The library was very quiet in the afternoon.
Especially on a holiday.
A rare short vacation was a time for everyone to relax.
Few people would use such precious time to increase their knowledge.
So the library was very deserted on holidays.
Even more so in the afternoon on a holiday.
Even some avid readers should be taking an afternoon nap at this time.
How could they possibly be out reading?
Shiina walked into the library.
She quickly scanned the empty hall.
Then she walked quickly to the reading area.
The librarian was supporting her head with her arm, looking a bit sleepy.
She looked like she could fall asleep at any moment.
So it would be better not to disturb her rashly.
Shiina arrived at the reading area.
Her first glance fell on the seat by the window.
The girl reading alone.
Golden light streamed in from the bright window.
It just happened to shine on the pages of the book in the girl's hand.
The girl's whole body was bathed in the warm sunlight, she supported her head with one hand, her fair fingers casually turned the pages, and her purple eyes sparkled in the light.
Paired with a perfectly angled profile and that... silly smile on her lips.
Hmm.
It was Amane, no doubt.
However, this scene, which blended so harmoniously with the environment, still left Shiina stunned.
It was the first time she had truly looked at Amane's appearance, as another woman.
Before, when Amane said she was cute or something, Shiina thought Amane was just being thick-skinned and bragging.
Now it seemed, perhaps Amane was just speaking the truth at that time.
She seemed to have noticed the gaze behind her.
Amane turned slightly.
Amane looked very happy to see Shiina.
She waved at Shiina.
Shiina then came to Amane's side as if waking from a dream.
"Sorry, I'm a little late."
Shiina was delayed by some errands when she left the house.
So by the time she arrived at the library.
It was already about half an hour past the agreed time.
So Shiina immediately apologized to Amane.
"It's okay, as long as it's Hiyori, I don't mind waiting for her for any amount of time."
Amane's words made Shiina blush.
She sat down beside Amane, a little shyly.
A faint floral scent of shower gel constantly wafted into Amane's nose.
"It smells good."
"Huh?"
Shiina blinked.
What was Amane saying with this abrupt sentence?
Seeing Shiina's confused expression.
Amane leaned close to Shiina's ear and whispered.
"Hiyori, you smell very good today."
Eh!!!!
Shiina heard Amane's blatant compliment.
She quickly reached out and covered her cheeks.
Her burning cheeks felt like they were about to be scalded.
"Miyako-san, please don't say such embarrassing things in public."
Shiina complained to Amane beside her.
But because her voice was too soft and sweet.
It sounded like she was acting spoiled.
"Does Hiyori mean that I can say embarrassing things to Hiyori in private?"
Amane's sudden counter-question caught Shiina off guard, and she suddenly didn't know what to do.
But Shiina quickly reacted.
"Cough, cough, Miyako-san, didn't you invite me to read an interesting novel?"
Shiina's attempt to change the subject was a bit clumsy.
But Amane didn't mind.
Anyway, her goal had been achieved.
So she pushed the book in her hand towards Shiina.
Just as Shiina was about to read the masterpiece that combined love, yokai, adventure, and legends.
Shiina saw the title of the book on the cover.
Suddenly, she felt everything go black.
"Miyako-san!!! Isn't this Momotaro? You actually tricked me!"
Perhaps the difference from her expectations was too great.
Shiina looked at Amane angrily.
But perhaps her expression wasn't serious enough.
Instead, she looked very cute.
"I didn't trick you, Hiyori."
Facing Amane's playful expression.
Shiina wished she could just reach out and tear her face apart.
She had guessed for so long, and it turned out Amane was actually trying to fool her with a children's book.
"Hiyori, think about it, first, isn't it very famous?"
Facing Amane's question.
Shiina's expression froze.
Although Momotaro was just a children's book, in terms of its fame, its name was well-known; at least no one in the country could not have heard this story.
Just from Shiina's memory, she had heard this story countless times, and even several versions of it.
Seeing Shiina's accumulating anger interrupted.
Amane secretly took Shiina's small hand.
"Then Hiyori, do you see if there are yokai and adventure?"
"Now that you mention it, there really are..."
Shiina couldn't refute this point either.
Even though the story was simple, it still contained elements like yokai and adventure.
Shiina's hand was smooth.
It felt nice.
"See, I told you I didn't trick you, right? As for legends... the legend of Momotaro can be said to be very old, can't it?"
Shiina bit her lip unwillingly.
Amane, however, looked at the somewhat aggrieved Shiina with a triumphant expression.
"But there's no love in it."
It took Shiina a long time to come up with such a seemingly reasonable rebuttal.
But to her surprise, Amane smiled even more brightly.
Then she leaned in and whispered something into Shiina's ear.
Shiina's face turned even redder.
"Miyako-san is a bad person!"
"I never said I was a good person."
"You..."
Shiina's vision went black.
It was her first time encountering a girl who was so shamelessly unreasonable.
In her impression, the only person who could be compared to Amane was probably Ryuuen.
But even Ryuuen wasn't as shamelessly unreasonable as Amane.
"Just tell me, does that kind of thing count as love?"
Shiina turned her head to the side.
Pouting, she clearly didn't want to talk to Amane anymore.
Amane seemed to have expected this.
She took out a packet of biscuits from her bag, very similar to the ones from last time.
"Hiyori, look what delicious treats I brought?"
As soon as the biscuit packaging was opened,
the inviting aroma made Shiina I couldn't help but sneak a peek Amane's biscuit bag.
Unlike last time,
these biscuits were also bear-shaped,
but they came in various colors. Their vibrant appearance reminded Shiina of poisonous mushrooms.
She hesitated for a long time but ultimately didn't dare to try one.
"Come on, try one, this one is strawberry flavored, ah~"
Amane held a pink biscuit to Shiina's mouth.
"I can take it myself."
Seeing this, Shiina quickly reached out to take it.
After all, being fed in public was quite embarrassing.
However, Amane seemed to have anticipated this and avoided Shiina's hand.
"I'll feed you."
Seeing Amane's determination, Shiina had no choice but to blush and bite the biscuit.
Then she slowly put the biscuit into her mouth.
"Is it good?"
Amane leaned close to Shiina.
They were so close that Shiina could even feel Amane's warm breath.
"It's good..."
"If Hiyori likes it, I'll bring you more next time..."
"Yo, isn't that Amane? If Hiyori likes it, you feed her by hand, but when your Suzune wants to eat, why don't I see you putting in so much effort?"
A familiar voice came from behind.
Amane's body stiffened abruptly.
"Suzune, listen to me explain... Ow, ow, ow, there are outsiders here, give me some face, boo hoo."
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