Chapter 8 Talking Happily with Akane-chan during Lunch

Talking Happily with Akane-chan during Lunch

A few hours later, around lunchtime.

As promised, Akane-chan and I ate lunch together on time.

I had often gone to the university cafeteria with Akane-chan between club activities, so I was not nervous about eating alone with her.

“Ah, that’s right. Speaking of which, how are Kusumi and Narumi these days? Are they doing anything weird at the club?”

I was suddenly a little curious about those two, so I asked Akane-chan.

I don’t really get it, but they’re suddenly making me out to be a criminal, and if they start doing whatever they want in the club, I’ll definitely warn them.

“Eh? Ah, yes… Well, how should I put it? They talk about insensitive things almost every day in the club room.”

“Eh, really? What exactly do they talk about?”

“Let’s see, well, the latest story is that Kusumi-senpai went on a blind date with some new female employees of a big company, and he took home a beautiful female office worker he met there that day! He was so happy that he did it with her until morning….”

“Oh no, that’s such a horrible story for a girl to hear… But did they really have such an obscene conversation in the club room? I don’t think those guys would have such an obscene conversation if there were other girls in the club room….”

“Eh? Ah-ah, yes-yes, that’s… Actually, Kusumi-senpai’s voice leaked out of the club room. That’s why I happened to hear such an obscene conversation when I was about to enter the club room.”

“Oh, I see. You mean their voices were heard outside the club room, right? They certainly have loud voices.”

“Y-yes, that’s right. So I ended up leaving without going into the club room that day, but they had a lot of other obscene conversations besides what I just said.”

“Eh? I see….”

Akane said that with a sulky look on her face. From the looks of her, maybe, but I’m sure those guys probably made some obscene remarks to Akane-chan as well.

“Hmm, if that’s the case, I’ll warn them, if you don’t mind… There are a lot of girls in the club, so that kind of talk shouldn’t take place in the club room.”

“Eh, no, it’s okay! I don’t really like insensitive things like that, and besides, if they find out that I was listening to them, I’m afraid they’ll lose their cool and start making sexually harassing remarks to me….”

“Oh, I see. It’s definitely true that they act like elementary school boys, so it seems possible… Yeah, I get it. Well, if it gets worse, you can always tell me. I’ll give them a good warning!”

“Yes! Thank you, Senpai! Fufufu, after all, Senpai is the most reliable and kindest senior in the world.”

“Haha, is that so? Well, I’m glad to hear you say that.”

Akane-chan smiled and thanked me. It’s really nice to be thanked by someone.

(…but, wait. Come to think of it….)

I suddenly remembered.

During spring break, I received a printed notice from the club’s university council that soundproofing work had been done on the club’s building.

So the soundproofing of our club rooms should’ve been greatly improved since that spring. So no matter how loud they talk, I don’t think their voices will be heard outside the club room….

“Hmm? Is something wrong? Senpai?”

“…Eh? No, it’s nothing.”

While I was thinking that, Akane-chan looked at me again with a sulky expression. And judging from her face, it didn’t look like Akane-chan was lying.

(So, if I think about it normally, Kusumi and Narumi were probably just making loud noises that exceeded the soundproofing of the room.)

I came to that conclusion. Well, knowing those guys, they probably got excited and raised their voices.

“Yes, I understand. At least I understand the current situation of the club. Thank you, Akane-chan.”

“Yes, it’s all right! Oh, well, let’s talk about something more fun from now on!”

“Haha, yeah, that’s right. Ah, yes… Have you found any interesting novels lately?”

So I changed the subject and asked Akane-chan that.

Akane-chan looks like a total gal with lots of piercings and nails, but surprisingly, her hobby is reading books in the library.

So sometimes I would ask Akane-chan to recommend novels or books to me. Every book she recommended to me was always interesting, so I enjoyed listening to Akane-chan talk about books.

“Ah, yes! Of course, there are! Actually, I’m reading a mystery novel right now that’s incredibly interesting, so I’ll lend it to Senpai when I’m done.”

“Oh, a mystery novel. I haven’t read many books in that genre, so I’m a little curious. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yes! I understand! Oh, if you have any book recommendations too, I’d love to borrow them!”

“Oh, yes, I understand. Then I’ll lend it to you when I finish the book I’m reading now.”

“Really? I’m so happy! Thank you, Senpai!”

Well, Akane-chan introduced me to a lot of books, and reading gradually became a hobby for me as well.

So sometimes, when I bought an interesting book, I would lend it to Akane-chan.

(But still, I’m really happy that I got another hobby thanks to meeting Akane-chan.)

And now that I think about it, I’m starting to feel that Akane-chan and I became such good friends because we shared that kind of hobby.

But for some reason, whenever I lend Akane-chan the books I bought, she always returns them in new condition… I wonder what the principle behind that is.

Oh, maybe every time Akane-chan returns it to me, she wipes the surface of the book with a towel or something until it’s shiny? Haha, if that’s the case, she’s a really conscientious girl.