Yankee JK Becomes a Librarian, Episode 3 [Creative Award 2024, Manga Original Story Category Entry]

3
"Good morning, Ryunami-san!"
At school, Mayumi greets Tatsumi, who is sitting in a window seat, looking outside while resting her cheek on her hand.
"Oh, uh, good morning..."
Tatsumi replies, looking perplexed.
"!? What's wrong?"
"N-no... is it really okay?"
"!? What is?"
Mayumi tilts her head.
"For you to talk to me in a place like this..."
"Why?"
"Why, you ask... I'm that, you know?"
"That?"
"I'm a yankee, you know? If you talk to someone like me, you'll get misunderstood, won't you..."
"Misunderstood? Hahahaha!"
Mayumi starts laughing.
"W-what's so funny?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Doesn't matter?"
"Yeah. Because you and I are friends now, aren't we?"
"! F-friends..."
Tatsumi's eyes go wide with surprise.
"That's right."
"I-is that so..."
"So, this is sudden, but... could I ask for your help again after school today?"
"I don't mind, but... who are you getting messages from?"
"Ah..."
"Could it be from the Bear?"
"It's funny, so let's just say it is."
"No, it's not funny."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, if anything, it's a little scary."
"Well, you see... a postcard with the schedule for the next month written on it just appears in my mailbox."
"H-huh..."
"And that's how I keep track of the schedule."
"D-don't your family members find out?"
"It's a postcard that only I can see, you know~"
"Eh?"
"It's a bit mysterious, isn't it?"
"It's very mysterious."
"I think a postcard with next month's schedule will be in your mailbox around the end of this month, Ryunami-san."
"I-I see..."
"See you after school, then~"
Mayumi returns to her seat. After school, Tatsumi goes to the park. The mobile library is parked there. She calls out to Mayumi, who is efficiently preparing for opening.
"Yo..."
"Oh, Ryunami-san, thanks for your hard work~"
"Thanks to you too..."
"Alright, go put on your apron."
"Yeah."
Tatsumi returns wearing the red apron that has become quite familiar. Mayumi nods when she sees it.
"Alright, let's have you start with checking out and returning books again today."
"Got it."
Tatsumi sits in the seat. By the third day, she wouldn't say she's perfect, but she's gotten quite used to it. Tatsumi handles the reception duties with almost no issues.
"..."
Mayumi, having finished other tasks, returns and watches Tatsumi work intently. Once things settle down, Tatsumi asks.
"What is it?"
"No, I was just thinking that you've really gotten used to this, Ryunami-san."
"I-is that so?"
Tatsumi wears a look that suggests she isn't entirely displeased by Mayumi's words.
"But... I think there's something missing..."
"Something missing?"
Tatsumi tilts her head.
"Yeah."
"What is it..."
"You don't know?"
"Yeah, not a clue..."
"Then, try to guess."
"Is this a quiz?"
Tatsumi gives a bitter smile.
"Yes."
"Hmm..."
Tatsumi crosses her arms and tilts her head. She can't find the answer.
"...How about it?"
"...I have no idea."
Tatsumi shakes her head from side to side.
"Then, here's a hint."
"A hint, huh. Just tell me already."
"Well, well, the hint is... this."
Mayumi beams with a full smile and points to the dimples on her cheeks with her index fingers.
"...Huh?"
"You don't know?"
"...Ah."
"Just say anything."
"Anything?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Uh..."Cute"
"Wha!?"
Mayumi turns bright red at Tatsumi's unexpected remark. Tatsumi also realizes what she just said casually and becomes intensely embarrassed.
"N-no, that's not it! ...W-well, it's not wrong, though!"
"Eh?"
"No, no! I-I give up! Tell me the answer!"
"Y-yeah... the answer is '"a smile'."
"A smile?"
"That's right. Maybe I should have said '"charm'?"
"Charm..."
"Or maybe '"friendliness' would be better."
"Friendliness..."
Tatsumi rubs her own cheek.
"Strictly speaking, it's not exactly a customer-facing business, but aren't we interacting with the users?"
"Ah..."
"I think the users feel better when they're greeted with a smile rather than a blunt attitude. By doing that, they might think about coming back to this library again."
"I guess so..."
"So, Ryunami-san, you too..."
"Was I..."
"Eh?"
"Was I that unpleasant?"
Tatsumi looks sad.
"N-no, it wasn't that bad! I was just saying, if I had to choose, if I had to choose!"
Mayumi hurriedly waves her right hand from side to side.
"I see..."
"Y-yeah! Because, Ryunami-san is "beautiful, and she's fine as she is, but if you add a smile to that, it would be perfect!"
"Eh...?"
"Hmm?"
"B-beautiful...?"
Tatsumi looks down shyly, and Mayumi turns red again.
"N-no, that's not it! No, it's not wrong, but! Ah~!"
