After picking out a few books, I headed to the reading corner with Hime.
At the back of the library, in a space the size of a school classroom, there are several square tables, presumably intended for use by multiple people, such as friends or family.
There is also a counter-style desk by the window, separated from the next one by a partition. This seems like a good place to use it alone.
"Surprisingly, there aren't many."
Hime muttered softly. As she said, there were fewer customers than she expected. It was summer vacation, so she thought there would be more students and children, but there were probably fewer than ten people.
"Maybe it's because it's hot and you don't want to go outside?"
"That's true...especially since it's so hot today."
It's a scorching hot day. It's a season when even going outside feels like a chore, so it must be hard to feel like going out. In fact, I would have stayed indoors if I hadn't made a promise with Hime, so I can empathize with that all too well.
Well, there are some benefits to having fewer people. It was nice to be able to sit wherever I wanted. It would be cramped if it was crowded, so it's better to have more space if possible.
"Shall we have this one?"
Hime had chosen a space where no one else was, so as not to disturb the other customers. It was a table seat. I sat down at one of the four seats, and Hime sat next to me, not across from me.
I think sitting across from each other would allow for more desk space to be used, but... this kid likes sitting next to me.
It was the same when we went to a fast food restaurant just before summer vacation. I remember her making the effort to sit next to me. Despite her appearance, Hime is quite the type to stick close to others.
That's what makes this child so adorable.
"Do you want to read it too, Yohei?"
"Yeah, I'm a bit worried."
Hime had brought three books with her. I borrowed one of them and opened it. The contents were composed of text and diagrams, and it explained in an easy-to-understand way how weight loss works.
This is not a book that introduces casual diets or other things that are questionable in terms of whether they have any scientific basis.
The book was classified as health medicine, covering topics such as the structure and functions of the human body.
...It was surprisingly interesting. It uses plenty of illustrations, so even I can understand it. I also learned that I should exercise a little more. I usually walk to school, so I guess that's better, but during summer vacation I only walk to the convenience store...I was heading straight for unhealthy health.
I now understand why my daily rhythm is disrupted. After reading the book, I realized that my autonomic nervous system is out of whack.
"Hmm."
Probably about ten minutes had passed.
I suddenly looked up to see Hime, and she was nodding along while reading a book
And then I noticed one thing.
(Hime, you read fast...?)
The frequency with which he turned the pages was clearly strange. His eyes, likely following the lines, were moving quickly and hecticly. Easily three times faster than me... No, maybe even more.
I couldn't help but wonder if she was really reading it, and stared at her closely.
It took about a few minutes. As I was observing Hime... her eyes suddenly stopped moving for about a few dozen seconds. Next, her face turned red, and then her eyes began to shake.
Things are different from before.
"...Um, Yohei-kun? Is something wrong?"
It seemed that Hime had noticed that I was staring.
That may be why he was upset.
"Oh, sorry. Did I interrupt?"
"No, it's fine, but... I feel a little embarrassed when people look at me."
It's not that she's reluctant, but rather that she's embarrassed, which is so cute and Hime-like.
However, he should reflect on the fact that he let his consciousness become confused.