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Douman had searched high and low for a copy of the book. He wanted to know what had Seimei so hooked on it.
So when he found the book in the library, he immediately took it off the shelf and practically ran out with the book. But of course, he was stopped since he hadn't signed out the book so he went back to the counter and used Seimei's library card number to borrow it(memorizing those numbers had payed off).
Lucky for him, the person behind the counter was a teenager no older than 16 and did not give two shits if the person who was borrowing the book did not look like the picture that came up in the system. Douman immediately went back to his apartment after he was given the clear.
Unfortunately, something happened on his apartment floor when he arrived, so he had to go find somewhere else to go while maintenance was on going. He stopped by a cafe for a drink. As he waited, he read the book he had borrowed.
Douman still remembers what got him interested. It wasn't long ago, maybe only a week or two since.
Seimei laughed as he closed the distance between them, forcing a book into Douman's face. The boy obviously protested and swatted the book away.
The other only giggled, going back to reading where he left off.
"Ah! It's my favourite part!" Seimei squealed. Douman wasn't sure if he ever saw him that excited before. "Why?" He asked, reading the lines of text.
He only chuckled, laying on the grass as he held the book up with both hands. "You'll see." He sighed contentedly.
Seimei wasn't one to be reading romance novels, but this one seemed to be an exception. Douman too, but for the sake of his fear of missing out(he acts like he doesn't care, but deep down he wants to know all about it) he'll bare with what monstrosity awaits him.
2 hours had passed— maybe 3— while he was in the cafe when he got a notification. It was from his landlord informing him that he could go back to his apartment.
Douman was already nearly half way the book. The plot was interesting from what he's gathered so far.
He thought about it as he walked to his apartment. It was a story of a pair of twins, well, it focused more on the younger one. The older one was a priest who often traveled for work whilst the younger, despite being jobless, kept getting marriage proposals in place of his missing eldest brother. But thanks to the older twin, nobody ever managed to successfully get the brother's hand in marriage.
From what it looks like, the twins family seems to be generational shrine keepers and priests. Everyone believed they were somewhat blessed by the gods. So in true old belief fashion, everyone wanted to have their hand in marriage to increase their power— spiritually and politically. Mostly politically since their family also had ties with the Royal family. Sheesh, how much power does a family need?
Douman almost wanted to stop halfway because of how much of a pushover the younger twin was. But a particular scene made him change his mind and pushed through it anyway.
"Ah!"
Whoops. He accidentally walked into someone. Douman bent down for grab his book that he dropped. coincidentally, the other person did so too.
The two straightened back up. "Oh? I didn't know someone else knew this book. I thought I was the only reader," the person said, flipping the book in their hand.
"My partner keeps talking about the book, so I thought I'd give it a read as well," he admitted sheepishly as he accepted the book back. "They have good taste." Douman only chuckled at that.
He looked up to take a look at the person. "Questionable too—" Douman immediately stopped, realizing who he was talking to. The other couldn't contain their grin.
"You bastard." Douman pinched his cheeks as Seimei laughed.
Seimei rubbed his cheeks after they finished their banter, now walking beside Douman as they discussed the book.
"The main character rather...dimwitted." Douman commented. Seimei agreed with him, "Yes. But he almost reminds me of Haruaki, don't you think?" He asked.
Recalling the events he'd read so far, he couldn't help but agree with the statement. "Thankfully, he has his own bodyguard to protect him from unrelenting proposals," Seimei chuckled.
"If he even gets one."
"Don't say such things. You may never know. Say, he's been talking about this 'Miki' person since he worked at your school. Care to tell me who is he?"
"Argh, ask him yourself, you sailor uniform obsessed freak."
"About that, he told me that you give him sailor uniforms along with his monthly pay! Are you looking for more teachers perchance?"
"You talk too much! Go away!"