20. The Obliviousness of High School Boys.

“Thank you for coming. Please visit again.”

The bell at the door chimed softly as a college-aged young man, clutching his newly purchased book, walked out of the bookstore. The boy behind the cashier settled back into his seat, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward the reading area.

To call it a “reading area” was generous; it was nothing more than a tidied-up corner with a small round table and two chairs. Usually, the spot was deserted, but today, to his surprise, two beautiful girls sat there.

One of the girls had striking short hair, her playful side ponytail swaying with every movement. Her tanned skin, though lacking in fairness, radiated energy and vitality. Loose denim overalls hung from her frame, the very image of youth and vibrancy.

Opposite her sat another girl, who seemed to possess the power to transform her surroundings. Simply by sitting there, lost in her book, her elegance and poise made the cramped space feel like the drawing room of some grand European manor.

Tsukasa Jinguuji rested his chin on one hand, letting out a quiet sigh, unable to tear his eyes from the two. It wasn’t out of an appreciation for beauty, but rather a concern that the pair might start bickering—or worse, come to blows—at any moment.

Well… surely it wouldn’t come to that.

“Tsukasa, let’s get lunch together later,” Sakurakoji Sazakura called back to him, unabashedly using his given name.

“Ah... sure.” Tsukasa replied, quietly watching for Hoshinomori Hoshino’s reaction—just as he expected, she remained perfectly calm.

He had anticipated as much; she was quick to catch on. With Hoshinomori Hoshino’s cleverness, it was hardly difficult for her to deduce that he and Sazakura were childhood friends, especially since Sazakura was never one to hide her emotions.

So Tsukasa wasn’t surprised. That much was nothing. The important thing was making sure Sazakura didn’t let slip to Hoshinomori that he and Hoshinomori had once dated.

No matter how airheaded Sazakura seemed, she probably wouldn’t bring up that topic on her own. Tsukasa decided to trust her on this.

Yes, he told himself, have faith in your childhood friend! Believe in the bond of over ten years!

“Senpai Hoshinomori, do you have a boyfriend right now?”

Tsukasa choked on air, coughing violently. The two girls in the corner glanced at him, then returned to their conversation, ignoring him.

Hey, Sazakura, my dear childhood friend, can I really trust you?

A wave of anxiety washed over him, making his stomach twist.

“Hmm... a boyfriend? Not at the moment,” Hoshinomori Hoshino replied with a smile.

Yet even as she spoke, her gaze flickered, almost imperceptibly, toward Tsukasa, making his scalp prickle. He kept telling himself she had forgotten everything about the past, that there was no reason to panic.

“But,” she added, “there is someone I’m interested in.”

“Eh~~~~ I always thought someone like you, Senpai, wouldn’t care about romance.”

Sazakura shot Tsukasa a look, and he avoided her eyes.

“Why not? I’m a girl too, and girls are naturally interested in romance. Isn’t that right, Tsukasa?”

He quickly raised his book, hiding his face behind its cover.

Hoshinomori stifled a laugh. “Oh my, he seems a little shy.”

Sazakura bit her lip and fell silent. The two didn’t look like exes at all. Were they actually flirting? Was she the third wheel here?

Damn it, Tsukasa, if you’re lying to me, I really will cry!

Of course, Tsukasa could never guess what was running through Sazakura’s mind. He sat there, torn between wanting to listen in on their conversation and not daring to.

Such exchanges happened from time to time, and he was sorely tempted to ask what they were really doing here, but feared that voicing it might lead to something irreparable.

After a period of silence in the shop, someone finally opened the door. Tsukasa’s habitual “Welcome—” was cut short.

“Yaho... Luna-chan, I’m here!”

A slightly older woman entered, curvaceous, her long hair pinned up, striding over to him with an easy confidence.

“Good afternoon, Miss Nagumo.”

“Thanks for holding down the fort all morning. You can take your break now, just be back before lunch is over.”

“Okay.”

“Oh? Two adorable customers today,” she noted, spotting the two girls at the usually unused table.

“They’re friends of mine. They came to sit for a while and bought some books,” Tsukasa explained.

“That’s fine by me. Even if they hadn’t bought anything, cute girls are always welcome here,” Kyoko Nagumo said with a laugh.

“Hello, I’m Nagumo, the manager here.”

The two girls stood and greeted her, prompting Kyoko to click her tongue in admiration.

“What beauties, both of you. Luna, you’re quite the popular one, aren’t you? Shoo, shoo~”

“Please don’t say that. They’re just classmates. And don’t call me ‘-chan.’”

“Aww, but ‘Luna-chan’ is so cute.”

“A high school boy doesn’t need to be cute.”

“Such a killjoy,” Kyoko sighed, tying a deep green apron around her waist.

“We’ll wait for you by the door, Tsukasa.”

“Alright.”

The two girls nodded politely to Kyoko and headed outside.

Incidentally, Hoshinomori bought “Hear the Wind Sing,” and Sazakura picked up “Nectar” on Hoshinomori’s recommendation.

Once the girls had left, Kyoko immediately hooked an arm around Tsukasa’s neck, her tone full of teasing.

“So, which one’s your favorite?”

“Huh?”

“Well... if I had to choose, I’d go for the short-haired one.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play dumb with me, kiddo. You think I don’t notice all the college girls who stop by when you’re on shift?”

Well, that was true.

Tsukasa, uninterested but not wanting to irritate her, asked why. After all, it was never wise for an employee to cross their boss.

So—

“Side ponytails are the cutest, that’s all.”

That was the bizarre answer he received.

“Be back from lunch on time, okay? No being late. I’ve got a date this afternoon.”

“Understood.”

“This is when you’re supposed to say, ‘As you command, oh great sister!’”

“What ‘attribute’ are you looking for in me, exactly?”

“The little brother type.”

He was left speechless.

“Alright, alright, off you go and enjoy your date.”

“I told you, she’s not my girlfriend. And thanks.”

“She might not be now, but who knows—maybe you’ll end up dating one of them. They’re both beauties, after all.”

Tsukasa had no idea how to respond. He tucked away his apron and slipped out the door.

Kyoko chuckled, shaking her head as she settled behind the register. The bell’s lingering chime faded into stillness.

She picked up the copy of “Norwegian Wood” that Tsukasa had left on the table, resuming from the bookmarked page.

“So youthful…”