Chapter 15: The Day After (4)

"What do you mean, Tsubasa?" Chinatsu-chan's eyes were blazing with anger, and her voice cut through the air like a sharp blade.

"You really ought to exercise some self-control, Tsubasa-kun. Even I find your behavior quite concerning," I added.

Both of us raised our hands, poised to strike him on each side of his face. In times like these, it was essential to set our boyfriend straight. If he veered down the wrong path, we, as his girlfriends, would guide him back onto the right one. We had done this before when he asked us if it was okay to two-time us.

"W-Wait! Before you slap me, let me explain why I asked that! I have my reasons, I swear!" Tsubasa-kun stammered.

Chinatsu-chan and I exchanged glances. "Reasons? Explain," we both demanded.

Tsubasa-kun took a deep breath and looked at us with determination. "I've recently discovered a sadistic side of myself. It's like I've been learning more about who I truly am through our intimate moments. But I still feel like there's a missing piece of the puzzle, like I haven't fully realized my true self yet. I want your help to explore and discover that side of me," he implored, his eyes pleading.

In response to those puppy-dog eyes...

"No," we both said firmly, then proceeded to give him a resounding slap on each side of his face.

×××

[Kurogane Tsubasa's POV]

I headed to the library, still massaging both of my cheeks. Their slaps had stung so much it felt like their handprints were permanently imprinted on my face.

"Damn it... What the heck am I supposed to do about that situation with Yui..." I muttered to myself, convinced that the memory of that awkward moment with Yui was now forever etched in my mind.

"I should just grab something to read and try to get my mind off it," I sighed.

"Why the long face, Kurogane?" I heard a mature woman's voice behind me. I turned around to find a stunning woman standing there. Her eyes seemed to bore into me, as if she'd knock some sense into me if I stepped out of line. Well, actually, that's just how her eyes naturally looked.

"Nothing much, Nagumo-sensei. Just got a lot on my mind," I replied.

Nagumo Shizuka was a tall woman with long black hair cascading down her shoulders, reaching all the way to her shins. Unkempt bangs covered her piercing purple eyes. She sported a lab coat over her work uniform: a black vest paired with a dress shirt, black pants, and a loosely worn tie. She was undeniably a stunning woman, though her bust wasn't exactly her strong suit.

In my first year, I'd fallen head over heels for this woman and tried to woo her. Unfortunately, my attempts at flirting were met with punches to the gut.

"Really? Your face says otherwise. You even nodded off in my class. Something bothering you?"

"Eh, not really. Just feeling a bit worn out, I guess."

"I see," Nagumo-sensei said, "So, where are you headed now? Class starts in thirty minutes."

Was it just me, or was Nagumo-sensei warming up to me? She wasn't the chatty type when I used to strike up conversations with her, but now, it seemed like she was actively engaging with me. She even seemed concerned about my well-being.

Nah, that couldn't be right. Even during our conversations, her eyes and expression remained as stoic as ever.

"I'm heading to the library. We've got thirty minutes, so I thought I'd kill some time with a book," I explained.

"Oh? What about Matsushita and Morikawa? Aren't you spending time with them?" she inquired.

"I had lunch with them already," I replied. "And it's not like I'm glued to them 24/7. They have their own lives, you know, as girls. As a guy, I'm not about to intrude on their 'girl time' or whatever."

Nagumo-sensei fell silent for a moment, then said, "I see. Well, good luck with your reading, then." She placed her hands in her lab coat pockets and headed back to the room she came from.

"Weird," I mumbled to myself, but I didn't dwell on her behavior for too long. Right now, it was off to the library.

The library was surprisingly empty during lunch, like a cozy little hideaway. Since eating wasn't allowed in here, only a handful of people lingered around, ensuring a peaceful return process for books.

Now, I was faced with the dilemma of what to read. It had been ages since I'd picked up a novel, and the last one I'd read was "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. It was a classic detective mystery featuring Hercule Poirot, known for his brilliant deductive skills.

"I guess I'll have to search for a book."