Mayumi waves her right hand frantically, then holds her head in both hands.
"Uh..."
"W-well, never mind, I'll take over the reception! Could you do some cleaning while you're organizing the bookshelves?"
"Ah, yeah..."
"Alright then..."
Tatsumi leaves the seat, and Mayumi sits down. An elderly man approaches with a book.
"I want to borrow this..."
"I'm sorry. This cannot be checked out."
Mayumi informs him.
"Hmm?"
"This is a book that can only be viewed within this library..."
"That's ridiculous!"
The elderly man slams his hand on the desk. Mayumi lets out a small scream.
"Hii!?"
"This is a library, isn't it!? Why are there books that can't be borrowed!?"
"It's a rare book, so we don't allow it to be taken out..."
"What!? Do you think I'm going to steal it!?"
"I-I don't think that, but..."
"Then lend it to me!"
"I-I can't do that..."
"I'll return it properly! You have no complaints, do you!?"
"That's not the issue..."
"W-what do you mean!? Eh!?"
"U-uh..."
"Excuse me..."
Tatsumi intervenes.
"W-what is it!?"
"If you raise your voice, it will disturb other users..."
"Whose fault is it that I'm raising my voice!? I just want to borrow this book!"
"It's a book that isn't for checkout."
"Why!?"
"Because it's the rule..."
Tatsumi narrows her eyes.
"H-hiii!?"
The elderly man screams.
"...Do you understand now?"
"A-ah, I understand! E-excuse me!"
The elderly man leaves the book and runs away as if fleeing. Tatsumi sighs.
"Phew..."
"T-that was amazing, Ryunami-san!"
Mayumi takes both of Tatsumi's hands.
"Eh?"
"Dealing with complainers like that is tough, but to pressure him into leaving...! That was an approach I never thought of."
"P-pressure?"
"Yeah, by narrowing your eyes!"
"N-no, I was trying to smile..."
"Eh..."
"..."
"........."
An awkward silence flows.
"...A-anyway, it's good! ...Ah, Bear-san, are you taking over the reception? In that case, I'll go clean! Okay!"
"Ah, yeah..."
The two enter the library. While organizing a shelf, Mayumi mutters.
"Since we're short-staffed, there are places that don't get cleaned often~ I try to be careful, but... oh, is that a spider web? !?"
Mayumi gets tangled in a thread and is pulled up. A girl with long black hair is sitting on top of the bookshelf. The thread is coming from the girl's index finger.
"Fufu... I heard there was a troublesome librarian in this library, but you're quite easy..."
"W-who are you!?"
"No need to answer."
"I-is this the power of a book!?"
"That's right. '"The Spider's Thread'..."
"Ugh...!?"
Mayumi tries to escape the thread, but it's no use. The girl laughs.
"Fufu, it's useless..."
"I-I can't believe a single spider's thread is this strong!? In the book, it should break if a certain amount of weight is applied!"
"You shouldn't compare me to those other people..."
"W-what are you going to do to me!?"
"Let's see... maybe I'll hurt you enough that you won't ever want to come near this library again... Hmm!?"
The girl notices Tatsumi's presence. Tatsumi asks.
"...What do you think you're doing?"
"Just bullying her a little."
"Stop it..."
"Why don't you try stopping me? I don't feel like I'll lose to you, a yankee, inside a library..."
"Oh...!"
"!!"
The girl is overwhelmed by the spirit Tatsumi emits. Tatsumi glares at her.
"...Get lost!"
"!?"
"Haaah!"
"Ugh... t-this intensity... '"Rashomon'!? To be able to use it this well, I see, this woman is the rumored librarian...!"
"Let go of my... "important friend!"
"Tch, I'm retreating for now, r-remember this!"
The girl disappears. The thread snaps, and Mayumi falls.
"Kyaa!"
"Mayumi!"
Tatsumi catches Mayumi with both hands. They end up in a princess-carry position, and their faces are close.
"...!"
"...!!"
They both hurriedly look away from each other. After a short pause, Mayumi returns her gaze and says thanks.
"Th-thank you..."
"N-no..."
Tatsumi, who also returned her gaze, replies.
"J-just now, you said friend..."
"No, because Mayumi said it..."
"...Calling me by my name?"
"Ah..."
Tatsumi looks away again. Mayumi smiles.
"Fufu, thank you, Tatsumi..."
"Ah, yeah... I'm putting you down."
Tatsumi puts Mayumi down. Mayumi takes a breath.
"Phew..."
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah... about that intensity from earlier..."
"I just tried to imagine it after reading a book I happened to pick up..."
"I saw Rashomon behind you... as I thought..."
"As you thought?"
"You seem to have extraordinary talent as a librarian..."
"I don't really get it, but if it's to protect a place that's important to me, I'll try being a librarian for real..."
Tatsumi mutters while looking around at the rows of bookshelves.