Morning lessons are over and it's now lunch break. As I thought about inviting Akito and Keisei over for lunch, my neighbour looked over at me.

"What? Surely you're not going to continue this morning's topic, are you?".

"No. I have a request to make".

"I'll pass if it's a troublesome one".

"I won't deny that it's a troublesome one but it won't take long".

Horikita said that and then retrieved a book from inside her bag.

"Didn't you say last week that you wanted to read this?".

She placed the book, which had the seal of the library on it, on the desk.

"'Farewell, My Lovely', huh?".

A masterpiece by Raymond Chandler.

I've been interested in it for a while now and I've gone to the library several times already but for some reason, this book seems to be very popular here since it's always on loan.

I had pretty much given up on it, seeing no other choice but to purchase it.

"I'm impressed you managed to borrow it. By any chance, are you going to lend it to me?".

I imagine someone else will borrow it the moment it's returned. In order to ensure I get my hands on it, it's best to get it straight from the hands of the last person to borrow it even if it's slightly underhanded.

"If you want me to. Also, by the way, today's the return date. That's why it would be great if you could head over the library, return it and then borrow it yourself".

"Are you delegating this to me because returning it is a bother?".

"Even if I return it myself, you're going to have to be present there at the library anyway, right? On the contrary, I think this is the right call to make in terms of efficiency".

She has a point. This would only relieve Horikita of the burden of having to return it herself. You need your student card to borrow a book and it's impossible for me to borrow it in someone else's name. On the other hand, you don't need anything to return the book.

"Of course, if you refuse then I'll just have to head over to the library and return it myself. But I won't know when this popular and in-demand book will fall into your hands again though. I don't mind having to waste my time heading over to the library".

But that's inefficient, isn't it? That's the sort of unrelenting pressure I feel battering me.

I wonder if this is Horikita's kindness towards someone wanting to read the book like me.

"...alright. I'll happily accept it".

"I'll leave it to you".

After saying that, Horikita handed the book over to me.

"I don't mind when you go as long as you do it today during either lunch break or after school. But do make sure to do it. If I get an overdue notice, you'll be taking responsibility for it".

"I know that".

I've never borrowed a book from the library before but I understand the process itself.

Borrowing is free of charge but you'll have private points deducted if you're overdue. That's how it works.

"Strike while the iron is hot. I'm going now".

This would put Horikita at ease too and it's better this way not prolonging this troublesome matter.