
"Better to chip away at it bit by bit."
She knew exactly what needed doing. Finish sorting the books before the librarian teacher came back.
She already had a rough plan—they'd puzzled out the layout together, so the blueprint was in her head.
Take it slow, and it'd be done before she knew it. The library saw almost no foot traffic, so Na-ri figured she'd go steady and relaxed.
So she was surprised to see someone standing in front of the library.
"Gonna groan through this alone again?"
And even more when it was me.
I'd already helped that morning, didn't expect to see her again so soon.
"What's up with the library all of a sudden?"
"Here to help. Two's faster than one, right?"
I answered her question like it was obvious. Each hand held a water bottle—looked like I meant business.
Na-ri's cheeks flushed at the sight. It was something she could've ignored, but here I was, offering without hesitation.
"You don't have to, really?"
"Nah, you need hands anyway, right?"
I rested the side of my hand at shoulder height. Na-ri got it right away—that was her height.
Meaning: How's a shorty gonna shelve books up high?
Unlike our first meeting, Na-ri could read my teasing now. Naturally, the response was—
Thwack—
A punch with a hint of real feeling behind it.
. . .
Whatever. We got to sorting.
"Where does this go?"
"Novels, so... third shelf seems good."
Things progressed smoothly. Na-ri laid out the framework by slotting in books, and I filled the rest fast.
Click. As Na-ri filled the last spot on a shelf, she spoke up.
"By the way, what'd you have for lunch?"
"Cafeteria today."
"That's unexpected. Don't you usually make a bento?"
"Normally, yeah, but yesterday's mess..."
I glanced at my wrist. A black band wrapped it—one she hadn't seen before.
"Did you hurt your wrist?"
"Gaming mishap. Used it pretty rough."
I said that and hefted some heavy books. Watching, Na-ri figured it wasn't a big injury.
By the time we'd filled a whole shelf, Na-ri went, "Ah."
All eyes on her—well, mine. She pulled a ballpoint pen from her pocket.
I walked over naturally, thinking she'd found the one I'd lost before. But it was brand new.
"Couldn't find it in the library."
Na-ri said apologetically.
"So... take this instead."
"No, I can't—"
As I started to refuse, she shook her head.
"Think of it as thanks for helping with the library."
I took the pen reluctantly. Thanks for the help? Hard to say no.
And Na-ri wasn't the type to drop it there.
I looked at the pen she'd given me, then smirked like I'd found something fun.
"This... looks like the one you use?"
"Eh?"
"No, it's exactly the same."
"Th-that's..!"
"Couple pens, huh."
Na-ri's face turned red in an instant. I figured she hadn't thought that far.
"N-no, it's not!"
She lunged to snatch it back. But I raised my arm.
"Whoa, it's mine now."
"Give it back!"
"Nope."
Na-ri gave up in the end. I pocketed the pen.
"I'll use it well."
And went right back to sorting like nothing happened.
Na-ri said nothing.
Instead, she quietly slipped her hand behind her skirt.
Back pocket. Her fingertips felt the familiar texture.
The real Sung-hoon pen. Na-ri fiddled with it lightly.
And smiled small.
"Hehe. One more for the collection."