Volume 1 Chapter 6.5 - The Starry Romantic

Chapter 6.5.

The Starry Romantic

[Stars...]

~Three days before the conversation with Akemi~

(That is, three days before the events of the first chapter.)

The stars. So bright and so far away. From the roof of the Ieda family's mansion, you could see all the indescribably beautiful starry sky. This roof was where Kenta often hung out, taking a break from all the hustle and bustle and just relaxing under the starry sky. He loved to pick up his favorite novel, climb on the roof of the estate, read and admire the stars. How soothing those glittering orbs glowing in the sky.

I have to say, Kenta loved to read novels. He read them very often: at recess between classes, at home, on the rooftop, on his way home. He loved to feel the beauty of the story he was reading; to empathize with the characters that appeared in the novel; to see how the main characters came out of seemingly difficult situations. So when any novel he was reading came to an end, Kenta was a little sad and missed the main characters he had grown accustomed to over the course of his reading.

Sitting under the starry sky on the roof of Ieda Manor, Kenta turned the last page of his book, looked wistfully up at the night sky, and slowly and wistfully, as if he didn't want to do that, closed the book.

"Here is the end. Strangely, there is a slight sense of incompleteness. It's as if the story of the main characters isn't over yet."

Kenta returned to his room. He turned on the light and sat down at his desk.

"Okay." - decided Kenta - "Maybe there's another volume of this novel. It's worth a look."

Kenta typed the query into the search engine from the computer on his desk. To Kenta's surprise, there was indeed a second volume, that has been released few days ago .

"Wow, there is a second volume! That changes everything. I'll go to the bookstore tomorrow and buy it."

After these reflections, Kenta went to bed with a pleasant feeling, as if he would get to decorate with the colors of his favorite novel for another week. Evening prayer was something that ordinary Japanese high school students didn't do, but Kenta, being the good Christian he had become thanks to his aunt, loved these gentle half hours spent in conversation with the Creator.

In the morning, Kenta, as usual, got ready, ate, and went to school. At school, he decided to read the last chapter of the first volume of his favorite novel one more time to refresh his memory before reading the new volume.

- Wow... Ieda-kun, are you reading "I Met Her Under the Cherry Tree"?

- Ah... Nakahara-san, what are you doing in our class?

- I came by to see what you were doing.

- I?

- Yes, you. After all, you helped me a lot in rehearsal last time, so I also wanted to give you this.

Nakahara held out her hand, which held an invitation to a film screening by the film club at the next cultural festival. Kenta, though he didn't remember how he helped Nakahara, did help her out a couple of days ago at the film club rehearsal when he unknowingly gave Nakahara the idea for one of the scenes.

- Thank you so much. I'll definitely be there.

- Of course, I look forward to it.

Nakahara ran happily to her classroom, and Kenta continued reading, but suddenly, the bell rang, and the lesson began.

After all the lessons, Kenta got ready as quickly as he could, left the school and walked towards the bookstore. However, a disappointment awaited him at the store.

- I'm sorry, boy, but all the books in the second volume of "I Met Her Under the Sakura" had already been bought out. The last copy was taken away by a girl a few minutes before you arrived.

- Okay, thank you very much.

Kenta was upset, but was not going to give up. He remembered that there was another bookstore near the subway station, and there were a couple more bookstores near the park. But they didn't please him there either. Kenta ran all over the city looking for the second volume, but he could not find it. It was evening, the sun had long gone down, and Kenta just waddled home, frustrated that he hadn't found what he wanted. He caught a glimpse of a familiar figure outside his house - it was a high school girl. She suddenly turned around, and at that moment, Kenta recognized her as Nakahara.

- What happened, Nakahara-san? Why are you standing outside my house?

- Hello, Ieda-kun. I wanted to give you something.

Her hands dipped into the school bag hanging on her shoulder, and then, slowly, she put her hand out with some book in her hand.

- I noticed that you really like this novel, so I want to give you the second volume. Here you go.

Kenta took the book from Nakahara's hands. On the cover was a title Kenta knew well: I Met Her Under the Cherry Tree.

- Nakahara-san, how is that? Where did you get it?

- I went to the bookstore near school and bought the last copy. I wanted to give it to you.

- Are you sure you want to give it to me?

- Of course I do, otherwise why would I buy it?

- Thank you very much, Nakahara-san. I owe you big time.

- You're welcome, Ieda-kun. I'm glad you like my gift. Well, I'm off.

- Nakahara-san... See you tomorrow.

- Yes, of course.

「That's how the story goes on」