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“Did you put my manga on the upper shelf again?”
A groan echoed through the classroom, piercing through the comfortable silence.
“I already told you to stop doing that, Monika! You know I can’t reach that.” Monika looked up from her seat to stare at her pink-haired club mate, Natsuki.
“Sorry, Natsuki. Force of habit.” She laughed awkwardly before standing up, and headed over to the corner of the room.
Reaching up, Monika gripped the bottom of a heavy box, and lugged it down. As she placed it on a nearby desk, she curiously took a peek, no doubt expecting… well, manga.
Instead, the sight of an ominously blank hard-covered book greeted Monika’s eyes. It definitely was not Parfait Girls.
Only Yuri would read blank-covered books (no offense!).
”Here you go!” As Monika dusted off her hands, the expression on Natsuki’s face was unreadable. “Did Yuri misplace one of her books there?” asked Monika.
”Hah? Not every book with a blank cover is Yuri’s!” Natsuki huffed back.
”Oh. Well, I just thought… ah, well—I didn’t expect you to be reading those types of books.”
The blank look on Natsuki’s face instantly morphed into anger, her pink eyes glaring at Monika with a hint of bitterness. “Are you saying I’m incapable of reading anything other than manga? Is Yuri the only one who’s allowed to read—“
She waved the strange book around, holding it up to Monika’s face. “—this?”
”Natsuki, that’s not what I meant,” started Monika. “Really! I was just surprised. Usually, I see you just— I mean, you’re always sticking to Parfait Girls, so it just came as a surprise to me.”
Flustered, it came out as a tumble of words, and Monika’s hands gesticulated everywhere. “I’m sorry, Natsuki. I didn’t mean to imply that about you.”
Natsuki pouted for a good minute, her eyes flickering back and forth, from Monika to the book.
”…it’s fine. But I guess I’ll accept your apology.” Monika watched the other girl run her fingers along the smooth cover of the book.
”Yuri recommended it to me.” added Natsuki. “It’s about these snowmen peeling off human skin and using it to disguise themselves as humans.”
That’s… gruesome. Not something Monika would usually read.
Although getting Natsuki to read something scary is a feat in itself.
”I know Halloween’s already passed, but it’s actually pretty good. But Parfait Girls is just better.” Crossing her arms, Natsuki shifted her body to the side and blushed.
”Even though the story itself is somewhat icky, it kinda resonates with me. Well, as in a way where they’re trying to be something they’re not.”
Monika glanced around the empty classroom. It was just the two of them.
“Is that so?” murmured Monika. “Well, you do find the most intricate meaning in simple things.”
”That a bad thing?” Natsuki retorted back.
”No. Of course not.” Monika’s nose felt itchy. Maybe it was the dust from the box, but it didn’t stop her from opening her mouth. “Actually, it’s really interesting, really! Have I ever told you that I saw someone online make an analysis of a really cute cat?
”Sometimes, the content of the story may not seem much, but it subtly delves deep into the author’s thoughts, feelings, and even time period based on their story-telling.
”Ah, well, long-story-short, analyzing simple details can tell the audience so much. That’s my reading tip for the day!”
Natsuki’s arms were at her sides, mouth slightly ajar at Monika’s rant.
”Oh.” Natsuki blinked, before awkward blurting “Okay.”
Both girls spent a few moments staring at each other.
The smaller girl broke away first. “Uhm, I’m gonna go home now. See ya.”
As the door closed behind a tense Natsuki, the warmth in Monika’s cheeks rose to her ears.
For some reason, she felt as though they should’ve talked more about Natsuki’s new book.