Chapter 20

Yuzu senpai is cute.

That cuteness never fades no matter where she is; in fact, the synergy of being in a place different from our usual spot sometimes multiplies her cuteness even further.

“E-eh? K-Kido-kun!?”

“Good work, senpai.”

The high school library, with its faintly whirring air conditioning.

Yuzu senpai was behind the counter right at the front as you walked in.

I thought I wouldn’t be able to talk to her today, so Yuzu senpai’s cute voice soaked straight into my chest…

“C-Club is off today, you know?”

“Yes. So I thought I’d come study or something… Was I a bother?”

“N-Not at all, totally fine, no problem!”

It really did look like she thought it was totally fine and no problem, which made me glad.

Except for the presence of an air conditioner, the high school library didn’t look all that different from the one back in middle school.

Just like Lemon-chan had said, there was nobody else in here besides me and Yuzu senpai.

I sat down at the desk closest to the counter and placed my school bag on it.

From this spot, I had a prime position where I could get a crystal-clear view of Yuzu senpai’s cute profile.

“Ugh… I thought today would be fine, but my mental prep is still not…”

At the counter, Yuzu senpai was flipping through a book, page by page, then turning back, flipping and turning back again.

She was probably checking each and every book for missing pages or stains.

That was incredible speed.

“Lemon said something weird yesterday… so now I can’t stop overthinking it…”

She muttered something to herself while staring intently only at the book right in front of her.

She wasn’t reading silently; she was probably speaking out loud to check the books more accurately.

What an extraordinary level of concentration.

As expected of Yuzu senpai.

“Sweet-and-Sour… Done-Deal Grand Ope– Ughhh.”

As expected, Yuzu senpai when she’s reading is drop-dead cute.

Even while doing her job as a library committee member, she would travel off into the world of books and ride an emotional rollercoaster.

Yeah, I could watch this forever.

“…K-Kido-kun?”

“Y-Yes!”

Just like that, Yuzu senpai turned her gaze toward me.

I ended up replying in a loud voice before I could stop myself.

You’re supposed to be quiet in the library, but being called out by Yuzu senpai is an exception.

“W-Well… I-I have something I want to ask you, you see…”

“Understood, ask me anything!”

“An instant answer?!”

This was Yuzu senpai right in front of me; there was nothing to hide.

…Except for the fact that I’m in love with Yuzu senpai.

“U, Um… This is just an example, yep, just a hypothetical…”

“Yes!”

“…Does K-Kido-kun consider himself a patient person?”

“Patience?”

It was an unexpected question.

“I-I don’t mean anything deep by it, okay?! I was just a little curious…”

She said that, but knowing Yuzu senpai, she definitely had some higher-level philosophical meaning in mind that went way beyond my imagination.

Even so, hmm… patience, huh.

“Let’s see. I’m the type who has zero patience at all.”

“E-Eeeeeh!?”

I talked about it with Lemon-chan earlier too, but when I injured my leg in that accident, it was super tough not being able to run around.

“I got self-destructive, and at my worst, I might’ve taken it out on the people around me.”

“So, so much…!”

Because I met Yuzu senpai, it didn’t end in the worst possible way.

Yeah, that’s right.

“I’m always being saved thanks to Yuzu senpai.”

“B-Because of me?!”

You can never express your gratitude too many times.

I’m thankful to the senpai who reminded me of that, and to Lemon-chan too.

“…B-Because of me… you’re being saved… Ehh… But…”

“Senpai?”

She dropped her gaze and started muttering to herself again.

What on earth was the meaning behind her question just now?

The fact that she wore such a serious expression meant she must’ve been spinning gears in her head on a level I could never hope to reach.

“….I-I… have to do something about it. I-I suppose I have to…”

“Um, senpai?”

She started trembling. Her whole body began to shiver.

Even with the mild air conditioning, maybe staying in here for too long was getting a bit chilly for her.

“…K-Kido-kun!”

“Y-Yes!”

Yuzu senpai stood up.

Drawn by her movement, I stood up too.

“H-Hey… Won’t you come over here?”

Bathed in the setting sun, Yuzu senpai’s face was bright red.