I’m Back in the First Grade of Elementary School, so I’m Going to Live Well

She enjoys reading while being illuminated by the sunset coming through the window.

It was a picture-perfect scene, like a painting.

I was almost sucked in, but I looked away before I could even turn my feet.

No, no, no, no. I don’t want to get too close when I have no business being there.

Besides, Mizui-san seems to be engrossed in her book with a serious look on her face.

If I approach her, it might interfere with her reading.

I think I’ll just leave her alone.

――But what on earth is she reading?

I tried not to interfere, but my intellectual curiosity drove me to show an unintentional interest.

I was more than a little curious about what kind of books Mizui-san, so mature, was reading.

Judging from the size and thinness of the book, was it a picture book?

Mizui-san seems to be reading more mature and pure literature.

However, I almost forgot that she is a first grader.

There’s no way she would feel uncomfortable with children reading books for children.

It’s not good to say things based on the image alone.

I thought it would be bad to peek at her too much, so I quickly turned around to leave the place.

“Crash!”

Oh, no…!

I didn’t notice the book truck behind me on the right, and I twisted my body and hit my hip at the same time.

In the silent library, the sound echoed throughout the room.

It hurt, of course, but there was something more important to keep in mind.

“……? W-Who’s there?”

It was Mizui-san.

She was engrossed in reading, but her concentration was cut short by the sound, and she looked in the direction of the sound.

Her movements were so agile that I didn’t have time to run or hide and was caught in her sight.

When Mizui-san noticed my presence, she was quick enough to hide the picture book she was holding behind her back without me noticing.

I’m already looking at her, and it would be even more unnatural if I were to pounce now.

It’s not like I was doing anything that bad. I’ll just be honest and tell them what happened and apologize.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your reading.”

I had interrupted Mizui-san’s reading, but there was no one else in the room except for her and me, so there was no further damage.

The only thing that happened was that a few books fell off the book truck.

It was not a situation that would disrupt my normal mind or cause me to panic.

It’s not only me, but she should be the same.

――But Mizui-san was extremely upset.

She was in a panic, like a murderer who had been seen at the scene of a murder.

But I don’t understand.

What on earth was she so upset about?

I wasn’t doing anything wrong, nor was I licking the vertical flute of the girl I liked, so I should be proud of myself.

However, Mizui-san seems to have judged this situation as “very bad” and his face shows a hint of confusion.

“What should I do…? I think I’ve been seen…”

I can’t quite hear what she’s saying, but she seems to be muttering something to herself.

“I’m sorry if I offended you in any way. I didn’t mean to peek.”

“No, no. It’s not your fault, Itosaki-kun. It was my fault for being distracted by my reading…”

She seemed to be in a hurry to explain herself.

But I couldn’t understand the reason at all.

I’m not so indifferent to others that I don’t care what they’re upset about.

But to pry too much is an act of disrespect.

The fact that Mizui-san was upset was probably something she didn’t want me to know.

If that’s the case, the best thing to do is not to interfere.

There’s a saying that what you don’t know is what you get.

Let’s quickly retreat.

I don’t have the nerve to look around for a book in this awkward space.

“So, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go…”

I said in a respectful tone, but I carefully walked backward to leave the library.

Then… 

“W-Wait!”

Mizui-san stops me with a slightly raised voice.

The words came out of nowhere and were much louder than I expected. I jumped.

She looked puzzled as she looked left and right and seemed to be debating whether or not to open her mouth.

Since she stopped me, I stayed where I was and waited for Mizui-san’s next words.

“D-Did you see…?”

She asked me.

“Did I see… what?”

“… No, I mean…  how should I put it?”

She is choking on some words.

But she certainly seems to have decided to ask, and soon starts talking again.

“――I-I’ve been reading… that, you know, book…”

Books?

The book is the one Mizui-san was reading just now.

“You mean the picture book?”

“――!”

She jumped as if she had been hit on the mark.

I could tell that she was upset anyway, a mixture of frustration and shame.

But what does a picture book have to do with being upset?

I can’t read her intentions, I just can’t figure it out.

“I see, you’ve already seen it…”

She muttered to herself, as if her frustration had turned to resignation.

She takes one deep breath as if to make up her mind, and turns her gaze, which had been distracted by her shock, towards me.

The seriousness of her gaze made me feel a little nervous for a moment.

What the hell is she going to say to me?

Amid all this tension, Mizui-san confesses.

“――I like… picture books.”

…………?