As we return to our protagonist, she’s turning up a day early for school again, as she has so many times before. Instead of going home or helping Kazuaki grade tests, though, we’re heading to the library to get a bit of study in.
“Umm… I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not sure I’ve prepared enough for my tests. I’d like to go study, if it’s all right.”
“Of course! Work hard, okay?”
Kazuaki gives a small, cheerful smile as we depart for the library.
They’ve probably all decided on their colleges and careers already… Will I be that frantic this time next year, I wonder?
!
“Nageki!”
“… miss Thielle? Did you need something?”
“Why are you over here? There are still plenty of seats open… You should sit down!”
“I don’t mind standing.”
He shifts awkwardly against the bookcase, keeping himself propped upright.
You look like you mind!
“You don’t… like being near other birds? Is that it?”
He nods.
“… they’ll just… They’ll just ignore me, anyway. Whether or not I go near.”
Nageki, are you being…
We can suggest that Nageki is being bullied, or merely being paranoid. Since we care, we’ll raise the former.
“……”
He falls silent. If there’s something wrong, I’d like to help…
It doesn’t look like Nageki has anything more to say today, though. The protagonist retires to a desk to study before second term begins in earnest.
I don’t have anything to do, so I guess I’ll go look around. Hmm, I wonder if Nageki’s in the library today? Probably. I think I’ll go buy something and hang out with him.
“Nageki?”
As predicted, Nageki’s sitting in the corner, book in wing.
“I knew you’d be here!”
“The door. It’s loud outside.”
“Oh! Sorry. You’re staying in here even today? It’s almost like this is where you live!”
“… is there something wrong with that?”
“Of course not! You’re kind of like a friendly ghost, or something. It’s reassuring to know you’re here. Anyway, I brought you something! You’re planning to stay here all day, right?”
“What did… cookies?”
“Yup! The birdwatching club was selling bird-shaped cookies. Aren’t they cute? Have some!”
“Hmm… … thanks.”
Hearing him thank me makes me very happy, even if it was in a whisper. He even looks a little happier than usual!
“There’s lots of other stuff, too! The third-years are doing a play, and one class put together a god-tier haunted house… I was thinking of looking around a little more… Nageki, want to come with me?”
“No.”
Nageki’s reply is flat, instantaneous.
Oh, no! He looks angry…
“I… no, thank you. Go ahead, if you want.”
“Well… all right. Sorry, I didn’t mean to try to drag you out of here.”
I think he might actually live in here. Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen him anywhere else. Maybe he comes straight here as soon as he gets to school…?
I can’t say my high school career was too different. A few weeks pass us by.
I’ll have to study at… Huh? Where’s my history textbook? It’s not on my desk… Oh! I was reading it in the library during lunch, so maybe it’s still there. I’ll go look.
Just to be sure the library isn’t shut yet, we chase up Kazuaki.
“Welcome back, Thielle. Where are you going?”
“I think I left something in the library! Do you know if the door’s still open?”
“Umm… somebirdie brought the key to the staff room a few minutes ago, so I think it’s locked now.”
“I’ll go there first, then! Thank you, sir!”
“Here it is! Yaaay! … oh!”
Somebirdie’s written on the page I left open. ‘The congress dances, but does not progress.’ … well, that’s funny, but don’t write on people’s books!
“Don’t leave books lying around with their pages to the four winds.”
Despite the library having been closed, we turn to find the source of a familiar voice.
“What? Why are you so surprised?”
“I hadn’t thought you’d still be here…”
“Why not?”
“The door was locked! Don’t tell me they locked you in!?”
That would be terrible!
“… it was? I hadn’t realized.”
Well, if it was an accident, then it’s all right… maybe? Geez, you’re supposed to make sure there’s nobirdie left inside before you lock the door! Anyway, I need to lock the door again.
We can offer to go home with Nageki, or simply go home alone. We can’t just leave him here, can we?
“Hey, Nageki… Let’s go home together.”
“No, thank you.”
H-he didn’t even pause to think about it!
“Where do you live? I’ll walk you.”
“I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me.”
“You always get mad when I suggest you go outside…”
Nageki looks away, mumbling.
“…… don’t jump to… If I could, I’d…”
“What…?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll lock the door, so just leave the key there.”
He’s already reading again. I think I’m annoying him…
Leaving Nageki the key and his thoughts, we head on home. A little over a month later, we return to the library.
And so I sat studying in the library, while one by one the other students filed out to go home. When I look up, I’m alone.
… or not.
“…… I… want to talk to you.”
“You’re nothing but surprises today!”
“I’ll leave you alone if you’re busy.”
“Nooo! Talk away.”
Nageki nods, collecting himself a moment before responding.
“I was… shocked when you first came and talked to me, miss Thielle. You’re the only one who didn’t ignore me. No one but you has ever talked to me. That’s why… this is the only place for me.”
That’s… that’s terrible!
“Nageki, that’s awful! Which class are you in? I’ll talk to your teacher—”
“I’m not done talking yet.”
“Sorry, go on…”
“You think I’m being bullied, right? I thought that, too.”
“You’re… not…?”
“I don’t think so, no. Being bullied… might be better than this.”
Better than this? Then what is he…?
“I’m not sure yet, though. When you talk to me, I… remember things, sometimes. But it’s still not enough.”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean…?”
Nageki pauses, as if trying to find the words.
“Miss Thielle, I think I… I think I’m—”
A voice from across the library cuts him off.
“Thielle? You’re here late!”
“The school’s already starting to close for the night. It’s good to study, but working too hard on your own for too long can backfire on you. Lock the door and head home soon, okay?”
On my own…?
“Sir, what are you talking about? I’m not al… … huh?”
Nageki’s gone. He was just here a moment ago! Where’d he go…? Did he leap out of the window and go home ninja-style?
It’s impossible to say. I leave it for you all to ruminate on, as we’re leaving the LP here for now. Please do return for the finale of Nageki’s route, and the end of the last of our romantic routes. Until next time, everybirdie!