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Chapter 3 â First Year High School\nVolume 2\n<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">\n\nIt was our first day on duty.\n\n
The librarian lady, Noguchi-san, instructed us on various things.\n
After giving us an overview of what we usually do, she went on to explain the specifics.\n
âLending and borrowing are managed using a computer. Each book has a shelf number and a book number, which we enter and check off as checked out. The name and class of the person who borrowed the book are also entered. Isnât that simple?â\n
I thought she was an ostentatious speaker. However, the way she taught us was very polite.\n
She showed us the actual screen of the computer and asked us to try it out.\n
We did as we were told, and it was easy to learn.\n
âAfter that, all you have to do is blank them out upon return. Itâs a lot of manual work, but the system doesnât allow for automatic registration with barcodes. This is the way it has to be if we want to manage it digitally.â\n
Not many people borrow books in the first place, Noguchi-san added. Then she pointed to a cardboard box near the counter.\n
âAlso, we just got a new book in. These books will need a few things done to them. I explained it to you yesterday, remember?â\n
Fujisaki next to me nodded.\n
âYou decide which shelf and which number to put the book in, and then you issue a sticker. Then you put a transparent book cover on top of it. âŚâŚâ\n
âThatâs right. You remembered it well.â\n
Noguchi-san opened the cardboard. When I looked inside, I found a surprisingly large amount of books. There were about 15 books. The books were quite thick.\n
âLetâs just register one book for the sake of learning.â\n
Noguchi-san picked up a book titled âShowa Writersâ Masterpiece Collection 1â. The book was a hardcover and was so wide that it could be used as a pillow.\n
âTo register a book, you have to choose a genre. For example, Ookusu. What genre is this book in? Please answer me while looking at the list.â\n
The list was handed out on paper in advance. The number of genres was about thirty. I wasnât sure if I would be able to figure it out on such short notice.\n
ââŚâŚ literature (Japanese fiction), isnât it?â\n
âThatâs right. You caught up fast.â\n
Fujisaki and I looked at each other and laughed. Noguchi-san seems like a nice person, but sheâs a little strange.\n
âJapanese novels are at shelf number 22, and then book number, which is the last number plus one, since they are numbered in the order in which they were acquired.â\n
If you search by shelf number, the books on that shelf will be listed and displayed. The books are listed by number, so you can find the next number by looking at the bottom. You can then click on the âAddâ button and enter the title, author, publisher, and book number of the book.\n
âI think you now know the whole process. Then, Iâd like you to work in two groups today. One of you will work at the counter. The other one will work with me to register new books. There are two computers, so Iâll take one of them to the back.â\n\n
After discussing with Fujisaki which of the two we should do, we decided that Fujisaki would work at the counter and I would register new books.\n
The registration of new books was surprisingly difficult. It was not so difficult to decide on the genre and number of the books. But the problem was attaching the book cover. Being a clumsy person, I made many mistakes and ended up throwing away many covers.\n
Noguchi-san showed me a sample, but I knew it would take some time to get used to it.\n
âDonât worry about it too much, it happens to everyone at first.â\n
âYes.â\n
We struggled with it for a while. Noguchi-san didnât try to help much, probably to get me used to it.\n
After about an hour, I was finally able to finish everything.\n
When I reported to Noguchi-san, she said I should take a break, so I took a seat at the back of the library to catch my breath. It was quiet. Now that it was not a test period, there were only a few people in the room. Some people were studying, some were reading books in silence.\n
I feel settled, I thought.\n
Sure, it sounds like a lot of work, but maybe itâs not such a bad committee after all.\n\n
As I rested there for a while, I saw Fujisaki, who was at the counter, stand up. After talking with Noguchi-san, pointing to the returned books, she walked out with them.\n
There seemed to be about five or six books. Watching her carry them unsteadily, I quickly ran up to Fujisaki.\n
âIâll hold it.â\n
âAh⌠Thanks for the help. I have to put the books back on the shelf.\n
âIâll help you with that. My work has just settled down.â\n
I picked up some of the piled-up books. Even a few books were quite heavy. I thought it was too much work for one girl to handle.\n
Itâs hard to check the shelf number on the spine of a book when youâre holding it. As I put the books down, I checked the location of each book and put it back on the shelf.\n
âŚThe last book was on the art shelf.\n
I wondered where the shelf for art books was. As I walked along, checking the plate on the bookshelf, I found the shelf I was looking for near the back seat where I had been sitting earlier.\n
There was Fujisaki in front of the shelf.\n
Apparently, Fujisaki was also trying to put back the books there. She stood on her tiptoes and stretched her body hard, trying to get it to the top. However, she could barely reach it. The bottom of the book was scraped repeatedly.\n
Donât push yourself.\n
I put down the book I was holding and walked closer to Fujisaki.\n
Thatâs when it happened.\n
âEh?â\n
Fujisakiâs balance was thrown backward. She took a few steps backward but still couldnât seem to regain her balance. She was about to fall on the table behind her.\n
âWatch out!\n
I hurriedly pulled Fujisakiâs arm.\n
Just before she collided with the table, I was able to pull her to the front.\n
Her head hit me in the chest with a thud.\n
ââŚâŚ Ah!â\n
I naturally pulled her into a hug. I could hear her breathing.\n
âS..sorryâŚâ\n
I let go of her body in a panic, but I couldnât hide my agitation. Fujisaki immediately apologized to me who was freaking out.\n
âIâm sorry too!â\n
Well, whatever it was, I was glad that Fujisaki was not injured. Iâm not sure if she was embarrassed by her mistake, but her face was a little red.\n
âYou should have just used a step stoolâŚâ\n
âWas there a step stool?â\n
âThere it isâŚâ\n
Sure enough, there was one in the corner. Itâs a wooden two-tiered one.\n
The bookshelf is pretty high. You shouldnât push yourself too hard.â\n
âYeah, I guess so. Thank you so much.â\n
We couldnât look at each other, and I felt awkward.\n
âIâll put the rest of the books away for you. Itâs probably not a good idea to leave the counter empty.â\n
âAh, I see! Thatâs right. Eto, yeah. Iâll leave it to youâ\n
âOh.â\n
After handing me the book, Fujisaki ran back to the counter.\n
I made sure that Fujisaki was out of sight, then put my hand on my chest. Fujisakiâs head had been pressed against my chest a moment ago.\n\n
I could clearly hear the thumping of my heart.\n\n
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">\nTN: Iâm still on the volume 10⌠Going slower than usual⌠Only 1 chapter today.\n\n