Chapter 183
Legendary Sword
The first thing that came to my mind when I heard the phrase "Literature Club" was the sight of people sitting silently and reading books in a quiet place. Although this club was familiar to me, its activities still remained a mystery to me. Although this extracurricular activity is a group of volunteers, they also do creative activities such as making picture books. It's true that there was a Literature Club in this school in the past, but it seems to have disappeared due to lack of activity. It's like a work circle activity. The fact that they were able to secure a spot at the Cultural Festival and organize an event like this can already be considered a major breakthrough.
"It's quite crowded here!"
"It's a picture book, isn't it?"
I don't know if it's fair to say it was a customer base, but there were a lot of small children in the multi-purpose hall used by literary circles. The room was filled with high-pitched voices chanting "Kya — no, kya — no, kya — no!" which made me nostalgic. Now I understand why they didn't hold this event in the library.
From the looks of it, there were four elite members of this club here: a girl senpai from the third year, two senpai from the second year consisting of a boy and a girl, and there was also a boy from the first year. The patrons probably felt more like artsy people than nerds, and they seemed to be busy answering questions from the mothers and these children's innocent behavior.
"Oh. They say this is a corner of works that have won awards in the past."
"Awards? For our high school?"
"Yeah, it sounds like it... ...Eh? I think I might know this book..."
"Oh! I've seen it too!"
"Me too, though..."
This book is titled "Otete no Wan-Wan (There's a Doggy in Front of You)". Told in the style of a light novel, it tells the story of a dog who uses his fingers to express himself appearing in the real world and playing with a girl who feels lonely when she is away from her family. After playing with each other for a while, the girl wakes up in her mother's arms and realizes that it was all a dream. However, when she looks before her eyes, she sees the dog that appeared in her dream...! The picture book ends with an interesting story: From that day on, the girl had a new family member.
"I think... ...I remember that I read this book when I was in kindergarten. I remember that it was very popular and people fought over it..."
"Me too. I remember reading that book and I begged Dad if I wanted to get a dog."
"...Maybe that's why you don't have a single dog in your house."
The fact that many local people are dog lovers may be due to the influence of this one picture book. I became a cat lover because I was influenced by a manga. Big Sis said that she would get a Persian cat if she had the money and if she became a celebrity, so I guess she's a cat lover too — And Big Sis is also good at playing cat and mouse with me.
"Do you have a preference for Ai-chan?"
"She's five years old now... ...I think she might prefer picture books for the advanced level."
"W-Well...? For the advanced level?"
For the advanced level...? No, I was just thinking about something stupid like playing cat-and-mouse and other nonsense, so I thought of weird things. I had the image of Big Sis doing a German suplex mysteriously appear in my mind. Okay, that's it...!
"Heh... ...how about an adventure story?"
"I think she might like the book, but she might not like books that don't have too many pictures... ...the story of a child and an animal exploring the world... ...Do you think it's interesting?"
"Yeah. I wonder if they have any picture books... ...about it here?"
"In that case, why don't we join the children there and choose one of those books?"
"Do you think it would be better if I used a higher voice?"
"Why should you bother to make your voice sound younger?"
While I was saying this, we approached the corner where the volunteer boys were busy, but when a little girl noticed our arrival, she put on a surprised expression and moved away from the corner. Just now... ...did she see us?
"I scared you, didn't I?"
"If it was just the volunteers it would be fine, but here are three random high school kids approaching me from behind."
"Do you want us to leave? From this school."
"You're too shocked."
I'm not talking about the fact that I ran away just because she was scared because we approached her, or the fact that I'm no good at handling children anymore. Whenever Airi-chan sees me, she also immediately attacks me as if to say "Take this, serves you right, Monster...!". I see... ...I can't hide my potential, which was (forcibly) pulled out of me by Big Sis in front of an innocent toddler. All of you... ...don't end up like me...!
Hmm, I'd find it easier to handle them if they were a bit more aggressive.
Unlike the previous award-winning works, the other picture books were arranged in a messy state, either propped up on the bookshelf above the long table or left unattended beside it. They were placed on a luxurious and mysterious satin cloth, making them look like treasures. Could there be a real masterpiece hidden there...?
I talked to a male classmate of mine who, like me, wasn't very close to children.
"There are tons of kids here."
"Seriously. Although I had no intention of putting these picture books to the competition, I wrote these books based on my impulses."
"Heh... ...Oh. I think this is a book for the boys."
"Oh, that's..."
That book is called..., ... "Legendary Sword".
In ancient times, there was an evil being named Maō who had been resurrected and wanted to take over the world. Many people fought against Maō, but no one could defeat him. Then, one day, in a rural village, there was a hero who rose.
As the hero woke up on the edge of life, he began searching for an electric sword to defeat Maō. As he headed towards the royal city, he heard a girl scream in the forest. —
"...This is.—"
"Um... ...That book was made around 2003, wasn't it?"
"Oh..."
That was a long time ago — So... ...This is indeed a legendary book.
As I flipped through the pages, I found an illustration of a beautiful girl that was too similar to the style of Shounen manga to be a picture book illustration. Just by looking at that illustration alone, a feeling of nostalgia instantly enveloped my heart.
In a sense, you could say that I might have found a treasure. It was indeed the size of a picture book, and mysteriously thick for a picture book, and despite the irregular structure of the hiragana, I thought it was very precious. This made me want to delve further into Am*zon to unravel its mysteries.
