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Hapi strolls up towards Abyss's Shadow Library, her mind running in circles as she desperately tries to remember what she forgot. The frustration builds, but she attempts to fight reacting to it. Can't let herself have an accident down here. Finally arriving, she sees the library mostly free of others, save for a sole other person. Someone who finds themselves down in Abyss a surprising amount since it was discovered by the upper school. “Down here again, Freckles?” The ever snarky redhead asks. “If I didn't know any better, I'd start thinking you were living here.”
“Oh.” Ashe looks up from his book. He was seated and completely absorbed in it until Hapi's voice brought him back to reality. “Good evening, Hapi,” he says with a wave and a smile. “I hope I'm not in anyone's way.”
Hapi looks around the empty library. The only thing besides them here are books and furniture. “I'm pretty sure you're fine,” she says in a sarcastic tone. Hapi begins to scour through the various book shelves. “What brought you down here today anyway?”
“I've been hooked on this book for a while now,” Ashe excitedly answers. “It's just been so busy with everything going on around the monastery lately, I've only had time to poke a little every day. I know it was supposed to be all forbidden texts down here, but there's so many wonderful novels down here too. I can't imagine why they'd hide them away.”
“Might not be the stories themselves they wanted to hide,” Hapi suggests. “Could be the authors.”
Ashe tilts his head, “What do you mean?”
“Maybe the author was outspoken about the church or something. Can’t imagine they’d want someone like that gaining any form of fame or influence, through writing or otherwise. Makes perfect sense if you ask me.”
“Hmm,” Ashe mumbles. He often felt tense whenever Hapi would openly discuss her dislike for the church. Still, he couldn’t let these gems go to waste. “Either way it’s a real shame. Stories as good as these deserve to be shared with the world.”
An involuntary smirk forces its way onto Hapi’s lips. Ashe’s optimism occasionally manages to infect even her. “Not often I hear anyone say that about something stuck down here, except from you of course.”
“Hehe, well I’ve grown to appreciate a lot about this place. The library, the community, plus I got to meet you here.” Ashe’s cheeks flare up the second he finishes talking. “A-And Yuri and the others too…” Ashe attempts to hide his embarrassed face in his book.
“Come to think of it,” Hapi’s mind begins to wonder. “Didn’t he tell me he was a thief when he was a kid. Maybe he fits in with us more than I give him credit for.” She smiles again. “It’s too bad, if the Ashen Wolves were an officially recognized house, we’d probably invite you to join us.”
Ashe blushes harder at the compliment, “Y-Yeah, too bad…” He peers over his book to see Hapi still searching the shelves. “What are you looking for anyway?”
“B set a new record for one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard him say this morning, and I knew I had the perfect insult for him.” Hapi’s voice sounds increasingly more annoyed as she continues. “I read it in a book, but no matter how hard I racked my brain I could not remember it word for word. It’s been driving me crazy all day. Now I need to find that book so I can remember what the line was.”
Everything about Hapi’s dilemma makes Ashe giggle. “Haha, well when you find it I’d like to read it next. Sounds like a fun time. Are you a big reader, Hapi?”
“More like a moderately sized reader,” Hapi answers. “There isn’t a whole lot else to do around here to pass the time.” Hapi’s hands finally stop harassing the shelves. “Ah! Finally found it.”
Ashe lowers his book and leans forward in his armchair. “What’s it called?”
Hapi shows Ashe the front cover of the book. It depicts some sort of formally dressed man with a blank background.
“‘Judgement Dragon: The Man Who Deleted His Identity.’” Ashe tilts his head and raises an eyebrow. “Yeah… I haven’t a clue of what to make of a title like that.”
“Don’t knock it till you try it, Freckles,” Hapi says. “Now to just find the right chapter.”
“Welp, be sure to share it with me when you find it,” Ashe replies before returning to his book.
Hapi looks around the library again. After being rediscovered by the upper school, some genuinely honorable students and staff donated some new furniture and appliances to help make Abyss at least appear livable. Some of those new pieces of furniture include several clean and comfortable armchairs for the library. With the library free from any other visitors, she has free range on where she wants to sit.
