I Want to Be Your First Reader

She walked briskly to an empty table and carefully placed the light novels in the center.

After finishing that, she finally let out a breath of relief, clapped her hands lightly, and took out a notebook and pen from her schoolbag.

Imaizumi Keita leaned against a nearby bookshelf, watching her series of actions, and asked with some helplessness,

“So… this is how you’re doing your research?”

“Of course!”

Yanami Anna proudly puffed out her chest, pulled out a chair and sat down, spread her notebook open, and picked up her pen as she explained.

“This is called efficiency!

I write down the title, author, publisher, and the key points from the synopsis.

Then I can slowly digest and develop ideas at home.

That’s how a genius thinks!”

As she spoke, she flipped open the back cover of the top book and began scribbling furiously in her notebook, muttering to herself at the same time.

“Mm-hmm… ‘After being dumped by my childhood friend, I end up living next door to the school’s number one beautiful idol’…

This setup is nice.

Write it down, write it down…”

Watching her serious expression, Imaizumi Keita couldn’t help but find it amusing.

He walked over to the table, pulled out the chair opposite her, and sat down, leaning forward slightly to peek at her notebook.

“Let me see… what kind of genius inspirations have you written down…”

“Hey!

No peeking!”

Yanami Anna immediately slapped her palm over the notebook, glaring at Imaizumi Keita in alert.

Seeing how sensitive she was, Imaizumi Keita could only casually pick up a nearby light novel and start flipping through it.

Nearly half an hour later, Yanami Anna had filled three full pages in her notebook with “key information.”

“All right!

Today’s research mission is a complete success!”

She stood up and stretched, then began returning the light novels on the table to their original shelves one by one.

Seeing how earnest she was, Imaizumi Keita also helped her put back the books on the highest shelves.

After finishing all that, the two of them left the bookstore side by side.

Not long after their figures disappeared through the entrance, a small silhouette cautiously peeked out from behind the tall shelves in the light novel section.

Komari Chika confirmed that the two had gone far away before finally stepping out from her hiding place and letting out a long sigh of relief.

Th-that was close…

I almost got discovered.

She patted her chest, which was still pounding wildly from nerves, yet her mind uncontrollably replayed the scene she had just witnessed.

Imaizumi-kun and Yanami-san…

The way they stood side by side in front of the bookshelf looked… really well matched.

And the atmosphere between them…

It didn’t feel like that of ordinary friends at all.

When Yanami-san found an interesting novel, she would naturally grab Imaizumi-kun’s arm and chatter away while pointing at the cover.

And although Imaizumi-kun always looked impatient, his gaze never left Yanami-san.

That feeling was almost as if…

Suddenly, images of two other people flashed through Komari Chika’s mind.

Club President Tamaki and Tsukinoki-senpai, who always bickered unconsciously in the clubroom yet understood each other better than anyone else.

No, it’s not the same as the president and the senpai…

A feeling called “inferiority” welled up in her heart once more.

Hugging her book, Komari Chika silently lowered her head, her long bangs covering her eyes.

She remembered the gentle, encouraging smile the president had shown when she told him she’d finished reading the book he recommended.

Just that alone had already made her feel so happy.

If… if she could talk to him a little more.

If she could let him see just a bit more of her effort…

Komari Chika slowly lifted her head, and a small but determined flame ignited in her usually evasive eyes.

The weekend training camp…

I have to… do my best!

…

On the way home.

Yanami Anna walked beside Imaizumi Keita, licking a popsicle she had just bought in small bites.

After the excitement from the bookstore faded, a realistic concern began to swirl in her mind.

Writing a novel…

Is it really that easy?

“Hey, Imaizumi-kun.”

She finally couldn’t hold it in any longer and stopped, turning to look at the man beside her.

“Hm?”

“Do you think…”

She hesitated, then asked softly in a voice tinged with uncertainty and hope,

“…that I can write a light novel people will like?”

“I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“I’m not a worm in your stomach,” Imaizumi Keita replied flatly.

“How would I know whether you can write one or not?”

Seeing her face instantly fall, he changed his tone and added,

“But…”

He paused, a smile of encouragement appearing on his face.

“If you really do write something, and you’re too embarrassed to show it to anyone…”

“…I can reluctantly be your first reader.”

Yanami Anna’s heart, which had just sunk moments ago, began pounding uncontrollably, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

“Hmph.”

She turned her face away and muttered,

“Th-then fine.

Since you’re offering, I’ll reluctantly accept.”

“When the time comes, you have to give me the strictest and most professional feedback, okay!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

Imaizumi Keita responded, watching her stubborn-yet-soft expression, and turned to continue walking.

Beside him, Yanami Anna gently tugged at the sleeve of his school uniform with her fingers, tentatively.

“Um…”

Imaizumi Keita turned back in confusion, only to see her lowering her head, her gaze drifting aimlessly.

“What is it?”

“Well… it’s just…”

Yanami Anna’s voice was much softer than usual.

“Since… since you’re going to be my first reader…”

She finally gathered her courage, raised her head, and looked straight at him.

“Then… as repayment, I want to be your first reader too… is that okay?”

“It feels like I’m always the one being helped by you.

That doesn’t seem very fair.”

Her voice grew even quieter, and her eyes began to wander.

“And you always hide your notebook so carefully in the clubroom, so I… I’m a little worried…”

By the end, her voice carried a hint of grievance and suspicion.

“You’re not… writing some really weird story based on me, are you?”

Seeing how cautious she looked, Imaizumi Keita couldn’t help but smile and reached out to pat her head.

“Of course I’m not writing about you.”

“But I do agree to your request to be my first reader.”