Part 1 Volume 1 Chapter 6: Neighborhood Boys

Neighborhood Boys (近所の男の子, Kinjo no Otoko no Ko) is the sixth chapter of the Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 1 Volume 1 light novel series.

Myne and Tuuli are alone at home, leaving Tuuli the only information source Myne could access. Unfortunately, Tuuli does not understand her when she asks for paper. She also realises, she would need to find something to use for writing on paper. While Myne agonises about everything she would need to make books, Tuuli found a wrapped-up object Gunther was supposed to take with him. As Effa went out of her way to prepare it for Gunther, Tuuli and Myne fear her rage, if she finds out, that he forgot it at home. Tuuli cannot leave Myne at home alone, so they decide to bring it to him together. Myne slowly walks while holding Tuuli’s hand so that she will make it to the gate. Shortly, after they left the building, some boys carrying baskets, bows and arrows, call out to Tuuli. Ralph, Fey and Lutz are boys of their neighbourhood, around the same age, who were on their way to the forest. As they share the same way, they decide to walk together to the gate. Tuuli starts matching the boys’ speed, making Myne fall on her knees. Lutz reaches out to her and offers to carry her. He is immediately shot down by Ralph, who takes over after handing his stuff too Lutz and Fey. Myne seeing Lutz protesting, praises him to make him play along. After all problems were solved, they continued their walk to the gate. With her new gained perspective, Myne curiously observes the city. While she looks around the city, Tuuli worries about Ralph, who carries Myne. He is fine and more interested in Tuuli’s hair. Lutz and Fey join their conversation. A scenery straight out a shoujo manga unfolds in front of Myne, who stays quiet and observes the children. Lutz involves Myne by acting the same way the boys had with Tuuli. Everyone else moves on to the next conversation, leaving Myne embarrassed and dumb founded.

Characters are listed in order of appearance.


 * Myne
 * Tuuli
 * Ralph (first appearance)
 * Fey (first appearance)
 * Lutz (first appearance)


 * Paper


 * Tuuli thinks “paper” in Japanese sounds funny.
 * Effa is always busy in the morning.
 * Myne’s clothes list:
 * two pairs of underwea
 * two wool dresses
 * a wool sweater
 * two woollen trouser-esque pants
 * two woollen socks
 * Tuuli receives chores from Effa involving her going around the city.
 * Cobblestone is used in front of the building Myne lives in.
 * Tuuli usually went to the forest with Ralph’s group. They had sometimes taken Myne with them, which were also one of her most vivid memories.
 * Tuuli, Fey and Ralph are of the same age; Lutz and Myne are of the same age.
 * Lutz acts like a tough older brother around Myne, like carrying her stuff or protect her, because Ralph and Fey treat him like a little child.
 * Being around Lutz with his blonde hair was the most calming, as Myne still is not used to outer-earthly hair colours.
 * Myne thinks that Ralph had a lot of muscles for his age.
 * Donkeys exist.
 * Shops that only sell goods have glass windows.
 * Urano had no romantic experience in her entire life. Her family and neighbour Shuu said it was due to her living in her fantasies and always reading books.
 * Myne’s home cleaning plan:
 * Put nice-smelling dried flower into the clothing box
 * Have Effa boil the water before cooking with it.
 * Wipe down Tuuli’s body and brushing her hair after applying her oil to it.
 * Ralph seems interested in Tuuli.
 * Myne’s home has only soap made from animals that is used to clean furniture or clothes.
 * Myne thinks that Lutz’s combination of blonde hair and jade-green eyes is perfectly handsome and makes him look cool.
 * Lutz brags about becoming better at archery.