Okami's POV
I watched as Rentarou dramatically slumped over, looking like his soul had just left his body.
"Oi, Rentarou, don't be so dramatic," I muttered.
"Bruh, what was with all these lectures?! Our first day of college finally ended, but it drained me out!" he groaned, rubbing his face. "Seriously, why so many lectures on the first day?!"
I raised an eyebrow. "What happened to all that excitement you had before going to the cafeteria during the first two lectures?"
"Can you blame me, man?! I had no idea college would feel like this!" he huffed, throwing his hands in the air.
He stretched lazily, then turned to me with a grin. "C'mon, let's check out the campus!"
"No," I said flatly. "I wanna check out the library."
He blinked. "Huh? What a waste!"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I just… don't want to run into anyone anymore."
His grin faded a little, but he shrugged. "Okay then, let's go."
As we stepped into the library, I was slightly shocked—it was actually pretty huge!
"Man!! Look at this library! What the hell?!" Rentarou exclaimed, eyes wide. "Forget about shelves, if we just remove all these desks, we'd have enough space to play baseball!"
"Moron, keep your voice down. It's a library," I muttered, shaking my head.
"Ohhh!! Okami, look! There's a whole section for great poets' works!!" he gasped before rushing over without waiting for my response.
I sighed but let him be as I made my way to the literature section. Maybe I could find some good references for my new novel.
I started picking out books. Oh, this one looks good… and this one too… oh, they even have this one?!
Before I knew it, my hands were completely full. Ah... I took too many!
My eyes fall on The Tale of the Heike. Oh, they have this too!
I reach for it, but my hands are already full. Ah, what a pain… but I really want this one. Before I can figure out how to grab it, a small hand reaches out and takes it for me.
"Is this what you wanted? The Tale of the Heike? Hehe~"
I turn, and my eyes meet hers.
For a second, I freeze.
She's… talking to me?
She isn't scared. She isn't avoiding my gaze like everyone else. She's standing there, smiling, holding the book out for me like it's the most normal thing in the world. She must not have heard the rumors.
I don't know what to say. I'm not used to people approaching me without hesitation—not after that incident. I must look surprised—no, shocked.
I quickly step back, regaining my composure. And for some reason, I put on a cold expression.
But she notices.
"Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," she says casually. Then, as if she hasn't just shattered my expectations, she continues, "The Tale of the Heike—it's a good one. A classic medieval samurai tale, full of honor and tragedy. I read it a long time ago."
Wow, she knows about this old book? She's read it? Is she from the Literature Department too?
She tilts her head slightly. "Are you from the Literature Department?"
I shouldn't get involved in any conversation. It will only repeat history for me, and I don't want to face that again.
She tries again, then smiles. "Ah, sorry, I didn't introduce myself! Takahashi Usagi, Department of Management Studies! Nice to meet you—"
She pauses, clearly waiting for my name.
I avert my gaze, ignoring her attempt at conversation. Instead, I take the book from her hands, mutter a quiet, "Thanks," and walk straight to the librarian's counter.
Even without looking back, I can feel her eyes on me.
Why did I run away?
Maybe… I'll apologize if I meet her again.