CH. 19 - Library Time With Hiyori

The Next Day,

The class went by quickly as most of the day, and the only interaction I had was with Horikita about study reasons in the small break times in between classes , and then Hirata as most of the time during the break time, and Ayanokoji , that's it.

But, nothing too special at all.

After the class...

As my usual self, I went to the library as I do most of the time after the class.

You're absolutely right. Let me revise with a more natural flow:

As I entered the library, the familiar peaceful atmosphere enveloped me. Just as expected, Hiyori was in her usual spot, surrounded by books.

"Hi there," I greeted her softly, mindful of the library's quiet environment.

She looked up from her book, her face brightening with a gentle smile. "Hello, Minato. Coming from class?"

"Yeah," I replied, taking a seat across from her. "What are you reading today?"

She held up the book, showing me the cover. "It's a collection of short stories. Each one has a different perspective on everyday life. It's quite interesting."

"Sounds intriguing. More philosophical than your usual picks?"

"Maybe a little," she said with a small laugh. "But I like trying different genres. What about you? Found anything interesting lately?"

I pulled out the book she'd helped me find the other day. "Just finished this one actually. You were right about the ending – didn't see it coming at all."

"Right? The way the author built up to that revelation was so clever," she said, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.

"Speaking of clever writing, have you started preparing for the midterms yet?" I asked, remembering our upcoming tests.

"Yes, actually. I've been reviewing past materials and making study guides," she replied, gesturing to a neat stack of notebooks beside her. "The library's been especially useful for extra reference materials."

"That's impressive. I've been running study sessions for my class, but it's been... challenging," I admitted.

Her expression turned curious. "Oh? You're helping others study?"

"Yeah, we split into two groups. I'm handling one of them. It's interesting, seeing how different everyone's learning styles are."

"That sounds nice, helping your classmates like that," she smiled.

"How's that working out for your class?" I asked casually.

She paused for a moment, considering. "It's going well."

"Do your class have any leader yet ? Like you know..." I asked casually.

Her smile remained, but something shifted in her expression. "I don't want to discuss about it, sorry."

I nodded, understanding her discretion. "Of course, sorry for prying."

"No need to apologize," she said warmly. "It's natural to be curious. How about we talk about that new series you mentioned last time?"

The conversation flowed back to our usual topics – books, stories, and general observations about literature. There was something refreshing about how easily we could move from one subject to another, even after slightly awkward moments.

"By the way," I said, reaching into my bag, "I found something you might like." I pulled out a hardcover book with an elegant dark blue cover.

Her eyes lit up with interest. "Oh?"

"It's a mystery novel with some psychological elements. I remembered you mentioning you enjoy those kinds of stories. This one has some unique twists I think you'd appreciate."

Hiyori took the book carefully, running her fingers over the cover. "This looks fascinating. The summary sounds really interesting."

"I thought it would suit your taste," I smiled, watching her examine the book with obvious interest.

She giggled softly. "You're getting better at guessing what I might like."

"I pay attention during our book talks," I replied with a slight shrug.

"Actually," she said, reaching for her bag, "I have something for you too." She pulled out a book with a burgundy cover. "I saw this yesterday and immediately thought of you."

"A novel combining science and art?" I read the summary, intrigued.

"I remembered you mentioning you like both subjects, so..." she explained, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

I took the book, genuinely touched by her thoughtfulness. "This is perfect, Hiyori. Thank you."

"I hope you enjoy it," she said softly, fidgeting slightly with her own book. "The reviews are quite good."

"Coming from you, that's quite a recommendation," I smiled. "You haven't steered me wrong yet with book suggestions."

We spent the next few minutes discussing our previous book exchanges, comparing notes on what we'd liked and discovered through each other's recommendations.

"It's nice," she said suddenly, "having someone to share books with like this."

"Yeah," I agreed, understanding exactly what she meant. "It's like having a personal library guide."

She laughed at that, the sound soft and melodious. "Is that what I am?"

"The best one I've ever had," I replied with a grin.

The afternoon light was starting to fade outside the library windows, signaling that it was getting late.

"I should probably head back," I said reluctantly, gathering my things. "Got some studying to do."

"Me too," she nodded, carefully placing her new book in her bag. "Thank you for the book, Minato."

"Thank you for yours," I replied, standing up. "Same time tomorrow?"

"Same time tomorrow," she confirmed with a warm smile.

As I walked toward the exit, I turned back briefly. Hiyori was already immersed in her new book, her expression serene and focused. Something about that sight made me smile.

These peaceful moments in the library, sharing books and quiet conversations with Hiyori, had become one of my favorite parts of school life.

But, of course , she had to be from a different class. It would have been better if I was in Class C , now if I think about it.