Work Text:
Fuyuki City Library was once a place that was bustling with students and passerby alike. Ten or so years ago, when information was needed, most would turn to the earthy scent of the books as they lined up on the towering shelves of the library's interior. Nowadays, however, the most that a person does in a library is to either sleep or pass the time before they leave without as much as picking up a single book. Each tomes start to feel more and more like a decoration, collecting more and more dust each year, than serve the purpose they were used to back in the day.
Such does not seem to apply to the English professor at Chaldea University. Call him old-fashioned if you will, but Oberon Vortigern would still turn to the library as his main source of gathering resources before succumbing to using the internet. Ask him why, and you would be met with a shrug as he would then say, "It's just my preference."
Once or twice a week, he would visit the local library. Each time he entered, he would always be greeted by the earthy scent that emanates from the aged books. Suffocating it may be for others, to Professor Vortigern, it felt like he's wrapped in a nostalgic, comforting embrace. The weight of the books as he held them in one hand, the dust that had accumulated from each page tickling his nose, felt like he held so much knowledge and power with just the tip of his fingers. It was so odd—finding comfort and joy in such simple things that others doesn't anymore. He supposes that the simplicity and nostalgia of the books are what makes them feel special to him.
And, another reason why these trips to the library feel so special, is because of the librarian. Oberon always saw her at the library—often at the front desk— as she is seemingly lost in her own world with whatever it was that she was reading. If not reading at the front desk, he occassionally saw her tending to some of the shelves; dusting each book clean, checking any of the pages for damages, before placing each book in their proper category. He never really bothered trying to strike up a conversation with her except for whenever he would take a book home or return it. What was even there to talk about, especially in a place where silence is strictly permitted?
Oberon only got to talk to her properly for the first time when he couldn't find the book he was looking for. When he approached her while she was once again rearranging a shelf close by the far corner of the place, she turned to him with a gentle smile. It was only then that he realized that she had the most striking golden eyes that were obscured behind her eyeglasses and fringe. In that moment, they were shining so brightly, as if the sun had descended down to Earth just to emphasize those features of her's. Then again, the afternoon sunlight coming in from the window shone directly at her face, unknowingly enhancing them before him. All Oberon could think about at that time was how… beautiful she looked. One might even call him stupid for just standing there silently, staring at the petite lady with his face contorted in an indescribable expression.
"Um…" the librarian's meek voice broke the silence, her gemstone like eyes shifting her gaze down at the floor, seemingly avoiding eye contact with the man who had just randomly approached her.
"Oh, uh." That brought Oberon back to reality, feeling his face build up warmth when he realized he had just been staring at her for the past minute or so. Oh gods, he had heard her voice before on multiple occasions, but something about right now made her sound even more melodic. Her voice matched her face really well…
"S-Sorry, I—I was wondering if you have a copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream? I can't find one even among the other shelves." Oberon finally found his voice to ask her about what he had been looking for. It wavered a bit, his words stuck at his throat momentarily with how breathless he was just a while ago.
His question made her golden eyes light up. "I'm sorry, I left it at the front desk! I was reading it earlier but some guests didn't return the books again after borrowing and so I had to fix them up," she apologized as she rushed to the front desk to grab the book.
She handed it over to Oberon, smiling awkwardly as she pushed her glasses up her nose. "Um, I don't think I've seen you take a classic yet," she observed. Since he was the only one who often came to the library, she remembered almost every book he would take home; most of them leaned more on the technical and academic than classics.
Oberon took the book from the librarian's hand with a smile of his own. "Those were for work. I have to teach some first year brats how to improve their essay writing and public speeches. This one," he held up the book he asked for, "I just wanted to read something on my free time."
One would think the librarian was already glowing earlier, but his remark just now somehow made her glow even more. What was she, the personification of the sun? Twirling her fingers in her long, braided rosy hair, the librarian meekly asked, "Do you like to read those too?"
"I like it more than reading academic papers, honestly."
That made the librarian grin widely. She even let out an angelic chuckle that sounded so pleasing to listen to. Just a single look at her sheepish smile and Oberon felt something twist inside his heart. On that day, he unknowingly added another, much emotionally driven, motivation to look forward to whenever he would visit this library.
He held up his hand at her, mirroring the same genuine smile she had on her face. "Oberon. We may as well get acquainted, if you don't mind."
The librarian giggled, taking his hand in her own. "I certainly don't oppose to that. You can call me Titania."