Hmm, where's the new releases section again? This bookstore's recommended book section is here, so maybe it's over there?

*Chuckle* I can't wait to buy and read the guidebook to the play I went to see the other day!

Huh? This book. I know it from…

[Fade in/out.]

Hello! Another day, another energetic practice sess… Wha?!

Oh, Setsuna! Let's give our all as usual today at practice.

Th-That book… The one you have open right now!

Yeah! It's the book that the anime you were talking about the other day was based on!

You owned a copy this whole time?! You didn't mention a word of it when I was speaking about it before!

N-No! I just bought it yesterday. It was in the recommended-books section of the bookstore, and it was being promoted as one that'd been adapted into a movie.

I remembered you gushing over the anime, so I read a bit of it in the store. Then I just couldn't put it down…

I bought the first, second, and third book! The whole trilogy!

Wh-Wh-Wh-What?! You should've said something! I would've let you borrow my whole set. But thank you anyway! That makes me really happy as a fan of the series!

I should be the one thanking you! Thank you for introducing me to such an amazing series, Setsuna!

The tapestry of detailed depictions of the melancholic, yet beautiful, ways the characters live was woven tightly around me and caused me to shed many a tear!

I completely understand how you feel! The first time I read it I could hardly breathe because I was crying so much!

Especially in the scene where the protagonist becomes fully aware of the dark personality lurking within them. They silently leave the village to protect their loved ones!

The internal conflict and rejection between their kind, gentle personality of light against their cold, menacing personality of darkness. Yet there is steady progress until—

Uh, what have you read up to?

Um, I'm reading the second book right now and I finished chapter eight just before you popped in.

Ah! So you're about to reach THAT part!

THAT part?! What is it?!

You'll find out when you read it. I'm looking forward to how you'll react when you read that scene!

I'm so curious! The anticipation whirling within my chest is just like what I feel when a play is reaching its climax! I-I can't wait to read the rest…

Shizuku, I think the others will be here soon. We should change into our practice gear!

Ahhhh, I almost forgot! Gahhh! Now I'm gonna be thinking about this all throughout practice!