The Cat Who Saved Books(29)

“I’ll be going then, partner.”

“I’m counting on you, Mr. Proprietor.”

Spurred on by the cat’s confidence, Rintaro pressed the button. The doors sprang shut, and with a gentle shudder, the elevator began to move.

*

The elevator shot up into one of the aerial corridors, leaving the cat and the man in the red suit far below. It ascended with increasing speed through a three-dimensional geometric structure. There were intersecting lines all around. As far as the eye could see the stairways stretched around in every direction, but there was not a soul to be seen. Perhaps it was a trompe l’oeil painting.

“I’m glad they didn’t make us climb all those stairs,” muttered Rintaro. “What a pain that would have been.”

Sayo smiled. She knew Rintaro was attempting to bring some levity to their surreal situation, even though he wasn’t very good at it.

“It’s incredibly unsettling.”

“Yeah, even a foulmouthed, pointlessly pompous tabby cat is a better diversion than none at all.”

Their eyes met and they both giggled.

Outside the elevator it was getting gradually darker. Although they were inside a building, it was as if the sun were slowly setting. The intricate structures began to fade into the darkness, and as their vision was getting poorer, it became impossible to tell whether the elevator was still climbing, or if it had come to a stop.

“At first I didn’t even care if I could get home again,” Rintaro said quietly.

Sayo didn’t respond, but she turned to look at her friend.

“That first time the mysterious cat took me on a journey,” he continued, “I thought that if it was a dream, I wouldn’t mind never waking up and if it wasn’t a dream then I wouldn’t mind not being able ever to make it home again.”

Rintaro adjusted his glasses.

“But ever since that cat turned up, I’ve been thinking more and more about everything that’s been going on. I feel like I’m starting to see things a little differently.”

“If this is what brings you out of your shell, it can only be a good thing,” Sayo said.

Rintaro smiled wryly.

“I’m passive, I’ll admit it, but I was really trying to keep you out of danger,” he said.

“You know, Natsuki, sometimes you talk like you’re trying out pickup lines. Is that a side effect of reading too many books?”

“Okay, let me rephrase. I’m sorry for getting you involved in this mess.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m having a great time here. And you know what? It’s fun seeing a different side of you, Natsuki.”

“Different how?”

“Forget I said anything,” she said, laughing it off.

Sayo pictured Rintaro standing up to the white-coated scholar in that strange underground laboratory. It wasn’t the first time she’d gone back to that image, but Rintaro would never know that.

Just as Rintaro was about to ask Sayo more questions, he felt the elevator slowing down to a stop. Once again, the door slid open noiselessly, revealing a dimly lit space beyond. It was almost impossible to make out the size or scale of the space because of how gloomy it was. However, a red carpet ran straight ahead, indicating where Rintaro and Sayo should go. At the far end was a heavy, wooden door with geometric patterns carved into it. There was something very intimidating about that door.

“Go on, Natsuki!”

“If you’re asking me to . . .”

“You’ll be fine.”

Rintaro wasn’t feeling brave, but he was encouraged by Sayo’s steady voice.

“You’ve got more guts than you think, Natsuki. Especially when it comes to books. You’ve got nothing to be worried about at all. Even that kid Akiba is impressed by you.”

Rintaro was thrown by her mention of him.

“Akiba?”

“Yeah. He was praising you at school the other day. He’s a bit too cocky for my liking, but he’s honest.”

To Rintaro, these words were as refreshing as a clear winter sky. There was a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach that began to spread. It would be too much to call it courage, but it certainly came from the same place.

All of a sudden, he felt Sayo punch him gently in the back.

“Just make sure you bring me back, Natsuki.”

They stepped gingerly out onto the carpet. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t nervous, but Rintaro kept his gaze straight ahead. Something told him that now was the time to act. He took a deep breath and kept walking.

*

“You really do love books, don’t you?”

The voice of Ryota Akiba echoed in Rintaro’s ears. Rintaro was only a junior, so he’d not really had much to do with this charismatic senior. It was his usual habit to stay away from any of the older students when they came by the bookshop. Akiba was the star player on the basketball team, the top academically in his year, and active on the student council. Rintaro, the hikikomori living shut up in his grandfather’s bookshop, was from another world. Rintaro had once asked Akiba in all seriousness why a successful student like him would bother visiting the lowly Natsuki Books.

“Well, obviously because you have good books,” he’d replied, clearly puzzled by Rintaro’s question. “Your grandfather must be disappointed that you don’t understand what a great place he has here.”