About Touma-kun, Who Wants to Spend His Time Quietly, Is Liked by the School’s Madonna - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Touma-kun Collapsing Daily Life

Translated by AmaLynne

 

I pedaled my bicycle with great enthusiasm and arrived at the bookstore in front of the station.

 

「The time is…Oh, a minute ago. Yeah, it’s a good, lean minute.」

 

I immediately hear the sound of the shutters.

 

But don’t panic.

 

First of all, I must greet the owner of the bookstore.

 

Thanks to her, I can buy without wasting my time.

 

There are a lot of bookstores out there, but many of them have a poor selection of novels or open at midnight or so.

 

But Yakura Bookstore is the only bookstore that opens at 10:00 a.m. and has a good selection of light novels.

 

「Good morning, Yakura-san. Thank you for your hard work this morning.」

 

「Oh? Touma-kun? Good morning…Ah, it’s that time of the year. Sorry, I’ll be back in a minute.」

 

The owner’s name is Yayoi Yakura.

She is 25 years old and good-looking.

Her nickname is Yayoi, a married woman.

Although she is not married, she is called so because of her overflowing sex appeal and receptiveness.

 

「No, it’s okay to take your time. I apologize for arriving before the store opened.」

 

「Fufufu―, you’re as polite as ever. Thank you, I will do so.」

 

I guess because her mother’s side is from Kyoto, she sometimes speaks in dialect.

 

That’s what makes her so popular.

 

「Yes, that’s all right. Welcome, Touma-kun, here you go―」

 

「Yes, excuse me.」

 

I go in, pick up the desired light novels and a few new titles, and head for the checkout.

 

I buy these new titles so that I can make a small contribution to the novelty industry.

 

Besides, every once in a while I come across unexpected good work, so that’s good too.

 

Of course, there are sometimes things that…I can’t bear to look at, but that’s partly a matter of taste.

 

「Then, I’ll take this one, please.」

 

「Yes. Let’s see, four items for 3,028 yen.」

 

「Then, 3028 yen exactly.」

 

「Yes, thank you…Yes, indeed. Fufu, what are you up to today?」

 

「Well…I was thinking of going to the coffee shop Isle today.」

 

「My my. Well, I’m looking forward to seeing you again.」

 

「Yes, I’ll be back. Now, if you’ll excuse me.」

 

I left the store, got on my bicycle, and headed for my destination.

The place I am going to is the coffee shop Isle.

It is my favorite place for relaxation.

I usually spend time there when my favorite novel is released.

It’s a little far from the station, but it’s a nice place with few pedestrians and many classy customers.

 

「Okay, here we are. Now it’s time for the long-awaited moment!」

 

I enter the restaurant in a good mood.

 

There was an elderly man with a straight back and gray hair pulled back in an all-back hairstyle.

 

He was the master of the restaurant. I did not know his name.

 

「Welcome. Oh? Was it Touma-kun? So that means…?」

 

「Good morning, Master. Yes, my favorite is now on sale.」

 

「That’s good to hear. Well, please come in, the usual seat is available.」

 

「Oh, that’s good. It’s going to be an even better day. Now, if you’ll excuse me.」

 

I took my favorite seat at the far end of the room.

 

Here, I can read quietly.

 

But it’s a popular seat, so it depends on luck whether it’s available or not.

 

「Hmmm…I’ve had good luck today.」

 

It seems to have worked immediately.

 

It’s so good a day, it’s almost scary.

 

I took out a novel and started reading.

 

My favorite is what is called otherworldly fantasy.

 

I like these fictional stories.

 

Many things in this world are beyond our control.

 

But this fictional world rebounds from all kinds of unreasonable things.

 

I like such stories.

 

And then, just as I’ve reached the end of the story, the master arrives.

 

As usual, his timing is exquisite.

 

Just when I needed a sugar fix.

 

「Here you go, Touma-kun. Your usual café au lait.」

 

「Thank you, Master. Your timing is as good as ever.」

 

「Haha…I’ve known you for a long time, Touma-kun. When I first came here, I was surprised that a 13~14-year-old boy would come to a place like this by himself.」

 

It was just when my mother passed away and I was wandering around here and there for a while…

When I was at home, I felt like I could still feel my mother…

But she wasn’t there, so I didn’t want to be home…

That’s when I was having a rough, rough time…Black History…

 

「I’d like to thank you for your hospitality. For treating me as an equal to that cocky little shit…」

 

「No, no, no. That’s what older people do. Please make yourself at home.」

 

As usual, the timing of his departure was also superb. He’s so cool, isn’t he?

I want to be a grownup like that.

I thought about that as I sipped my café au lait.

I continued reading and read it through to the end.

 

「Phew…glad I bought this volume too. I like a protagonist who stands up to unreasonableness. It’s not easy to do that in real life…」

 

After that, I have lunch, order dessert and tea, and spend the rest of the day.

I don’t want to be that little guy who sticks around for one drink.

I think you have to pay a fair price for a great time.

…But I’m going to have to get an extra part-time job.

 

In the meantime, I’m going to try reading some new novels.

From the results, it was moderate.

At least, I was able to read it all the way through.

And then the sun goes down…Hmmm, I’ve had a satisfying holiday.

 

I looked at the clock, it was 18:00.

Okay, it’s time to go home.

My sister will be waiting for me with dinner.

 

「Master, please the bill. I’m sorry for always staying so long.」

「No, no, Touma-kun is always welcome. He is a polite boy, which is rare among young people these days. He even orders his food properly.」

「Well, my mother told me to be polite and greet people when they talk to me.」

 

So, to be a loner, it is important to be someone who is not spoken to in the first place.

This doesn’t mean I’m breaking my word…does it?

 

「You have a good mother. Well, we look forward to seeing you again.」

 

「Thank you very much. Yes, I will come again.」

 

I leave the store and start walking down a deserted street, pedaling my bicycle.

 

The reason is simple.

 

To soak up the afterglow of having read a great story and had a great time.

 

In a way, this way home may be the happiest time of my life…

 

「N-No, please don’t! I’ll call someone!?」

 

「Hey, hey, that’s what it means to be alone in a place like this, right?」

 

「Heh, yeah. That’s what this place is for. I mean, you’re so cute.」

 

…A very standard conversation.

But not helping is not an option…

Listen, Touma. You were told that if someone is in trouble, you should help them…

So I wish I hadn’t come across such a situation…

After all, life is not so sweet, is it?

 

I headed in the direction of the voice, feeling my peaceful holiday crumbling away.

 

Oh dear, it’s been a long time, so I hope I haven’t dulled yet…