I hadn't finished the entire Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, so maybe I should continue from where I left off. I hoped that "The Goblet of Fire" was available in this library, though...

Or maybe I should go with another work by Agatha Christie... Hmm?

As I strolled through the library, my eyes landed on a lone female student struggling to reach a book on a high shelf. The book she was after was "The Haunting of Hollow House" by Sarah Blackwood. It was a spine-tingling supernatural thriller and mystery that had garnered quite a reputation.

"The Haunting of Hollow House" teetered precariously, just barely within her reach, which might explain why she wasn't using the nearby stepstool. I stepped closer and reached up to grab the book for her.

"Sorry, I hope you don't mind me butting in, but..." I glanced at her. "It looked like you could use a hand."

She gazed at me with those large eyes. "Kurogane-kun?"

Seems like she knew me, although I couldn't quite place her.

"Uh, here you go," I said, handing her the book.

"Thank you very much."

The girl flashed me a bright smile. She looked like an angel, but thankfully, I'd developed immunity to these kinds of smiles. If a girl this beautiful had smiled at me a while back, I'd probably have fallen head over heels instantly. She had straight, lustrous, flaxen hair that cascaded down to her mid-back. Her large eyes were a caramel shade, adorned with long lashes on both the top and bottom. Her skin was like porcelain, pale, milky-white, and flawless, and her nose was elegantly shaped. She was more than cute; she looked like a goddess.

"It seems like you don't remember me," she said, still smiling. "We were classmates during our first year, and I was the class representative back then."

Truth be told, I didn't really remember many of my classmates from my first year. I'd been far too focused on Nagumo-sensei, and everyone else had practically vanished from my radar. I couldn't very well admit that I had no recollection of her existence and that the only thing I remembered from my first year was Nagumo-sensei's captivating presence while writing on the board.

"Oh, right! Now it's coming back to me. You were the class rep back then, weren't you?" I lied as smoothly as I breathed.

"Hehe," she chuckled. "Looks like you don't remember me at all."

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"No worries. I'm not holding a grudge for being forgotten. It seems like you had a lot on your mind back then." She locked eyes with me. "I'm Amanome. Amanome Makoto."

Amanome Makoto? That rang a bell. Oh, right!

"You're the top student in our grade."

"That's me. The one and only Amanome."

Well, I never imagined I was once classmates with the girl who ranked first in our grade. It never even crossed my mind that I was having a conversation with her right now.

"What brings you here, Kurogane-kun? Searching for some books? I saw you heading into the mystery section, so I'm guessing you're on the hunt for a mystery novel."

"You're spot on. Actually, I'm looking for the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Hoping they have the whole series here. If not, an Agatha Christie book will do just fine."

"Harry Potter? Well, that's not exactly a mystery series. And I'm pretty certain there are no Harry Potter books in this library."

"Ah, that's a bummer..." Truth be told, I didn't wander into the mystery section in search of Harry Potter. I had just spotted her struggling and thought I'd lend a hand. "In that case, do you think there might be another Agatha Christie mystery around here?"

"I think so, yes," she replied. Kneeling down, she plucked a book from the shelf. "Here we go, 'Murder on the Orient Express.' It's a classic, you know."

She handed me the book. I'd already read it before, but it wouldn't hurt to give it another go.

"Would you mind if I made a recommendation?"

"Of course not. Go ahead and recommend away."

This time, she grabbed a book that wasn't by Agatha Christie. "Here's a horror mystery for you: 'The Shining' by Stephen King."

I accepted the book with a curious look. "The Shining, huh? I've heard of Stephen King, but I've never read any of his work. What's it about?"

Amanome Makoto gave me a brief description. "It's a chilling tale set in a haunted hotel, where a family becomes the winter caretakers. The isolation, supernatural events, and descent into madness make it a real page-turner. If you're into horror mysteries, you might enjoy it."

I contemplated for a moment and then nodded. "Alright, you've convinced me. I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the recommendation."

She smiled warmly. "You're welcome. Enjoy your reading, Kurogane-kun."

I headed to the check-out counter with both books in hand, feeling grateful for the unexpected encounter and the new book to explore.