● April 4 (Monday) Saki Ayase

To think that his casual remark could affect me so much.

The suit I bought for the entrance ceremony feels a bit too formal for my taste, like it’s lacking in combat power, but even so, Asamura-kun took one look at me during breakfast and said, “It looks good on you.” I’m thrilled. And yet, I’m exasperated at how my heart soars over such a simple comment. Thanks to that, even on the train to the ceremony, I could barely keep my cheeks from relaxing.

Under the scattering cherry blossom petals, I blend in with a group of girls—probably new first-years—and head into the auditorium.

After taking my seat, I felt something was off. It dawns on me after a moment of thought: I’m surrounded by girls. Of course, that makes sense. It’s a women’s university. I’ve never really paid much attention to guys before, but after twelve years in co-ed schools, I’d grown used to that being normal. Now, front and back, left and right—nothing but girls.

After a while, I notice another oddity.

In the mostly orderly crowd, there are a few girls whispering to their neighbors, chatting cheerfully. It’s not a lot of them, but in a boring ceremony like this, it’s a common sight. Or so I thought at first.

Wait a second. I reconsider. We’re new first-years, and this is a university. The conclusion that follows is obvious: those girls chatting so comfortably must have just met each other.

Huh, wait. Is that even possible? University students come from all sorts of places and ages, so how do they manage to communicate so easily? I’d been thinking I needed to learn to be a bit more proactive with communication after watching Maaya and Maru-kun during our graduation trip, but have I already fallen behind? This is going to be tough. Or maybe it’s not that Maaya and Maru-kun are communication monsters, but that I’m just bad at it. Am I already shipwrecked before the journey’s even begun? Ugh…

The faculty entrance ceremony itself lasts only thirty minutes, from 10:30 to 11:00, and feels much simpler compared to Suisei High’s ceremony.

Classes won’t start for three days, so there’s a bit of leeway. After some explanations about post-enrollment procedures, we’re dismissed.

I have work this evening so, I headed back toward Shibuya. My shift doesn’t start until later, which meant I could go home first. I brought my work uniform just in case, so I don’t need to return home.

I started the bookstore job with the ulterior motive of spending more time with Asamura-kun, but knowing I’ll quit by the end of this month makes me feel a little reluctant. It’s been a valuable experience in so many ways.

Still, I’ve already made my choice.

The internship at Ruka-san’s design company starts in May. I have no idea how long I’ll be working or how often, but with each passing day, I’m getting more excited about the new challenge.

In the end, I decide to wander around Shibuya’s station area.

I stroll through the small shops in Center Street, grabbing lunch at a fast-food place that catches my eye. Before I know it, it’s time for my shift, and I head to the store.

It’s been five months since I last worked at the bookstore, and I’ve forgotten some of the things I learned, but I manage to get through without any major issues, albeit with some fumbling. Asamura-kun helped me out, too. Oh, and late in the evening, Yomiuri Shiori-san showed up for the first time in a while.

The manager told her she could take a break in the office. I bet the manager’s still hoping Shiori-san might become a full-time employee.

Asamura-kun and I were also on break, so we chatted a bit in the office.

Asamura-kun seemed curious about Shiori-san’s job and asked, “So, where did you end up getting hired?”

The company name Shiori-san mentioned was unfamiliar to me, but Asamura-kun seemed to recognize it right away.

“You know the company, Asamura-kun?”

“Ayase-san, you don’t really read books on your phone, do you? It’s one of the bigger companies in the e-book platform space, I think.”

E-book… platform? Oh, I get the English part. “Platform” means a foundation or base, right?

“So, is that company a publisher or something?”

When I asked, both Asamura-kun and Shiori-san shook their heads. Apparently not. Shiori-san even gave a wry smile.

Asamura-kun explained.

“E-books and manga are really popular now. It’s not just traditional publishers anymore—other industries are getting into it, too. To be precise, it’s a company that provides apps for reading e-books and distributes digital editions.”

“Exactly. Oh, and you know what? The company I joined actually got big by distributing adult content.”

Adult?

“Uh, what?”

“Here’s the thing, Saki-chan. The bigger a company gets, the closer it becomes to a public service. That means they start caring about appearances and what people think.”

“I won’t deny that aspect, but Yomiuri-senpai, you’re oversimplifying it.”

“But it’s true! They keep the old business going under a separate brand while the main company wants to be seen as a clean, respectable service provider. I don’t buy into the idea that primal human desires are something dirty, though.”

“Is your brain grand, or is it just crude…?”

“It’s pointlessly grand and crude!”

She just admitted it’s pointless! Asamura-kun muttered a quip under his breath. Listening to their banter reminds me of Maaya and Maru-kun’s exchanges, and I feel a pang of envy at their quick-witted back-and-forth.

“So it’s not a bookstore or a publisher, but something similar. Is that how I should think of it?”

“You could say that, or maybe not quite. I’ve decided to make reading my hobby! I think paper books have their limits. The publishing industry’s in a tough spot—scary stuff. Money’s in the spicy stuff!”

“I think it’s possible that, like with video streaming and movies, there’ll come a time when paper books and digital ones sell side by side again.”

“Maybe. But books take up so much space. If your to-be-read pile collapses, you might get buried and reincarnated in another world or something.”

Is she serious? Joking? Or seriously joking? I couldn’t tell. Stacking books until they collapse? Is that even possible?

“Oh, but I wasn’t assigned to the spicy department, just so you know!”

“My condolences.”

“My kōhai’s so cold…”

“You seemed like you wanted to be teased.”

“Sniff, sniff. Saki-chan, your boyfriend’s bullying me! You need to train your man better.”

“Ethics are something personal, so I can’t really comment on someone else’s sense of morality.”

It’s not like she’s doing anything illegal.

“Saki-chan, you just started university, and you’re already talking like Kudō-sensei.”

“Guh!”

N-no way, I’m not…

Or am I being influenced that much already?

“Heh. I’m so glad my kōhai’s safely following in my footsteps. Keep walking the path I’ve paved for you!”

I must’ve made a really sour face because Shiori-san turned to Asamura-kun for agreement, cozying up to him. I guess if I push her away, she goes to him. Makes sense. This is tricky.

“Alright, alright. As your kōhai, I’ll take it seriously, so please act a bit more like a proper senpai, Shiori-san.”

“I am, I am! Okay, in four years, you should definitely join our company. I want my kōhai to stay my kōhai. I’ll even put in a good word with HR!”

Put in a good word with HR? Shiori-san, you just started working there!

But knowing her, she might already be chummy with the HR folks. That’s the scary part.

“I’ll think about it.”

When I said that, Asamura-kun gave a wry smile for some reason.