'I can't hear people...'
While I was lost in my thoughts in the school hallway, something pulled me back… A beautiful girl with blonde hair and pink highlights, running while holding a bunch of papers, bumped into me. She looked desperate, having dropped all the papers and collided with me.
— I'm sorry, I'm sorry!! I'm so sorry... I should've been looking ahead before running.
I wondered why she was so desperate over something so simple and silly, but I quickly started helping her pick up the papers.
— Don't worry, it's okay. You don't need to apologize, alright?
After we finished picking up the papers, she stood in front of me and asked me to lower my head a little. That's when I noticed she was actually kind of short. But then, she pulled me out of my thoughts again and gently patted my head as she thanked me.
I just nodded, saying it was no problem, still confused by what had just happened. Right after that, she hurried off again, running toward her goal.
— Be careful now, watch where you're going.
— Thanks, you take care too!!
I watched as she started to walk, then run again, but before she could go too far, my body moved on its own to catch up with her and ask her name.
— Hey!! What's your name!?
— Himari!!
— Himari Yo!
She shouted back at me while looking over her shoulder as she ran. In that short moment, I saw her reach out her hand toward me. Once again, my body moved on instinct, grabbing that small, soft, sweet hand.
'What a nice feeling…'
I barely had time to think about how good it felt to touch another human being. The only thing I knew at that moment was that I was looking at a beautiful girl as we ran down the hallway to somewhere unknown—I didn't know where or why—I just accepted it and started running in sync with her.
After a while, we stopped at a room at the very end of the school building. There, I saw the reading club.
'She was heading to the reading room? But what were those papers for?'
I wondered, curious why she was carrying so many documents, until I decided to ask her directly.
— Why were you carrying all those papers? — I asked, pointing to the ones in her arms.
— These? Oh, it's because I just reopened the club, so I had to get the documents and permission from the teachers' office.
— I see. Thanks for explaining. I guess I'll be going now.
As I turned to leave the room, I felt someone tugging at my shirt. It was her. She looked like she wanted to say something.
'What is this? Turning into some anime confession scene?'
I looked at her and asked if she had something to say.
— Do you need something? Do you want to tell me something?
— Well... like I said, I just reopened the club and... there's no one else in it yet.
Would you like to join my reading club?
— No freakin' wa—
And there I was, signing the form and contract to join the club. I used to like reading because of my mom, but after I turned 14, I completely stopped...
I could hear her whispering something softly, but I couldn't quite catch what it was.
Himari:
'—His name is Hinno Katsuragi... such a pretty name.'
After signing the papers, I got ready to leave the literature room. However, before I could close the door, she ran up to me with a smile.
— Your name is beautiful, Katsuragi!
— Ah, thanks. See you tomorrow, I guess.
— See you!!
Surprised, I could barely react. I just thanked her, said goodbye, closed the door and ran back home.