We were each given a task: Suzuna was tasked to gather information from the students; Mako from the faculty; and I from the facilities. Mimi had paperwork to do, so it was up to us. We ceased when classes began and continued again at lunchtime. After eating lunch, I went to the library to investigate. There, I saw the girl I bumped into earlier, at the reception book, reading a book.
She was the librarian?
Strange. I thought for sure the librarian was a guy. Did the previous librarian graduate already? Time sure flies… False memories aside, I approached the desk and asked the librarian:
"Excuse me, I would like to inquire a book."
It took me some time to realize that I was talking to a girl. But for some reason, I wasn't flinching. It was the same situation I had with Mimi. Just what did they possess that made my phobia nullify in their presence? I waited for her response, but she remained silent.
"Umm… It's an ero-"
I stopped upon realizing how awkward it'd be to ask about a porn mag. So I rephrased.
"It's mature… and daring… with pictures…"
Well, that wasn't any better. She was left utterly confused, and I couldn't blame her. While thinking of more discreet descriptions, she slid a piece of paper on my hand. I slowly took it and read its contents:
Could you write it here instead?
I was taken aback. Whyy didn't I think of that? So I took the pen on the desk and wrote back:
Ero-book
Then I gave her back the paper and waited for her response. There was a response alright, but not written. Her face turned bright red upon reading it. I shouldn't have been direct…
"Ah! Sorry, I didn't mean to-!"
Then she slid another piece of paper which wrote:
Pervert.
I expected that response. I showed him my badge and explained the situation to her:
"Look, I'm not interested in reading it. But it's our job to ensure a morally clean school environment."
She slid another piece of paper in response.
We don't wave what you're looking for.
That's what she wrote, but her face said otherwise. Her expression hinted that she was hiding something. But I didn't want to force her to reveal it, since I now knew that being direct wasn't the right action. Instead, I took a sheet from the desk and wrote:
Sorry for bothering you. I'm Hakura, by the way.
However, she didn't respond. So I turned around to leave, but stopped when something suddenly hit my head. I turned back and saw a crumpled piece of paper. I picked it up and looked at the message inside:
Wait!
Judging from the throw, I could tell it came from the librarian. She threw it just to say that?! Then she took another piece of paper, wrote on it, and shaped it into a ball. As she prepared to throw it, I shouted:
"You don't have to throw that!"
She froze and dropped the paper on the desk. I approached the desk once more and grabbed the paper. But on the last minute, she reached out to it as well and we unintentionally held hands. I took the paper and read its contents, unaware of her current condition.
I'm Mika. Nice to meet you~!(^o^)
Yes, there was a doodle after the sentence. And when I looked back at her, she was no longer conscious. She was standing, but her eyes were asleep.
"Hey… you okay?"
Then when I grabbed her by the shoulder to wake her up, she suddenly panicked, struggling to shout out. She was shivering, and she desperately tried to scream from the bottom of her lungs, but couldn't.
"C-calm down!"
Grabbing the other students' attention, I explained how it was all a misunderstanding, but their eyes showed their doubting my words. I had to escape the situation, but I didn't want to leave the librarian in her state, so I carried her out of the library and into the infirmary. When we arrived, I immediately laid her down on the bed. She was still in shock, and I didn't know what was causing it.
"W-what do I do?!"
At that moment, the school nurse came in.
"What's going on?"
The school nurse. I'm sure you're thinking about a hot, busty woman in a lab coat. Well, you're half right, because the school nurse is actually… a crossdresser. Imagine the ambitious students entering the infirmary just to be disappointed. Fortunately, he only shows himself when he tends to major injuries. Anyway, I told him everything that happened.
"I see…" he murmured.
"So… will she be okay?"
"I can't say for sure…"
Great… I wasted my free time for nothing. If she had just given me the ero-book, she wouldn't be in that state. But it does beg the question: why did she suddenly act like that?
"It's her fear that's causing it." He said.
"Fear?"
"Androphobia." He answered, "Like you, her fear prevents her from interacting with others."
Androphobia: the fear of men. It made sense because she broke down when I touched her, similar to how I pass out when touched by a young female. Of course, I don't just pass out. Whenever I was in contact with schoolmates, my negative energy goes berserk. When I was involved with Suzuna and delinquents last time, it happened as well. Perhaps physical contact wasn't what triggered it…
"Actually…" he continued, "she often gets rushed here because of her frequent breakdowns."
"I see…"
To think she'd break down due to her own fear. She must've had a traumatic experience.
"Come to think of it…" he added, "with your parthenophobia, you wouldn't have been able to carry her…"
"O-oh! Well…"
Then the awkward atmosphere broke when Mako and the others entered, exclaiming:
"Hakura!"
"Inu!"
"I'm not Inu!"
They approached me and asked what happened, "we heard you were rushed here, so we came as fast as we could."
They got the info wrong…
"Well… the librarian broke down while I was gathering info…"
"That's horrible!" Mimi reacted.
"What did you do?!" Suzuna asked.
"Hey! Why are you accusing him?!" Mako retorted.
It wasn't my fault… okay, maybe I did do something to her, but it was unintentional. Still, I had to take responsibility for my actions.
"Sensei, how is she?" Mimi asked.
"She seems to have calmed down." The nurse replied, "But she still needs to rest."
"I see…"
Then I turned back to Mimi and requested her to postpone the search. Of course, they were shocked by my declaration, but they agreed due to the current situation.
"Okay…" she responded, "but we'll continue this on Monday."
"Understood. Thank you."
Then the three of them left, but not before telling the broken Mika to get well soon. I also prepared to leave myself.
"Are you going as well?" the nurse asked.
"Yeah. Please take care of her."
Calling out my attention he exclaimed, "Wait! How can you-!"
I turned around and asked what was wrong.
"…Nothing. Be careful on your way out."
What was that about all of a sudden? Anyway, I didn't leave the school just yet. I had to go tell Kinbaku that I wouldn't be able to give the offering. He did not take it lightly.
"So you don't have it?" he asked.
"Not yet… but I'll have it by Monday."
At first, he was furious (couldn't tell since he had no face, but I kinda figured he was), but he responded calmly.
"I understand." He said, "But until you get that ero-book, I'll have to take this in exchange!"
He took out a portable console… My portable console! How?!
"H-hey!"
"Sorry. No book, no game!" he jokingly responded.
I wanted to hit him, but couldn't actually do it. I needed his blessing, so I had no choice but to obey. Guess a gaming console was a small price to pay…