Winter break is the only thing left after the test is over.

    Today, I was borrowing a book at Saito’s house, when something caught my attention and I asked her about it.

    [Thanks for the book… By the way, do you have any plans for winter break?]

    [No, not really. I don’t have anything planned in particular and I’m just going to read books at home]

    I had a feeling it’ll be like that, and I was right.

    Being just as expected, I wryly smiled at the way she spends her time.

    [I don’t have many friends to play with, and I refuse invitations from boys, so I can’t help it]

    She is very cold and wary, so it was easy to imagine that the boys who had invited her with faint hope were cut down quickly.

    I don’t know how I can ask her out. I don’t think I’ll be able to recover if I were to be cut down like that.

    […Do they really want to spend time with me?]

    [Well, I guess they’re trying to close the distance between you and them]

    [I’m not interested in dating…]

    I felt bad for the people who tried asking her out. If they heard that, they’d be in tears.

    [I had a feeling that might be the case, but you don’t have any interest at all?]

    [No, I don’t. I can’t imagine dating with people who have ulterior motives]

    There are only a few people who can continuely ask her out with her cold attitude.

    If they really liked her, they would have second thoughts about her if they heard her response.

    As a result of being categorized, maybe the ones who talk to her are considered as bad guys in her eyes.

    […Well, there are people who recognize you properly and invite you out, so don’t be too dismissive. You know who doesn’t have ulterior motives, right?]

    [Yeah, I know what you mean. You’re different, right? You didn’t seem to be interested in me from the start]

    [Well…]

    I’ve had an urge to pat her head a few times, but it’s more of an urge to pet a small and cute animal. I have no desire to do anything else to her.

    If I had any ulterior motives, she would’ve noticed right away, and ignored me.

    She marked me as a safe person, so she stayed with me. If I show any form of ill intent, she’ll be gone in no time.

    I wasn’t particularly interested in having a girlfriend, and it’s a matter of life and death if I wasn’t allowed to borrow more books. So I don’t want to change our current relationship.

    [That’s why I trust you]

    [Well, thanks]

    I’m not unhappy with her perception that I am a harmless man, but I’m not sure how I should feel as a man.

    […So, I’ve been wondering, do you have any plans?]

    [No, not at all. I’ll just stay at home like you]

    [Then why did you ask?]

    [No, I was wondering how we’re going to be borrowing and lending books. Since we aren’t going to meet up at school, is there a temporary solution for the time being?]

    I’ve always been an indoor person and don’t bother to go out if I don’t have to.

    I’d love to read the series, but it’s too much trouble going out to get it.

    [I see, that’s right…]

    At my question, she blinked her eyes and I think she lowered her eyebrows just slightly.

    […. That’s fine, but… would you like to spend some time with me at my place?]

    [Haa?]

    She was thinking of something, and said something outrageous.

    I look at her, but she looks indifferent and unconcerned.

    [I said, would you like to spend some time with me at my place]

    [No, I heard what you said but…]

    As expected, my ears didn’t hear wrong, I’m still a healthy high school student. Rather, I want to know how she got that crazy idea.

    [You can read all the books at my house, and you don’t have to bring them back]

    Well, that’s true.

    If it’s her house, there’s a lot of books, and if I’m there, I can read a lot of them. It would be worth going out, but…

    [No, but, you know…]

    Yes, she’s a girl. If we had been the same gender, I would accept no hesitation, but this is the opposite gender.

    I know she suggested this because she trusts me.

    I’m not exactly conscious of it, and I’m not planning on doing anything weird, but the idea of a boy and a girl spending time in the same room is kind of awkward.

    [Are you sure? You can read all you want…]

    She said something attractive, as if she’s teasing me about it.

    If she says that to me, it’ll make it harder to decide.

    […I’d like to talk some more about my impressions]

    We had exchanged our impressions of books in the past, but since we were outside, we couldn’t talk for very long. I guess we’re both book lovers and wanted to talk more about them.

    When she lowered her eyebrows and expressed her desire in a small voice, there was no way I could refuse. I had a lot on my mind, but when she said that, I had no choice but to nod.

    [… Okay. I’ll do it]

    [Yes, I understand]

    Her mouth relaxed at my reply, and her eyes lit up.

    She smiled and turned away casually, and it was kind of hard to look at her directly.