binnovel Ch. 131 - See You at the Usual Place
Ch. 131 - See You at the Usual Place
Unfortunately, Haruto hadn’t prepared any extra food today to fill his stomach, and Ren didn’t possess the supernatural ability to foresee the future either—So Harutaki and Chouko could only gnaw on cheese bread bought from the vending machine, washing it down with Calpis and Coca-Cola to moisten their parched throats.
“Share some Calpis with me…”
As it turns out, cola only makes you thirstier the more you drink.
Harutaki casually grabbed the drink in front of Chouko and gulped it down in big swigs. The girl didn’t seem to care much about indirect kisses or anything like that—after all, there wasn’t much left they hadn’t already done.
“It’s all your fault, Hoshikawa… Nearly an entire hour. We didn’t even get a proper lunch break.”
Even though the sensation of being filled to the brim still lingered vividly in her mind, that was a different matter entirely. Her empty stomach, neglected and ignored, continued to protest loudly.
It did feel really good though…
Chouko stuck out her tongue and lightly licked the cream left on her lips, thinking to herself that every time Harutaki got her to the point of losing consciousness—it was honestly kind of terrifying.
“The one who wouldn’t let go was you, Shihou, wasn’t it? I even missed today’s special pork cutlet set at the cafeteria.”
“I-I don’t care! It’s still your fault, Hoshikawa!”
“Yeah, yeah. So can I still go over to your place after school?”
“No!!!”
She answered almost instantly.
In Harutaki’s eyes, she looked like a cat with its fur standing on end—back arched, fluffy tail puffed up high.
As for why she reacted like that, he figured it was probably because he’d just patted that cat’s backside.
Still, that answer suited him perfectly—
He hadn’t actually planned on going to her apartment after school. He just wanted to use the opportunity to stop her from continuing to press him about things.
“You don’t understand anything about me.”
Harutaki suddenly recalled what Miyabi-senpai had said to him on the rooftop—that calm, cool voice still echoing in his ears.
If that was the case, then he would simply try to understand her more deeply.
15:52
After school, Harutaki headed straight to a bookstore closest to Nichiya High.
Stoner was quite a niche book, and definitely not something suitable for high school students, so he didn’t expect to find it in the school library.
Ordering a physical copy online would take ages to arrive, and e-books required the right device… Besides, if there was a place where he could read for free, why would he spend money? Especially in a country that took copyright so seriously—books weren’t cheap.
Harutaki wasn’t stingy when it came to spending money, but if there was a method that was both convenient and cost-saving, he would always choose it first.
The bookstore he picked, TSUTAYA BOOKS, combined a café and a reading space—a business model that had become increasingly popular in recent years.
The tactile feel of physical books and the atmosphere of reading were things digital formats simply couldn’t replace.
The only thing that made him uneasy—or rather, a bit scared—was the idea of reading while drinking coffee. What if he accidentally spilled it on the pages?
He had always taken good care of books. Even manga magazines from elementary school were still in pristine condition—
As for why he didn’t use textbooks as an example… well, doodling on them was a temptation he could never quite resist.
“One latte, please.”
After paying 400 yen for a Starbucks latte partnered with the bookstore, he placed the cup on an empty seat and went to the computer in the hall to look up where the book was located.
The setup reminded him of university and public libraries, stirring memories of his past reading life.
He thought to himself that in such an immersive atmosphere, it was easy for a restless mind to start wandering.
Pulling Stoner from the shelf, he returned to his seat, took a sip of the latte now at just the right warmth, and snapped a photo of the bookstore with his phone.
For some reason, it felt like he was reporting in to a girlfriend.
With that strange feeling, he sent the photo to his younger sister Ayaka via LINE, along with a message letting her know he might be home a bit late today.
[I’ll handle dinner.]
Ayaka really was the perfect little sister, he thought. Before he could even ask, she had already taken the initiative to handle the housework. By the time he got home, he’d probably even be greeted with a warm meal.
“Phew…”
Letting out a soft breath, he pushed the coffee cup slightly farther away and opened the book.
Even though he planned to skim through it quickly this time, it was still far more meaningful than reading secondhand interpretations online.
Even if one cannot have a perfect life, it is fortunate to have pursued a complete self.
The book was nearly 140,000 words long, and Harutaki finished it in one hour and forty minutes.
To be honest—it was boring.
An ordinary Stoner. A dull, uneventful life. A boring, inevitably tragic ending.
So then…
He drained the now-cold latte in one go, wondering to himself why Miyabi-senpai would read this book, and what she had gained from it.
Thinking back to The Alchemist, which he had seen before, he faintly grasped the reason behind the change in her attitude—
At least, that’s what he believed.
Snap.
Closing the book and returning it to its place, Harutaki left TSUTAYA BOOKS to the sound of the doorbell chime.
The moment he stepped onto the street, it felt as though he had entered a different world.
The warm early summer evening breeze brushed past him, yet his thoughts were no longer as restless as before.
Over the next two days, Harutaki would wait by the riverside cherry blossom path for half an hour after school, only to leave disappointed each time, picking himself up and walking away from that dreamlike place—their secret base filled with memories of him and Miyabi-senpai.
On the third day, he decided to take the initiative before the weekend.
Happiness and opportunity would never come to someone who simply waited.
