CHAPTER 8: LIBRARY

ONE YEAR LATER

It had been a year since that kiss under the sakura tree, but neither Shuu nor Aoi could seem to foget the feeling of being lost in each other. There was something intoxicating about the way they had fit together that day—like pieces of a puzzle finally clicking into place. And now, every glance, every quiet moment together, felt more meaningful.

The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the campus bathed in a soft twilight glow. Shuu had invited Aoi to the library after lunch, something they often did to escape the bustle of their usual lives. The library was empty now, save for the quiet rustling of pages and the faint hum of the air conditioning.

They had been sitting side by side at one of the long, oak tables, their textbooks spread out in front of them, but neither was truly focused on studying. Aoi's eyes kept wandering over to Shuu, who was so focused on his notes that he hadn't noticed the way Aoi was watching him. There was something hypnotic about Shuu's quiet intensity—the way he'd furrow his brow in concentration, or the way the light from the lamp cast a warm glow over his face.

Aoi shifted in his seat, his heart beating a little faster as his thoughts began to wander. It had become harder to concentrate on anything other than Shuu, and he could feel his pulse quicken as he realized it wasn't just the studying that kept him in the library. It was Shuu himself.

"Shuu," Aoi whispered, voice low.

Shuu's eyes flicked up from his notes, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips when he saw Aoi's soft gaze. "Yeah?"

"I… I can't concentrate," Aoi admitted, looking down at the textbook in front of him, but he knew he wasn't fooling anyone. His heart was racing, his fingers tapping nervously against the wood of the table. He could feel Shuu's gaze on him, soft and steady.

Shuu closed the textbook in front of him with a quiet sigh, leaning back in his chair. "You're not the only one. I think I've been distracted for the past hour."

Aoi looked up in surprise, only to find Shuu's gaze a little more intense than usual. His lips curled into a teasing smile. "What have you been distracted by?"

Shuu leaned forward slightly, his voice quiet and sincere. "You, Aoi."

Aoi's breath caught, his heart giving an unexpected leap. "Me?"

Shuu nodded, his expression softening. "You've been on my mind a lot lately. More than I expected."

Aoi could feel his cheeks flushing, but he didn't look away. There was something so magnetic about Shuu's gaze, something that made his pulse race in a way that felt both familiar and new.

Without thinking, he found himself closing the space between them, his breath mingling with Shuu's in the stillness of the library. The world outside their bubble seemed to vanish as he leaned in closer, his lips barely brushing against Shuu's ear as he whispered, "I've been thinking about you too."

Before he could pull back, Shuu's hand found the back of his neck, pulling him forward with gentle but undeniable intent. Their lips met once more, soft and slow, like they had all the time in the world. Aoi's eyes fluttered closed as he melted into the kiss, his hands trembling slightly as he placed them on Shuu's shoulders, anchoring himself to the moment.

Shuu's lips moved against his with a tenderness that made Aoi's heart race, the sweet press of their mouths sending warmth flooding through his chest. Aoi's fingers slid up to tangle in Shuu's hair, pulling him closer, as if trying to make this moment last forever.

When they finally broke away, their foreheads rested together, their breaths mingling in the quiet space. Aoi could feel his heartbeat in his ears, and for a moment, he thought he might just lose himself in this feeling, this connection.

Shuu's voice was soft, but the sincerity behind it made Aoi's heart ache. "You're all I've been thinking about. I didn't expect this… but I don't want it to stop."

Aoi swallowed, his throat tight with emotion. "Me neither," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath. "I don't want this to end."

They stayed like that for a long moment, just sharing space, just being in each other's presence. The world outside, with its demands and expectations, seemed so far away. All that mattered was the quiet comfort of being together, the warmth of their hands touching, the unspoken understanding that no matter what came next, they had this—this moment, this love.