Sakura-sensei explained thoroughly, and Souya Kanzaki listened attentively.
He occasionally raised one or two questions, all hitting the mark, demonstrating his outstanding understanding and serious attitude.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chun Miura watched silently from the side, her feelings complicated.
It was a fact that Sou Kanzaki applied earlier than the original Game Plot, greatly facilitating her subsequent Contact Plan.
Being able to become “colleagues” with him meant a lot of legitimate and reasonable contact time—a true Heaven-sent Opportunity.
That Childhood Friend shouldn’t have much to say either.
But on the other hand, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
She had thought she understood the Game Plot of this world perfectly—this was the entire source of her confidence in being able to survive in this world.
But starting from the second day, events began to deviate from the Script she knew.
Was this just a coincidence?
Just an inconsequential side plot happening early, not affecting anything else?
Or did it mean that all subsequent plot would conflict with her memories?
Sou Kanzaki… why did he arrive early?
Xiao Chun Miura had a bad feeling.
If she didn’t figure out why Sou Kanzaki deviated from the Script, she probably wouldn’t sleep well for even a single night.
“All right, that’s about it. With some hands-on practice, you’ll get the hang of it quickly.”
Sakura-sensei released the mouse and smiled at Sou Kanzaki.
“Then, starting tomorrow, during lunch break and after school, I’ll leave it to you and Miura-san to handle together. Is that okay?”
“Yes, I’ll be in your care, Sakura-sensei.”
Sou Kanzaki nodded politely, then turned to Xiao Chun Miura and smiled slightly.
“I’ll be in your care as well, Miura-san.”
His smile was clear and sincere, shining even more under the warm library lights at dusk.
“Pl-please take care of me!”
Xiao Chun Miura snapped back to reality, hurriedly bowed in return, and her heart thumped uncontrollably.
……Eh?
It was only after realizing it that Xiao Chun Miura froze.
……What is this?
Is this… fluttering?
Why?
“It’s getting late today, so Kanzaki-san, you can go back and review the procedures we discussed.”
While Xiao Chun Miura was dazed, Sakura-sensei spoke up.
Xiao Chun Miura quickly looked up, seeing Sakura-sensei’s gaze shift from the wall clock to her.
“Miura-san, you’ve worked hard today too. Clean up and you can go home.”
“Yes, goodbye, sensei.”
“Goodbye, sensei!”
They said almost in unison.
Sou Kanzaki nodded at Xiao Chun Miura once more, then turned and left the Library.
He didn’t seem to expect her to leave together—just like people who happened to meet by chance and then parted ways.
So, only after his back disappeared behind the door did Xiao Chun Miura finally let out a long sigh, slumping against the counter.
……Talking to Sou Kanzaki is so stressful.
Especially when he looks at her so intently with those clear eyes, it felt like all her little thoughts were laid bare.
——Yet, there’s no such thing.
She hadn’t thought too much, and it’s unlikely that Sou Kanzaki could read her mind.
“He’s a very serious child.”
Sakura-sensei commented casually while tidying up her things.
“He seems like he’ll be a big help. Miura-san, you two should cooperate well from now on.”
“Ah… yes, I will. Thank you, sensei.”
Xiao Chun Miura replied vaguely.
Cooperate?
She was supposed to do everything she could to stop him from falling in love!
Xiao Chun Miura pressed her lips bitterly.
It wasn’t exactly guilt, but the reason for approaching someone being like this… definitely made her feel awkward.
Though, strictly speaking, he wasn’t even human.
***
After cleaning up, Xiao Chun Miura said goodbye to Sakura-sensei and walked home alone.
The setting sun cast her shadow into a fragmented shape beneath the trees lining the street, just like her jumbled thoughts.
From tomorrow, she’d be working with Sou Kanzaki…
What kind of attitude should she have toward him?
Even if she’d deliberately created opportunities for contact… she decided to let things proceed naturally during their interactions—she shouldn’t let that Childhood Friend take herself too seriously.
……Even so, she was the one who told the other person that she liked Sou Kanzaki.
——What a pain.
Just thinking of that chestnut-red-haired girl’s arrogant attitude gave Xiao Chun Miura a headache.
***
The next day at lunch break, Xiao Chun Miura arrived at the Library a few minutes early, her heart uneasy.
“Ah, Miura-san, good morning.”
“……Eh?”
To her surprise, Sou Kanzaki was already there.
He was standing by the counter, looking at some documents.
Hearing footsteps, he raised his head and greeted her naturally.
“G-good morning! Kanzaki-san.”
Xiao Chun Miura hurriedly hung her work badge.
“You’re here so early…”
“I wanted to come early to get familiar with the work, so I wouldn’t trouble you or Sakura-sensei.”
Sou Kanzaki shook the paper in his hand to show her—it was the summary of points Sakura-sensei had given yesterday.
“And besides, didn’t we agree that I’d bring that book back for you today?”
He said, pulling a book wrapped in a clean cover from his bag and handing it over.
Xiao Chun Miura stared blankly as she accepted it—it was the very same “book he borrowed but hadn’t returned” she’d randomly made up yesterday.
She hadn’t even decided which book it was! Yet Sou Kanzaki really found one—he actually had a borrowed but unreturned book with him.
“Th-thank you……”
She glanced at the title—, a book she would never willingly read, its title already radiating seriousness and boredom.
“No, I should be thanking you. I delayed your borrowing.”
Sou Kanzaki spoke sincerely.
“I haven’t finished reading it either, but I kept it because I forgot to return it.”
“Miura-san… are you interested in this kind of subject?”
“Uh… huh?”
“——Yes! I’m a little interested…”
Unable to deny it, Xiao Chun Miura could only force herself to nod.
……She felt like the hole she dug for herself was getting deeper and deeper.
She complained silently.
“Really? That’s great.”
Sou Kanzaki seemed genuinely pleased, smiling gently.
“I’m interested too—maybe we can talk about this kind of topic together sometime? I’d look forward to it!”
He truly looked interested—Sou Kanzaki’s curiosity was real.
But Xiao Chun Miura could only turn her face away, smiling awkwardly.
……Hehe.
She didn’t understand a thing about astronomy or geography.
At that moment, the lunch bell rang and students began entering the Library.
The two’s first shift together officially began.
Xiao Chun Miura had been worried it would be awkward or that they wouldn’t work well together, but she quickly discovered that Sou Kanzaki was a very reliable “colleague.”
He had a remarkable ability to learn; the things Sakura-sensei taught yesterday, he had already mastered almost perfectly—his handling of the lending system was even more skilled than Xiao Chun Miura’s;
He was gentle and courteous with everyone, whether students borrowing or returning books or classmates coming to study, he handled it all with ease.
Moreover, he seemed to naturally take on more tasks that involved interacting with others, which was a relief for Xiao Chun Miura, who wasn’t good at dealing with strangers—most of the time, she could just quietly organize books or handle backend work.
Everything was going smoothly—so smoothly that Xiao Chun Miura nearly forgot her “Mission.”
Until——
“Kanzaki-kun~! So you were here!”
A lively and slightly coquettish voice shattered the Library’s calm.
Xiao Chun Miura’s heart skipped a beat.
She knew this voice too well!
Someone burst into the Library like a whirlwind, heading straight for the counter.
She seemed to have put extra effort into her appearance today, her chestnut-red curls tied into a high ponytail, radiating energy.
——Kondo Haruka had arrived.