April 4th (Monday) Saki Ayase

● April 4th (Monday)

Aya

His trivial words have such a profound impact on me.

The suit I was bought for the entrance ceremony feels overly formal for my taste, lacking in combat power, but still, Asamura-kun complimented me during breakfast, saying, “It looks good on you.”

I’m delighted. And I’m astonished at how easily my heart soars from such a simple remark. Thanks to that, it was hard to keep my cheeks from relaxing on the train heading to the ceremony.

Under the cherry blossoms that have just begun to fall, I mingle with a group of girls, probably first-year students, as we enter the auditorium on campus.

Once seated, I felt a sense of discomfort. After a moment of thought, I realized the reason: there were only girls around me. Of course, that makes sense; it’s an all-girls university. I hadn’t really been conscious of the presence of boys before, but now I realize that after spending twelve years in a co-ed environment, I had come to see it as normal. In front, behind, to the right and left, it was all girls.

After a while, I noticed another discomfort.

Within the generally orderly group, there were a few girls whispering to each other, seemingly enjoying their conversation. They were not many, but it’s a common sight at such a dull ceremony. At first, I thought that.

Wait a minute. I reconsider. We are first-year students, and this is a university. The conclusion drawn from that is that the girls chatting so familiarly must have just met moments ago.

Huh? Wait. Is that even possible? How did they manage to communicate when university students come from such diverse backgrounds and ages? Watching Maaya and Maru-kun during our graduation trip, I had just been thinking that I wanted to learn a bit more about proactive communication, and now it seems I’m already behind. …The road ahead looks tough. Perhaps it’s not that Maaya and Maru-kun are exceptionally good at communication, but rather that I’m simply not good at it. Am I already struggling on a difficult path? Hmm.

The entrance ceremony for the faculty itself lasted a mere thirty minutes, from 10:30 to 11:00, leaving me with the impression that it was quite simple compared to the entrance ceremony at Suisei High School.

Classes start in three days, so I have a little time to spare. After an explanation of the initial procedures following enrollment, we were dismissed.

Once the ceremony was over, I had a part-time job in the evening. I headed back to Shibuya. Since my shift starts in the evening, I had time to return home. Should I go home first or take a quick look at some stores in Shibuya before heading to work? I had brought my part-time job uniform just in case, so returning home wasn’t strictly necessary.

I had started the bookstore job with the ulterior motive of spending more time with Asamura-kun, but now that I’m planning to quit at the end of this month, I feel a bit disappointed… It has been a valuable experience, after all.

Still, I have already made my choice.

I’m scheduled for an internship at Ruka-san’s design company starting in May. I have no idea how long or how often I’ll be able to work, but with each passing day, I’m filled with excitement about the new challenges ahead.

In the end, I decided to stroll around in front of Shibuya Station.

I walked while browsing the small shops on Center Street and had lunch at a fast-food place that caught my eye. Before I knew it, it was time for my shift, and I entered the store.

It had been five months since my last shift at the bookstore, and I had forgotten some of what I had learned, but I managed to get through it without any major troubles, thanks in part to Asamura-kun. Oh, and later in the evening, Shiori-san, who I hadn’t seen in a while, came by to say hello. The manager had told her she could take a break, so she was resting in the office. The manager probably still harbors hopes that Shiori-san will become a full-time employee.

As it happened, Asamura-kun and I were on break at the same time, so we chatted a bit in the office.

Asamura-kun seemed interested in where Shiori-san had gotten a job and asked, “So, where did you end up working?”

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

“Is it a company you know?”

“Ayase-san doesn’t read books on her smartphone much, so… It’s probably a major player as an e-book platform company.”

E-books… platform? Ah, I understand the English meaning. “Platform” means a foundation or basis.

“So, does that mean the company is a publisher?”

When I asked, both Asamura-kun and Shiori-san shook their heads. Apparently, it’s not. Shiori-san seemed to be smiling wryly.

Asamura-kun explained.

“Right now, e-books and manga are trending. Besides traditional publishers, many companies from other industries are entering the market. To be precise, it’s a company that provides apps for reading e-books and offers electronic versions.”

“Exactly. You see, the company I joined originally grew big through adult content distribution.”

Adult?

“Uh, what?”

“Companies, you know, as they grow larger, tend to get closer to public enterprises. In other words, they start to care about their public image and how they are perceived by the masses.”

“I won’t deny that aspect, but I think Senpai is being a bit too blunt about it.”

“Because it’s the truth! They continue their old work under a different brand while wanting to be recognized as a clean service company by the public. I can’t accept the idea that this instinctual desire passed down since ancient times is something to be viewed as impure.”

“Is your mind grand or just vulgar…?”

“It’s unnecessarily grand and vulgar.”

She just called it unnecessary. As I listened to this exchange, I couldn’t help but recall the interactions between Maru-kun and Maaya, and I felt a bit like I was being plucked at the strings of my heart. I envied their quick-witted banter.

“So, it’s not a bookstore or a publisher, but a similar kind of company. Am I correct in that understanding?”

“That could be said, but it could also be said otherwise. I’ve made reading a hobby! I feel the limitations of physical books. The publishing recession is scary! I’ll make money through adult content!”

“I think it wouldn’t be surprising if we returned to an era where physical books are sold alongside digital ones, just like the relationship between video streaming and movies.”

“Who knows? Books take up physical space. If a pile of unread books falls over, I might get buried and reincarnate in another world.”

Is she serious or joking…? Or is she genuinely joking? I couldn’t tell. Can you really stack books high enough to fall over? I wonder if that’s even possible.

“Well, I’m not assigned to the adult department, though!”

“My condolences.”

“You’re so cold, Kouhai-kun…”

“Because you seemed to want it.”

“Sniff, sniff. Saki-chan, Kouhai-kun is bullying me. Please train your husband a bit more.”

“Ethics are something that exist within one’s heart, so I can’t impose my ethics on others.”

It’s not like I’m doing anything illegal.

“Saki-chan, you just enrolled, and you’re already talking like Professor Kudo.”

“Ugh.”

N-no, that’s not true…

Or maybe I’ve been influenced more than I thought.

“Ah… I’m glad to see that my Kouhai-chan seems likely to carry on the torch. Please continue down the path I’ve paved.”

I must have made a very displeased face.

Shiori-san then turned to Asamura-kun, seeking his agreement. So, if I shake her off, she’ll go to him, huh? That makes sense. It’s complicated.

“Alright, alright. Since I’ve properly acknowledged you as a Kouhai, Shiori-san, please act a bit more like a Senpai.”

“I am, I am. Well then, I hope you’ll come to our company in four years. I want you to remain as my Kouhai. I’ll put in a good word with HR!”

Putting in a good word with HR? Shiori-san just joined, didn’t she?

Well, it’s scary to think that someone like her might already be getting friendly with the HR department.

“I’ll think about it.”

When I responded, for some reason, Asamura-kun was smiling wryly.