Chapter 11: Library

At night laying on her bed, Sana found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions, her mind often wandering back to the events that had unfolded with Akagi by her side.

Despite the lingering soreness from her encounter with the bullies, Sana was determined not to let fear hold her back. 

***** next day ******

As Sana lounged lazily on a bench outside the school library, she found herself daydreaming about anything but studying. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and the allure of the great outdoors was too strong to resist.

Just as she was about to give in to the temptation to skip out on her studies, a familiar voice interrupted her reverie. It was Akagi, his expression a mix of amusement and concern as he approached her.

"Sana, what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be inside studying?" he asked, a playful twinkle in his eyes.

Sana shrugged nonchalantly, flashing him a mischievous grin. "Studying? Nah, I'm more of a hands-on learner," she replied, gesturing to the world outside the library.

Akagi chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Well, I can't argue with that logic. But if you ever need a study buddy, you know where to find me," he said, offering her a reassuring smile.

Sana's heart skipped a beat at the suggestion, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and excitement. "Yeah, maybe I'll take you up on that offer someday," she replied, trying to play it cool despite the butterflies in her stomach.

As Akagi flashed her one last smile and disappeared into the library, Sana couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation. Maybe studying wouldn't be so bad with a friend like him by her side. 

The next day, Sana found herself grappling with the idea of heading to the library. Studying wasn't exactly her cup of tea, but there was something about the prospect of seeing Akagi again that filled her with a strange sense of excitement. She paced back and forth in her room, trying to come up with a convincing reason to visit the library without making it seem like she was going out of her way to see him.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. Sana remembered that she needed to borrow a book for a class assignment that she had conveniently forgotten about until that very moment. With a sly smile, she grabbed her bag and made her way out the door, feeling a sense of mischievous anticipation bubbling up inside her. Her parents were noticing that something has changed about her. 

She couldn't wait for the lunch break.... 

***** after the lunch break ****** 

As she entered the library, Sana scanned the room eagerly, her heart racing with excitement. And there he was, sitting at a table in the corner, lost in thought as he flipped through the pages of a book. 

Instead, she contented herself with stealing glances from afar, admiring the way Akagi was engrossed in his book, the way his brow furrowed in concentration, and the occasional smile that graced his lips as he read. Sana knew she shouldn't be staring, but she couldn't help herself. There was something about Akagi that drew her in, something magnetic and irresistible.

Lost in her thoughts, Sana was startled when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her heart skipping a beat when she saw that it was a message from Akagi. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it, her eyes scanning the words with eager anticipation.

"Hey, Sana! I couldn't help but notice you standing there. Care to join me?"

Sana's heart soared at the invitation, a smile spreading across her face as she looked up to see Akagi watching her with a warm expression. Without hesitation, she made her way over to where he was sitting, her pulse quickening with excitement.

"Hi, Akagi kun," she greeted him shyly as she took the seat opposite him.

"Hey, Sana," he replied with a smile. "I hope you don't mind me reaching out like this. I just couldn't resist the chance to spend some time with you."

Sana felt a rush of warmth flood her cheeks at his words, her heart pounding with happiness. She couldn't believe that Akagi had noticed her standing there and had actually wanted her to join him.

As they chatted, Sana couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over her. She had managed to come up with a plausible reason to visit the library, and now she was enjoying the company of the one person who made studying seem almost bearable.

"So what brings you to the library today," he asked but it wasn't in a sarcastic way. 

"ohh,,ah. Actually I make here to get a book for my class assignment. I only got two days to complete it." she delivered the same speech that she had been rehearsing for hours. 

"ohh, I'll help you to find one." He stood up from the chair in order to find the book. 

"No, I will find it myself," she said in order to not disturb him during his studies. 

"It's alright either way I was tiered sitting there for whole day." he said while stretching his body to relax. 

They both headed towards the section of history and started finding the book. 

As Sana was searching the book a boy same year as her but in different class approached her. 

"Sana san, you are in the wrong section. You will find the sports stuff in section D." He said in order to help her but it turned out otherwise. He had a slight crush on Sana, so he thought of it as a chance to talk to her for the first time. 

"What do you think of me as???" Sana was pissed off as she said this.

The boy got frightened and ran away. Akagi who was watching all this couldn't control himself and burst into laughter. He wasn't too loud as he knew they were in the library. 

Sana was too embarrassed. She thought that now Akagi will think of her as dumb. 

"You shouldn't have scared him away, he gathered his courage to talk to you." he said while still unable to remove the grin on his face. 

"I'm not dumb that I won't understand things other than sports" she added still feeling embarrassed. 

"That's not why he said that, it showed how much you are determined towards your goal. Even people who have never talked to you before know how much passionate you are about sports." he added with a serious tone while resting his back on the book shelf and looking at Sana.

"And yes I found your book. Let's go and study." he added while showing her the book he was holding. 

They both went back to the table to study. 

And as the afternoon wore on, Sana found herself completely at ease in Akagi's presence, her worries and anxieties melting away as they shared stories and laughter. With each passing moment, she couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there was something more between them than just friendship.

Akagi also told her that he was studying for high school entrance. As he gets very less time in whole day so he has started early and manages to study for it at school. 

As the final bell of the day rang out, signaling the end of classes, Sana reluctantly packed up her belongings, knowing that their time together was drawing to a close. But before she could bid Akagi farewell, he reached out and gently took her hand in his, his touch sending a jolt of electricity coursing through her veins.

"Would you like to walk home together?" he asked, his voice soft but filled with warmth.

Sana's heart fluttered at his invitation, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. "I'd love to," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

As they made their way through the bustling streets of the city, Sana found herself lost in conversation with Akagi, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the city around them. With each step they took, she felt a sense of connection deepening between them, a bond forged through shared experiences and mutual understanding.

As they reached Sana's doorstep, she turned to face Akagi, her heart pounding in her chest. "Thank you for today," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.

Akagi smiled warmly, his eyes sparkling with affection. "Anytime," he replied, his voice a gentle whisper. "And would you mind if I ask you to join me for studies every day? It's always good to study with a friend," Akagi proposed with a warm smile, his eyes reflecting a genuine desire for her company.

Sana's heart fluttered at the invitation, her cheeks flushing with a mix of surprise and delight. She had never imagined that Akagi would want to study with her, let alone ask her to join him every day.

"Of course, I'd love to," she replied, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. "Studying with a friend sounds like a great idea." she replied with excitement on her face that was too obvious. 

With a smile that lit up her face, Sana bid Akagi goodnight and watched as he disappeared into the night, his presence lingering in the air long after he was gone. And as she stepped inside her home, she couldn't help but feel a sense of hope blooming within her heart.