Mizuki Nomura - Book Girl and the Corrupted Angel

PrologueMemories for an IntroductionI Used to Be with an Angel

He was a man who straddled heaven and earth; thats how the diva described him.

For me, Miu had that role.

Out of all my classmates, Miu was the only one who seemed to be surrounded in pure white light. Her voice was the only one that caressed my ears like refreshing music flowing down from heaven. Each time my heart squeezed tight at the words she spoke, I thought how special Miu was, how different from anyone else.

I knew she was an angel and that she was hiding invisible wings against her back.

How else could a girl my age create such beautiful stories so lightheartedly, so freely?

Having Miu beside me, having her look at me with her teasing, kittenish eyes; say my name in her sweet, clear voice; and twine her arm through mine like it was the most natural thing in the worldfor me, it was a state of grace, a miracle granted by God, and I thought life would go on like that forever.

But how much did I know of the truth about Miu?

What kind of girl was the real Miu?

That serene summer afternoon in my third year of middle school, the peaceful routine Miu and I shared shattered in the worst possible way.

Miu jumped off the roof of our school, and I watched her go, helpless to act.

I retreated into my room after that, until at the end of winter, I somehow managed to drag myself from the pit my room had become with its curtains forever shut. I took my exams, I advanced to high school, and in so doing, I met Tohko Amano.

Called a book girl, loving every book in the world without exception, she was another girl who traveled freely between heaven and earth on the shining wings of imagination.

Chapter 1Dont Ever Forget the Snack

Tohko beamed happily after tearing off a corner of the lined paper.

Theres a rhythmical texture of rich red and black sugar and crushed walnuts inside a crumbly tart shell, she murmured with a sigh, tearing the paper up into precious strips and bringing them to her lips. Each time I bite into it, theres a rustic sweetness that spreads over my tongue Even though its pretty sweet, theres a superb balance that keeps it from being overwhelming.

Rrrip. Flp-flp-flp. Gulp.

The otherworldly sounds resonated softly in the cramped room, which was practically buried under mounds of books.

Tohko is a goblin who eats stories.

She would argue, I am not a goblinIm just an ordinary book girl! but the way she munched ravenously on paper with writing on it looked nothing like a legitimate high school girl.

Did you know that a sugar tart is called a tarte sucre? Sucre means sugar in French. The surface is lightly burned to make it crisp, but that accent is amazing, too. Today is a success! Well done, Konoha!

Apparently the snack Id written on the three prompts a campfire, a reindeer, and a speed-eating contest had met with Tohkos approval.

After losing a speed-eating contest, a reindeer roams in solitude through a forest at night until he encounters his girlfriend whos been steadfastly waiting for him at a campfire.

After writing such a treacly story, I couldnt be happy with her praise.

Maybe it should have been more twisted

Since I always made her whine, Yuuuuck! by adding in a weird ending, I did want to write the kind of sweet story Tohko liked occasionally, but

Ive never heard of a tarte sucre. Its just a coincidence that it tastes like that. I actually meant for the girl to hit him with a flaming piece of firewood and make him into reindeer soup. My time ran out right when I got to them meeting, I said brusquely, picking up my paper and putting my pencil away in its case.

Tohko was sitting on a fold-up chair at the window with her knees drawn up to her chest, eating her snack. But when I said that, she paled, a scrap of paper still in her mouth.

But why would you want to pour wasabi-flavored ketchup all over this perfect sugar tart?

Hunching her thin shoulders and shaking her long braids that hung past her hips, she acted petulant and terrified, but then her eyes suddenly crinkled like a cat basking in a sunbeam again.

Im glad it ended when the reindeer was happy. It was really, totally sweet and delicious.

When she looked at me like that, something tickled deep in my heart and I felt more uncomfortable than I could say.

Okay, next time Im definitely gonna do a messy horror story.

Yummm! That was sooo good!

Unaware of my plans, Tohko gulped down the very last bite, her face a picture of joy.

Im glad. But next times gonna be a gory horror story, so, I murmured in my heart, putting on a bright smile. But just then

Now I can put the club on hiatus with a clear conscience, Tohko said offhandedly.

What?

Well, Im a third-year, right? Ive got to focus on my exams soon.

You havent started focusing yet?!

I gaped at her. It was December! There were only two months or so left before exams! But shed been in the clubroom ripping up and munching on books as she expounded on them till all hours, so Id thought she had gotten in on a recommendation somewhere. But no

You mean youre actually taking exams?!

Of course. Im a dedicated student, she declared majestically, her face unflappable. Man, Id had no idea she was this cavalier

When she saw my shoulders slump, Tohko started talking like she was a mature young woman.

Dont lose heart, Konoha. I completely understand how sad you must feel that you wont be able to see your beloved president. And I wont be able to eat your snacksI mean, being away from this dear, familiar clubroom pains me deeply.