The Girl in the Library

The unsettling feeling of being watched clung to Hachiman as he approached the library. He sighed in resignation, realizing he might need to resort to some unconventional methods to deal with this peculiar situation…

Hachiman Hikigaya strode forward with a calm demeanor, his steps steady and measured. He gave no indication that he was aware of the eyes watching him, maintaining an air of tranquility as he walked through the streets.

Everything about his actions was perfectly ordinary, so much so that no one would suspect he had anything out of the ordinary planned. The shadowy figure observing him from a distance fell into the same trap, growing complacent as they continued their surveillance.

But in that fleeting moment of relaxation, Hachiman's figure vanished—disappearing from the observer's sight as if he had been a mere illusion, a ghost that dissolved into thin air right in the middle of the street.

"What—?!"

The stunned observer froze, unable to process the bizarre scene. It was impossible—a living, breathing person had simply disappeared right under their nose. Was this some kind of magic trick?

For a brief, frustrated moment, the observer stood rooted in place, unable to comprehend the absurdity of what had just happened. But when no trace of Hachiman emerged, they finally sprang into action, scouring the surrounding area in a desperate attempt to locate him.

After a few moments, certain that the pursuer had completely lost his trail, Hachiman emerged from behind a nearby vending machine. He wasn't a magician, nor did he possess the kind of fantastical counter-surveillance skills that would allow him to vanish without a trace on a crowded street.

No, Hachiman relied solely on two innate talents: his ability to obscure his presence and his knack for sensing when someone's attention was focused on him.

When the observer's focus had wavered for that split second, Hachiman had acted swiftly, minimizing his presence and slipping behind the vending machine. He'd hidden himself so effectively that even a trained spy might have struggled to notice him.

It had been a simple, almost impromptu attempt to evade detection, and Hachiman had hardly expected it to work. Yet it seemed that his pursuer wasn't a professional after all, and Hachiman's small trick had gone unnoticed.

"Who on earth is following me? No one from Class D has any reason to do this… Could it be someone from another class? Have I pissed off someone recently?" Various thoughts flashed through Hachiman's mind, but he quickly dismissed them all as irrelevant.

It didn't matter. Whoever had decided to track him down, would ultimately prove to be meaningless. After all, he was just a nondescript member of Class D. Although he now carried the additional title of a student council member, compared to the true power players in the school, he was little more than an insignificant NPC.

Whoever was interested in him now would likely lose interest in a short time. And to be honest, Hachiman didn't have any weak spots. He was a true loner, able to move forward or retreat at any given moment.

To put it in more dramatic terms: because he embraced solitude, he could walk alone; because he formed no ties with others, he had nothing he needed to protect.

Therefore, a person like him—with no weaknesses, no bonds to maintain—was, in a sense, invincible.

Wait… Why did all of this suddenly sound like something Horikita would say?

Hachiman chuckled to himself, realizing how absurd it was. That stubborn girl had somehow managed to steal his defining characteristics right out from under him. Damn it. Maybe it was true that like charges repel. In any case, it was probably best to steer clear of that reclusive woman in the future.

Lost in his thoughts, Hachiman navigated through the dimly lit backstreets, carefully avoiding any potential pursuers, until he arrived at the school library.

He needed to restock his supplies to ensure his classroom life wouldn't be a total drag. Books were essential in his battle against the demon known as social interaction.

As Hachiman stepped into the library, a sense of calm washed over him. The silence of this place suited him perfectly—it was an ideal sanctuary for a loner like him.

In a way, the library was a haven for recluses, a refuge for the socially anxious. Here, loud, meaningless chatter was frowned upon, and initiating conversation with others was a breach of the unspoken rules.

Only those who respected each other's solitude could be considered true companions in the library. And Hachiman was undoubtedly one of them.

Since it was after school, the library was nearly empty, occupied only by the librarian and a handful of students. Hachiman wandered through the sea of books, feeling himself relax as if he were running freely in a safe zone, surrounded by the comforting presence of the library's volumes. The books felt like the adorable little spirits of a video game—charming to behold and brimming with a radiant allure.

According to the Chinese saying, "In books, there is a face like jade," Hachiman almost fancied he could sense the presence of beautiful girls hidden within the countless pages.

And that was why a true otaku should always read more books!

"This place isn't half bad," Hachiman mused aloud. He selected a few interesting titles and found a quiet corner to settle down for some serious reading. But as he crouched to sit, he nearly tripped over something on the floor.

"Whoa!!"

To his surprise, Hachiman let out a loud yelp, echoing through the silent library and causing him no small amount of embarrassment. He wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

It took him a moment to gather his wits, and when he finally looked down, he noticed a petite girl sitting on the library floor right in front of him.

Mom, is there a beautiful girl hidden in these books?!

Yeah, right. Hachiman quickly realized she was just another student engrossed in her reading.

The girl had long, silver hair cascading over her shoulders and a pair of slightly vacant eyes that were locked onto the book in front of her. She seemed so absorbed in her reading that she hadn't even noticed Hachiman's near-collision.

It seemed he wasn't the only weirdo lurking in the library today.

Hachiman began to suspect that the reason he kept encountering strange people wasn't due to the school itself, but rather a reflection of his peculiarities.

Seeing that the girl was so deeply engrossed in her book, Hachiman hesitated to disturb her. He considered finding another spot to read, but just as he was about to leave, the silver-haired girl suddenly lifted her head. Her clear, curious eyes focused on him, and she spoke in a soft voice:

"No one minds you being here."

"As long as you have a place to belong, there's no need to become a shooting star and burn out tragically."

Her voice was as clear as a nightingale's song, but it wasn't the sound that caught Hachiman's attention—it was the peculiar, almost poetic nature of her words. They reminded him of a certain famous line: "The wind today is restless."

Damn it, are all literary girls this type?

Hachiman, slightly uncomfortable, offered a hesitant reply. "Are you talking about Night on the Galactic Railroad? I do like Kenji Miyazawa's works."

"…"

The silver-haired girl didn't respond immediately. Just as Hachiman was beginning to think she would ignore him, she suddenly spoke again:

"Do you… like books?"

"Well, I guess you could say I do."

"I do too."

The girl smiled faintly and continued as if talking to herself.

"My name is Hiyori Shiina. 'Hi' as in sun, 'yori' as in gentle, from Class 1-C."