The seasons changed and it was winter.

Nagasaki rarely snowed, but it felt colder than Tokyo. Was is because it was on the side facing towards the Sea of Japan?

It didn’t rain as much as I had expected.

Although the weather was cloudy, the rain I expected never fell.

 

After such a long time, it finally rained.

University finished at 4pm, but I contacted the Owner and asked if I could go over sooner. He replied right away and said that I could.

 

As I climbed up the Dutch Slope in the rain, I noticed the back of someone I knew.

It was–

 

「Nanase-san!」

 

I called out before running a short distance to her.

Nanase-san turned around with a surprised expression before calling my name with a beautiful smile.

 

「Ah, Hidaka-san, it’s been a long time. Did you lose your breath running here?」

「No!」

「You’re young~.」

「Nanase-san is also young.」

「I’m happy. Hearing such things as a forty year old aunt.」

 

……Forty years old!? Nanase-san??

I was surprised, but didn’t shout that out.

I was really surprised because I thought that Nanase-san was about thirty. Is Nanase-san a creature they call a beautiful witch?

 

「I’m told I look young for someone my age.」

「No, no, that’s……how should I say it.」

 

Nanase-san started to walk with a smile and a ‘Fufufu~’.

Our destination was the same place. Of course, it was the Evening Rain cafe.

I walked up the slope while running out of breath and finally arrived.

 

When I said ‘pardon me’ at the entrance, the door immediately opened.

When he saw me, the Owner’s cheeks slackened, but he was surprised to see Nanase-san.

 

「Sensei, you don’t have to be so surprised.」

「Weren’t you coming tomorrow?」

「It’s because I have some free time.」

 

Somehow, it felt like the two of them were talking about something secret and I felt a little uncomfortable.

 

「That said, when Hidaka-san called for you, you came out right away. Even when I call, you don’t come out so quickly.」

「That is–」

 

If he was called out by a beautiful woman like Nanase-san, he might not have the courage to come out so easily. I understood those feelings well.

The Owner seemed to be at a loss at the sudden complaint. Nanase-san smiled and said ‘That’s fine, isn’t it?’.

 

「Um, let’s not talk while standing~~.」

 

The conversation started to progress, but I suggested we rest inside. Nanase-san had also walked up the slope and looked a little tired.

 

The owner pushed the door open and welcomed us in.

 

I guided Nanase-san to a seat.

The menu, tables and other items hadn’t been prepared yet.

 

「Owner, should I make some coffee or something?」

「No, it’s fine. Stay here.」

「Okay.」

 

Like that, I was alone with Nanase-san.

She invited me to sit opposite her, so I accepted and sat down.

 

「Hidaka-san, is university fun?」

「Yes, very!」

「That’s good~.」

 

Nanase-san said that she didn’t have that interesting of a campus life, she had been crazy about books as a student and hadn’t had a student-like youthful experience.

 

「I’ve always loved books so much that my parents told me I was strange.」

「I think that the desire is wonderful.」

「Thank you.」

 

I think that her love of books was great and because she grew up like that, she became the editor of a publisher.

 

「I wanted to see the manuscripts as soon as possible, so I would rush to the writers homes to get them.」

「It’s like the editors of the old days.」

「Yes. And maybe it was a bit of a dream come true.」

 

I often saw editors to go to the homes of writers to wait for manuscripts in novels or animations from the Showa era.

 

「Nanase-san’s writer is in Nagasaki right?」

「Yes, that’s is correct.」

 

In the middle of our discussion, the Owner came back with drinks.

There was hot chocolate on the tray, giving off a sweet scent. He placed one in front of me without a sound in a polite manner.

 

「Uwa, thank you!」

 

Nanase-san had a coffee.

A usual, the Owner just looked down at us without sitting down.

 

Holding the cup with both hands, my fingers, which had gotten cold from the rain, gradually warmed up.

