After leaving from the coffee shop near the school, Shota and Yukino went to the city of Waai next door, where they came to a bookstore called Tebundo. Looking at the three-story bookstore in front of him, Shota asked casually, "If it's just to buy books, there are several very large bookstores in Chiba, why do you have to come here?" ”

"Because this bookstore has been very popular recently, I wanted to check it out."

The bookstore has been very popular lately, because there is a very famous talented female high school student writer who is about to hold a book signing here, and the advertisements have all been sold. Even now, Shota has seen banners and posters about "Love Metronome" hanging inside and outside the bookstore.

And,Shota's unusually familiar name-Teacher Kasumi Shiko.。

That's right, Shiyu will be here in a few days to hold a book signing. In addition, the Tewendo Bookstore is also the first color picture of the novel "Love Metronome" written by Shiyu, which is the place where the hero and heroine meet for the first time, and where the whole story begins.

After entering the store, Shota said directly to Yukino beside him, "What type of books do you want to buy?" I'll just take you there. ”

"Huh? Are you familiar with this place? ”

"For various reasons, I often come to Hehe City, so I'm quite familiar with it."

As a newcomer to the writing industry, Shota used to come to consult his editor when he had nothing to do, so he often came back to the city, especially after getting to know Kasumi Shiko, that is, Shiyu, Shota came more often.

"Oh? So what is this? Yukino was referring to a very simple banner, but the content of the banner was very clear.

""Love Metronome", a very popular light novel, is recommended to you."

"Huh?"

Yukino is quite skeptical, although she always holds a library book in her hand on weekdays, but the library book is not just a light novel. In fact, there is a whole Mariana Trench between light novels and traditional literary circles.

"Well, I recommend this book quite a lot, sincerely."

As Shota, who only recently became a writer of light novels, he is well aware of the prejudice of a considerable number of people against light novels. As the saying goes, you can't see the forest for the trees, and the overwhelming majority of those who look at the forest through the small window of "animation" are compared to those who step into the forest of light novels to explore. What's more, even the animation itself has quite a lot of criticism, both of which are a pair of difficult brothers.

But for Shota, he won't be like his friend Ryanya, who won't stop introducing those excellent works to the people around him if he doesn't achieve his goal, but he also hopes that his favorite works can be accepted by more people, so he will occasionally recommend them to the people around him, but never entangled. Because even if the other party doesn't try this work, it won't change Shota's love for this work, and he will only feel a little sorry for the other party at most, and he actually missed such a good work.

“…… Just trust you, a gorilla with a little bit of culture. ”

"Huh?"

Yukino happily picked up the first volume of "Love Metronome", and because of the upcoming book signing, the first few volumes of "Love Metronome" can be found everywhere in the store.

"I hope you don't live up to the little trust I have in you."

"Don't worry, you won't be disappointed." At this moment, Shota was about to change his opinion of Yukino a little in his heart.

"Orangutan is worthy of being an orangutan, and he has tacitly acquiesced to the fact that he is called an orangutan."

“…… Don't make any noise, Ice Girl! ”

Sure enough, it's impossible to change anything.

……

……

After Yukino finished buying the book, it was not early, and it was time for dinner. After looking left and right, Shota simply took Yukino to the burger restaurant near the bookstore, which is the place where the two heroines met for the first time in "Love Metronome".

"Why eat burgers? There are many other options. Xue Nai, who was sitting in the seat, was a little dissatisfied, after living in the UK for three years, she really didn't want to see these Western-style fast food at all.

"Because I'm familiar with it." Shota's mind couldn't help but think of the memories of the three of them drinking drinks together and chatting about the plot in the past, "And, as long as you read the second volume, you know why I chose to come here." ”

“…… Well, be sure not to order burgers and fried chicken, I'll just eat fries. ”

"Here is a ...... with rice"

"Then I'll want rice, anything."

Because it was already dinner time, there were quite a lot of people in the store, and Shota and Yukino finally found a seat near the door. Therefore, in order to avoid the seat being occupied by other people, Shota will order the food alone.

To be honest, the rice in this Western-style fast food restaurant is very unpalatable, but it is better than a burger and fried chicken for Yukino.

When Shota returned to his seat with the hamburger set and the rice that Yukino had ordered, Yukino had already taken out the first volume of "Love Metronome" he had just bought and read it, and only looked at Shota with some clarity after Shota returned.

"How?"

"It's not bad, although I think it's a little green, but the writing is outstanding." Because he only read the beginning, Yukino could only give such an evaluation, "However, it's no wonder that the last volume will be signed at the Tiebundo bookstore." ”

"Well, after all, that's where the male and female protagonists first met."

Although the two were not together later. Of course, the latter sentence Shota won't say it.,Spoilers like this Shota are the most annoying.。

"Let's eat first, I'll watch when we get back." Shota placed Yukino's meal in front of her, and arranged the chopsticks and spoons neatly.

However, he didn't expect that this scene just now would be seen by an unexpected person.

"Xiang...... Shota? ”

The familiar voice made Shota's whole body stiffen, and I saw him slowly turn around like a puppet, the familiar brown shawl long hair, the familiar air bangs, and the familiar cute face.

Surprise, sadness, and irrepressible surprise.

Shota had a thousand thoughts in his heart, but at this moment, he could only spit out the name of the girl who had just entered the store from his mouth word by word.

“iroha……”

……

……

"Break up!?"

A year ago in the afternoon, under the shade of the trees next to the large playground of Shimamura Middle School, Shota looked at the girl in front of him in a daze, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Hmm...... Be...... I think, let's break up. "It's hard, it's hard to feel like it's been torn apart, but ...... This is the determination that the girl has used all her strength to make up her mind.

"Are you serious? Not kidding? ”

“…… Well, seriously. ”

"Then divide it." After that, Shota didn't look at the other party, and continued to eat the bento prepared by the other party in his hand.

With the girl's understanding of Shota, the other party will indeed agree to the request to break up very happily, but when she really sees the other party so unthinking, not only does she not even ask the reason, but also agrees without even a trace of retention, the girl really feels that she is a little unbearable to continue to stay in front of the other party.

"Very ...... I'm sorry...... I'll go first. ”

The girl had finished the last sentence with a heavy cry, and ran away just before she was about to let out her uncontrollable sobs. At noon, which is no different from the past, in the same place as before, only Shota is left eating a bento silently.

Neither the girl nor Shota noticed that the spoon in Shota's hand was already a little deformed.