"Half of summer vacation is almost over, so why hasn't anything I imagined happened yet…?" Yanami slumped over the lounge table, her eyes secretly watching Kiyono in the corner, expression gloomy.
It's true she didn't want to participate in the club's beach storyline, but it's not like she didn't want to… cough.
During summer vacation, she had more free time, but Kiyono's time became even scarcer. The hands of their clocks always subtly missed each other.
Well, that's fine. After all, Kiyono is still in a period of settling down! There's still plenty of time left in summer vacation!
Thinking this, Yanami stood up with renewed energy, took something out of her backpack, then walked up to Kiyono and gently placed it on his head.
Kiyono took it down in confusion and looked—what greeted his eyes was a sky-blue bento box. "Kiyono's Exclusive" was written on the lid with a waterproof pen, and next to the words was a small corgi, just like Yataro.
The blue-haired girl brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her elegance in that moment akin to a Yamato Nadeshiko.
"You've always been using that temporary plastic bento box, haven't you? This is a new one I bought for you. Use this one from now on!"
"Oh, oh…"
Kiyono blinked.
"Starting tomorrow." Yanami narrowed her eyes and smiled; her gleaming fangs subtly appeared between her lips. "If you dare to use this to pack a convenience-store bento… I'll stand with a megaphone at your new book signing and shout that you're an idiot!"
"I understand…"
Kiyono mumbled softly.
"Mm!"
The girl stood with one hand on her hip, her smile bright.
"Kiyono, this illustration is the final version. What do you think?"
That evening, in an internet café, the computer screen in front of Kiyono displayed chat messages with his editor. The next second, the editor sent a beautifully designed character illustration.
He controlled the mouse and zoomed in.
Then his eyes gradually widened as if illuminated.
A girl, as if alive, appeared before him.
Cool, proud, high above—like a high-mountain flower whose beauty no earthly thing could defile.
It's settled.
This was definitely a top-tier artist in the industry.
Kiyono was silent for a while, then slowly typed on the keyboard:
"Thank you, my brother said he really likes it."
"…Hmm? You have a brother? By the way, this artist is indeed an incredible beautiful girl, and she even actively proposed to be responsible for your work. I'm starting to wonder if you're really the protagonist of a romantic comedy!"
Two days later, Kiyono received a package.
He placed it on the lounge table and opened it.
A small book appeared before him.
The binding was exquisitely beautiful. Under a high-hanging bright moon, a black-haired girl wore a stern expression; her hair shimmered with starlight, like a glimpse into another world. Soft brushstrokes wrote the elegantly designed title on the cover, with the author's name right next to it.
This was his book.
His once-held hope.
Months of painstaking effort condensed within.
Kiyono instinctively reached out, caressing the hard cover, filled with emotion.
This was an advance copy before publication—book companies always send unique samples to authors and other participants before the books are sent to bookstores.
He had only asked the company for two copies.
The first one was for…
"I wonder when I'll be able to give it away." Kiyono picked up the book, as if meeting the gaze of the girl on the cover, as if seeing the bright moon of that day. He was slightly lost in thought and sighed softly.
As for the other copy—
"I'll give Old Eight a small surprise today."
Kiyono carefully put away the book in his hand and took out another advance copy. As if imagining the girl's expression when she held the book, his lips curved into an expectant smile.
"Wha-what! You said you have something important to give me!?"
Yanami's sudden shriek drew strange looks from the seniors in the lounge.
This—could this be the legendary love, love letter…? But isn't this too sudden! Don't these important moments usually have some build-up? And it's too early!
"Don't add 'important' on your own. I just said I have something to give you…"
Feeling the surrounding gazes, Kiyono looked speechless. He wanted to call her out precisely to avoid this kind of situation!
"I-I understand!"
Yanami took a deep breath and nodded resolutely.
"I happen to want to borrow some books, so let's go to the library," Kiyono suggested.
Th-the library…? The blue-haired girl silently nodded and followed him.
The library in the afternoon was quiet and filled with an aura of wisdom. Dust motes danced lightly in slanting beams of light, and the air was filled with the scent of paper… In that moment, countless images flashed through Yanami's mind: a boy blushing in the setting sun, bowing to hand a love letter to the girl he liked; heartfelt words inadvertently spoken face-to-face; tree shadows dancing outside the window…
"Here."
The clear voice brought the girl abruptly back to reality. She nervously looked up and saw Kiyono in front of her taking out… a book from a bag?
"What is this?"
Yanami looked down at the book, not reacting for a moment, only instinctively tracing the author's name with her fingertips.
"My book."
"Oh, it's Little Senior's book. I see, I thought it was a love… Wait a minute!"
The blue-haired girl's eyes widened, her voice inexplicably trembling. "Your book!?"
"Yes, an advance copy," Kiyono said with a smile.
"Kiyono… am I the first one you're giving it to?"
Her slender fingers clutched the cover. Yanami suddenly spoke, her ocean-blue eyes gazing at him calmly, clearly reflecting his image.
