Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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Akira came to the library, though not to look for detective books—he'd come specifically to find Shiina Hiyori from Class C.
That's why he'd declined Ichinose's invitation from Class B and conveniently walked over to the detective fiction section.
'So she's here.'
He'd expected to spend some effort searching, but to his surprise, Shiina was standing on the other side of the bookshelf, holding the classic "Murder on the Orient Express."
"Shimizu-kun... we meet again." Shiina closed the book and spoke first.
"Good afternoon, Shiina-san." Akira's tone showed no abnormality. "I didn't expect to run into you in the library, what a coincidence. By the way, I remember you said last time you had something to do and wouldn't be coming to the library—are you done with it?"
This was a lie.
He'd already confirmed through daily intelligence that she would appear here in the afternoon. His words were merely a test of her investigative progress.
"Mm... mm! I guess so." Shiina quickly glanced at him, her voice soft. "I'm just here to read in the library..."
This was a lie.
She'd clearly come to find an assistant, but she unconsciously lied because she didn't want him to notice it.
Shiina's eyes suddenly lit up, like a detective who'd discovered a crucial clue.
Her gaze fell on the book Akira had taken from the shelf.
Staring at the title.
'Fictional Reasoning...?'
"Shimizu-kun, have you read this book?" Her voice suddenly rose a few decibels, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the book in her arms.
"I haven't read the light novel original," Akira casually flipped through the pages, the paper making a crisp sound, "but I've seen many chapters of the manga version."
Shiina suddenly leaned forward, her hair gently swaying with the movement.
"Really? Which arc have you read up to?"
"The Snow Woman arc. The part where Miss Kotoko solves the case at the hot spring inn."
This was true.
In his previous life, he was indeed very fond of "Fictional Reasoning"—and by the way, he'd watched both the manga original and the adapted anime completely.
"This chapter is absolutely brilliant!" She unconsciously took half a step forward, gesturing with her fingers in the air. "Especially the ambiguous feeling between the male protagonist and the Snow Woman in the chapter..."
'Finally, I've met someone I can discuss this with...'
Her voice suddenly stopped, as if she realized she was too excited, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. But her thirst for knowledge quickly overcame her shyness. "Then... Shimizu-kun, which chapter do you like the most?"
Akira thoughtfully stroked the spine of the book. "The Steel Lady Nanase arc, I suppose. When the truth can have countless interpretations, what's called 'reasoning' is essentially about who's better at making things up."
Shiina's eyes widened slightly. "...Making things up?"
She suddenly chuckled, the corners of her eyes curving into the shape of a crescent moon. "Now that you mention it, the entire 'Fictional Reasoning' does indeed talk nonsense with a straight face. But—"
Her fingertips lightly tapped her chin, revealing a focused, detective-like expression.
"This setting of 'fighting fiction with fiction' is quite a unique innovation in the history of mystery, like putting postmodern deconstructionism into the framework of a classic mystery..."
Her voice abruptly stopped. She suddenly realized she was rambling again.
Akira naturally continued the conversation. "Indeed, compared to traditional mysteries that seek a single solution, this approach is more like..." He deliberately paused. "A multiple metaphor of real society? Like netizens today, they often only care about the 'truth' they want to know."
"Mm-hmm." Shiina unconsciously nodded, a flicker of agreement in her eyes.
Sure enough, she hadn't misjudged him. Shimizu-kun also liked mystery works. And their communication was exceptionally smooth—this feeling of "the other person understanding everything she said, with every word resonating" inexplicably brought warmth to her heart.
She couldn't help but secretly glance at him again. Shimizu-kun's appearance was outstanding. At least in Class C, she'd never seen such a refreshing and handsome type. Besides, he'd just naturally spoken with Ichinose from Class B...
'Wait... if that's the case, isn't he the best candidate for a partner I'm looking for?'
Shiina's mouth slightly opened, as if she'd suddenly realized something, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
He met all the conditions she'd listed.
Today was simply her lucky day.
Just as she was about to state her true purpose, a hint of doubt suddenly crossed her mind.
It's just... why such a coincidence? She'd only decided to come to the library on a whim today, and he just happened to appear?
The slight upward curve of his lips when he talked about mysteries, his effortless demeanor when conversing with the Class B student, and the perfectly matching frequency of his thoughts with hers at this moment—everything was too ideal.
She suddenly remembered the line from "Malice": "Too perfect a coincidence is often proof of careful design."
"Um... Shimizu-kun." Her voice was so soft it almost melted into the air. "Did you... specifically come to the library to borrow a mystery novel today?"
"...Not exactly specifically, just while I was at it." Akira shook his head. "I've been coming to the library for half a month now—I was tutoring with a classmate here before, and today I wanted to relax, so I came to find a mystery book to read."
"The midterm exam is coming up in about a month, isn't it?" He rubbed the back of his neck with a wry smile. This unintentional small gesture suddenly made him seem more real. "I don't want to be expelled for failing just one subject, Japanese Language."
He pulled out a neatly folded memo from his pocket.
Shiina's gaze inadvertently swept over the paper, seeing dense notes on Japanese Language basics, common exam mistakes, and even a detailed daily study plan.
'So it's true...'
'His main purpose for coming to the library is to catch up on his studies, and reading mystery novels is just a pastime.'
This discovery dawned on Shiina.
Indeed, coming to the library for tutoring for half a month, and then browsing his favorite mystery novels after completing his study tasks—such an arrangement was perfectly reasonable.
She remembered that when they first met, Shimizu-kun had mentioned occasionally reading light novel mysteries, and "Fictional Reasoning" happened to fit that genre.
Not to mention, Ichinose-kun just confirmed that he'd been appearing frequently in the library recently.
"Then I won't disturb Shiina-san anymore. I'm heading back to the dorm." Akira noticed the girl lost in thought, put the memo back in his pocket, picked up "Fictional Reasoning," and nodded slightly, preparing to leave.
The moment he turned, he silently counted down in his mind.
'5... 4...'
"Shimizu-kun, please wait a moment!" As expected, the girl's slightly hurried call came from behind him. "Actually... there's something I'd like to ask of you!"
'Two seconds faster than expected.'
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Akira's lips.