Hajime's POV:
It didn't take long at all to reach the spawn point. I called this location the spawn point because it's really just a massive park. And there are parks everywhere in the lobby, I even found two entrances close to the dormitory. So to avoid confusion, I told Kenji and Haruto I'm heading to the spawn point. They seem to understand what I meant which is good.
Now for the reason I came here... it's not like I'm here to climb another totem or something. I remember seeing the sign for library somewhere around here. Inside libraries, there are books. And books are knowledge. Information is always good to have.
I passed by the giant fountain which is the first thing I saw when I got in the lobby. There it is, a wooden arrow sign labelled "Library." It's wooden materials doesn't really fit into the white and gold theme, doesn't it?
The way to the library was short. I could already see the building from a distance. To be honest, I have completely no clue what to expect. The best case scenario would be me getting some juicy information regarding Worlds. The worst case scenario would be it's empty. There isn't much to do here in the lobby from what I have seen so far, so I really hope there's at least enough books to last three months. Even if they are useless. I'm always ready to be disappointed, though.
I stopped in front of the giant, wooden double door. The door handle emits a shiny gold which would probably hurt my eyes if the sun was higher. I pulled on it and head inside. My heart jumped with excitement.
It's ginormous inside, as if a completely different world compared to what it looked like from the outside. I think part of what made it look so grandiose was contributed by the fact that giant bookshelves are stacked all over the place. The ceiling was high with chandeliers and the floor filled with carpets.
The drive to explore every corner kicked in as I scout the area. There were soft sofa-like clouds on the center of the building. I found the stairs to the second floor which doesn't have a floor in the middle and is completely blocked off by fences to prevent people from falling over.
I noticed all the books contain subjects of a completely different cultural standing. It's aa though each book contains centuries worth of information regarding a completely different world. And there's also this book titled "Ten Ways to Help Boost Your Virility." What a weird book. Did I mention there's a fireplace, too?
I know, it seems like a bad idea to have a fireplace near thousands and thousands of books, which is why I assume the fire has been completely put out. Surrounding the fireplace were a few more cloud sofas, a rug, and a nice wooden table. Inside the fireplace, let's see... black soot and a tunnel of bricks that extends to heaven. Why am I examining the insides of a fireplace? Beats me, sometimes I wonder what I'm doing, too.
The floor beneath the fireplace collapsed and I fell down a tunnel. It wasn't really a long fall, if anything, I could probably climb back up. Why would I do that, though? My stupid behaviour has just led to me discover something interesting. Now the real question is, which way do I go?
I decided to just follow my intuition and go right. My intuition has never failed me, afterall.
~~
Hajime's POV:
A dead end. I guess my intuition has malfunctioned as of right now. That's not what surprised me, though. There's a bookshelf there. At the end of the tunnel, that is underground, or undercloud, however you want it to be called. Not only that, the book "10 Ways to Help Boost Your Virility" is just sitting there, staring at me... menacingly. What the fuck is that doing here? I guess this is the cue telling me I went the wrong way.
I left the bookshelf with that "Ten Ways to Help Boost Your Virility" monstrosity and went the other way. I will lose my shit if I see that exact bookshelf on this side too. I've never prayed so hard in my life.
Ah, I reached the spot where I fell. For some reason it's completely blocked off now. The only way I was able to tell was from the black soot lying around the area. My only guess is that the clouds can regenerate itself or move itself back to its original position. I just hope that doesn't mean I'm trapped here forever.
I continued my little adventure through the tunnel. Surprisingly, the way this time was a lot shorter and I stumbled across an ancient wooden door with a bell attached and hanging to it.
Won't it make noise when I open it? Not like it mattered, I opened the door. The bell clanged together and produced a very sharp yet oddly satisfying noise. Being the goldfish that I am with an attention span of 0.7 seconds, I moved the door from left to right and right to left.
"Stop!" A loud yell came from inside.
I peaked through the half-opened door to see who was on the other side. It was a person a little shorter than me. Her voice is oddly familiar. She holds a scrolled up paper as she stormed towards me.
