I Make Another Friend

After I found some mangas in libraries and went to the library's chairs, I saw a girl with glasses and ahort tailed hair sit at the library's chairs.

This school's library has about 40% of brick walls, the rest is glasses. Even the roof is made from thick glasses.

With just a glance, I knew that she's a diligent student because she's holding a very thick referrence book.

"I will die if I do that."

By sawing a green necktie around her colar, she's a first year without a doubt. So she's also new here, so I don't have to consider her too much.

I feel something different than just a cold girl studying alone in library.

"Hello, good afternoon."
"..."

She didn't avert her eyes from the book.

"Ignoring me, huh~? A good grief you had."

She started to saw me with a space out face and asked something really weird.

"Are you talking to me?"
"Who else?"
"No one ever talked to me, even in the class."
"So, you don't have friends, eh~?"

She didn't answer or yell at me for saying that she has no friends.

I started to read the manga I found in the rack. I think I knew who put mangas in the library is no other than Madoka-senpai with the permissions from the principal, knewing she's the one who bring all three racks full of otaku cultures things to the dorm without using the front door.

When I was reading it, that girl glared at me. It's very cold if she looks me with that eyes.

"Um..."
"Reading mangas on school. You are an otaku."
"Yeah, so what?"
"Isn't it embarrassing?"

A switch flipped in my head.

"Huh! You've awaked my inner side. Congrats."
"So, you are Chuunibyou too."
"Exactly I'm a chuuni, but not as a disease! Hear! Manga is one of japanese own culture, you won't get this on other countries! Even if you talking like you hate otakus, but the real thing is you can't express it because you're embarrassed. And probably, you are hiding a manga behind that thick book!"
"..."

She didn't respond. Of course she did. I just got mad if anyone mock otakus with their mouths. Otakus are not wrong. This world is the wrong one. Mocking otakus? That’s wrong. Being an otaku or not? It is a choice. But if I’m not carried by otaku cultures, the current me will not born like this. Maybe I will just being a boring person without being use to anyone.

Because of being otaku and having happy and sad memories, I can be like this. If I lack something, my life maybe different from my now life.

Even it’s like that, I got the feeling to apologize for being too cocky. Maybe she’s true, this world give the term otaku as a geek. She just doesn’t understand what’s being an otaku is.

"Sorry. I only get carried away, but that is exactly what I feel. For being too cocky, I'm sorry."
“…”
“Excuse me?”
"I,it's f,fine..."

It's weird. She did skip a lot in responding my apologize. Or maybe...

"What's behind that book?"
"N, nothing in particular..."

Many sweats come out from her skins, it's very blatant that I can saw them.

"You, is it true that..."
"No! That's not true!"

She did rush and take the reference book. There is something that has been putted in the middle of the reference book page pretty thick.

It slipped down and fell to the ground. And it's a manga.

"I... hit the spot?"

She did rush and kneel to take it, but other thing fell down.

"Ah!"

It's an unofficial catalog for the natsucomi, a big event for otakus to buy doujinshis.

"Um... senpai... this is not what you think it is..."
"Where is?"
"Um... that's..."
"Why are you converted yourself to dere character!"

I patted her head, maybe it's because I'm older than her, or maybe because she's like Riku. Riku is Nagi-oba-san's daughter and currently at Tokyo's elementary school.

"Wh,what are you?"
"Why are you keeping the fact that you are an otaku for a secret?"
"I am the student who got the first place in entrance ceremony! If a diligent and smart student like me known as otaku, they'll be irritated and thinking it's not fair! I'm here to read mangas, if someone sees that, they will know that I am just stay and don't use any effort can get good grades! They will stop studying for sure!"

So it’s like that. I feel more like this meeting is resembles to manga.

"That's why you don't have any friends?"
"Right! Have any problems with that?"
"I won't tell anyone."
"Eh?"
"Like I said before, I won't mock any otaku."
"After I said that kind of thing?"
"Yup."

After she shout at me and telling how she's feeling about life, I must keep quiet and hold on not to laugh.

"As return, please be my friend."
"Eh?"
"You don't have one, right? I am not mocking you, but I'm offering you to be my friend. May I went here tomorrow as well, if I have time to spare."
"You are idiot."

Is that reqlly a thing you said after someone offers their condolences? She sure back to her own pace.

"But, I don't mind being your friend!"
"A tsundere now?"
"Shut up! Why are you so kind to me anyway!? Isn't this the first time we met!?"

What should I answer? If I answer blatantly that she's like little sister figure to me, She will blast me off for sure. Except, it'll be embarrassing to admit that.

"Well, you coukd say it as personal reasons."
"Eh...?"
"Why are you changing to dere mode. Are you Asura that representative 3 different characters or something?"
"Shut up!"
"Here comes the tsundere."
"Shut up!"
"Please don't change your character too much, my head hurts. I think the cool and calm character fits you more."
"Then… Die…!"

Guh... she became a yandere character in just a flash!!??? Certainly cool and calm, but too scary.

"Is that fine...?"

Back to the first tone when I spoke with her!!!???

"How’s that fine?! It’s scary! Just speak casual like you read on mangas or somewhere!”
“I read a manga and made up my character by learning.”
“Haa~ Please, use the last tone, when you asked whether it's fine or not."
"Then..."

She lifts up her hand.

"What?"
"Before being officially friend, I read that on mangas."
"Owh..."

I shake her hand.

"We, are friends now?"
"Why are you asking? Of course."
"For now, please don't tell anyone about this. Or introduce me to someone. I'm still can't face people."
"Okay. Got it."
"Thanks..."
"Yeah."

I am, her first friend. I, will cure her from that keeping secret habit.

"My name is Igashiro Kouta."
"I am Kujou Ran."
"I see. Kujou-san isn't it?"
"Call me Ran instead."
"Eh? I can't do it so suddenly!"
"Aren't friends calling each other by first name?"
"I see. Then, Ran-san."
"Drop the *san*."
"Then, Ran."
"Put *chan* to it."

What? This is the first time a girl asked me like that. Well, maybe because I never talk to any girl in 5 years. But this girl, certainly weird!

“Um…”
“Put *chan* to it!”
"For that, certainly not gonna happen! I never call anyone by using chan. Not gonna happen in my life! Don’t force me!"
"You are amusing, Kouta...sen...pai..."
"You are more amusing than me."

Good, she gave up on that.

For now, I will accompany her if I can. And now she’s still holding my hand.

"Could you let my hand go already?"
"It is a *No*!"
"Why are you being like Shiina Mashiro?"
"I just want to say that once."
"Could you let my hand go already?"
"It is a *No*!"
"Aren’t we repeating things?"
"It’s just your imagination."
“I see. Like hell it was!”
“It’s just a joke.”
“It’s hard to tell though.”

At least, she let go of my hand.

“By the way, your face looks like a puppy.”
“Deal with it and don’t ask again.”