Chapter Text
The library’s third floor was Shinobu’s sanctuary. It was the kind of quiet where it wasn’t empty, but not full either. The soft flipping of pages, scraping of highlighters on paper, and the distant rhythmic typing of keyboards kept Shinobu company. For two weeks, she had been sitting by the window, stacking her pharmacology books next to her into the form of a wall, forming a cubicle of sorts. Her midterms were approaching, and she couldn’t be more stressed.
And for two weeks, she had been sharing the space with a statue.
Three tables across from her sat a raven-haired man, surrounded by his own fortress of books, their titles promising a rich world of financial principles and ledgers. His movements were silent, calm. The way he studied in stillness was a total contrast to Shinobu, who fidgeted often with her pens, sometimes stretching out on the table after being defeated by her books.
Maybe he was more deserving of the title ‘Gargoyle’. Statues didn’t move after all.
And so, Shinobu labelled him as ‘Accounting Gargoyle’ in her mind.
On a Tuesday afternoon, Shinobu was pushing through her exhaustion from her lack of sleep. She sipped on an iced coffee she bought earlier, hoping that the caffeine would be the saviour of her exam. While leaning on the table to give her back a good stretch, she accidentally pushed her pen off the table.
She groaned as she stood up to retrieve her pen from the front of the table, only to notice someone walking by her table. Upon hearing the clanking of the pen against the ground, he turned towards it. “Huh. Accounting Gargoyle,” Shinobu thought.
He bent down to pick up her pen, putting it on her table. Shinobu murmured a soft “thanks” to him, the word feeling too loud for the quiet space. He only gave her a small nod, no smile, no words, and left the library.
It was at that moment that Shinobu realised he had one of the most beautiful pairs of eyes she had ever seen. It was like staring into the ocean. A shade as blue as it was, a depth as unreachable as so. It was calm, gentle, soothing. How could someone’s eyes be void of emotion, yet feel as if it was full of it?
Shinobu shook herself out of her thoughts, reminding herself of the mountain of materials she had to sort through. Her eyes went back to her highlighted notes. Her mind, however, seemed to have never left those serene eyes.
Just like that, whether they knew it or not, their worlds started twining together, bit by bit.
⨳
A few days later, Shinobu was packing up her things. She hauled the heavy tote bag over her shoulder, walking over to the stairs that led down from the third floor. She felt a presence behind her as she walked down. Accounting Gargoyle.
Ever since the day he picked up her pen, Shinobu began subconsciously paying attention to his actions. Creepy, I know. Her mind would drift to him all of a sudden, and she would catch herself staring right at him. She began noticing the small details about him that would’ve gone unnoticed before. The way he slightly furrowed his brows once in a while, how he would move to ruffle through his hair and push it back, or even how he would lightly trace the edges of his books with his fingertips.
Most of all, she noticed how their entry and exit times from the library seemed to be similar. He was always a short distance in front of or behind her whenever she left and entered.
In a way, she felt like a stalker. The thought of that made Shinobu shudder mentally. She certainly did not want to be viewed as a crazed fangirl stalking her idol.
It was a weird feeling. She was aware of his presence before, but she wouldn’t pay attention to him. Just what changed? The girl wasn’t sure. She pursed her lips.
Her midterms were in a week, and she wouldn’t let some trivial matter like this take up her brain space. After all, Kimetsu College & University wasn’t a place for flunkers. Money alone wouldn’t get you a spot. The university prided itself on its admissions made only by academic strengths.
Shinobu was at the top of her class, and she couldn’t afford to let that ranking slip. Her parents wouldn’t be mad, of course. Her father owned a worldwide enterprise, and he made sure to spoil his three daughters rotten. If she ever told him she wanted to drop out of school, he would be elated and ask her to take over the company instead.
She studied for herself. Since she was young, she had always loved how something could be both medicine and poison. Her curiosity pushed her to pursue pharmacology. It was fascinating to her.
Shinobu got in her car, turned on some music, and drove back to her house. It was getting late, and she hadn’t yet eaten dinner. Her stomach grumbled, as if responding to her thoughts.
She unlocked the door to her house. Well, actually, it was her and Mitsuri’s house. They decided to stay together since neither of them actually enjoyed living alone. Shinobu was greeted by the sight of Mitsuri lounging comfortably on the sofa, a moisturising mask on her face.
“Hiya Shinobu! You’re back late”
“I was studying,” Shinobu yawned.
After a quick shower, Shinobu settled on her study desk. She took out her books and laid them out. With a stretch and an encouraging “Go! Go!” to herself, she buried herself in her books again.
Studying in the library felt better to Shinobu. Being surrounded by endless shelves of books just helped her focus better.
She read and wrote and memorised. After what seemed like hours of studying, or perhaps it was only minutes? The girl had lost count of time. Her phone buzzed. She ignored it at first, deciding to complete the subtopic before looking at texts. It buzzed again. She ignored it.
Buzz
Buzz
Buzz
After the fifth buzz, Shinobu sighed and picked up the phone.
✨HASHIRA✨
@UZUIHEAVEN: My loves and I are experimenting with sushi made with GOLDEN LEAVES! It shall be the most heavenly meal ever conceived.
@leave_me_alone: are you fucking kidding me. I had a gas station hot dog.
@smilingmenace: I'm sure its very aesthetically pleasing, Tengen. Do tell us whether its actually edible.
@UMAI_EATS: THAT’S AN AMAZING IDEA. I SHALL TRY MAKING SOME GOLDEN CUTLETS NEXT!
Shinobu switched her phone to silent and put it down, smiling. Her friends were one of a kind, truly. They had known each other since middle school, although Tengen, Rengoku and Sanemi were two years older than her, all three of them being 21. Mitsuri was a year older than Shinobu. Her father being business partners with the Kochou enterprise, the two knew each other since they were toddlers.
Although the text messages reminded her that she still hadn’t eaten dinner. Shinobu left her room, walking towards the kitchen for something to eat. Mitsuri was no longer in the living room, probably having gone to her room.
She settled on a bowl of cornflakes. Bringing the bowl back to her room, she walked by the fish tank displayed next to the corridor. The deep blue background reminded her of a certain man.
It messed with her mind. Just why was she thinking of him so often?