"I can't believe this! To think that someone smart enough to notice and solve that puzzle would be so obnoxious and so devoid of proper mannerism in a library!" She ranted, and continued on. "The first person to enter the archives after five months has to be you?! I can't believe this. I just can't believe this. I was looking forward to having a person of common interest to communicate with but now I totally regret ever wishing for that. If I knew it would be someone like you, I would have 100%, without a doubt, definitely NOT-"
"Ah, you're the A-cup girl I met near the fountain." I pointed at her chest.
"HUH?! IT'S YOU? AND I'M A B-CUP! GET THAT FACT INSIDE YOUR HEAD! A AND B ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!" She seems to be having a surge of mixed emotions. Shock, frustration, and maybe a little bit of embarrassment, too.
"Anything below C is still flat."
"I-. Why?! You, really?! You solved that puzzle?! Are you serious?" I don't know what she's talking about but she seems lost for words.
"What puzzle?"
"Oh my God, don't tell me you picked up that book first thing you do after walking into a library! That's even worse than my initial thoughts of you. This can't be real. No one has solved the puzzle in 3 months and the one who did it has to be a complete freak like you?" She flinched away from me as if I'm some form of incurable virus.
"Oh, so that virility book was the switch?" I finally made the connection.
"HUH? YOU DIDN'T KNOW?! HOW DID YOU EVEN GET IN?!" She's completely lost it.
"I just magically fell into the tunnel and walked."
"My days here are over..." she stood there with her head inclined to the side, completely devoid of life as she repeat her total despise for me like she's chanting a spell.
"I'm not that bad..." Not gonna lie, her reaction towards me was having an effect on my self-esteem.
She snapped out of it relatively quick.
"Listen up! If we're going to share the archives, then starting from today..." she didn't finish her sentence and went to drag the piles of scrolls and carry the old books towards her side of the room. She even took the moment to dust the dirt off her knees. Then she pointed at me with her other hand on her waist.
"Then starting today, this section of the room is mine." She pointed at her messy half section of the room, "And the remaining section is yours. You can touch and do whatever you want there. But if you cross the line to my side by even just a centimeter, then..." she paused for a moment to think about to say, "then I will cut your hands off! You hear? And don't even think of doing anything funny!"
"Like I could even do much to that body of yours." I was starting to get the hang of what gets a reaction out of her.
"I really hate you! You're so annoying!" Her reaction was getting milder in comparison to when we first met. Maybe she's accepted this is the way I'll be treating her all the time.
"Don't worry, there's not a need for you to move your stuff. I'll just read in the library, instead. I was planning to do that, anyway."
"Huh?! The library?! The archives is right in front of you and you prefer to read books about an unknown civilisation with useless symbols that don't even mean anything?! I knew you were stupid but to think it was to this degree. Do you really want to know the 10 ways to boost virility that badly?! Do you have nothing but sex in your head?!" She's really losing it and I'm enjoying this.
"Don't tell me you get lonely by yourself."
"Wh-what?! Why would I even feel lonely without you?! You're getting ahead of yourself! Fine by me! I get to keep the entire archives to myself and get rid of you! I couldn't ask for more!"
I laughed it off and turned for the exit. "Since I'll be just next doors, that makes us neighbours doesn't it? I look forward to getting along with you."
"Get along my ass!"
~~
Riria's POV:
I can't believe it. I still can't believe it. Words can't describe to you how much I can't believe this. Someone so stupid and so annoying, this is the worst possible scenario. Absolutely worst.
"So, why are you following me?" he casually asked me without looking back at all.
"Huh?! I'm not following you! I'm leaving the library and this is the only path, okay?! If there was another way, I'd gladly take it!"
"Haha, is that so?" He's completely making fun of me.
I always raise my voice whenever I'm around him. There is not a single instance I have not. From my first encounter with him to now. This guy just knows how to tick off every nerve in my being. The worst part is his slick tongue, I just can't win against him.
If I recall correctly, his name is Hajime? What an annoying guy. Isn't he the one notorious for having not activated his rune his entire life? Where does he even amass that amount of confidence? The way he walks, too, with both his hands inside his pockets. I hope he falls and break his nose.
"Hey, when we get out of here, don't tell anyone about the archives, okay? I want them to actually solve the puzzle and prove themselves. I don't want more random people like you inside the archives."
"Rest assured, I never intended to tell anyone about it." He was awfully cooperative for someone who just does whatever he wants.