While Ashe is engrossed in his book, Hapi walks over to his seat, firmly plants her backside on to Ashe’s lap, and lets her legs dangle over the arm of the chair.
“H-Hapi!?” Ashe nearly drops his book onto Hapi’s exposed midsection.
“What?” Hapi asks as nonchalantly as ever.
Ashe’s blushing face lights up the library brighter than any of the candles. “What are you doing!?”
“Looking for the insult, like I said.” Hapi readjusts herself atop Ashe, lightly sways her feet back and forth over the arm of the chair, and starts flipping through her book.
“B-But why are you-” Ashe looks directly down at Hapi’s flat stomach, and quickly looks up before she can catch him ogling. “You're-”
“Shush! You'll make me lose my place!” Hapi orders.
Ashe gulps. Concentrating on his book seems like an elite level task now, all Ashe can focus on is how close Hapi is to him, and how nice she feels sitting on him. “C-Carry on…” He attempts to return to reading, Hapi didn't seem to have any trouble reading after all, but he quickly found a new struggle in this position. “Hapi?”
“Yes?” She replies, eyes still locked to her book.
“Should I put my arm under you? I don't want to elbow you in the stomach.”
Hapi peers over her book, and notices Ashe has been holding his book with both hands this entire time. She looks at him again, and figures he may be slightly uncomfortable. “I guess. Just watch where you put that hand if you don’t want to get smacked,” she mutters before going back to flipping through the book.
“Did she really just…” Ashe’s mind often finds itself wondering exactly how Hapi thinks. Thoughts aside, Ashe retracts his arm and slides it behind Hapi’s lower back.
Hapi adjusts herself, leaning closer to Ashe’s chest and shoulder now that his arm is tucked away. Without even thinking, she leans her head on his shoulder while flipping through the book. “Has he always been this warm?” Hapi’s mind begins to wander. “He can really just casually relax down here like nothing is strange. He’s never bothered us or looks down on us. Almost like everything is normal…”
“Are you… comfortable like that, Hapi?” Ashe asks, not even pretending to look at his book anymore.
“Hm?” Ashe’s words break through her train of thought. “Of course I am. I wouldn’t have sat down if I wasn’t.”
Those words give Ashe a warm, soft smile. “Just making sure,” He says while she snuggles even closer into his arms. “You confuse me sometimes, Hapi, but I’m grateful you are who you are…” Ashe thinks to himself.
“Are you almost done with your book?” Hapi asks, still lightly swaying her legs side to side.
“Almost. I did have some extra time tonight, but I still think I’ll need to come back another day to make it to the end.”
“The butler did it.”
“HAPI!” Ashe loudly shouts, echoing through all of Abyss.
Hapi has a light chuckle at Ashe’s annoyed reaction. “Relax. I was only kidding. I know how much you like these books, I wouldn’t spoil them for you.”
“Geez…” Ashe looks away embarrassed.
“Besides… I wouldn’t want to give you a reason to stop coming down here…” Hapi thinks to herself.
“Ahem…” Ashe clears his throat. “Have you found the line you were looking for yet?”
“Not yet,” Hapi replies. “At this rate, I’ll end up forgetting what B said by the time I find the insult. Plus, reading usually makes me…” Hapi lowers the book and covers her mouth while she yawns. “… really sleepy…” Hapi flips through a few more pages, before slowly lowering her book down into her lap.
“Hapi?”
Hapi leans further back and stretches her arms before resting her head on Ashe’s shoulder. She instinctively nuzzles her face in his sleeve, and rests her arms in her lap before starting to mumble. “…stay here…”
“What was that?” Ashe looks over at Hapi taking full possession of his lap while she drifts off into a nap. Hapi’s unkempt red hair messily rests along her sleeping face, and the candlelit lights shine beautifully along her smooth tan skin. “Even when she’s sleeping she’s beautiful.”
Ashe’s face grows a blush once more, and he wonders what he’d say if anyone came to the library right now. He looks at Hapi’s face once again, and realizes he doesn’t care if anyone walks in on them. The day had been long already, and Ashe didn’t see Hapi letting him up anytime soon. He lowers his book in her lap beside hers, and holds Hapi closer to him with both his arms while his eyelids begin to grow heavy as well.
“Next time, I hope we can do this on the surface too.”