Girl Next Door

Chapter Thirty-One

Meanwhile, Ichiro and Yukie, both being bibliophiles, went into the bookstore to go read, and if possible, buy, some interesting new books. Ichiro was interested in literature, and Yukie in technical texbooks, so the two decided to split up.

"I'll be in the literature section if you need anything," said Ichiro with a small smile.

"All right," said Yukie in a soft voice. "I'll be at the texbook section."

Then the two went their separate ways for now. Ichiro walked over to the literature section of the bookstore. He saw many genres of literary pieces in that section, from romance to drama and psychological thrillers and so on. But what Ichiro liked most was poetry. He looked around for Edgar Allan Poe and William Wordsworth and many other famous works. Then he caught sight of a thick book entitled The Best of Poetry: A Compilation of Poems by History's Most Famous Bards. He pulled it out of its shelf and marveled at the contents.

Meantime Yukie was in the textbook section, looking for some interesting courses like chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. She was quite an intelligent girl, getting the highest marks in her class in her freshman year, and all that comes from her obsession with reading. This also forced Yukie to go on and become a member of Yoshiba's library committee. There she can read in peace as well as spread awareness on the importance of the library in the lives of her fellow students.

Yukie pulled out several books from their shelves, then sat on the floor and read them one by one. She started with grammar, then mathematics, science, art and so on. She took about an hour to read all the books she could possibly read and understood them all with no problem at all.

After reading about sixteen to seventeen textbooks, Yukie properly put them back where she got them from, then went off to meet Ichiro. She walked hastily through the store, searching aisle by aisle until she found him reading off the entire volume he had been reading for an hour and a half.

"Ah, Nakamura-san," said Ichiro as he looked up from the book and noticed Yukie. "I-I'm sorry I kept you waiting." He hastily put the book back in its shelf.

"N-No, I was just finished reading all I could," Yukie replied with a smile.

"So... Have you found anything you like to buy?" asked Ichiro.

"Um, yes, actually," replied Yukie. She showed him a book entitled Culinary Expertise in Your Own Home.

"Culinary Expertise in Your Own Home?" asked Ichiro wonderingly. "Why, if I may ask?"

"Oh, um... Well, I... I really want to know more about how to make wonderful dishes at home," answered Yukie, twirling a strand of her dark purple hair.

"I see," replied Ichiro. Then he paused for a moment.

"A-Are you sure you want this?" he said.

"Well... yes," replied Yukie.

He paused for another moment. His thoughts were conflicting in his head. Part of him wanted to buy the book for her, but part of him also hesitated. Then he made up his mind.

"I-I'll go buy it for you, if you want," he said with a sheepish smile.

Yukie's gasped at that. "N-No, it's okay! You don't have to."

"B-But I insist," said Ichiro, looking away. "I understand your love for books and... I want you to realize that.

Yukie looked at him with earnest. "Toyama-kun..."

Ichiro then turned and walked over to the counter and handed the book to the cashier.

"That will be ¥489.25," said the cashier. Ichiro handed her the cash, then received the book wrapped in a paper bag.