Book Fair - Chapter 12

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Book Fair Event Site

Izumi: What? You want to know if I’m not tired from holding the same pose for so long?

Who do you think I am? You know, you’re really lucky I agreed to stand model for your painting? Anyway, if you’re done painting, show me already.

...Hmm, it turned out rather nice. Well, that’s a given since you had such a good model ♪

Tsumugi: Sena-ku~n!

Izumi: Aoba? And the transfer student is there, too. Does that mean Yuu-kun came along, too!?

Tsumugi: I’m afraid to say he didn’t~. Sena-kun, are you by yourself? I don’t see Narukami-kun anywhere?

Izumi: Naru-kun is in the middle of showing his kouhai around. I was also thinking of taking my break, but then I was asked to stand model for a painting.

But who cares! Geez, you’re useless!

I only accepted this job because Yuu-kun would be here, and now we have to work separately!

I thought I’d be rewarded for my hard work, but Yuu-kun didn’t come to check up on me even once!

My patience is at its limit! Aoba, I’m gonna work with Yuu-kun now, so switch with me!

Tsumugi: Well, I don’t mind. I don’t know if Yuuki-kun is going to agree to that, though~?

The reason we came over here without him was also because he didn’t seem like he wanted to.

Izumi: …………

Tsumugi: Aah, I’m sorry! I didn’t want to make you depressed~?

But, well. Being relentlessly attacked by the person he hates will just make him hate you more, I think.

I won’t say “let sleeping dogs lie”, but, I do think it’d be best if you left things as they are.

Izumi: I’m not being hated by Yuu-kun! Can you not say such unfounded things?

Tsumugi: No, no, I think he hates you plenty. He also called you “disgusting”, didn’t he?

Actually, I think you’re amazing for not being discouraged even though he hates you that much, Sena-kun~? I respect you ♪

Izumi: Haa? Are you making fun of me?

Tsumugi: No, no, not at all!

Umm, I don’t know if it’s okay for me to ask this, but did something happen between Sena-kun and Yuuki-kun?

Is there a reason as to why you persistently follow Yuuki-kun around?

Izumi: ...There’s no need for me to tell you that, right? This only concerns me and Yuu-kun. I don’t want an outsider to ask that just to satisfy your own curiosity.

Tsumugi: Outsider, you say… I consider you my friend though, Sena-kun~?

Izumi: A friend, huh? We’re just former classmates. Aah, geez, now I’ve wasted my whole break time!

I’ll go over to where Yuu-kun is right now… Actually, didn’t the two of you come to do something on Yuu-kun’s behalf?

Tsumugi: Ah, yes. It seems there’s a book he wants to see. We came here to look for that…

Hm? Anzu-chan, what’s wrong? ...The book on Sena-kun’s knees?

Aah, that’s the one. We came here to look for that book.

Izumi: Eh, hold on just a second? Yuu-kun said he wants to look at this book?

Tsumugi: Yes, he said that. But how unexpected~. I didn’t think Sena-kun would have an interest in things aimed at children like this book.

Izumi: To call it “aimed at children” just because it’s a picture book is prejudice. There’s picture books you want to read exactly because you’ve become an adult, too.

Tsumugi: I get that~! There’s picture books that really make you feel that life is precious, too.

Izumi: Exactly. By the way, this picture book is one of those types. I have it at home and read it from time to time, so when I saw in on exhibit here, I took it in my hand without noticing.

Well, it seems like it’s not for sale. This book is considered valuable by now, so we can consider ourselves lucky we even get to read it.

But Yuu-kun… Could it be that he still remembers that time…?

Eh? Transfer student, Yuu-kun called it a book that’s related to memories for him? If possible, he wants to read it just once more, he said?

I-I see! I called you useless earlier, but I take that back ♪ What else? Did he say anything else!?

“Someone in whose care he was”? There’s no need to use the past tense, though~. If Yuu-kun wished for it, I’d take care of him until the end of time ♪

Lately I’ve been feeling down because we’ve only been doing “on-campus part-time jobs”, and plain jobs like this one.

But by doing honest work, good things do happen.

It’s just a little bit, but I can see a ray of hope.

It gives me peace of mind to know that Yuu-kun doesn’t want to erase his past with me. Just knowing that made it coming here worth it.

Even now, I don’t like it when you get close to Yuu-kun, transfer student. But just this once, I want to express my gratitude. ...Thank you, transfer student.