 

I took a sip after the hot chocolate, which had been steaming, cooled down.

It had a sweet, relaxed and gentle taste.

Nanase-san sipped her coffee without any sugar.

While I was watching her elegant gestures of placing her cup on the saucer, she suddenly spoke to me.

 

「That’s right, Hidaka-san, have you read the new Detective Nakajima Karuko book?」

「Of course!」

 

The latest volume of the “Detective Nakijima Kaoru” series was released earlier this month! Of course, I made a reservation at the bookstore and read it the day it arrived.

 

「How was it?」

「It was really interesting! The last scene at the cliff was very impactful!」

「I heard that Shinonome-sensei actually went to see the cliffs.」

「Heh, was that so? To collect information while writing a story to give a sense of realism, it’s hard for writers to write stories.」

「Y-Yes……」

 

I was so excited that Nanase-san laughed at me.

For some reason, the Owner cleared his throat and apologised saying ‘Hidaka-san, I’m sorry’. Although it was unexpected, I shook my head.

 

「That’s right, I brought something nice today.」

「?」

 

It seems the “something nice” was for me and not the Owner.

What on earth is it?

Nanase-san gave me something wrapped in brown paper.

From it’s heavy weight, I knew it was a hardcover book.

When I opened it up, my heart pounded.

 

「T-This is–!」

 

Inside the package was the newest volume from Shinonome-sensei, which was only meant to be released at the end of the month!!

I was looking forward to the release of two books this month, but to have it before the release date–.

 

「Don’t tell anyone else. It’s only available to people involved.」

「N-No way, for me to have this.」

「It’s fine. It’s because Hidaka-san is famous among the staff working with Shinonome-sensei.」

「Huh……, why is that?」

「Because there aren’t many people who continue to send fan letters for 10 years.」

「Ah, now that you say that.」

 

Every time Shinonome-sensei’s books came out, I would send a letter with my impressions.

No way, editor-san know about me.

 

「That’s why, this is a thank you gift.」

「T-Thank you very much. I’m very honoured and happy.」

 

I embraced the book tightly.

I almost cried.

 

「Actually, I heard that they were talking about giving you a signed book, but Shinonome-sensei was embarrassed.」

「No, no, that is……!」

「I’m sure sensei is grateful as well.」

「I’m just one of the many fans.」

「Yes, but I think the old fans are special.」

「I am very honoured.」

「Mukai-sensei, you think so as well right?」

 

Nanase-san suddenly asked the Owner, who had been ignored until now.

Because he didn’t reply, I also looked at the Owner.

Then, our eyes met.

 

「Owner?」

 

He immediately looked away, so I asked if there was anything wrong.

His face looked all red.

 

「Are you okay? Your face looks red.」

「It’s nothing.」

「But.」

「I said it was nothing!」

 

He pushed down my shoulders with a disgruntled look as he refused to answer.

I was a bit shocked.

For some reason, Nanase-san hurriedly broke in between us.

 

「I’m sorry! I was just teasing you.」

 

Nanase-san bowed her head towards me.

It seems she had made a joke that only the two of them knew about.

Needless to say, I felt excluded.

 

After that, Nanase-san apologised and said that she had to head back to her hotel.

Being alone with the Owner made be slightly uncomfortable.

The rain stopped shortly after I washed the dishes.

Looking up information online, I found that it wasn’t going to rain again tonight.

 

「Well, I guess I should go home then~.」

 

I bowed to the Owner and turned around, but he grabbed my arm.

 

「I’ll send you back.」

「No, no need. You don’t look so well.」

「Don’t worry about it.」

 

Since he said that much, I couldn’t decline.

Although it was still bright, the Owner said that he would send me back, and not Nanase-san.

 

This, I wondered what it was.

I hadn’t thought about it at all, he tried really hard to be kind to me.

 

I thought about that as I descended the rain soaked slopes of Nagasaki in the Owner’s car.

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