He stood in front of the bookshelf, staring at it. What is he doing? Isn't he gonna activate it?
"You don't know how to activate it? Seriously?" I'm still impressed by how stupid he is.
"Like I said, I magically fell into the tunnel. This isn't the entrance I took."
"Move aside." I walked past him and bent the "book" 48 degree angles. The bookshelf vibrated as it slowly slide to the side.
"Woah, so that's how you do it?" His voice seem genuinely impressed and it further annoys me.
I let out a defeated sigh as I walk into the library. My face quickly filled with depression at the terrible news that behold me. The outside is completely dark, and I mean pitch black darkness. It's not far fetched to call it staring at the void.
It's even worse on the way to the dormitory. This much can't even compare to that. There are street lanterns located almost everywhere in the park. Though the pathways are still extremely dim, it's not entirely impossible to navigate through it. However, the same could not be said for the longer roads to the dormitory. There are no street lanterns located anywhere. Trying to head back now is like asking to be lost in the dark. There is just no way around it but to spend the night somewhere else and wait for morning.
"So it really goes completely dark outside." He said out loud with an amazed look at can easily be pictured due to his tone. How is he so carefree? Does he not know how to think of his situation?
I was too tired to even want to question this guy's behaviour anymore. Looks like I'll have to sleep in the library's sofa again for tonight. Wait.
Wait! Wait wait wait! That guy! We just finished discussing about our territories. I can't use the sofa! Especially not with that guy around. My pride will not accept it even if he does let me. If anything, that's all the more suspicious! He's definitely going to do something if he even suggest that in the first place!
He looked at me. What? Is he really going to make that offer?! No way. Huh? Why's he pointing to the ground.
"Hey, isn't this my area now? If you want to leave, you can hurry up. Otherwise, you're just trespassing my line of territory. You did say you'll cut my hands off if I cross over to your side, but we haven't discuss your punishment, have we?"
THIS GUY! His smug voice infuriates me! I hate you! I hope you die in an everlasting hellfire!
"I know that, alright?! I'll head back now, you happy?" I walked back into the tunnel. So annoying!
"What about your punishment?" His voice echoed from the distance.
"THAT'S ONLY ONCE, ALRIGHT?! IT WON'T HAPPEN, AGAIN! I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT IF I BREAK MY PROMISE, ALRIGHT?! UGHHH!"
I'm having a mental breakdown. How could this happen to me? First I get this guy and now I have to sleep in a dirty place that reeks of old books. I like the smell, but sleeping with it is a completely different thing!
I just accepted my fate. Complaining has become too much work at this point.
I compromised and stacked the rugs on top of each other to make a high enough place for me to lie. I can't sleep on the floor. It feels so unsafe to be sleeping so low where someone could just step on you easily. The rugs were really dirty before I cleaned it, and I'm glad I did.
As for a pillow and blanket... I figured another rug could work as a blanket but it was just too heavy. It wasn't suffocating but the weigh makes sleeping uncomfortable and a little exerting to move around.
As for the pillow, I picked up my giant bean chair that I got from the library. It was just as soft and fluffy as the sofa except it's designed for only one person. I would loved to sleep on the bean chair, instead, if it wasn't too small. I can't fall asleep if even a part of my body is left hanging on the edge. But as a pillow, it's perfect. It's big enough for me to simultaneously rest my head and give a bear hug.
I guess I can make do with this. My makeshift bed didn't turn out as bad as I was fearing. If anything, I don't mind regularly feeling this sense of accomplishment. I held my chest high and admired my rug bed.
I lay on my newly made bed with my arms stretched holding a book. The excitement of making something from scratch still linger as my feet excitedly pound the bed.
I would usually bring a book or two with me back to the dormitory and read some before I head to sleep. This somewhat gave me a homey feel despite still reeking of books.
I wonder how Hajime is coming along in the library. I bet he's already fallen asleep from all those confusing texts. Fufu, he probably can't even sleep now that I think of it.
I wasn't able to sleep on my first time, either. The sight of being surrounded by darkness with your only saving grace being a few panes of windows is not reassuring at all. It just feels like something will pop out of nowhere and attack me.
Despite this body not needing to eat nor drink, you would think the bathroom are just for decoration, right? Well, actually they still have their purposes even in the lobby.
