Dong Hazuki Has Never Read No Longer Human

When normal people face an awkward situation, they always give off an air of discomfort—

Just like the girl standing in front of us right now.

[Ahem.

Welcome to the Classical Literature Club.]

The girl who had been rather carefree just moments ago cleared her throat a few times.

She covered up the embarrassment on her face.

After a moment, she stood in front of us.

Her posture was gentle and elegant.

A soft smile hung on her lips.

Her eyes shimmered faintly.

[My name is Kudou Yoshiko.

I am a second-year student, and I also serve as the president of the Classical Literature Club.]

Although she was trying her best to suppress it, that excited emotion still leaked out.

[Hazuki, why do I feel like this person is about to eat us.]

Tenzan Kaoru was a little scared.

To be honest, she wasn’t wrong.

The woman named Kudou Yoshiko really did want to “eat” us.

Of course, the meaning of “eat” here was that she desperately wanted us to join the Classical Literature Club.

After all, aside from herself, there was only one remaining member left—

Nishimura Noriyuki.

With the threat of losing the clubroom and having the club abolished due to insufficient members, she had been running around everywhere these past few days, anxious and overwhelmed.

[You’re here to join the Classical Literature Club, right?]

She was just one step away from saying “please hurry up and join.”

Of course, that was just my exaggerated description.

But honestly, it wasn’t far from the truth.

[Yes.

We’re all planning to join the Classical Literature Club.]

As soon as I answered like that, her face lit up with uncontrollable joy.

[Good, good, good.

Welcome to the Classical Literature Club.

Did you all bring your application forms?]

[Ah, here.]

Ichijou Rikuu took out a sheet of paper.

I also handed over my own application form, along with Tenzan Kaoru’s.

[Leave everything to me.

Kii-chan, make sure to take good care of them.]

Kudou Yoshiko dashed out of the clubroom like a gust of wind, leaving only those words behind.

[President, the tea.]

Nishimura Noriyuki lifted her head and could only call out weakly.

In an instant, that suffocating pressure completely vanished.

[If you still need it, please help yourselves.]

With that same proper smile, she pushed the teapot forward—

And then—

That pressure descended once more.

[Then I won’t hold back.]

Having already experienced this once, Ichijou Rikuu didn’t shrink back under the pressure this time.

And I was about the same.

[Sorry for the trouble, Noriyuki.]

I looked at her with a smile.

My tone was playful.

At the same time, I gently inhaled the wisps of white steam rising from the teacup.

[As expected, I’m already intoxicated by this tea fragrance.]

Nishimura Noriyuki, who had returned to her seat and resumed reading, slightly raised her head.

It seemed my words had caught her attention.

[I’m sorry for calling you that without permission.]

[—It’s fine.

Go ahead.]

She didn’t refuse.

Which meant she tacitly accepted the more intimate form of address.

And I could also sense a trace of happiness.

At times like this—

[Then, in exchange, call me Yue, Noriyuki.]

This was actually exploiting a flaw in her personality to quickly close the distance between us.

At this moment, my outward persona took effect.

Overflowing with irresistible enthusiasm.

After all, I was Dong Hazuki.

A lively and cheerful beautiful girl.

As long as no one noticed the darkness in my heart, most people would never refuse to talk to me.

[—]

This silence lasted a bit longer.

Nishimura Noriyuki’s gaze stayed fixed on her book.

For her, this was actually quite rude.

When someone spoke to her, she would always look at them properly before replying.

Such abnormal behavior didn’t fit her character at all.

But it told me something—

She was thinking seriously.

Perhaps she was going through a complicated inner struggle.

That alone was enough to satisfy me.

[Yes.

Yue.]

The silence couldn’t really be called long.

She lifted her head.

A faint light shimmered in her eyes.

Even restrained by her rigid upbringing, a trace of joy still seeped through.

As expected, it was easy to close the distance.

And she hadn’t noticed my disguise at all.

Gaining another person’s goodwill once again.

That indescribable feeling lightly stimulated my long-dead heart.

It wasn’t much pleasure.

But it was something.

Perhaps only by reaching the same level of friendship as Tenzan Kaoru—

By harboring malice like this—

Could I secure a sufficient source of enjoyment.

[I—I can call you Noriyuki too?!]

Tenzan Kaoru couldn’t just sit there watching.

She raised her hand.

Having barely endured the pressure under our influence, she also realized that Nishimura Noriyuki wasn’t as unapproachable as she appeared.

[Please, go ahead.]

Perhaps because I had taken the initiative earlier, Nishimura Noriyuki didn’t hesitate much this time and nodded.

After receiving her answer, Tenzan Kaoru let out a small cheer.

[Th-then, Noriyuki, just call me Kaoru.]

[Understood, Kaoru.]

She still had that way of keeping all her emotions contained.

But the happiness in her eyes had grown more pronounced.

[Ahem.

Nishimura-san, may I also call you Noriyuki?]

Finally, it was Ichijou Rikuu.

As a boy, he clearly couldn’t close the distance as recklessly as we did.

He looked a little awkward when asking the question.

Still, the fact that he took the initiative at all was enough to qualify him as a competent tool.

At the very least, I didn’t need to remind him.

[—Yes.

That’s fine.]

After thinking for a moment—

Perhaps because she had just agreed to us—

She didn’t refuse him either.

[Then, just call me Rikuu.]

Ichijou Rikuu showed a bright smile.

On his clean-cut face, there seemed to be a noticeable glow.

The aura of sunlight.

In short—

[Okay, Rikuu.]

She responded obediently.

And at the same time, there was a faintly comfortable presence.

Her affection had increased again.

I narrowed my eyes happily.

The smile on my face grew even brighter.

After our forms of address grew closer, silence fell once more.

Nishimura Noriyuki wasn’t the type to speak proactively.

