Kotonoha and I went to a local bookstore next. I jokingly asked the cashier the secret to such a successful bookstore in an era overwrought with technology like tablets and e-readers, proposing that Kotonoha was singlehandedly keeping them afloat with her business. I did not expect her to say that was unironically the case, but Kotonoha's personal recommendations served as good word of mouth for the store. All of these recommendations had one detail in common.

"All of these books are barely a year old," I said, looking at the publication dates listed in the first few pages. "How did you come across so many good titles in such a short span of time?"

"Well--as someone who's wanted to be a writer since I was a kid, I wanted to keep up with who would potentially be a rival of mine in the future," Kotonoha said, scanning the shelves of all the recent light novel titles.

Her eyes narrowed when she realized there were no recognizable names on the bookshelves in front of us, instead grabbing a light novel with a familiar title. After perusing the book a bit more closely, I saw what appeared to be the leader of the Ravagers, Kaito, clad in his Gladiator armor illustrated on the cover. Despite my memory of the series being a bit hazy, there were a few key details people my age would always remember about it.

And Kaito making a decisive choice to save both the Amelioran people and his teammates was one of the biggest moments.

"A few years after the series finished, an author by the name of Mizuno Kawahara was contracted to write a novelization of the series in light novel form. She was given permission to write a unique ending for the light novel series, and as luck would have it--I found the last volume in the series," Kotonoha said with a gasp.

She declared her choice to the cashier when we approached the counter, handing the correct legal tender to the young woman with a brown ponytail.

"You never leave disappointed, do you, Fumiko-san," the cashier said with a chuckle as she bagged the Ravagers' light novel.

"Absolutely not," Kotonoha said, receiving the bag.

Now that we were outside the bookstore, a prescient question frothed to the surface. It was rather odd that she made a point to note any recent authors in her readings, and I wonder for what reason would someone like Kotonoha would have for being competitive. If it related back to the Experience Journals, then why did it matter? 

"Hey, Kotonoha-san, what did you mean when you mentioned future potential rivals? Does it have anything to do with the Experience Journals," I asked, noting her sudden rigid posture and fingers clawing through the bag she was carrying until she felt its contents.

"Hmm, in a direct sense, nothing I suppose. There was a bet I once had with a friend of mine, that if one of us were ever to move away from the other, that we'd compete to see who'd become published first," Kotonoha said.

She turned to directly face me, trying her best to flash a smile at me while gently positioning her new light novel in her hand.

"But that has nothing to do with us, Kenta. I want to prioritize our date, and everything that comes after."

"Well, if you say so Kotonoha-san. I'll just take you at your word," I said, walking at a faster stride to rejoin her.

There are parts of my history that I try not to mix with my present. My failures on the basketball court. My failures in love. My failures in my close friendships. Even my failures in class. As far as I was concerned, those failures were now a distant memory. As my current self, I didn't have to worry about the past. 

Maybe Kotonoha felt the same.