Since this body is supposedly hollow, air can flow freely inside and out like they own the place. Our bodies' inner structures are able to properly ventilate air flow to ultimately force them out where they come from.
Our body overheats when exposed to the sunlight. And blue flames emit a very strong type of heat. Because it's the only light source here in the lobby, it is also everywhere. Meaning our bodies are constantly heating up.
This process of ventilation is then the alternative option. Sweat glands don't exist within these bodies, unlike the body of a human being. That is why it's important, because it helps regulate the temperature inside our bodies.
What will happen if our body overheats? We don't know. No one has ever reached the point of overheating to a degree where it's actually dangerous.
Now why am I telling you this? You see, though this all mighty body is able to ventilate air flow with success, occasionally there will be small pockets of air stuck inside. When these small pockets of air accumulate together, they become larger and larger and ultimately burst from the rectal area.
This is often embarrassing, very embarrassing. It's force alone could blow a person off their balance. And with that much force, also comes the sound. And the sound... it's not an exaggeration to compare it to that of a thunder.
And that's why there are bathrooms located all over parks and other places. These rooms are completely sound proof. And the "toilets" there can completely nullify the force. They also contain special machinery that can speed up the process if you're suffering from "constipation."
Then again, why am I explaining this? Well, there's not an installed bathroom here in the archives, while there are a couple in the library. And right now... I need that bathroom.
~~
Riria's POV:
What do I do? There's no way I can hold these in without the muscle structures in my body. For all I know it could burst at any moment!
I said I would do whatever he wants if he caught me in the library, again. Why are things getting worse and worse for me?! Please, I actually hope he's asleep.
The bookshelf slid to the side as I peer from the corner. He isn't on the first floor. If I just sneak by he might not even spot me. But what if he spots me? What's worse, doing whatever he wants or embarrassing myself?
Thinking about it, it's only the two of us here. He'll be the only person to hear it, but at the same time, he's the last person I want to embarrass myself to. Wait a minute, he's new! It won't know what it is. He might not even know where it came from!
Ahh, I can't! Just the thought of it alone is making me embarrassed already. I can't do it, I just can't. Even if he doesn't know it, I don't think I'll be able to live anymore.
I snuck out of my hiding spot while keeping my body close to the wall. I moved out before I knew it! It's now do or die.
I glances up to see if anyone's there. I made sure to keep the noise to the minimal. With my light body as it is right now, it might even be possible to sneak by undetected.
Finally, I reached the bathroom. How is this single trip to the bathroom scarier than when I actually died? I just don't get it.
I went inside. Obviously, I'm not going to describe the details here, that's way too embarrassing! There's nothing unusual, anyway! It's just sit and release, the same as being a human!
I left the bathroom door. It's oddly quiet, did he actually fall asleep? No, that's not possible. Don't tell me he tried to go through the darkness and got lost?!
This might be risky but... I'll just take a peek to confirm whether he actually left. Huh? I see someone's head on the end of the sofa. There he was, laying his head there on the arm rest, sleeping soundly.
You can't be serious. You actually managed to sleep?! No that's just not- How?!
I was too flabbergasted to even remember I should be hiding. I just walked up to him. His body completely sunk into the sofa, he look like he's having the best sleep of his life.
This is so infuriating! And I got so worried over nothing?! How can this guy just sleep like it's none of his business?! Is he completely oblivious to his surroundings or something?!
There were books lying around the table. He must be reading those. "How to Enroll in a Prestigious High School" "Why High School is a Complete Waste of Time" "Proper Ways to Deal with Bullies in High School" High school? If I remember correctly, they are educational programs aimed for groups of teenagers. Why is he reading it?
I stared at the fireplace. It's not even burning! Does he not know how to actually use it? Oh, I know exactly how to teach him a lesson. It's your fault for falling asleep so easily. Back in Worlds, you would have already died from a monster ambush.
I bent my knees next to the fireplace and drew a line on the pile of burnt soot. For some reason there is way less than when I last left it. It was still enough for me to do my misdeed so I didn't real give more thoughts on it.
I went beside him, my index finger covered with black magic that's about to create a brand new identity. Now what should I draw on his face? A moustache? How about just three dots for his eyes and mouth? Just words like "pervert" and "autistic" are good, too.
