Chapter 21: CH 21

A Puppy’s Sense of Distance (2)

“Takane-san, let’s go. I’ll go a little faster, okay?”

“…Yes, Senda-kun.”

“Ah, Takane-san, she’s going!”

“If she’s in a hurry, let’s just stop. Maybe she already decided on a club.”

“Ah… a once in a fifty year gem is gone just like that…”

I shook off the voice chasing from behind and stepped out of the hallway. We were in the school’s second building facing the library.

We were at the entrance of the room for the reading club – When I said ‘visit’, I pretty much already knew what I was signing up for since I had already checked out the club activities in the admission bookmarks.

“Yesterday… I came here to clean, but today, I’ll be observing the club. The reading club is a modest club, and I think it suits me.”

“It’s hard for me to find time to read books if I don’t make a conscious effort to do so. I think it would be worthwhile to join the reading club.”

Was there even a better comment than what Takane-san just said that affirmed the activity of a reading club?

“…Since they’re in the middle of club activities, let’s go in quietly.”

Takane-san made a gesture of putting her index finger on her lips. I smiled and nodded, opening the library door, and we went inside.

“So, since the light music club is also taking the same space as the music club, we’ll be having our meetings in the library.”

“I see, then maybe we can do some things together again, just like in middle school. Let’s do something together for the school festival!”

“Yui-chan is the same as ever, always thinking about the school festival.”

“Ehehe, it’s embarrassing.”

“No, I’m complimenting you, but I think it’s too early to rejoice.”

Takane-san and I looked at each other as we heard the voice. Thinking it wasn’t possible, I went around the bookshelf near the entrance and found that Nakano-san was at the table by the window.

At the far end of the room, there was Asatani-san. I knew it was her by just hearing the voice, but when I really saw her, I was stunned.

“Well, I’d better get going.”

“Ah… Ki-Kiri-chan, why not stay a little longer?”

“I can’t, I’m a little pressed for time. Sorry.”

Asatani-san gently refused Nakano-san’s request to stay, smiled at us, and left the library.

“It’s a pity. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a chance to talk together.”

“Nakano-san… and Asatani-san… being in the library, that means…”

“Kiri-chan joined the light music club. She said she’d appreciate it if she could use the library for meetings. Ah, I’ll make sure our meetings don’t overlap when we’re doing book club activities, so don’t worry.”

“Nakano-san, did you join the reading club? And the other club members are…?”

“We don’t have club activities today, they’ll be held once a week. The form to join the club should be sent to the club’s advisor, Kobayashi-sensei, who is also the librarian here. Nagisen-Senda-kun, are you joining the reading club?”

“Yeah, I’m planning on joining…”

“I see, I see. I kind of guessed but I was right after all. Once you join the reading club, it’s addictive, right?”

“No, that’s not the case… is it?”

“Ahaha, which one is it? For me, I’ve already found that my soul is attached to this promised land.”

Nakano-san’s attitude was completely different depending on the person she’s talking to – She was a little bit of a chuunibyou when it came to me. She seemed to think that I was the type of person who enjoyed that kind of thing. Although I couldn’t deny that, I was a little embarrassed in front of Takane-san.

“…Ah, Ta-Takane-san. What are you doing in such a remote place…?”

“N-No, it’s on the same school grounds…”

“What a sincere tsukkomi… If it’s Takane-san, I wouldn’t complain even if I were to be argued out in court.”

“Ah… I came here to observe the club. If no members are here, I can put it on hold.”

“Nagise-Senda-kun, you still go to the gym, right? Then the reading club is just right for you, you have to join. If you move your body any more, you’ll break, okay?”

Nakano-san had sent me a message earlier asking about which club I would join, but I hadn’t said anything.

However, when I finally showed up, Nakano-san didn’t seem to be pleased. She had always been a bit aloof, and I could never seem to grasp her.

“Do you go to the gym, Senda-kun?”

“Yes, yes, he can move his body well actually. He and his sister have been going to the gym since they were kids to strengthen their bodies and minds.”

“That’s an exaggeration…”

“To strengthen the body and mind… Although it doesn’t compare to Senda-kun, I used to learn a little martial arts myself. It’s embarrassing to admit…”

“Eh, Takane-san… What happened with Nagisen?”

“Ah, no, no… When I was in trouble, Senda-kun helped me.”

Nakano-san looked at me, but I didn’t know what to say either – Takane-san was just telling the truth, but I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed when she said it like that.

“Nagisen, you’re acting so cool again… So, have you guys decided to join the club or not?”

“Eh?”

I couldn’t help but make a voice. I looked back at Takane-san who was one step behind me – She smiled and then nodded.

I knew that Takane-san was having a hard time with her lessons and that she was drawing a lot of attention from various places at school. Knowing this situation, I just assumed that if she were to join the club, there would be some special reason for it.

“I’m also joining the reading club.”

“Re-Really…? Takane-san in the reading club, that means we’re gonna be in the same club? Can that even happen?”

For a moment, I couldn’t say anything to Nakano-san, because half of me felt the same way she did.

“…Senda-kun, Is it okay if I join you?”

“…Ye-Yeah, of course it’s okay.”

“Thank you very much. Let’s go register for the club on the way home… Ah, excuse me.”