—Of course, “taking initiative” didn’t mean going to her third-year classroom. That would only cause trouble for both of them.
He first tried asking the ever-mysterious Asama-sensei, only to receive the reply:
“I’m not some creepy old man who stalks high school girls.”
In other words, he didn’t know either.
Though honestly, in Harutaki’s mind, Asama-sensei’s usual remarks weren’t that far off from being creepy anyway.
His next idea was to check the school library, hoping to run into her there.
Miyabi-senpai, who gave off a literary girl vibe… always holding a paperback or a thick book…
If there was one place a book-loving high schooler would frequent, the library would be it.
Nichiya High, being a top-tier school in Minato Ward—even in the entire city—had excellent facilities. Though called a “library room,” its scale rivaled that of a small library, requiring multiple staff members to manage it.
Leaning against the entrance, ignoring the glances of passing students, Harutaki casually read The Heron and Snow by Kitamura Kaoru.
He had borrowed it using his student ID.
It wasn’t that he wanted to read a mystery novel—he had simply noticed that the author’s surname shared the same characters as Miyabi-senpai’s, and picked it up on a whim while waiting aimlessly.
He had no idea how much time had passed, but fewer and fewer students walked by the hallway outside.
“Hoshikawa-kun?”
“…”
Caught off guard by someone calling his name, he froze for a moment before looking up.
Slightly drooping eyes, emerald green like jade, filled with gentle warmth. Smooth golden hair flowed like honey over her dark uniform.
His gaze trailed downward—
And stopped at a certain impressive presence that perfectly demonstrated the law: the greater the mass, the greater the gravitational pull.
“Sanada-san… what are you doing here…?”
Noticing her puzzled look, he felt awkward. As expected, being caught leaning against a wall reading like this by someone he knew was embarrassing.
After all… it definitely looked like he was trying to act cool.
“What about you?”
“I’m posing. Seeing if I can attract a literary girl who likes reading.”
He replied jokingly to brush her off.
Sanada was one of Nogami’s top lieutenants—if he accidentally got on her bad side, he’d have trouble.
Not long ago, in the group chat “Princess Nogami’s Harem,” he had said he’d be “generating power these days.”
Naturally, he was immediately teased:
“Generating power will just drain you.”
“Want me to help you?”
The first was from Chouko, complete with a cute exhausted cat sticker. The second—from his bro Sae—which oddly moved him.
Of course, with Nogami watching, he didn’t dare act on it.
“Oh? Want me to help you?”
“Help with generating power, or attracting literary girls? If possible, I’d prefer the former.”
“There’s a 110V outlet in the library. Want to try?”
With her hands behind her back, Minako seemed less mature than usual, more playful and cute.
She smiled gently—while saying something absolutely terrifying.
“Let’s… talk about something else.”
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he closed the book.
“What are you doing here instead of hanging out with Nogami-san?”
“Didn’t Izumi tell you? I’m one of the library staff.”
…Did she?
After thinking for a moment—
She did.
Though it wasn’t Nogami who said it, but Sae.
“Hehe~ Looks like I’m not very important to you, Hoshikawa-kun~”
She teased him when she noticed his hesitation.
“Here, want one?”
She produced a pink canned drink like magic—a Suntory Gokuri peach soda.
“I bought three.”
“Planning to drink them all yourself? Or did you see me and buy extra just to give me one? …I’m so touched. I accept your confession.”
Taking the cold can, he thought drinking three alone would be impossible—unless you were some middle-aged drunk.
Strangely, Asama-sensei’s face popped into his mind.
“Hehe~”
Sanada laughed.
“What if I said Izumi asked me to test you through a group call?”
“…Please tell me you’re joking.”
“If not… then you really are doing something behind Izumi’s back.”
“Do I look like a cheating guy?”
“You look cool right now—but… this isn’t like you.”
He’d been completely seen through.
“Guys are easy to understand. Like that idiot inside.”
He glanced in—
A boy was diligently filling out forms.
“Even a single drink is enough to make him work for free—and feel grateful.”
“It costs 98 yen, you know?”
She shook the can playfully.
“You’re quite the calculating woman.”
“Thanks for the compliment~”
She walked into the library.
Watching the boy working for her, Harutaki sighed. Poor guy—completely played.
He popped open the can and took a sip. The fizzy sweetness burst across his tongue.
Pretty good.
Maybe he should buy some for his sisters—
Thunk.
“Ow…”
Rubbing his head, he turned back.
The breeze lifted strands of deep purple hair—
“Miyabi-senpai?”
“…Hm.”
“Are you mad?”
“No.”
Definitely yes.
“Good girls shouldn’t lie.”
“From a Kyoto lady to a blonde bombshell… your hunting range is wide, isn’t it?”
She spoke flatly—but every word carried weight.
And somehow… it made him happy.
“You’ve been thinking about me?”
“Thinking about you flirting with other girls?”
“…Then what have you been thinking?”
“I think you’ve been waiting like a dog—wagging your tail.”
Where did Nogami come from?!
“You’re misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding?”
“I’m waiting for you—not some ideal version of you.”
“…So you’re just horny?”
“…That’s not wrong…”
Thump.
That hit fast.
“After I return my book… let’s talk at the usual place.”
Looks like she wasn’t actually mad, he thought.
Feel free to leave a review or vote on NovelFire!
Thank You!