Before sleeping, I briefly summarized my conversation with Kengo and sent a message to Osanai-san from my mobile phone. When I woke up the next morning, I received a concise reply from Osanai-san.

“Art museum? Library?”

It’s Saturday, but it seems Osanai-san intends to proceed with the investigation. She really is quick to act once she decides to do something.

Osanai-san’s message means this. From the conversation with Kengo, I learned that Shima Taiga’s painting was exhibited in the prefectural exhibition. Since it was exhibited in his second year of high school, we can almost narrow down the year. If I want to investigate the records of that year’s prefectural exhibition, would the art museum or the library be more appropriate?

I thought for a moment and replied,

“Library.”

This way, we can access a wider variety of materials, and more importantly, it’s closer to my house than the art museum. After a quick breakfast and getting ready, I head to the prefectural library on my bicycle. Based on yesterday’s painful experience, or rather, the painfully cold experience, I chose a jacket with a lining for warmth.

We agreed to meet at the main lobby of the prefectural library. I arrived about four minutes before the appointment, but Osanai-san was already there. She buried her face in a scarf, put her hands in the pockets of her duffle coat, and sat on a long bench near the entrance, observing people coming and going. When our eyes met, she nodded slightly.

I don’t think greetings are necessary. First, I ask.

“Do you want to investigate right away? Or would it be better to tell you more about Kengo’s story?”

Osanai-san briefly replied,

“Latter.”

Then she turned her head and glanced at the corner of the lobby.

“It’s sunnier over there, so let’s move.”

“Alright. …… You could have waited over there. Not in such a windy place.”

“Good idea. I wish I had heard it earlier.”

I guess she positioned herself where she could see me coming in. Osanai-san is sometimes strangely conscientious, and I don’t really understand when that conscientiousness comes into play.

The prefectural library is a spacious space with plenty of glass, creating a sense of openness. It’s so open that it’s hot in summer and cold in winter, and it has received great praise from users for allowing them to feel the changing seasons on their skin. The interior is also an open structure, completely devoid of confinement, and incidentally has nothing to do with heating and cooling efficiency. The long bench that Osanai-san chose was bathed in the warm winter sun, indeed much warmer than other places. I asked if she wanted something to drink since there was a vending machine nearby, but Osanai-san shook her head side to side.

I took a copy out of my bag.

“I’ll convey it again, even though I lightly mentioned it in the message.”