''Does anyone else feel like this weekend went by too quickly?'' Asked Yuuko as the girls walked during the Monday morning. They stood by the traffic light, waiting for the signal to turn green.
''They say time flies when you're having fun,'' Said Mio. ''So, did you have a lot of fun this weekend?''
Yuuko gave her a big smile. ''Yep! Especially since I finished my homework early.''
''With my help.'' Mio muttered.
''I could chill at home with no issue. Well, my mom forced me to clean my room, but that was it. What did you guys get up to?''
''I went fishing with my dad.'' Said Mai.
Mio announced. ''I got a phone call from the publishing company asking for my next work.''
''Wow! That's great news, Naganaharo-san!'' Said Nano.
''Yeah. The only problem is that they want it by this Friday and I haven't made a lot of progress.'' Mio said with a sigh. ''Looks like I'm going to have a very week ahead of me.''
''Don't worry, we can all help you just like last time.'' Yuuko offered and Nano was in agreement.
''No!'' The shout from Mio made the other girls stare at her. ''Uh, I mean, no thanks. I'll just do it myself.''
The memory of the last time the girls tried to 'help' Mio with her manga was still fresh in her mind, and she was not keen on reliving that experience.
Yuuko looked at her confused for a moment, then the signal turned green and as they crossed the road, she looked to Nano and asked. ''What about you, Nano-chan?''
''I didn't do much this weekend,'' Nano admitted, then smiled. ''But Hakase and I bumped into Annaka-san at the park yesterday. She invited me to visit the school's book club today.''
''A book club? That sounds really cool.'' Said Mio.
''I know, right? Turns out that we both really like reading!''
Yuuko looked like she wanted to say something, but said nothing as they reached the school's entrance.
The inside of class 1-Q was slowly filling up with students. Nano was happy to see that Annaka was already at her desk, writing in her notebook. She part her bag down on her desk and walked over to her.
''Good morning!'' She greeted cheerfully.
Annaka raised her head from her book and smiled at her. ''Good morning! Do you still wanna come to the club?''
Nano nodded excitedly. ''Yes, of course.''
''Okay. We have our meetings in the library, so we can head straight there after the last period.''
''Sounds good. What exactly are we going to do?'' Nano asked curiously. ''I've never been to a book club before.''
''So basically everyone gets the same book, reads up to a certain chapter, and have discussions on it. We do this until we finish the entire book and then move on to the next one,'' Annaka explained.''Right now, we're doing All My Stars by Julianna Greene. Have you read it?''
''No,'' Nano shook her head and looked a bit worried. ''Is that a problem?''
''Don't worry, it's fine. We're actually going to finish it today.'' Annaka assured her.
This made Nano sigh with relief. ''Oh, okay.''
''Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you. Our classmates: Shimooshima-san and Tsumagoi-san are also part of the club. And Sakurai-sensei is our club adviser.''
'''Really? Well, it's nice to know there will be some familiar faces.''
''The club is still fairly new, so there's not that many of us.''
After classes were finished, Nano said goodbye to her friends before going with Annaka to the library. She was quiet, but the excitement was bubbling inside her. The library was empty save for an elderly lady sitting behind a desk reading a book.
Not long after their arrival, Shimooshima and Tsumagoi entered the library along with a few other students whom Nano didn't recognize.
''Hey, Annaka-san!'' Tsumagoi said, then noticed Nano was there too. ''Shinonome-san? What brings you here?''
'' Annaka-san told me there was a book club meeting today and wanted to see what's like.'' Nano told her.
''Are you joining?'' Asked Shimooshima.
''I am interested.''
''Well, hope you do. We could use more members.''
Tsumagoi nodded in agreement. ''Yeah, it's taking us a while to get off the ground.''
''Hello, everyone,'' Ms. Sakurai said as she entered the library. ''You can sit down and we'll start once everyone's arrived.''
''Sensei, I invited Shinonome-san to the club.'' Annaka walked up to her and said.
''Oh? Are you a book lover too, Shinonome-san?'' She asked Nano.
