Yanami Anna, holding three or four light novels, walked quickly toward Imaizumi Keita.
"Keita! Look, look!"
She thrust the books in her arms into his hands all at once, then pointed to the top one and introduced it excitedly.
"The setting of this book is super interesting! The plot is..."
To make Imaizumi Keita feel her excitement, Yanami even imitated the tone of the characters in the book a few times.
Imaizumi Keita watched Yanami imitating the dialogue and surprisingly found that she actually had a talent for acting.
Even if they didn't get along well in the future, compared to role-playing, it would probably add several points to his liking for her...
Thinking this, Imaizumi Keita reached out and grabbed Yanami's free hand.
"Alright, don't just stand here. Let's find a place to sit and read slowly."
"Eh? Ah... Oh!"
Yanami Anna let him lead her by the hand toward the rest area.
The two sat down in a seat by the window.
Yanami Anna quickly spread the books out on the table one by one, took out her small notebook and pen, and began to take notes seriously.
Imaizumi Keita sat opposite her, watching her.
Watching her eyes light up from time to time or her brow furrow as she constantly wrote down inspirations and complaints in her notebook.
Seeing her serious appearance, the loneliness Imaizumi Keita felt as a transmigrator seemed to be filled by this vivid and lively daily life.
After a while, Imaizumi Keita took the initiative to start a conversation.
"I say, Anna-chan."
"Hmm? What is it?"
Yanami Anna didn't even look up, her gaze still fixed on the illustrations of the light novel.
"You're being so serious... do you want to publish your own novel?"
"Eh?"
This question pulled her attention back from the book.
Yanami Anna looked up, a wry smile on her face.
"How could that be possible! I know exactly how much I'm worth."
"Then why are you...?"
"I'm just..."
Yanami Anna's gaze fell back onto her notebook, her voice becoming much softer.
"I just feel that since I've already started writing, I want to write a story that I'm satisfied with."
With the tip of her pen, she lightly tapped the light novel title in her notebook that she had spent a long time deciding on—"High School Cold and Gloomy Guys are Definitely Not My Type."
She had even put a lot of effort into the title, and Yanami hoped her work could be a bit more popular...
Even if it was just to make it look more...
Yanami looked up to meet Imaizumi's gaze and added the unfinished thought in her heart with a brilliant smile.
"Besides, I want to be the first to show it to you, Keita."
"I can't write it too poorly and have you laugh at me, right?"
She had a smile on her face, and her tone was no different from when they usually bickered.
Imaizumi Keita looked at her and saw his own reflection clearly mirrored in her eyes.
Since when did Yanami learn this unique trick from him?
And she had even surpassed her master.
This skill of 'Expressing Sweet Nothings with a Poker Face' was clearly meant to win over beautiful girls like Yanami, wasn't it?
When Imaizumi Keita used this skill on himself, he realized its power was a little too strong...
Truly...
Too cunning.
But also... too endearing.
Imaizumi Keita looked at her innocent expression, and the mischievous thought of teasing her resurfaced in his heart.
He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance, then lowered his voice and asked:
"So, Anna-chan, you mean..."
"You want to write a story that belongs only to the two of us?"
...
When the two emerged from the bookstore, the sun was already beginning to set.
Imaizumi Keita accompanied Yanami Anna and proactively bought the light novels she had chosen as 'reference materials'.
"Phew... I feel like I've gained a lot!"
Yanami Anna stretched contentedly, her face full of a sense of fulfillment.
She turned her head to look at Imaizumi Keita, and a thought popped into her mind.
"Speaking of which, Keita."
"Hmm?"
"When are you planning to release the second volume of your own novel?"
"Don't forget, you promised me that I'd be your first reader."
Imaizumi Keita looked at her like this and found it somewhat amusing.
"I've only just finished the outline; the second volume won't be written that quickly."
He shook his head, his tone very certain, "Don't worry, I won't forget."
Upon receiving this promise, Yanami Anna's face broke into a satisfied smile.
Just as they were about to reach the crossroads in front of the station, Yanami Anna stopped.
She turned around and looked up, her eyes fixed on him without blinking.
"Hey, Keita."
"Hmm?"
"Can I... visit your home?"
This question was both direct and abrupt.
Imaizumi Keita looked at her face, which was full of 'curiosity' and 'expectation', and was utterly surprised.
"My home?"
Imaizumi Keita asked Yanami, somewhat incredulously.
"Anna-chan, have our relations... reached this point already?"
He put on a somewhat troubled expression and kindly reminded her.
"I live alone, you know. Aren't you worried that I might lose control and do something dangerous to you?"
This teasing remark, carrying a hint of threat, would have made the old Yanami blush crimson and angrily call him a 'pervert'.
But now, she merely blinked, showing no panic at all. Instead, she even revealed a knowing smile that said, 'I've seen right through you'.
"That's why,"
She stood on tiptoe and leaned into his ear, explaining triumphantly, "This is where I'm understanding, Keita."
"Eh?"
"I know."
Her voice carried the smugness of having seen through Imaizumi, "Keita, you always act like a Scumbag, and you always say irresponsible, scoundrel-like things."
"But I know you're actually a very principled person."
"Otherwise, you wouldn't have been so honest with me about wanting to date multiple people from the start."
Imaizumi Keita was momentarily speechless.
He liked to say nasty things, but usually only to people he wasn't particularly close to...
If their relationship reached a friendly or intimate level, Imaizumi Keita's tolerance for the other person would increase.
This was one of the reasons Imaizumi Keita considered himself a good person...
He looked at the girl in front of him, who was smiling like a cat that had stolen fish, and read 'I already know your little schemes'.
A mix of surprise, helplessness, and a faint sense of defeat from being seen through welled up in his heart.
This woman...
When did she...
He shook his head, finally giving up on thinking.
He simply reached out, somewhat exasperatedly flicked her forehead, and then sighed resignedly.
"Sigh... I can't do anything with you."
"Come with me."
...
The apartment Imaizumi Keita rented was located in a quiet residential area not far from the station.
He led Yanami Anna to the door, took out his keys from his pocket, and opened it.
"Click."
With a soft sound, the door opened.
The scene inside the room then came into Yanami Anna's view.
"Welcome to my secret base, then."
Imaizumi Keita turned sideways, a smile on his face, and made a 'please enter' gesture.
However, before he could finish speaking...
"Excuse me!"
Yanami had already let out an excited cheer and darted past him!
She even skillfully found disposable slippers at the entrance and put them on. The entire process was smooth and quick, leaving Imaizumi Keita no time to react.
"Hey! You really don't treat yourself as an outsider, do you!"
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Rexlent
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"