"..."
The name of that legendary sword is "Excalibur".
As a fellow boy, I admire the author's courage in bequeathing this work to his alma mater. I hope this book will not be sold and will continue to be passed down in the future. I put it back carefully on the satin cloth so as not to damage the paper by touching it unnecessarily.
"Hey, look, Aichi. There's a picture book about a toddler girl who falls in love with a very handsome prince who tells her she's a cute girl."
"Put it back."
Literature Club... ...This was a club activity that no longer exists, but had a long history.
♦
"I think I now know what kind of picture books will win awards!"
"I don't think it's just about writing texts for all ages..."
"I think the stories of these books are fresh and interesting, though... ...But that kind of thing isn't good enough either."
Natsukawa said so while carrying a cute handbag, exclusive to our school. Inside the bag, there were two picture books. Although the story was ordinary, she said that she was interested in the illustrations of the animals, which were more beautiful and had thinner lines than typical picture books. She was satisfied and thought Airi-chan would be happy with these books.
"Where are we going next?"
"I don't mind if we go there later, but I want to watch the fashion show event organized by the Handicraft and Fashion Club held in the gymnasium."
"Wow, Sajocchi, you want to watch the girls' performance when you're with us?"
"No, that girl asked me to choose her. If you guys had the chance, you would want to watch it too, right? If you want to have fun, why don't you install the voting app from the pamphlet this time?"
"Even if that girl asked you to vote for her, it must be a complete joke... ...So, what kind of contest setting is it?"
"I don't think she'll be chosen as Miss Kōetsu."
First of all, I was told by her that most of the contestants were third-year senpai-s. Yeah, this is something you do to commemorate your last day of high school. The first-year girls who jump in and participate, like Young Lady Shinonome, must have mental steel. She was a blonde half-Japanese, and from the Fashion Club's point of view, she was the best model they ever had.
"But... ...I think we still have a little time before the show."
Natsukawa said, looking at the event section of the pamphlet. Since she answered like that it meant that she wasn't against my idea of going to watch the fashion show together.
"Oh! Then, let's go to the Handicraft Club first! It says 'Handicraft Club Project', but it's probably about accessories, right?"
"What do you think? How about we go there?"
"'Sajocchi is coming with us too!"
"What? Is there currently a system where every time I go somewhere with you guys, I will also be judged on whether or not I am one of your friends?"
Do I only function as a helper for a lost party? But yesterday, I was on the other party. Just leave the tank to me to deal with that. I was confident in my ability to take a beating.
I hurried to follow Ashida as she left in high spirits. She did target it before we planned to visit the Literature Club, didn't she? She must have read the atmosphere and gave Natsukawa a chance to lead the way.
Handicraft Club, huh? This is indeed different from the Literature Club that we just visited. This one seems to be more involved in everything related to fabrics. I guess that's why they separate Handicrafts and Fashion, even though they're in the same club. Also, all the people from this club seem to have a lot of girl power. Am I a an idiot for expecting silver accessories?
"—H-Hey."
"Hmm? Oh..."
I felt a push on my arm from the side and made me look up, and I found that it was Natsukawa. She had a pale look on her face like the one she had before we went to the picture book stall. I wasn't too helpless, or rather it was because I was too close to her that it made my heart skip a beat. It was a pressure on my heart that outweighed my excitement, wasn't it?
"You just said... ...that 'That girl asked me directly to choose her'."
"Y-Yeah...? Oh, you were talking about the fashion show, huh...?"
I panicked... ...I was a bit surprised when Natsukawa suddenly said something about me choosing someone... ...That girl has been playing with my heart since a while ago. But I know that girls who do that naturally are not witches, but rather they are good girls.
"Is she... ...your Big Sis?"
"No, it's not her, though..."
"Eh...?"
Big Sis would never organize a contest like that, and I don't think she would even expect me to vote for her. Although Big Sis is indeed the current Student Council Vice President, but back then she was a yankee girl in her shadow — Big Sis is not the kind of girl who wants to impress others and stand out.
"Th-Then, is she Shinomiya-senpai? Or maybe the other members of the Disciplinary Committee...?"
"Oh, no, that girl is not a senpai. That girl is from the same school year as us."
"From the same school year as us...?"
"You see, before the summer vacation. There was a blonde half-Japanese young lady who got first place on our school year, right?"
I wonder if I've ever met someone with such features. That young lady somehow had more distinctive features than anyone else. Big Sis did show great hatred for that young lady, but perhaps it was also a phobia of the same race as herself, who used to have the same blonde hair.
"A blonde half-Japanese... ...young lady...?"
"She does look good as a model, doesn't she? I think she has the facial features of a westerner. It's true that just because someone looks like that girl, the fashion show will give you the impression that it's a Parisian fashion show and make it seem even more amazing."
"...Who is she, huh?"
You're kidding me, right?
TL Note: TL Note: Trivia: This chapter was released in 2022, and it's the first time when the Author tried to promote the release of the Light Novel Volume 6. Even though Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 aren't out yet, I think it's a good opportunity for me to promote the Official English of the Light Novel Volume 1, you can purchase it on pre-sale by clicking here:
https://www.monogatari-novels.com/the-dreaming-boy-is-a-realist-vol-1/
You could support the author and the illustrator by purchasing this physical and digital version Official English version of the Light Novel Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
