[clum! '95 #03] The Library and the Adhesive Bandage

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The lunch break on the day after being released from the barrage of basic training by Rikka.

Kazuyori Hayasaka opened the heavy library door as if to escape inside. "Phew... it's quiet in here." On the tip of his nose was a fancy animal-patterned adhesive bandage that Rikka had applied this morning, saying, "I'll put a new one on for you!" If he stayed in the classroom, people would ask, "What happened to your nose?" and if he went into the hallway, he was afraid he'd be caught by the overly energetic Rikka-senpai and told, "Let's do lunch practice!" So, Kazuyori had come here in search of a sanctuary. (While I'm at it, I should study the rules of basketball. I didn't understand half of the technical terms the senior was using...) He headed toward the sports section. However, since he was still short, the book he was looking for, "Basketball Introduction for Junior High Students," was unfortunately on the top shelf. "Ugh... I can't reach it." He stood on his tiptoes and reached out, but his fingertips only grazed the spine of the book. It was when he turned around to look for a step stool that he gave up. "Um, would you like me to get that for you?" A soft, gentle voice like a ringing bell drifted down. Surprised, he looked up to see a lovely girl with long hair reaching down to her waist standing there. "Oh, thank you! Please do." "Hehe, sure. This one, right?"

She reached out gracefully and took the book he wanted. Her movements were refined, somewhat like the gestures of a ballet dancer.

Kazuyori wondered why she could reach it when their heights weren't that different, thinking perhaps she used her body differently, and he was captivated for a moment. When he received the book, her gaze stopped right in the middle of Kazuyori's face.

"Oh... did you hurt your nose?"

As she furrowed her brows in concern, Kazuyori hurriedly covered the bandage. "Oh, this... I got hit by a ball while observing the basketball club the day before yesterday." "The basketball club... Oh, by any chance, is it Sano-san's?" "Eh, you know Sano-senpai?" When Kazuyori's eyes widened, she—Rei Okamoto—smiled with her cheeks slightly flushed in embarrassment. "Yes. We're in different classes, but Sano-san is always so energetic and sparkling, she's wonderful. ...I see, so you're a new member." "Yes, my name is Kazuyori Hayasaka. ...Um, is Sano-senpai always that intense?" When his true feelings slipped out, Rei covered her mouth and laughed elegantly, "Hehe."

"It seems so. But I think it's amazing that she can be so dedicated. I couldn't do that..." "Senpai...?"

There was a somewhat lonely ring to Rei's words. However, she immediately returned to her gentle "library committee member face." "Hayasaka-kun, are you going to check out that book? I'm on duty right now, so I'll do it for you."

"Oh, yes! Please!" While waiting for the procedure at the counter, Kazuyori thought. There is Rikka, who is like the "sun" in the gymnasium, but here, there is a gentle senior who is like the "moon." "Here you go. Good luck with basketball. I'm rooting for you."

"Oh... thank you very much! ...Um."

"Okamoto. I'm Rei Okamoto."

"Okamoto-senpai!"

Clutching the book handed to him by Rei to his chest, Kazuyori bowed deeply. Although a little pain remained in his nose, it was a peaceful afternoon encounter in spring that made even that pain feel eased.

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