SS: Shiina Hiyori – A Maiden’s Love?

「9th August, 11.14, Cruise Library」

Ah, I can't reach the book with my hand, huh? It's precisely three bookshelves above me…

Sometimes, I wish I would be a bit taller, but I guess I can simply take a ladder from the side.

I really didn't imagine that the Cruise Ship would also have a library. It was surprising, honestly, when I found it out four days ago, but it made me extremely happy that I could read books during the cruising trip. While everyone, including the teacher, happened to be on the Deserted Island, the rest of our class, who had retired, didn't do precisely that much.

I was slightly interested in what would happen during the exam and would slightly often lean myself on the iron fence and look towards the direction of the island that was at least two to three kilometers away from the cruise. But during that time, something quite unusual – no something very unexpected happened, that I by no means what I imagined would happen.

A conversation with the infamous Koenji Rokusuke, from whom I heard during these couple of months, many rumors, but likewise also from Kaoru, who a few times had talked with me about 6

A rather unusual fact that he mentioned at that time was that Koenji-kun could evenly match his time in the swimming race, wherein I at that time asked for the time he had.

Even now, I can't believe that he was talking so casual about breaking the current world record for boys, as if it wasn't anything at all. My facial expression at that time has said it all, you are joking with me, right?

But no, he wasn't joking. He meant everything seriously, just like Koenji-kun, who didn't consider his time as anything seriously.

I had talked only a minute with Koenji-kun, and all contents about our conversation were about Kaoru.

Recalling our conversation, it was quite awkward, honestly.

---

[Flashback]

[4th August, 17.21]

---

"Oh, my, my, what a beautiful and perfect existence I am. I can not help but look at my reflection through my exquisite pocket mirror," I heard someone from the back speaking, who without a doubt must be the infamous Koenji Rokusuke, from Class C.

It seems Koenji-kun has retired, huh? It's not all too surprising, considering all the plentiful rumors one does hear about him.

But it seems like Kaoru and his class also have some internal problems with their class, just like we, too, with Ryūen-kun's tyranny.

Speaking of Ryūen-kun, I wonder when he'll retire. We had only discussed that I would become the leader once he retires and that he'll tell me the leader of the other classes so I could submit them, but nothing more. He didn't specify the period of time when he would retire, so it could be even on the seventh day, considering his personality that he probably will fool the other classes with him being the leader, that's probable to happen.

But then again, I'm not really a fan of the class competitions. I just hope that everyone can get along with each other. That would be the best.

Although that doesn't mean that I won't help my class, if needed.

"My, my, book-girl, are you lonely because Kurushima-boy isn't present?" Koenji-kun asked, monetarily disrupting my thoughts.

"Book-girl? Ah, I suppose you mean me, Koenji-kun. And...I'm not really lonely. I'm just bored, Koenji-kun," I replied, though I suppose I wasn't particularly honest.

In fact, I did feel a bit lonely. I wasn't particularly sure why, as a matter of fact. I'd like to know that.

Am I just right now, generally speaking lonely, because I have no one to talk to or what Koenji-kun is trying to imply because Kaoru isn't present?

I remember muttering that I like him, but I'm not really an expert regarding the love topic.

I did read quite an amount of books about love relating things, but that's it, I never ever experienced love before. The whole concept is still new to me, but I suppose I can't deny it that I really like him, in fact.

I think I might be into you, Kaoru, I suppose.

"Hahahaha, you can not deny such an offensive lie from me, book-girl. As a matter of fact, I'm quite sure that you like Kurushima-boy. It's quite rare for him to be interested in a girl from my observations so far, so I, the perfect human, will give you one piece of advice. If you like Kurushima-boy, confess to him, nearby soon, as long as you still can. It might fulfill your desired outcome, on getting together with him," he elaborated, causing me to think about his words.

"Excuse me, Koenji-kun, but I'm slightly curious about one thing. Why are you...uhm helping me, Koenji-kun?" I asked, a bit curious, thinking about the rumors of Koenji-kun.

"Hmm, a good question, indeed. In normal cases, I wouldn't bother my time with you, book-girl, as you aren't the type of mine, and I see no use with speaking with you, quite frankly said. However, if I were to name a supposedly reason, it would be that I find it amusing to see Kurushima-boy and you together."

