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The walk to Kamiyama is pretty long, but I have to return this book today if I don’t want to be charged a late fee. While our band was hanging out at Saki’s, Tsukasa overheard that I was looking for a book to read and immediately jumped to suggest one for me. It’s a book he had borrowed from his library and finished reading, so he didn’t mind lending it to me. Which must mean that he trusts me a lot, since if I were to give it back late, he would be the one who’d have to cover the fee. Not that I’d do that. I would never break his trust!
I set foot into Kamiyama. The layout shouldn’t be too different from Miyamasuzaka. At least, I hope so… I walk around the school a bit, hoping to run into Ena, before my mind comes to a full-stop. Ena has night classes. She wouldn’t be at school at this hour unless she had something planned, but I don’t think it’s the case. She probably would’ve told me otherwise. I let out a small sigh. No luck…
“Honami? What are you doing here?”
Is what I think until I run into Nene.
“Oh, Nene! I’m here to return a book that Tsukasa lent me. Would you happen to know where the library is?” I ask her, smiling softly.
“Of course Tsukasa would… Jeez…” She shakes her head, then nods with a small smile as well. “It’s on the fourth floor. You can’t really miss it.”
I thank her and start making my way up the stairs. Nene was right, the library is really hard to miss. Once inside the library, an air of familiarity washes over me. I don’t remember ever being in Kamiyama’s library, but this kind of place always feels… safe, somehow. They’re all similar enough that it doesn’t really feel all that new. Except for one thing that is.
“Toya!”
Toya is placing a few books back on the shelves. He’s crouched up to reach the bottom shelf without difficulty, but he immediately stands up when he hears me.
“Honami…” he says, with that subtle smile that I find so charming. “How are you?”
“I’m doing great! I’m glad I got to see you, actually… I didn’t know you were on the Library committee. B-But, how are you doing?”
“I’m good too. Can I help you with anything?”
Toya and I started going out just a few days ago. We’re still a little awkward around each other, but I’m sure that will pass quickly! We met through Tsukasa, when Saki invited us while he was over. And, well, Tsukasa being Tsukasa, made sure to properly introduce us. Incredibly dramatically, might I add. Ever since then, we’ve been to a few cafés, especially when we discovered that we have a bit of a sweet tooth: him for cookies, me for apple pie. We like to discuss over a nice cup of coffee, although it does scare me a little that he likes his coffee black.
Toya is a very polite person. It took a bit of convincing to get him to call me by my first name and he still somehow slips up. But there’s a charm to it. He reminds me of a prince sometimes…
I snap out of my thoughts. “Right. I have this book I need to return. It should be under Tsukasa’s name.”
Toya takes the book in his hands. His long, slender fingers brush against my hand as he does so and I feel my cheeks growing slightly red. I don’t think it was intentional of him, but Toya does have the habit of making me blush accidentally. And I fall for it every single time, it’s so embarrassing!
I’m led to the librarian’s counter. Toya scans the book and inputs some information into the computer. I’m standing in front of him, with my hands crossed in front of me. Waiting patiently. He tucks the book in a small cart between a few others, then turns to me.
“I’m almost done. Do you mind waiting for me a little so I can walk you home,” he says in an earnest tone. Said like it’s the most normal thing to say.
But it’s probably not, considering the fact that my face is once again beet red. I guess I have the right signature colour, huh… My eyes are a bit wide open, but I still nod. “Of course!”
I sit down at a nearby table and take out of my school bag a worksheet. Maybe to the passing eye, it looks like I’m working, but my gaze is focused on the boy behind the desk, greeting people as they come in and out of the library. As much as I try to force it back on the problems on my sheet, it’s to no use. It’s like my eyes are glued to him.
I think I eventually dozed off, because when Toya taps my shoulder to tell me he’s done, I physically jump out of my chair. Laughing a little nervously, I gather my stuff and carefully put it in my bag. Once it’s over my shoulder, I hold my hand out to Toya, determined. He looks a little surprised at first, but ends up cracking a smile when he takes my hand. And so he walks me all the way to my house, making a stop at my favourite pastry shop to buy me a little. How can I resist him when he’s being so nice to me? I eat my small apple pie as we’re walking, savouring every bite. When I turn to thank Toya, I can’t even finish my sentence before he wipes the corner of my mouth with his thumb.
“You had a few crumbs stuck to your face…” he tells me a little sheepishly. I quickly look away. God, I’m really a blushing mess today…
We finally arrive in front of my house. Toya and I exchange a few goodbyes before I set my mind. I get on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
“I’ll see you soon,” I practically whisper in his ears. He takes a second to do it, but he ends up hugging me as well before we finally part for the evening. I wave him goodbye as he slowly disappears around the corner.
I hope Shibao can get through all my rambling tonight…