Study Time

It was the first week of classes. Professors usually spent this time orienting students, and during their free time, students mingled. After all, this was a place where those of upper-class status congregated—it was good to make connections.

But for Alphard Valdur, it was time to study.

If only he could.

There was something—someone—watching him. He could feel it. Whenever he turned around, it would slip just beyond his sight, and whenever he was alone, the gaze intensified, burning into the back of his head.

"You look constipated," Liam said, propping his feet up on the table.

Alphard sighed. Liam was his only friend—if he could even call him that. The son of some shady nobles, he was an outcast like Alphard, though for different reasons. Truth be told, Alphard had never wanted to associate with him, but for some reason, Liam had stuck to him since their first year.

"Do you…" Alphard lowered his voice, glancing around. The library was nearly empty, just the two of them. But still—who knew who could be listening? "Do you ever feel like you're being watched?"

Liam leaned back in his chair, making a thoughtful expression. "Nah."

Alphard exhaled, frustrated. "I can't shake the feeling. It started at the opening ceremony—I was reading, and suddenly, I felt a chill down my spine."

"Oh? That's because you are being watched."

"Right? It's just my imagi—" He froze, realizing what Liam had just said. "What?"

"Yeah. I'm saying you're being ogled at more than watched, though."

Alphard turned immediately, scanning the library—but there was nothing. Just shelves of books and empty desks.

Before he could say anything, Liam suddenly stood up and strode toward a corner shelf.

"Hey!" he called out, a little too aggressively. "My buddy wants to know why you keep staring at him."

A small, startled sound—almost like a mouse's squeak—came from behind the shelf.

"I-I didn't mean to," a girl's high-pitched voice stammered. He couldn't see her from where he sat, but he recognized the uniform—a freshman.

"I-I was just, uh, looking through these books," she continued nervously.

Alphard watched as Liam plucked something from her hands.

"Techniques for Kissing?" Liam read aloud.

"Th-that is private!"

The librarians shushed them.

Alphard sighed and got up, walking toward the commotion.

"Liam, stop bullying—" Then he saw her.

She was smaller than he expected, with hair the color of peonies and eyes so bright and inquisitive that he nearly forgot what he was about to say.

"Liam," he muttered, eyeing the so-called antagonist. "Look at her. She's the size of a lamb. Why would you pick on her?"

"Why has she been following you, huh?" Liam, ever the ruffian, pressed. "You think we wouldn't notice? You're scheming something, aren't you?"

"Wh-what?" The girl's expression twisted in indignation. "How dare you assume that. I only wished to…"

She turned to Alphard then, and for the first time, he met her gaze properly. Her eyes were wide, clear, and unwavering—so still that he could see his own reflection in them.

"I just wanted to…"

Then, suddenly, she ran.

Alphard blinked, confused.

Had he really been stalked so menacingly? Or was it just innocent curiosity from a freshman? Judging by her uniform, she was only a year younger than him. Perhaps she had a question but was too shy to ask. After all, he was part of the welcome committee.

His thoughts were interrupted by something on the floor. A book.

Picking it up, he immediately recognized it as hers.

Techniques for Kissing: Make Them Wet for More.

Alphard stared at the cover.

This was… very dubious material.

Best to return it to her and kindly suggest she not bring it to campus again.

Yet… why that book? Is this something a sixteen-year-old should have? By the looks of it, it seemed well-read. Why was she reading it? Who gave it to her? It was none of his business, and yet it sat on his desk in his dorm room, as if beckoning him to read it.

Should he? No, this was obviously private. But what if her contact information was inside? Best to make sure… right? He flipped over the first page. There were doodles on the dedication page. How sweet—it seemed to be a wife's work dedicated to her husband.

"I really want to kiss you."

The words were scrawled on the edge of a page, and for some reason, something within him stirred, as if he had just opened a lover's letter.

The next day, he tried to look for her. It was getting uncomfortable having to carry a book like that in his bag, but he had no choice. It wasn't his to keep nor peruse.

"Oh? That bag looks so worn out, Alphard. Is it a hand-me-down?"

He turned to see Seig, one of the boys who enjoyed picking on lower nobles.

"Did your dead brother give it to you?"

It's fine, he told himself. Ignore it. Before, words like that used to cut so deep they'd bring him to tears, but if he just tried hard enough to ignore them, they might leave him alone. Typically, they didn't bother him when Liam was around, but they didn't always share the same classes.

"What? Why's the teacher's pet so quiet now? Don't you just love answering questions, Alphard?"

Ignore him. They could never understand. He tightened his grip on his bag strap, trying to steady himself.

Then suddenly, another boy came from behind and grabbed at his satchel. Luckily, Alphard had been holding onto it tightly.

Students began to murmur and gawk as the two engaged in a silent tug-of-war. He knew he was outnumbered, easily overpowered, so instead of struggling, Alphard simply let go.

They crashed into each other like dominoes. The contents of his bag spilled onto the floor—and that's when he remembered.

Techniques for Kissing.

It was out in the open for everyone to see.

Seig snatched it up, and before he could even open his mouth—

A heavy satchel struck him square in the face.

It wasn't Alphard who had swung it.

It was her.

"You—!"

But she wasn't paying attention to him. Her focus was entirely on Seig. She stepped closer, murmuring something under her breath. Seig's face paled. He simply nodded, horror flickering in his eyes, before she let him go, snatching her book back with ease.

"Oh!" She turned to Alphard, smiling. "Thanks for returning my book! I've been looking everywhere for it."

"S-sure…" Alphard hesitated, still trying to process what had just happened. "Speaking of which, I apologize for not finding you sooner."

"There's nothing to apologize for, Alphie!" She beamed. And Alphard—Alphard felt something shiver inside his chest.

"Wait… how do you know my name?"

"Uh—" She glanced around hastily before spotting another young woman watching the scene unfold. "Bitina! You needed me?"

Unlike her, this girl had pale blue hair.

"Uh, wait, what's your name?" Alphard asked quickly.

She turned around just before disappearing into the crowd.

"Mitina. Bye!"