Translator here. I know I said Iād post 5 others, but Iām feeling much more tired than I thought I was, so there will be more delay. Sorry mpk. Anyways hereās MCās worries and hope you guys enjoy it.
Not limited to light novels, when the series we like, such as anime and manga, end, we all feel a sense of relief, happiness and loss, either big or small. The longer youāve been with it, the larger the impact it has on you.
Right now, at Saitoās house, I was experiencing this feeling.
(Aahhh, this is the end of this series. It was fun, but I canāt read it anymoreā¦)
I started reading at her house, and the number of books I read per day obviously increased. As a result, I had finished the entirety of my favorite series.
There were a lot of books I liked, but this series was particularly interesting and I had a special attachment to it, so I was sad to see it end.
Of course, I felt refreshed after reading everything, but my sense of loss was stronger than that. I couldnāt help but let out a small sigh of loneliness.
[Have you finished reading?]
She mustāve heard my sigh, because she called out to me. When I turned to her, she had closed her book, looked up, and our eyes met.
[Yeah, wellā¦]
[ā¦Are you not feeling good? Ah, is it because the series ended with that volume?]
She noticed I was acting strangely, and lowered her eyebrows a little, looking at me with concern. She glanced at the book in my hand and guessed why I was depressed.
[Yes, thatās right. I knew it was interesting and I liked it, so it was even moreā¦]
[I understand! I canāt help but feel sad when my favorite work is over]
When I replied lazily, she agreed with me in an unusually strong tone. Her voice was so strong that it lingered in my ears.
She also likes reading, so she mustāve felt the same way. [I canāt get used to this feelingā¦] she muttered and nodded.
[Exactly. Itās nice to be able to read a story all the way through, but itās still sad to see it endā¦]
Even as I talked, my mood didnāt return to normal, and another sigh came out of my mouth. The sense of āitās overā stayed in my heart, and my mood didnāt recover.
As I looked down at the cover of the book, immersed in the bitter aftertaste, I suddenly noticed something.
(Huh? This means I have no more reason to be involved with Saito anymoreā¦)
I forgot in my agony, but the original reason why me and Saito are involved with each other is to lend and borrow books. As an extension of that, Iām now allowed to be in her house.
But now that I finished reading the series, it means thereās no longer a reason to be involved with her anymore, and I was struck with a different type of loss.
[Whatās wrong?]
[No, itās nothingā¦]
She tilted her head and stared at me curiously, which probably meant I was showing it on my face, so I hurried to deny it. But maybe because I was so upset, my voice sounded weak and lacking in energy.
I couldnāt talk to her anymore if this relationship was over. If I wanted to, I could, but I wonāt be able to talk to her everyday like I used to. The thought of that made my heart ache terribly.
When I first got involved with her, I thought it was just a relationship of lending and borrowing books, but it looks like I valued this more than I thought.
Itās regrettable that it had to end, and I felt a strong drive to prevent it from ending.
[This is the end of our relationship, right?], but I couldnāt find the courage to say it and my mouth didnāt open. I tried over and over, but I couldnāt do it. Only silence remained.
When I froze, unable to ask, she politely put her hand on mine and offered me a book that was on the desk.
[Tanaka-kun, I believe this is your next book, right?]
[ā¦Eh?]
The book she mentioned was the first volume of the series sheās been reading lately.
When I stared at her, dumbfounded and unsure, I saw her surprised and puzzled face.
[Eh? Didnāt I promise to lend you this one next?]
I was curious about the book she was reading, so I asked her about it at the end of the year, and I remembered that I had promised to borrow it after I finished the series I was reading.
The fact that I could interact with her again filled my heart with joy. I was so happy that my voice became loud and I hurriedly accepted the book she offered to me.
[A-Ahh! Thatās right! Iāll borrow it. Thanks!]
[No, youāre welcome]
Perhaps she was relieved I received it properly, her expression softened and she smiled.
The way she laughed and smiled was so attractive I couldnāt help but be fascinated, and I felt my heart throbbing with joy.
(Well, Iām still glad we can still continueā¦ this relationship)
I was inwardly relieved that I didnāt have to end my relationship with her yet. Looking at her peaceful smile, I let out a small sigh of relief.