Chapter Text
Hinata stared into the crowded library and let out a sigh of exasperation. Just like the rest of the libraries on campus, the fourth library was already busy. And, when you were at Hope’s Peak Academy, “busy” meant that the room was too loud and filled with music, laughing, yelling, and the occasional explosions.
“Is it full again already?”
Hinata rebalanced the heavy stack of books in his arms and turned around to face his best (and only) friend, Nanami Chiaki, and nodded to her.
“Just like the last three,” Hinata answered, disappointed. “It’s not like they created libraries to be quiet and calm places where you read or study.”
Nanami nodded along with him, but her gaze didn’t break away from her Gameboy Advance. “What are you going to do, then?”
“I’m not sure,” Hinata sighed again, “I really need somewhere to study. If I don’t keep my grades up, I could lose my place in the Main Course.”
“Is it really that bad in there?” Nanami asked, gesturing with a slight tilt of her head towards the library. Before Hinata could reply, another explosion rocked through the library and sent him desperately stumbling to keep his balance.
“Explosions aside, it’s still far too crowded. I can’t even see an empty table. Is there nowhere in this school that’s actually quiet?” Hinata replied, adjusting the books he was holding again. His arms were beginning to ache, and he wanted nothing more now than to put them down and collapse into a chair.
“I think there are some unused music rooms on the fourth floor. Well… I know that Mioda-san uses the fifth one, but I think she’s hanging out with Mitarai-san most of the time now,” Nanami said. Although Hinata knew Nanami was clearly listening to him, her heavy-lidded gaze continued to be glued to her game and as he watched, Nanami cleared another level with ease.
“Music rooms? Are you sure they’re empty?” It made no sense to Hinata that in a school filled with the most talented musicians, that most of the music rooms would be empty.
“Yeah… Maybe avoid the fifth room, though. Mioda-san might still be there.”
“Hmm… I suppose a music room is better than nowhere,” Hinata adjusted the books in his arms for a third time, attempting to relieve their weight. It didn’t work and Hinata sighed once more, this time also wishing he had a bigger bag.
“Yes,” Nanami mumbled, “It is. Should I follow you up there now or meet you there later?”
“You can just meet me up there later,” Hinata answered. “I need to get some serious studying done.”
“‘Kay,” Nanami glanced up at Hinata and shot him a quick, sleepy smile. “I have some class rep things to do, anyway. I’ll see you in a couple of hours?”
Hinata nodded, smiling back at his friend, and set off determinedly to the second-floor music rooms.
❀ ✿ ❀
Hinata tried the handle to the second music room and frowned. Like the first one, it was locked.
Maybe this is why the music rooms are always empty, Hinata thought as he once again rebalanced the books in his arms and shuffled along to the third music room. So far, while Nanami had been right about the music rooms being empty, they were also locked. Hinata was starting to wonder if he was doomed to have to study in the toilets.
Hinata paused outside the third music room’s door and listened intently. He wasn’t exactly sure what to listen for (or actually, if he’d even be able to hear anything. Hope’s Peak was bound to have soundproof music rooms after all) but even so, he couldn’t hear a thing.
Carefully, to avoid dropping the books in his arms, Hinata gripped the door handle of the third music room and pushed. This time, the door swung open easily.
The first thing Hinata noticed was the intense but sweet scent of rose petals, along with the gentle melody of violins.
“Welcome to Hope’s Peak Academy’s Host Club!”
The second thing Hinata noticed was that this so-called ‘music room’ was clearly not a music room. What it was exactly instead, Hinata had no idea, but he had a feeling he was about to find out.