Takane-san noticed something and walked out of the library – There was a vibrating sound, so it seemed that she had received a phone call.

Seeing that I was left behind, Nakano-san crossed her arms – Her chest was on her arms. I thought I heard her say before that it was a habit because standing all the time makes it heavy. I wasn’t trying to hear it, but I did.

“…Nagisen does it when he has to, doesn’t he… I knew it.”

“I knew it…? I wonder if my image is not biased.”

“I’m complimenting you, of course. But I heard that Takane-san was the student council president at her middle school and the ace of the tennis club. I wonder if it’s really okay for her to be in the reading club…”

“…I think it’s okay. It’s up to her to choose which club she wants to join.”

“…Ah…”

After noticing what I just said, I had a feeling of déjà vu.

“Yeah, I guess that’s right. She’s free to choose whichever club she wants to join. Even though Takane-san and I are in different parts of life, we can deepen our friendship through club activities.”

“You really admire Takane-san, don’t you…?”

“I’ve always admired people who have something that I don’t. Even Kiri-chan – Ah, that’s right! Nagisen, do you have a minute?”

Nakano-san took something out of the breast pocket of her uniform and showed it to me. It seemed to be a ticket of some kind.

“Participation ticket for the public radio recording by Noarin. I got some to give out to my friends, but I don’t know if I can go. Nagisen, you’ll go if I give you one, right?”

Public recording on the radio by Kiritani Noa. As Asatani-san said during the lunch break, it would be held on an upcoming holiday.

The time to apply was over during spring break. I had applied online, but I didn’t get the ticket.

“If you can make it, I’ll give this to you.”

Forcibly, Nakano-san slipped the ticket into my pocket. Even if I had the ticket, I couldn’t go. Before I could take it out, Takane-san came back. I guessed Nakano-san noticed that because she quickly pulled herself away from me.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Is everything all right, you two?”

“I was just talking with Nagisen about how I wanted to be friends with Takane-san from here on out. Ah, I’m going to go back to calling him by his nickname, since that’s what I’m most used to.”

“Yes… You don’t have to be so nervous, please relax.”

When Takane-san soothed her, Nakano-san seemed to be deeply moved. I wondered if her admiration for Takane-san was growing even more – Even my heart wwas moved whenever I was with Takane-san and saw a new side of her.

That’s why I had to return this ticket to Nakano-san. I couldn’t go see Asatani-san’s radio show – I shouldn’t.

“Well then… You two, the form to join the club is in the staff room. Fill it and you can give it to the advisor. Takane-san, please take care of Nagisen for me.”

“What are you going to do, Nakano-san?”

“I’ve still got some things to do here. Nagisen, let me know if you find any more interesting books. I’ll tell you about the interesting books in the library.”

Perhaps Nakano-san sensed that I was trying to return the ticket, as she didn’t let me talk about it.

Originally, I was a fan of Asatani-san – ‘Kiritani Noa’. That’s one of the reasons why I started talking to Nakano-san. She was also a fan of Asatani-san as an entertainer.

Nakano-san hadn’t heard about me from Asatani-san. Even if I got close to Takane-san, and even if she came to observe the club with me, I believed that this was still compatible with being a fan of ‘Kiritani Noa’.

–Maybe it’s possible. Since Asatani-san said she would support me and Takane-san, supporting Asatani-san as an entertainer would be like giving something back.

As I walked along with various thoughts, I came to a corridor. The sun was already beginning to set, and the setting sun was a little dazzling to see.

“…Nagito-san, are you angry that I kept it a secret until we got to the library…?”

“That’s not the case. I was surprised, but being in the same club is…”

Both I and Takane-san stopped. Takane-san was waiting – I couldn’t say I was embarrassed anymore.

“…I’m so glad. I just wonder if it’s really okay.”

“…Is-Is that so…?”

“Yeah. Takane-san is a great person, and I thought I haven’t worked hard enough to be with you…”

“…No, that’s me.”

Takane-san took my hand – She was probably nervous and her hand was cold.

“I’m always thinking about how we can be together, even when it comes to club activities… I also decided to be part of the library committee in case we can’t be in the same club together.”

I thought that the reason why Takane-san, who was not a member of the class committee, chose to be a member of the library committee was because she felt a sense of responsibility to hold some kind of position.

–But she just wanted to be with me, even though the contact between the library committee and the reading club may be very little in reality.

“…I-I’m sorry. I said that one-sidedly. That’s heavy… isn’t it?”

“…Takane-san has done so much, so it’s my turn to do my best. But, it’s frustrating since I can’t think of anything I can do at the moment…”

If there was anything I could do right now, it was to warm her hand, which was pleasantly cold.

“…Nagito-san has a high body temperature. It’s warm.”

“Takane-san, I wonder if you’re the type of person who has cold hands but warm hearts.”

“Is-Is that so…? I’m always showing my childish side to Nagito-san…”

If that was only in front of me, Takane-san could show me as much as she wanted.

Another student came to the corridor, and we immediately let go. We started walking as if nothing had happened. And again, Takane-san grabbed me by the hem of my uniform.

I was still embarrassed to walk next to her, but eventually I would. With that thought in mind, the two of us went down the stairs at dusk.

TL = obox

Editor = Senna

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