So You Were Pretending Not to Notice Us

The first-floor hallway of the west school building was always unusually quiet at this time after school.

The Literature Club’s activity room sat at the very end of this hallway, the wooden sign labeled “Literature Club” looking slightly worn.

Imaizumi Keita and Yanaimi Anna arrived one after the other.

He raised his hand and knocked lightly on the door three times with his knuckles.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was no response from inside.

Imaizumi placed his hand on the doorknob and gently twisted.

The knob turned fully, but the door didn’t budge—clearly locked from the inside.

“Looks like we’re the first ones here.”

He released the knob and leaned casually against the wall.

Anna stood beside him with her hands clasped behind her back. “So is the Literature Club always this… casual with its meetings?”

“I’m not sure,” Imaizumi replied, looking toward the window at the end of the hallway. “I haven’t really been here before.”

The two stopped talking and simply waited.

Only the distant cicada cries and the faint sound of Anna tapping her shoe against the floor broke the silence.

After about two minutes, just as Anna got bored enough to examine the old cracks on the wall, a timid voice sounded from behind them.

“U-um… e-excuse me…”

They turned around simultaneously.

Komari Chika stood behind them, deer-in-headlights look on her face from being too close.

Her gaze lingered nervously on Imaizumi for a second—
but when she noticed Anna standing beside him, her entire body stiffened.

Komari wanted to ask who Anna was, but ultimately lacked the courage.

She quickly lowered her head, squeezed past them, took a key from her pocket, and unlocked the door.

Throughout the entire process, she didn’t look up once.

As soon as the door opened, she slipped inside, heading straight for an inconspicuous chair in the corner.

She sat down, pulled a book from the shelf, opened it, and used the pages to hide her face—clearly not intending to interact.

Anna watched Komari’s movements and immediately showed the knowing expression of a bright, extroverted type observing a shy introvert.

So this is the kind of girl who’s in the Literature Club…

“Let’s go.”

Imaizumi’s voice pulled Anna back to reality, and they walked inside.

The room wasn’t large, filled with the faint scent of old paper.

Three of the walls were lined with tall bookshelves stuffed full of books of all kinds.

A single window faced the courtyard, the setting sun casting a bright patch of light across the floor.

Anna didn’t bother the girl hiding behind her book. Instead, she walked along the shelves with interest.

“Wow, there are so many books here… even light novels.”

Her fingers traced along the spines as she looked for titles she recognized.

Imaizumi scanned the shelves briefly, but his gaze quickly returned to the corner.

Komari Chika sat there pretending to be invisible, holding her book like a shield.

Curious, he walked straight over, pulled out the chair beside her, and sat down.

“…!”

The sound wasn’t loud, but to someone already hyper-aware of him, it was enough to startle her.

“W-what are… you doing?!”

“Komari-san.”

Imaizumi listened calmly to her frightened voice, eyes fixed on the paperback blocking her face.

“So you really were pretending not to notice us.”

Komari’s hands froze around the book.

“Don’t you think,” Imaizumi continued levelly, “that treating me like air is a little rude? You’re the one who called me here, aren’t you?”

Silence lingered behind the book before soft rustling signaled movement.

Komari lowered the book slightly, revealing a pair of darting, flustered eyes.

“I… I was just… j-just relaying a message… b-because the president asked me to…”

Her voice got weaker and weaker, like it might vanish completely.

“A-and… Imaizumi-kun… you… you didn’t say you’d bring… s-someone else…”

She finished defending herself and then immediately voiced her disapproval at him bringing someone unannounced.

“She’s my friend, Yanaimi Anna.”

Imaizumi pointed at Anna, who was watching with curiosity. “She came to look at the Literature Club. Maybe she’ll join.”

Komari froze, clearly overwhelmed. She had no idea how to handle the situation and quickly hid behind her book again.

“Hello, Komari-san.”

Anna, confident and cheerful, walked over with a friendly smile.

“I’m Yanaimi Anna from Class 1-C. I’ve never joined a club before, so I’m curious. That’s why I asked Imaizumi-kun to bring me.”

She was about to continue talking to ease the atmosphere—

When another figure appeared at the doorway.

“Oh my, you all already look so close~”

A girl wearing glasses and twin braids stepped inside with a gentle smile.

Immediately, Komari jumped out from behind her book and hid behind the braided girl, staring anxiously at Imaizumi.

“We’re not close!” Komari protested instantly.

“Oh? Did I misunderstand?”
The braided girl patted Komari’s head, then smiled at Imaizumi—
but when her eyes fell on Anna, surprise flickered through them.

“Hello, I’m Tsukinoki Koto, a third-year and the vice president of the Literature Club. You must be Imaizumi. Long time no see.”

After Imaizumi nodded, Tsukinoki turned to Anna with a friendly smile.

“And this is…?”

“Hello, senpai!”

Anna beamed brightly and introduced herself.

“I’m Yanaimi Anna from Class 1-C. I’m a little interested in the Literature Club, so I asked Imaizumi-kun to let me come take a look!”

“Interested? Wonderful!”

The moment she heard the word “interested,” Tsukinoki’s eyes sparkled as she grabbed Anna’s hand enthusiastically.

“Our Literature Club loves new members!”

“Especially cute girls like Yanaimi-chan. If you join, our president will be thrilled!”

“E-eh?! Really?!”

Seeing Tsukinoki’s unusual excitement, Anna suddenly felt uneasy about joining.

Does the Literature Club… not get much attention normally?

Is a new member really enough to make the vice president this excited…?

This… doesn’t feel like a good omen…