The Doll That Took A Detour: Chapter 5: The Handmade Chocolate Incident; Subchapter 4 and 52 min read
I decided that I’ll just post excerpts of our translations so that people can go visit the HSK blog. If you wanna read the whole thing, you can read it here.
The sleet finally ceased after I finished my visual tour through the South American continent, from Mexico City to Rio de Janeiro. Returning the photo book to its shelf, I had just put on my white trench coat when a visitor arrived.
The sliding door suddenly opened.
“Oreki-san!”
With an energy unbefitting of the purposeful tranquility of the library, Chitanda drew closer to me. I quietly turned to look around the area. All that remained in the library was me, a library committee member, and the librarian Itoigawa-sensei.
Compared to when she was here earlier, Chitanda’s countenance had changed. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her large eyes were even wider than usual. It seemed something trivial had happened. From behind Chitanda, Satoshi and his drawstring bag also appeared. He smiled but it was a pretty bad excuse for one, and it felt like his usual enthusiasm was subdued.
“Houtarou, you’re still here?”
“I said until the sleet stopped, didn’t I?”
Taking stock of the two of them, I said to Chitanda,
“It looks like you need me for something this time, but I’m going home now.”
Chitanda nodded slightly, then nodded again deeply.
“Ah, yes, I understand. It’s already so late. But I want to ask for your help.”
“Sorry, but can this wait til tomorrow? Whether I decide to help you or not, ask me tomorrow,”
I said, about to leave the library.
But before I could, Chitanda blocked me. Her gaze was downcast as she stood before me, and I unintentionally frowned.
“I’m sorry, but please hear me out. …It was my fault, because I had carelessly left the room. I’ve done something inexcusable to Mayaka-san…”
…Apparently this wasn’t just a simple outburst of curiosity. Looking closely, her hands were clasped tightly together, the already pale skin turning chalk-white. Had she hurried over here? Or was it something else? Her legs were trembling a little.
I asked Satoshi briefly,
“What happened?”