And her aura made people afraid to disturb her casually.

Especially now, as she silently looked at the book in her hands.

In truth, she wasn’t really reading it seriously.

It was easy to tell.

She hadn’t turned a single page.

Tenzan Kaoru also wasn’t as relaxed as before.

Since none of us were speaking, she sat quietly in her seat.

She held her teacup with both hands.

Taking small sips.

Occasionally glancing at me.

She seemed to want to speak, yet didn’t dare.

Ichijou Rikuu was much the same.

He wanted to say something.

But didn’t know what.

So his gaze turned toward me.

Which meant—

Only I was suitable.

My eyes fell on the book in Nishimura Noriyuki’s hands.

[Um.

What are you reading, Noriyuki?]

I leaned forward slightly.

Curiosity filled my eyes.

My voice wasn’t loud.

But it was clear enough to hear.

[Osamu Dazai.

No Longer Human.]

It was a very famous novel.

Even if one hadn’t read it, they would have heard of it.

However—

[Ah, that one.

I’ve read it too.]

Nishimura Noriyuki’s gaze shifted from me to Ichijou Rikuu.

[I haven’t read much of it, but I do have some impressions.]

Having finally found an opening, the awkwardness left his face.

[But what I’m curious about is why Noriyuki chose to read this book.]

[To be honest.]

He hesitated for a moment.

[This book makes me very uncomfortable.

I think it’s the “I” in the story that makes me uncomfortable.]

Those of us who hadn’t read the book at all could only drink tea on the side, becoming spectators.

That was fine for me.

If anything, it would be even better if the two of them completely ignored us.

Tenzan Kaoru, on the other hand, looked at me with worried eyes.

As if she were afraid that this scene would make me uncomfortable.

After all—

In her view—

I liked Ichijou-san.

[I heard that it was based on Osamu Dazai’s own life, so I wanted to take a look.]

[And the result?]

Nishimura Noriyuki sighed.

[I couldn’t continue reading.]

Her overly honest answer left us stunned for a moment.

But she didn’t stop speaking.

[I don’t like Oba Yozo either.

He has thoughts completely detached from ordinary people, yet desperately wants to become “human” in his own eyes.

He fears his own nature.

He plays the role of someone entirely different.

All while feeling guilty.

All while running away.

Wearing himself down through self-indulgence.]

[“No longer worthy of being human.”

“Already excluded from the ranks of humanity.”

That was the self-assessment he arrived at through his life.

And after escaping, what emerged was not the courage to face reality—

But the despair that completely denies one’s own existence.]

[It’s too tragic.

And too detestable.]

With little emotion, Nishimura Noriyuki delivered her final conclusion.

She looked at us.

For some reason, the pressure felt even heavier.

Especially when her gaze swept over us.

The curtains fluttered more violently.

A chilly evening breeze circulated through the room.

The light of dusk was always dim and yellow.

And also strangely soothing.

The fatigue of the day seemed to melt away under its glow.

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Savoring this moment of quiet.

As expected—

It was still hard to continue the conversation right now.

[Everyone, I’m back!]

The clubroom door was pushed open.

Kudou Yoshiko’s voice shattered the eerie silence.

[Eh?

Why is no one talking?

You’re all members of the Classical Literature Club now.

You should talk to each other more.]

She crossed her arms, dissatisfied.

The hint of elegance she had earlier vanished instantly.

[President.]

Nishimura Noriyuki stood up and bowed.

Naturally, none of us could remain seated.

[Alright, alright.

Were you scared by Noriyuki?

It’s fine.

She’s not good with words, but she’s very kind.

Don’t feel pressured, okay?]

For the sake of harmony in the club, Kudou Yoshiko did everything she could to liven up the atmosphere.

However—

[President, it’s already quite late.

I’ll be leaving first.]

Nishimura Noriyuki bowed once more.

[Eh?

Eh!]

[We’ll be leaving too, President Kudou.]

Together with Tenzan Kaoru, I said goodbye to the stunned Kudou Yoshiko.

Ichijou Rikuu grabbed his bag and left with us.

[Hazuki, see you tomorrow!]

[Mm-hm, see you tomorrow, Kaoru!]

Still a farewell filled with youthful energy.

And aside from that—

[Ichijou-san, are you planning to walk home with me?]

I turned my gaze toward Ichijou Rikuu beside me.

[Uh.

My house is this way too.]

[Is that so—]

The game never marked the route home.

So it surprised me slightly.

Then—

Nothing much else.

At most, it was just having someone accompany me on a boring walk.

[Ichijou-san.]

[Yes.]

[Did you have a decent time talking with Noriyuki?]

[Uh.

I wouldn’t call it fun.]

[From now on, you’ll be chatting with Noriyuki every day, you know.]

[Yeah.]

[If you want to complain, you can talk to me too.]

[It’s fine.

As long as I can help you, Dongye-san.

And I also want to understand Noriyuki better.

She looks like someone who needs help too.]

Well—

Galgame protagonists were always eager to help.

Just that the ones they helped were usually beautiful girls.

[Then I’ll be counting on you.]

I showed him a deliberately cute smile.

The rest of the way passed in silence.

Until we reached a corner.

From here on, our paths diverged.

[Then let’s part here.]

[Dongye-san—]

I paused mid-turn.

Then looked at him with confusion.

[This might not be appropriate to say, but—]

He hesitated.

[I can feel it.

Dongye-san and Yozo are alike.

You both have that same aura that makes me uncomfortable.]

He finally said it.

Leaving me stunned for a brief moment.

[Sorry.

That was rude of me.]

[It’s fine, Ichijou-san.]

I shook my head.

Stopping his apology.

Then smiled once more.

[See you tomorrow, Ichijou-san.]

[Yeah.

See you tomorrow.]