The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend

“It’s been a while since I have seen Mr. Hafterry because he’s busy with work at the academy.”

It’s been quite a while since I have seen Mr. Hafterry, even though we live in the same house because he’s so busy. Mary couldn’t hide her apologetic feelings at my grumbling voice.

“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“No. I can’t help it if Mr. Hafterry is busy.”

Anyway, I was always trained with my busy father, so it was okay. Mary, unaware of that, apologized again and gave me the information I needed.

“Do you need data from the Taylon Kingdom? If you go to District 17, you’ll find something to see.”

Mary would even know the title of the book I need. But Miss Katie warned not to help me that far, so she always told me no more than she did. I was also trying to do as much as I could, fearing that if I got into the habit of getting things easily, I would only learn how to get things easily.

After looking at the title, I picked out a few books with great potential and read the table of contents first. And I picked a book that I thought I needed and sat down to read it.

At times like this, I miss the Internet, where I can get information through a search. Since the research had to be started from the ground up, just picking out the books you needed was a chore. I sat down and read through it at speed, but there was nothing satisfying.

I’ve already read ten books, so it must have been quite some time. My head was blank, and I was slowly getting hungry. But thinking it was too early to go home, I remembered the candy Uncle Popo had given me earlier, and I took it out and put it in my mouth.

It sweetly tickled the tip of my tongue and generated pleasant energy.

Rolling the candy in my mouth, I took a break. I was about to take out another book, but the title of a book a little above caught my eye.

『Taylon Diplomacy Introduction』

Oh oh! Isn’t the title intuitive! Why did I just discover that now? I reached out for the book that seemed to have the answers written on it. But my cursed height didn’t help me get that book easily.

It’s a really sad truth, but I haven’t grown very much in a year. While others say they were growing up, why was I not growing up? Even though I was saddened, I was too lazy to use a footrest, so I stretched out my hand with my tiptoe on.

“Got, got it!”

The spine of the book gently touched my index finger. Suddenly, the book came out slightly. The joy of victory came. I tapped it with my index finger as if digging up the book. It flinched and popped out, so I clung to it even more.

Even though I know that bringing a footrest and taking out the book can save time and physical labor, I somehow cling to it. My feet hurt, and my calves are tight. In addition, my neck hurt, my shoulders felt like they were going to break, and I felt muscle pain in my arms.

The book seemed to stick out enough for me to hold it in my hand, so I prepared to jump. I was thinking of jumping up and grabbing it and pulling it out.

I can succeed in one go! One, two, three! I counted the number in my head and ran. The book landed between my thumb and forefinger. I could have grabbed it, but the book jumped up as if the jump was too much. Where will the book that was not caught in my hand go?

As I landed on the floor, I had a feeling that the book would fall on my head.

What an idiot! Even though I cursed inside, my instinct was great. Since it was hardcover, I reflexively raised my arm to cover my head in anticipation of great pain.

Tak! Tak!

Suddenly, the sound of a book hitting something was heard. But I didn’t feel any pain. It was strange, so I slowly raised my head and felt someone from behind, so I turned my head.

The first thing that surprised me was the figure of someone standing close behind me. Being close and seeing the opponent’s chest, I raised my head more. I was surprised for the second time when I saw a man waving one arm as if he was in pain after being hit by a book instead of me.

“…What the hell are you doing?”