He grabbed my wrist just before my finger touched his face, his movements were fast. He is already standing up and twisting my hand, causing major pain.
I know more fighting techniques than him, though. There were two much more effective ways to render me immobile that he hadn't taken me into account, and he'll pay dearly for that. I made a swift backflip and kicked the back of his shin and grabbed the hand he originally used to twist my hand. It ended up becoming me standing behind him with one of his knee on the floor and his arm locked against his back.
He didn't even hesitate to jump and perform a swift kick which I quickly blocked, but in the process, that stunt dislocated his arm that I was locking. The force of his kick pushed me back a fair distance, and with his light body, the reaction pushed him back as well.
I can't believe it. He was able to adapt to this new body within just a single day? If a human body were to do that act, the air's friction would reduce his momentum leaving many openings for me which I could easily use to completely lock him down.
But with this light body, it's became completely possible. But even that wasn't enough to be this fast. I couldn't even react. Did he followed the air flow on his surroundings to enhance his kick and cause this much force to create distance between us for him to regain his ground?!
And his arm, he's completely reckless. Did he already know our bodies revert to it's original state after a few seconds? So he created distance to stall time for his arm too?! Did he calculate all these? In such a short time?!
"Let me touch you boobs."
...
"HUH?!" JUST HUH?!
"You're completely in my area, don't tell me you have a valid reason for this, as well?"
I COMPLETELY FORGOT!
"You said you'll do anything I say if you break your promise again, didn't you? You're at least B cup, right? It's still worth touching."
WHAT HAVE I DONE?! WHY DID I MAKE A PROMISE LIKE THAT?! I'M SO STUPID! STUPID!
But my boobs... he wants to touch them. I instinctively covered them for some reason. Is he really going to touch them...? His voice is dead serious! He's going to touch them. I can't think straight. Just imagining it is making my face flushed.
I reluctantly walked towards him. I can't look at him, I can't. Is he going to ask for more after this?
"Why are you covering them?"
"Eep!" His voice made me jump. My emotions are all over the place. My hands slowly uncovering them... Do I really have to keep my words? This is way too unreasonable... this is so much.
"I guess it's too much for your maiden heart, let's not do it then." He sighed.
He sighed? Is he making fun of me? Maidenly heart?! After I've gone this far? He's backing out? Is he thinking I can't even take a task as simple as being touched?!
I grabbed his hand and pushed it gently on my left breast. I looked away. No way I can look at him this close. Huh?! Is... He's squeezing them?! What is this?! It feels so weird!
...
"Ar- ... a-" I couldn't muster my words at all. My face is getting hotter and hotter.
"Are... you done?" I gave him a slight glance with my head low.
"No, I can't remove it if your hand is still there."
I quickly let go of his hand. I forgot! I completely forgot! Why? I'm a real dummy.
"As I thought, it's the same texture as all the other parts." he said.
"What?"
"I was wondering if those areas were made differently. Thanks."
"You weren't even thinking of anything dirty?"
"Why would I? It's not like I have genitals."
He made me do all that just simply for curiosity?! The first person to feel my boobs did so with such a shallow intention?!
"I thought about it. There isn't much I could ask from you since I already have the library I needed. I didn't want to go too hard on you since I've already bullied you enough all day. Besides, you had to use the bathroom."
He knew?! He knew and yet he pretended to be asleep?! He wasn't even thinking of taking advantage of me in that situation? What's wrong with him?! Isn't he just a pervert?!
"Now that I think of it, our body doesn't excrete anything, at all. Why did you bother going to the bathroom? You seemed so desperate, too."
I wanna die. I can't tell him. No way I'm telling him that.
"You've been quiet for a while now... Are you still mad?"
Of course I am, idiot! But I can't tell him that. My voice right now... I feel so vulnerable. I still haven't recovered from that, yet.
"I..." I mustered all my energy to point at the secret entrance. "going..." I can't finish it. I can't finish the sentence at all!
I ran back with all my might, embarrassed, ashamed, and frustrated all at the same time.
After the bookshelf slid back to it's original position, I laid my back against it.
My heart... I don't have one. This body doesn't have a heart. So why...
Is my chest beating like this?
~~