Manuscript and Report
“Why, Ichijo-san, this is…”
Unintentionally, I clutched the envelope containing the manuscript tightly, as if holding something precious.
“I just tried my best,” she replied nonchalantly.
“You said you tried your best… but I never told you I was in the Literature Club, did I?”
How did she know?
“When I visited your house before, I saw a lot of novels in the break room and some Literature Club magazines, too.”
“But that doesn’t mean I was a member. I could just be a fan of novels or someone who happened to read a club magazine.”
The hint seemed too weak to draw such a conclusion.
“Fufu, of course. If this were a detective novel, that little clue might be enough. But in the real world, there’s more to it.”
She continued with a playful smile,
“Actually, there’s a girl named Hayashi in my class who’s a member of the Literature Club. It was easy to find out by asking her.”
Hayashi-san. I barely spoke to her when I was in the club. She’s a quiet girl with glasses and pigtails—stereotypically literary.
“Oh, I see. Um… do you think Hayashi-san hates me too?”
The rumors about me had likely spread to the club, and the manager had made sure I was banned. Did Hayashi-san share the same disdain?
“Yes. She heard the rumors from her Senpais at the club.”
“I figured as much.”
“But she had doubts. She said you once taught her how to use MsWord before summer vacation. She couldn’t reconcile that kind, patient Senpai with the rumors she’d heard.”
“…”
I vaguely remembered helping her with basic computer skills. She’d struggled with the software, so I’d walked her through it, step by step.
“When I talked to her, she admitted that she didn’t believe those rumors. Senpai, were you harassed by the club members too?”
“…Yeah.”
“Apparently, the club manager decided to dispose of your personal belongings left in the room. So, I asked Hayashi-san to save whatever she could on your behalf…”
“…”
Really, this girl…
“But Hayashi-san is so timid that she couldn’t stand up to her Senpais. She just shook her head tearfully. So, all I could do was gather… this.”
“You snuck into the clubroom?”
“Yes. After having tea with you at the café, I returned to the school before the gates closed.”
She’s so reckless.
“How did you even get into the clubroom? It should’ve been locked.”
“Well… I may have told a little lie to borrow the key from Hayashi-san… Fufu, I mean she is helping me.”
She smiled mischievously, as if proud of her resourcefulness. I could only sigh.
“Why would you go to so much trouble for me?”
“Because I don’t want… I don’t want the hard work of someone I care about to be destroyed by malice.”
Her voice wavered slightly, and she looked at me with a hint of guilt.
“Thank you… for saving this… bad piece of work.”
Memories of that day came rushing back. The club manager, someone I once trusted, had looked at this manuscript with nothing but disdain.
“A bad piece of work? What are you talking about?”
Her voice rose slightly, catching me off guard.
“Have you even read it?”
She shifted uncomfortably, lowering her head as if caught in a small act of mischief.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. I read it all last night. I was so engrossed I barely slept.”
Now that she mentioned it, I noticed the faint dark circles under her eyes.
“How was it?”
I asked, half-expecting her to criticize it. My insecurities flared, though I tried to mask them with a nonchalant tone.
“It was amazing. Truly captivating. Senpai, you have talent!”
Her praise felt like a balm to my wounded spirit. As I watched her laugh softly, I felt like I’d regained something I’d long lost.
“Thank you. Hearing you say that gives me a little more confidence.”
We continued walking together, each step feeling lighter, as if the weight of the past was slowly lifting.
A certain place in Tokyo…
“Hello, is this the police? I’d like to report something. There seems to be a couple, possibly high school students, staying at a hotel. Isn’t that illegal? The location is…”