For some reason, under that gaze Kiyono felt inexplicably nervous. He averted his eyes and explained, a bit unnaturally:
"Because you're the closest, I just gave it to you. Consider it a return gift for the bento box last time… Anyway, as a great author, I'll definitely give away countless copies in the future!"
"I see… I will cherish it."
The book in her palm seemed to emit a burning heat. Yanami hugged the novel to her chest, a faint blush rising on her snow-white cheeks.
The downy hair on her side profile was steeped in the soft sunlight. The small indentation on her lower lip, made by her teeth, gradually relaxed. In the quiet library, the girl revealed a charmingly shy smile.
Tsk… Don't suddenly make such a cute expression. This isn't a love letter; I don't even know how to react!
Kiyono scratched his head.
Seeming to notice his gaze, Yanami used the book to cover the lower half of her face, the exposed corners of her eyes curving into crescents.
"I'm going to get two books…" Kiyono silently stood up and walked to a nearby bookshelf.
The blue-haired girl gently turned to the first page.
After he returned, Yanami seemed to have reverted to her usual lively, snack-loving self. The table was piled with snacks, but today she ate much slower than usual, and each time she picked one up with her fingers, she meticulously wiped her hands twice with wet wipes and tissues.
"Kiyono, when will your book officially go on sale?" the girl looked up and asked.
"Probably in about half a month," Kiyono thought for a moment and replied.
Yanami hummed in acknowledgment, then put down the book, tilted her head, and pressed the tip of her pen to her lower lip, smiling as she said:
"As the first reader, shouldn't I have some special privileges? Like an autograph or something…"
"No problem, no problem."
Kiyono readily took the pen—he had secretly been researching what style of signature to use for future book signings. He'd just shock the girl. He opened the paperback and, in the blank space, wrote his name with flamboyant strokes.
"Isn't something missing?" The girl looked at it, a little dissatisfied.
"What do you want?"
"Like adding a heart at the end…" Yanami blinked.
"That's too cringey." Kiyono rolled his eyes, ignored her words, and handed the novel back to her.
The blue-haired girl didn't insist, but chose to pick up the pen and add it herself.
"Done!"
She hummed twice, admiring her masterpiece with satisfaction. Kiyono glanced at her, letting the girl amuse herself.
Having gotten what she wanted, Yanami gradually quieted down, her fingers gently turning the pages, reading every word. The two seemed to truly blend into the library's atmosphere; even the second hand of time seemed to slow its pace slightly.
At one point, Yanami suddenly extended her foot under the table and gently kicked his leg.
"What's wrong?" Kiyono wondered.
"Teacher Kiyono, I've found a problem." The blue-haired girl's expression was serious, her breath slightly moist. "The female protagonist's name in this book should be changed to Yanami!"
Kiyono's mouth twitched.
Cringey girl!
Summer vacation passed steadily, day by day.
No beaches, no swimsuits, no summer festivals. Only sweat and labor—and endless discussions with his editor…
Oh, right, and a certain athletic girl who was out running.
Recently, Yakishio Lemon also frequently came to find Yanami—or rather, to find both of them to hang out. As for the period before, she had just gone back to her hometown.
—If he had to choose who among the people around him was the most summery girl, Kiyono would unhesitatingly cast his vote for Lemon.
Healthy, tanned skin, refreshing sweat, a fiery smile like the sun—every one of her features reminded people of summer.
"Is Yanami not here?"
Sitting in her characteristic corner window seat, Yakishio Lemon scanned the room and asked casually—recently, when she came to find Kiyono, it was usually the three of them face-to-face.
"No, she went to buy snacks." Kiyono sat opposite her, sizing the girl up and down. "Lemon, have you gotten a little tanner?"
"It is summer, after all."
Yakishio Lemon smiled, showing her teeth, then took a sip of refreshing lemonade and said casually, like friends chatting:
"Does Kiyono prefer girls with fairer skin?"
"Actually, I focus more on a girl's inner qualities—for example, not asking for a car or house, not caring about wealth, not arguing or making a fuss, and earning money to support me…" Kiyono said with a serious expression.
"You're too imaginative— even manga wouldn't dare draw that! But…"
Yakishio Lemon tilted her head, a slightly mischievous smile appearing. "Is Kiyono secretly in love with me?"
She seemed to be implying that she met these requirements.
Another cringey girl.
Kiyono gave her a sidelong glance.
The athletic girl chuckled, naturally moving past the topic. "There doesn't seem to be much to do during summer vacation. Should I… also work part-time here? It seems fun!"
She twirled a strand of her hair.
"So the young lady is here to experience life, huh? If you're not short on money, I wouldn't recommend working here," Kiyono said, shaking his head helplessly.
"I-I'm not some young lady! I've been spending my time in my rural hometown recently, and I haven't even spent five thousand yen!" Yakishio Lemon looked at his expression, seeming very concerned about this point, her tone anxious.