Nano nodded, smiling. ''Yes, I am, Sensei! Is it fine if I stay and watch?''
Ms. Sakurai returned her smile. ''Certainly. Go take a seat.''
Everyone sat down at one of the round tables and took their copies of the novel. Nano sat next to Annaka and waited to see what would happen next.
Ms. Sakurai did a quick head count before sitting down with her own book. ''So, who would like to start?'' She asked.
''I do,'' Shimooshima raised her hand. Ms. Sakurai nodded, and the girl began. ''Many of the events in 'All My Stars' are based on the author's own childhood. How do you think this impacts the overall story?''
Annaka was the first to speak up. ''I think it helps add that much more realism to the story. Because the author is drawing from personal experiences, she's familiar with the thoughts and emotions that would go through the main characters in those moments.''
''And so concludes our wonderful adventure with this book,'' Ms. Sakurai announced. ''I'll have copies ordered for the 'The Ivory Clock' next week. As always, please hand your books to me before you leave.''
As the students got up from the table to leave, Annaka turned to Nano and asked, ''So what did you think? Sorry that you couldn't besides listen.''
''Don't be. It was really watching everyone be so passionate about a book.'' Nano said with a wide smile.
Annaka giggled. ''We go a little crazy with our literary analysis. Do you think you'll join us again next week?''
''Oh, definitely!''
The two got up and went over to Ms. Sakurai so Annaka could give her book away.
''Did you enjoy our session?'' She asked Nano.
''I did, sensei. And I already told Annaka-san I was coming again.''
''That's wonderful to hear. I'll get you a copy of our next book too, then.'' She then turned to Annaka. ''Could you stay behind for a bit, Annaka-san? There's something I wanted to you talk to about.''
''Sure, sensei.''
''I'll see you tomorrow,'' Nano said to Annaka.
Annaka smiled at her and gave a short wave. ''Have a safe trip home.''
''You too.''
Nano couldn't wipe the smile off her face. The book was everything she had hoped it would be. She almost wished next Monday would come already so she could get a copy of the club's next title and discuss it with her fellow book lovers. On the way home, she debated whether to stop at the store, but figured there wasn't any need to that day.
''I'm ho-''
Nano had barely entered the laboratory when the smell of something burning invaded her nostrils. She dropped her bag and hastily went to the kitchen, where she found Hakase and Sakamoto staring at the metal tray the girl held in her oven-mitted hands, the most likely source of the smell.
''What happened?'' Nano asked.
''Uhhh,'' Hakase struggled to come up with a response, then yelled.''Sakamoto did it!''
The black cat let out a sigh. ''Yes, I'm the one who thought it was a good idea to make dinner without have having the slightest idea how to cook, let alone how an oven works!''
''See? A confession!''
''It's called sarcasm!''
''Give me that,'' Nano grabbed a cloth and took the tray from Hakase. Its contents were so burned and blackened, she couldn't even guess what it used to be. ''What were you trying to make?''
''Mac n cheese.'' The young professor admitted.
Nano put the tray aside and gave her a cross look. ''Hakase, the oven's not a toy. You could've burned the house down!''
''I'm sorry,'' Hakase said meekly as she stared at the ground, ashamed.
''Why were trying to cook by yourself, anyway?''
''I thought it would be fun to make nice food like you do.''
Nano's expression softened a little at those words. For an intelligent professor, she was still a child. ''Well, if that's the case, you can cook dinner with me if you want to.''
Hakase's eyes lit up. ''Really?''
''Yeah,'' Nano nodded, then added sternly. ''Just don't do this again, okay?''
''Okay,'' She nodded, smiling widely at not being in trouble and for having the opportunity to cook.
''We can start right now,'' Nano said as she went to get food from the fridge.
''If I was your guardian, you'd be going to bed with an empty stomach as punishment!'' Said Mr. Sakamoto.
''You're a cruel cat, Sakamoto!''
''And you're an arsonist in the making!''
The Shinonome household passed yet another peaceful day.