I feel so tired.
When I laid in bed, all the tension built up in my body disappeared without much time. I twisted my upper torso from my hips and I heard the sound of my spine popping a dozen times within less than a second.
Inhale
"Haah..."
Well at least it's over, but the opening ceremony got me feeling like a flat hamster. Courtesy to Serizawa University for allowing us to sleep right after inside our dorm rooms.
But... What now? It's only Saturday and It isn't even 12pm. No one to talk to, I'm in a reserved dorm for just myself, I don't even know a lot of people.
...
Whatever, I'll just go to the library and read whatever I want.
[Chapter 1 - Happy Birthday]
August 15, 2010
The day has only begun. With the majority of students gathering over at the food court, facilities like the library, lecture halls and the principal's office are devoid of any person except for staff and teachers.
The doors to the library were large. The handles were 3 feet long, starting from the same length away from the ground. The door itself was decorated with golden frames and above was a sign made of a certain metal.
"Section 2, Fiction: Stories that do not exist."
Looking up at the sign thrice as high as the highest strand of his hair, Hikari mustered the words written above the arching doorframe.
At his left and right, there are 1 and 8 doors respectively, all spaced out evenly representing a section of the library relative to the hallway.
Something Hikari noticed was the hue of the window glass. He felt as if those windows were that of the sky while he was reading the sign of Section 2 of the library. But when he turned around, only that of sunlight came through the glass.
"Ah, right. The library." Of course, may his path deviate, but his destination not. Hikari pushed himself back on track to do what he wanted to do.
Turning back towards the door, he stretched his arms upwards like a cat before going inside the library.
[The Wandering Knight, by Erin Maister, 15th Century]
'The Wandering Knight' is the most appreciated piece of literature of the novel genre spanning from its conception to the modern era. It was made by Duchess Erin along with Duke Felix Knight after their decade long rivalry that led to their marriage.
The book itself is about 'Duchess Angelica', a female knight that was admired for her service as a soldier even when she held such a title as the Duchess.
It told the readers of the many sides of the things that they had not known at the time. The Religious Order's deception, the inner-workings of a monarchy and the standards of morality along with many other secrets that were held back from the citizens.
It also played around a lot with magic, gods & goddesses and often romanticized the glory of righteousness. 'The Wandering Knight' by Erin Maister changed the minds of society for the better.
In a way, literature became most important piece of human creation, that now has led to the birth of many shining stars. Izumi Miyuri, Goron De Ara, and many other figures from the past.
With a subtle thump, the book closes within Hikari's hand. The lack of any other sound within the library tells of the desolation inside.
The silence only deepens his focus on the book itself. Having started on reading the very first volume, he has found himself spending an hour or two within the library without even noticing a thing.
"Really?"
Naturally, it surprised him. It was merely boredom that pushed Hikari to use up that much of his time by accident.
The ticking of the analog clock high up on the wall finally returns to his attention after being subconsciously filtered out by his brain.
"2:30..." He mutters.
So he looked at the thick book that he was holding, then at the nearby bookshelves, trying to remember where he took out the book from.
Maybe it was the confusion in his eyes, but the way he looked up & down from the book to the shelves along with his back & forth pacing had a charm to it only girls could notice.
Ah, right. That would be irrelevant had there not been a secret observer from somewhere he could not see. Somewhere he was not looking.
It was Hikari's tenth time ending up at square 1 in search of the spot which the book was originally placed. During the first six times, he took it with some carefree lenience, but it was truly that repetitive. He couldn't get angry, he was just confused.
"..."
He could just leave it there, but he couldn't imagine being the first person in the library and leaving it with one unorganized book for the next visitor. And though he wants to rip that book to pieces, the book was a good read. Plus, isn't it his fault anyways?
Thud
Somewhere behind him, a louder than usual sound makes its way from the landing of an unknown name.
Hikari sighs, turning around slowly to face the person responsible for so much noise within the library...
"Mine!"
...only for the book that he was holding to be snatched right from his hand.
The enthusiastic voice of a middle-aged woman, who was behind him before, is also behind again as she has dashed past the moment he turned.
For the second time, he turns to face the woman who made too much noise and took the book away from his hands. She was also laughing like a maniac at this time.
"Hey-"
In the middle of the first syllable out of his mouth, he finds the woman's finger silencing him in a 'shush' gesture. Really bold, aren't you?
With only recently getting a proper view of the certain woman, it is appropriately surprising that this person is of the same age as Hikari.
A shorter but still average height, platinum blonde hair that can't go 2 inches without curving and unusual jade-colored eyes.
"I know what you're about to say." The girl says.
Brandishing her silver name tag on her chest, she stands with a sort of dignity found inside elementary school students.
"The name of this gorgeous girl before you goes something along the lines of 'Comica A. Rialeski!"
She stands resolute with so much confidence she doesn't even have to open her eyes.
Though only just a few seconds pass, and that confidence turns the whole situation really awkward as Hikari didn't bother to respond.
"W-well... You can refer to the-"
"I wasn't going to ask your name."
...
Before the silence began to tear at her heart, her eyes darted to the chunk'o paper she was holding. It didn't help, it didn't stop her from sweating like a moist can of cola.
("Hmm, this book has a really thick cover page compared to other books. I wonder if there's a standard for cover thickness for this kind of thing. It also shows a lot of-")
THWACK
"OW!" Trying to distract herself didn't work for Comica. More so since her interlocutor had more than the autonomy of a pet goldfish and said interlocutor just took the book from her hands.
