Wait, what? We're stuck? In the library?
Like that one scene I saw in a rom-com anime? Woah. What's happening to me? I can't even decide if this is a bad thing or… maybe a good thing? Okay, focus. Calm down.
"Uh… I think we shouldn't panic," I say, trying to settle the mood. "Maybe let's calm down a little."
"Yeah, you're right," she replies, exhaling a little.
Whew. She's calming down. Good. Now we need a plan. I glance at the door. What are we gonna do? Think, Yuto. Think.
"Umm, I'll check the door again," I offer, stepping forward. "Maybe it's just stuck or something, and you couldn't open it earlier."
"Okay," she says, stepping back.
Time to play the hero, huh? I grab the handle confidently, give it a good pull, and… nothing. It doesn't budge. Not even a little.
I keep tugging, but it's like the door is laughing at me. I let go with a sigh, my hand falling limply to my side.
"Uh… I think it's really locked," I admit, scratching the back of my head. I glance at her nervously.
"Maybe we should wait until someone finds us," she suggests.
"Yeah, or, you know… we wait until they find us dead in here," I mutter under my breath.
"Yikes."
Crap. Did I just say that out loud?
"Oh, uh, sorry. You probably think I'm weird," I stammer, trying to recover.
"No, it's okay. I actually found it kinda funny," she says, a small smile forming on her lips.
She… likes dark humor? Okay, that's a relief.
The sun sets slowly outside, the golden hues fading into deep orange. The library is getting darker and colder. This is starting to feel like the setup for a horror movie.
"So… we're stuck," I mutter.
"Yep," she replies, looking at the door.
"Let's try opening it together," she suggests suddenly.
"Together?"
Before I can process what's happening, she positions herself in front of me. We both grab the door handle. She's way too close—like, I can feel her hair brushing against my cheek. My heart is beating faster than it should.
"Alright, on three," she says. "One… two… three!"
We pull with all our might, but the door doesn't even budge.
"It won't move," she groans, stepping back.
"Yeah, definitely locked," I sigh.
Suddenly, she tries one more time, yanking at the door in desperation, but then—
"Ah!"
She slips.
There's a banana peel. A literal banana peel on the floor. What is this, a slapstick comedy?!
Before I can react, she falls—straight onto me.
Thud!
She lands on top of me in the most awkward position imaginable. My back hits the cold library floor. Her hands are planted on either side of my shoulders, and I… I can't breathe.
"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" she asks, her face inches from mine.
"Y-Yeah," I croak.
Wait… she looks familiar. Her glasses fell off when she slipped. Without them, I realize who she is. Hoshino Chi.
The girl who rejected me in high school. My 70th rejection.
The memory rushes back like a bad dream:
...
"Umm, I really like you. Can you please go out with me?"
I was trembling, trying to muster up any courage I had left.
"Thank you," she said softly, her expression kind but firm. "But I can't reciprocate your feelings. I already like someone. But we can be friends."
...
Friends? That's what they all say. I forced a smile back then, but inside, I was crushed.
And now, here she is. Sitting on top of me in the middle of a locked library. Life sure has a weird sense of humor.
"Uh… why are you staring at me like that? You're being weird," she says, snapping me back to reality.
"N-No reason!"
She doesn't remember me. Thank God. I've changed a bit since high school, but the last thing I want is for her to realize I'm that guy. The pathetic loser she rejected.
But wait… I need to make sure.
"Is it possible that your name is… Hoshino Chi?" I ask nervously.
"Uh… yeah, that's my name. But how do you know that? I didn't even tell you yet. Do I know you from before?"
"Umm, no, no!" I stammer. "It's just… I remembered it from when we introduced ourselves in class." I lie.
"Ah, makes sense," she says, laughing awkwardly.
Whew. She doesn't recognize me. Crisis averted.
Just as I'm about to awkwardly suggest we try the door again, a voice interrupts us.
"I think there's still someone in the library."
Wait… that voice.
"Is anybody there?"
"Yes! We're still here! Please open the door!" I yell.
The door creaks open, and standing there, bathed in the dim hallway light, is Sugiyama Kaori.
The class president. The student council president. The girl I have a crush on.
She looks at us… and then notices the very awkward position we're in.
"Oh," she says, her voice icy. "Please… continue. I'll come back when you're done."
She shuts the door.
"Wait! It's not what you think!" I yell, scrambling to my feet.
We quickly scramble to get up, both of us avoiding each other's eyes as we awkwardly disentangle ourselves from the embarrassing situation. She straightens her uniform, brushing off imaginary dust, while I pick up my bag, pretending like nothing just happened.
The library is painfully silent except for the sound of us packing our things. And then there's Sugiyama Kaori, still standing at the door, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on me.
Her expression says it all—pure disgust. Gahhh, I can feel it piercing through me like a dagger. She doesn't even need to say anything for me to know what she's thinking: What the hell were you two doing?
"Uhh… it's not what it looks like!" I blurt out, my voice cracking slightly as Kaori's sharp eyes narrow.
She doesn't respond, just gives me one of those cold, I-can't-believe-you looks and turns to walk away. My stomach sinks. Damn it, she probably hates me now. Not that she ever liked me to begin with, but still—this is bad.
As Chi and I walk out of the library together, the air between us is thick with awkwardness. Neither of us says a word, and I can feel her stealing nervous glances at me.
By the time we step out of the school gates, the sky has turned a deep shade of orange, fading into purple. The sun is almost completely gone, and the air has a cool chill to it.
It's way past the time I usually get home. My favorite anime show—missed. Gone. I can't believe I didn't make it in time. But then again… today was one hell of a ride.
I glance over at Chi as she adjusts her bag strap, her face still slightly flushed from earlier. A lot of things happened today—things I definitely didn't see coming.
Well, maybe it's true what they say. Things really do happen for a reason.