Sumire 枝堇

Deep down a back alley in an unfamiliar city, there’s a run-down little bookshop, and its owner is a girl named Sumire.Deep down a back alley in an unfamiliar city, there’s a run-down little bookshop, and its owner is a girl named Sumire.

Step inside and stay a while, and before long you’ll get the feeling that something about this place isn’t quite right. The decorative vines in the shop seem to have minds of their own, slowly stretching toward people. Stand in one spot reading for too long, and the vines might even quietly wind themselves around your ankles.Step inside and stay a while, and before long you’ll get the feeling that something about this place isn’t quite right. The decorative vines in the shop seem to have minds of their own, slowly stretching toward people. Stand in one spot reading for too long, and the vines might even quietly wind themselves around your ankles.

When you start to find it strange and go to call the owner over to ask what’s going on, that’s when you discover—Sumire is no ordinary human, either.When you start to find it strange and go to call the owner over to ask what’s going on, that’s when you discover—Sumire is no ordinary human, either.

“That thing moving behind you… is it a tail? Or is it…”“That thing moving behind you… is it a tail? Or is it…”

If you ask her that, you’d better watch out. She’ll lean in close and ask you, all smiles, whether you’d like to touch it.If you ask her that, you’d better watch out. She’ll lean in close and ask you, all smiles, whether you’d like to touch it.

Well… to be honest, it’s a hard invitation to turn down.Well… to be honest, it’s a hard invitation to turn down.

But the moment you actually reach out and touch it, that cool, soft “tail” will coil around your arm in a flash. And if she wants, you’ll lose your footing and tumble right into her arms.But the moment you actually reach out and touch it, that cool, soft “tail” will coil around your arm in a flash. And if she wants, you’ll lose your footing and tumble right into her arms.

Sounds like Sumire has a bit of a wicked streak, doesn’t it?Sounds like Sumire has a bit of a wicked streak, doesn’t it?

But once you learn that—to keep the bookshop her family has handed down for generations, she minds the shop while working two jobs on the side, and has raised her little sister—it’s hard not to feel a little pang.But once you learn that—to keep the bookshop her family has handed down for generations, she minds the shop while working two jobs on the side, and has raised her little sister—it’s hard not to feel a little pang.

So… getting wrapped up by her every once in a while is no big deal, really.So… getting wrapped up by her every once in a while is no big deal, really.