"Why'd you even take it?"
"C...paign..." Comica muttered.
"Champaign?"
"...Campaign... For the literature club of this university..."
"Oh..." Even when the reason seemed so ridiculously simple, he let out audible realization for he only expected the worst.
"Y-yeah, a campa- HEY, YOU THINK I GOT ALL THIS CHARM AND BEAUTY OF MINE WITHOUT HOLDING BACK MY INNER CAVEMAN FROM BOTTLES OF---"
That went on for while. A half-minute type of while where Hikari's temper got so numb that it could only be classified into one-sided communication.
"---OH, AND GET THIS. I DID THIS JUST TO GET A LOVER, AND GUESS WHAT? I GOT REJECTED BY ALL-"
BONK
A toy hammer is smoking hot from the impact. Yeah, it hit Comica.
Inhale
"AAAHHH!!!" Surprise, fear, confusion, maybe some bits of supernatural elements as her soul might've left her body.
"Loud." Coming from a voice only so little deeper than the poor victim of the toy hammer.
"I don't even know why, we only became members mere hours ago but I already feel comfortable with smacking you like a sort of kouhai."
There was a girl the same age as both Hikari and Comica, wearing the same uniform as the latter.
Aside from the toy hammer that just broke from impact, she also carried the same name tag as her kouhai on her chest, this time, in a golden color.
Literature Club Treasurer
Ayame Munakata
1st year student, Creative Writing
"You look pretty neat. Blonde, too."
"どうぞよろしく!" ("Nice to meet you!")
Ayame Kento seemed of the same nationality as Hikari. Obsidian black hair, hazel iris, sharper contours for the eyes and strands of hair that curved in and out from her ears to her neck respectively.
"Ah, yeah..."
Her body turns to face him as she throws the toy hammer to the ground beside Comica.
(Brought to Hikari's peripheral vision, that person is still writhing on the ground.)
"While you're at it, you were reading that book, yes? Since not a lot of people really read it full, I find it your unique taste that you do such a thing."
"Oh, really? Huh..."
Her voice calms to match the peaceful qualities of Hikari.
"I'll be straightforward. Join the literature club."
...
A short quiet moment followed, but the taste that lingered felt sweeter than before.
Unlike Comica's attempt, the descent from words to silence felt graceful. This time, Hikari's eyes were more sincere.
"But I'm a biology student..."
"That's what you can use to set yourself out from other writers. Your identity."
Her right arm reaches out for a handshake.
"Your destiny too."
So when Hikari finally came to an answer...
"I..."
*
[Literature Club Room]
A tall guy just short of olympic level athlete in terms of physical capabilities. That's how they always describe this person, excluding that he was meek and naive.
'course, everyone has their flaws. Just that, this person's are contradicting. Maybe he's good once you know him?
"Prez, I swear, I know a guy-" That naive guy always tried to help out.
"Argh! I already said it, we need to choose, not to be chosen!" But sometimes, that help just isn't meant for everyone. Not for a serious and pessimistic girl like their president.
That was what most people around him were like. Because of that, he couldn't fit in.
"I'll be looking for members elsewhere."
"Fine, fine. I'll go recruit some other people with Mica and Munakata."
And for that, he could only rely on someone who was just as much of an outsider as him.
The door opens and shuts the president of the club leaves to find other people willing to join them
In an attempt of undirected expression, the boy brings his hands to the sides of his head, trying to 'massage' and ease his mind.
In a decision to keep his promise, he finally goes on the move. But the door opens just before he could even reach.
He backed away.
"Munakata, what's-"
There was barely anyone who he could depend on. In fact, there was none at all. If not for an exception that was the same and the opposite at the same time.
[Hikari]
"So the LIT club is just in the 10th segment of the library? They really gave us that?"
While Comica, who appropriately nicknamed herself 'Mica', left to get food for my registration as a LIT club member, me and Ayame both admired the luxury of the university, all through words.
"Yeah! I'm surprised that they lent us a large part of it too, it feels like medieval royalty in there!"
I couldn't doubt Ayame there, Serizawa University gave us students a lot to utilize. They even managed to fit personal pocket WIFIs into our student IDs.
It hasn't been a day, but this place is feeling too good to be true. Seriously, what did Doctor Izumi Miyuri feed the principal?
"Section 10, The Literature Club: The Sparks of Unity"
Would you look at that.
Somehow, that makes me feel warm inside. Knowing that there's someone out there who thought of that, here right on planet Gaia.
I was stopped by Ayame right before the door.
"Your name was Hikari, right? I think the other two would like someone like you." She spoke in lower voice.
"Glad to hear that."
Her hand reaches the door handle. Before the door is opened, she looks at me to make a reassuring expression.
The door opens.
How do I say this? It looks dim yet lit up. No, it's intentional lighting. That light is all focused on the desk in front of the window, all elevated 3ft and accessed by stairs on the left & right.
I'd really like to appreciate these things right now, but business first.
(Outside of his view, Ayame took initiative to introduce the new member to a certain someone.)
"Alright. Other two, you said?" I tell Ayame as I turn to face her. She's there of course. And that's... The other...
Is that...?
I looked him in the eye.
I tried to find any hints of recognition.
I saw it on his name tag.
I knew it from his reaction.
Literature Club Auditor
That confusion of his broke into a smile. "You bastard, is that really you?"
Sakurai Himizuko
[END]