"...That really is amazing," Sū ěr murmured instinctively.
He had already certified this shrine as a place hiding secrets. Given that premise, anything out of the ordinary was suspicious.
How long had this tree been growing? Centuries? Millennia? Tens of thousands of years? What had it witnessed in all that time?
Wait, why hadn't it developed into a spirit?
Suddenly noticing this, Sū ěr remembered his bamboo house which had gained a spirit in just a few months. Even without such luck, an ancient tree should have developed some spirituality... did it have unique abilities?
"Can you see it, Sir?" The braided girl asked curiously, tilting her head.
"Huh? Of course not. I can only see its crown from here," Sū ěr replied, waving his hand.
"Hmm, but that crown is interlaced with the surrounding trees," she mused. This girl was unexpectedly sharp.
"I can imagine it," Sū ěr shrugged. "Aside from the Goshinboku, is there anything else special?"
"It seems not... Sorry for not being able to help you." Despite just meeting a random person on the street, the girl was apologizing. Sū ěr could tell it wasn't just a surface-level social grace, but a sincere apology from the heart.
"No, no, no, there's absolutely no need to apologize for that. It's a bit scary," Sū ěr said, rubbing his arms.
"Scary?" Surprised by such an evaluation of her apology, she tilted her head. "Why?"
"Well, it just is?" Sū ěr was a bit stumped. "Look, if you apologize for everything, doesn't it make the apology feel cheap? I don't mean your apology is cheap, of course—I truly appreciate your kindness... cough. Anyway, if someone apologizes too frequently, it makes people wonder what that person is actually hiding."
Sū ěr believed that good people existed—the kind who felt genuine guilt for being unable to help others—but he simply couldn't adapt to it.
"Making an apology cheap? Hmm... there is some truth to that. It's not impossible to understand." Even having her behavior critiqued by a stranger she just met didn't make her angry. The braided girl had an unexpectedly good temper; she even agreed with Sū ěr.
"It's just a personal opinion. Don't take it too seriously," Sū ěr said, nodding. "In any case, thank you for taking the time to explain these things to a stranger. Can I ask one last question?"
In Japan, a country where interpersonal social rules are complex to the point of being perverse, two strangers who just met shouldn't be exchanging views on the philosophy of life. Usually, "talking deeply on a shallow acquaintance" is a major social taboo. But perhaps due to Sū ěr status as a foreigner, or the fact that the girl was extraordinary herself, their conversation was surprisingly devoid of friction.
"Of course, please ask. If it's something I know, I will tell you everything," she said politely.
"Where is the city library?"
While there were many other questions he could ask, Sū ěr didn't want to keep wasting the time of this kind passerby. Her kindness wasn't a license for him to be reckless. He would get the rest of his information from the library.
He had made up his mind to leave once he got the location, but he didn't expect the girl to see through him.
"Are you planning to say goodbye and then ask another person?" Pushing up her glasses, the girl asked calmly. Her large round frames didn't make her look dull; instead, they added a scholarly air. "That would be more troublesome, wouldn't it?"
"..."
'Mind reading?'
Though he knew it was impossible, the thought flickered through Sū ěr mind. The last person who gave him that feeling was the white-haired Werebeast.
[Are you an idiot?]
The Great Master Nirvalen gave her critique.
"Actually, I'm heading to the library now. If you don't mind, I can take you there," she said generously, gesturing with her bag.
"Don't Japanese students have various club activities after school?" Sū ěr paused for a moment.
"Mhm. Going to the library to read is my club activity."
"Doesn't your school have a library?"
"The collection in the school library is limited, after all. I finished reading everything there the month before last."
"Impressive."
"Thank you."
Sū ěr offered the praise, and she accepted the thanks.
"Alright, then I'll trouble you," Sū ěr nodded. "Then, er..."
Stuck for a moment, Sū ěr realized that in his haste to ask questions, he hadn't asked her name.
"Hanekawa Tsubasa. Just call me Hanekawa," she provided perfectly. She even chose the shorter address for the foreign tourist.
"Hanekawa, then. My name is Sū ěr. Let's add the local custom—please take care of me ."
"The pleasure is mine."
In Sū ěr eyes, this city wasn't large, but the library was built unexpectedly grand. Tall bookshelves and categorized sections filled the space; even though it was huge, it didn't feel empty. Books and periodicals were numerous but perfectly organized. His first impression was excellent.
Hanekawa Tsubasa seemed to be a regular. She greeted the librarian with familiarity, naturally led Sū ěr to several books he wanted, and then sat down at a window seat.
There weren't many people, but weren't few either. Scattered readers sat with their books in a quiet atmosphere. Influenced by this, Hanekawa instinctively lightened her movements.
"...Is there something I should be aware of?" Closing a book he had just opened, Sū ěr looked at the girl opposite him with a bit of speechlessness.
She had also chosen a book for herself. Analyzing the title, it was the kind of book parents in his first life would categorize as "distraction" or "trivial reading"—completely unrelated to studying. But Hanekawa opened it to a specific page; she had clearly been reading this before.
However, she wasn't reading it now. Instead, she was looking thoughtfully at the large pile of books beside Sū ěr.