Chapter22: A Visit to the Library
The dull hum of voices and the occasional clatter of chairs echoed in the campus library. Leo stepped inside, his hands stuffed in his pockets, trying not to look too annoyed. College was proving to be painfully monotonous, and his group's decision to delay their next move for two weeks had only made things worse. The forced return to classes felt like a punishment, and Leo was on the verge of losing his mind from sheer boredom.
"Damn those guys," he muttered to himself, weaving through the shelves. "Show me a plan, make me wait. Now I'm stuck here… In this godforsaken place, pretending to care about group discussions."
He let out a sigh, scanning the rows of books half-heartedly. The library wasn't somewhere he'd bothered with before. Sure, he'd walked through it during his initial tour with the group, but it hadn't seemed worth visiting. Now, with nothing better to do, he figured it couldn't hurt.
As Leo wandered deeper into the library, he noticed a girl sitting at a table near the corner. Her workspace was cluttered with papers, a laptop, and an impressive collection of reference books. She looked deep in thought, scribbling notes furiously while occasionally glancing at her laptop screen.
Leo stopped a few shelves away, watching the girl work with a mix of curiosity and amusement. She was clearly absorbed, muttering to herself under her breath as she flipped through pages and rearranged her papers.
"Big dreams," Leo thought, smirking. "She's definitely up to something."
Before he could decide whether to leave her be, the girl glanced up and noticed him. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence, and her long black hair framed her delicate face. She blinked in surprise at seeing him standing there, then smiled politely.
"Can I help you with something?" she asked, her voice calm but slightly curious.
Leo shrugged, stepping closer. "Not really. Just... killing time. You looked like you were working on something intense, though. What's all this?"
The girl sat up straighter, her expression brightening as if someone had just lit a fire in her. "Oh, it's for a presentation I'm preparing! I'm hoping to pitch my ideas to a major investor soon. If I can get their support, it'll change everything for me."
Leo raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her enthusiasm. "Investor, huh? Sounds serious."
She nodded eagerly. "It is! You've heard about the person who donated a hundred million to this college, right?"
Leo froze, his confidence faltering. "Uh… yeah, I might've heard something."
Her smile widened, and she leaned forward slightly. "That person is incredible! Do you know how much of a difference they've made? My cousin can study here now because of their scholarships, and my friends in science and medical programs are ecstatic about the new lab equipment. This one donation changed so many lives! I respect them so much for what they've done, and I want to meet them face-to-face to thank them someday."
Leo's face heated, and he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "That's... nice. You seem really passionate about it."
"Of course I am!" she said, almost indignant. "Don't you think it's inspiring? Someone out there cared enough to invest in a place like this, to help people they don't even know. That's rare."
Leo swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. He felt like a deer caught in headlights. She had no idea she was talking to the very person she admired, and her genuine excitement made him squirm.
"So, how come you don't know who this investor is?" he asked, trying to steer the conversation away from himself.
Mei tilted her head, narrowing her eyes slightly. "How do you know that I don't know?"
Leo hesitated, mentally kicking himself for the slip. "Uh, lucky guess?" he said with an awkward laugh.
She arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by his question. "Right. Well, the reason I don't know is that the investor specifically requested privacy. The college administration told us that when they announced the donation. It's actually kind of impressive—they could've used the donation for fame or recognition, but instead, they chose to stay in the background. I respect that."
Leo raised an eyebrow, curious. "But if they wanted privacy, how come so many people know about them?"
"Oh, that's the funny part," Mei said, laughing softly. "The news leaked anyway. Social media went crazy with the donation when it first happened, and someone eventually pieced together who it was. Most people know now, but I've made a point not to dig into it. If they went out of their way to stay anonymous, the least I can do is respect that. My cousin feels the same way—he's one of the students whose tuition is covered by the scholarships. He says the best way to honor someone like that is to make the most of the opportunity they've given us."
Leo felt a twinge of embarrassment. On one hand, he appreciated her respect for his privacy. On the other, he couldn't deny that it was awkward to hear her talk about himself in such glowing terms without realizing it. "That's... actually pretty nice of you," he said, scratching the back of his neck.
Mei smiled warmly. "Thanks. But I still hope to meet them someday, you know? Not to expose them or anything, just to say thank you in person. They've done so much for this college and the people here. It's the kind of generosity you don't see every day."
Leo shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, well... maybe you'll get your chance someday."
"Maybe," Mei said, her voice filled with quiet hope. "But until then, I'll just focus on preparing my presentation. If I ever do meet them, I want to make sure I leave a good impression."
Leo managed a weak smile, trying to ignore the heat rising to his face.
"Sure," Leo mumbled, his ears burning. He was starting to regret coming to the library.
Mei noticed his discomfort and smiled gently. "Sorry, I get carried away sometimes. I don't even know your name. I'm Mei Aizawa, by the way."
"Leo," he replied, grateful for the change in topic.
"So, what brings you to the library?" she asked.
"Boredom," Leo admitted with a shrug. "Thought I'd check it out since I've got nothing better to do."
Mei chuckled softly. "Well, you picked the right place. There's always something interesting here."
Leo glanced at the pile of papers in front of her. "Looks like you're doing more than just killing time. Mind if I take a look?"
"Go ahead," she said, sliding some papers toward him.
As he skimmed through her work, Mei explained her plans and aspirations, her voice full of determination. Leo couldn't help but admire her drive. Despite his initial awkwardness, he found himself genuinely impressed by her passion and commitment.
"You're really serious about this," he said after a while.
"I have to be," she replied simply. "If I don't believe in myself, who will?"
Leo smiled, feeling a newfound respect for her. "You've got a good attitude. I like that."
Before leaving, Leo pulled out his phone. "Hey, since you're working on this big presentation, why not keep me updated? Maybe I can help you out if you need it."
Mei blinked in surprise, then smiled warmly. "Sure. That would be great."
They exchanged contact information, and Leo added her on social media. Mei's enthusiasm was contagious, and Leo found himself looking forward to their next conversation.
As he walked out of the library, he couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of the situation.
"She wants to meet the investor," he muttered to himself. "Well, let's see how that goes."
Back in her corner, Mei watched him leave, a small smile playing on her lips. She had a good feeling about him, even if she couldn't quite explain why.