"But I also have my own reasons for helping you out. Let's just say that Kurushima-boy and I are future business partners, and it'll be beneficial for me if he happens to move on from that incident..." Koenji-kun said, walking away, making me unable to ask another question, as every new acquired piece of information was progressing through my brain.

I just simply couldn't help but wonder what he meant by "future business partners."

It was clear that Koenji was from a wealthy family, but I didn't know much about Kurushima's family to begin with.

He only spoke about his mother once, but that was all. I never really did ask further.

And from the looks of it, Kaoru, too, seems to be originating from a wealthy family just like Koenji-kun.

That's what I could clearly decipher from the conversation with Koenji-kun. But that wasn't really what caught my attention, but rather the "incident" Koenji-kun was referring to.

I wanted to ask Koenji-kun what precisely the "incident" was, but at the same time, I feel like I would overstep my boundaries if I asked him something regarding Kaoru's past, without Kaoru's consent or knowledge at all.

I didn't want that, so I stopped thinking further about it and watched the island further before going to sleep.

--

[Flashback End]

--

But it still even now bothers my mind. Nevertheless, I tried my best to shrugging my curiosity off and might ask him when we have gotten closer.

While still remaining deep in my thoughts, I placed the ladder climbing it up, wanting to reach "The Moonstone," from Wilkie Colins, a rather unexpected book that I did not expect here.

However, to make things worse, I could feel that the ladder was shaking.

I looked slightly to the side and saw a storm coming to us. It wasn't a normal storm, but a rather heavy one. It rained, flashed, and the air waved heavily to an unfathomable extent.

The waves were hitting the ship, and I could feel the ship shaking.

That's as much as I could tell, based on a small glance from the window in the library.

Unfortunately, as much as I tried to remain calm and restrict any unnecessary movements, it wasn't possible.

Because the ship was shaking this tremendously, I could feel the ladder shaking sidewards back and forth.

But in an instant, I could feel how my body was leaving the very own place that I tried to stay on to secure myself from falling off.

I simply decided to accept my fate and closed my eyes while fearfully screaming.

After several seconds, I still had not felt the supposedly pain that I should experience on my back.

I had not fallen to the ground. Instead, I could feel two familiar arms holding me. I already had a suspicion of who it might be, but to confirm it, I opened my eyes.

It was Kurushima Kaoru, the very own person I think I might hold some feelings for.

I'm still not precisely sure, but whenever I see him, my heart beats drastically higher than my average heartbeat.

If I were to follow these pieces of advice that I have read on the books, it must be love. And I really tend to think that this might be true.

So, keeping on denying it becomes useless.

"Even when we are on this cruise, you tend to go to the library. I was a bit confident that if I were to go to the library here, I would meet you, but I didn't think that I would meet you under these circumstances," he said, with a slight sigh, releasing me from his arms.

"I didn't expect it either. The storm came without a warning, so I didn't think I could possibly fall down from the ladder. I'm sorry, Kaoru, and also thank you for catching me. If you hadn't caught me, I would probably be bedridden for a few days. Since we are on the topic bedridden, aren't you currently supposed to be bedridden?"

"Ahaha, yes I am, but I was a bit bored and wanted to read a book while laying endlessly on my bed with pure boredom. So I decided to head here out, to quickly take a book with me."

"Kaoru, what will the doctor's say?"

"Nothing, because they won't know anything."

"You really don't intend on saying anything?"

"Yeah, because I know how they would be overreacting. I told them I'd be fine, but no matter what I said, I was prohibited from leaving my room. And that's why I left my room,"

I slightly started to giggle.

"Ahm, are you okay?" he asked, completely shocked.

"Yes, I just found it a bit hilarious. Fate can really be mysterious, that at the time I fell down, you appeared, even though you are the sole student that shouldn't be allowed to be here currently."

"It truly seems to be very mysterious. I'm just glad that I appeared here before anything bad could've happened to you," he said in a slight relieving tone, with a smile on his face.

I quietly nodded because I, for one, was simply to embrassed to speak currently.

It's not the first time when I'm looking at his eyes or hearing him complimenting me, that I feel embrassed. It happened quite often. To the point that I've lost count of how many times I was embrassed.

Regaining myself again, I asked him a question. "Kaoru, do you intend to go now to your room?"

Before he, however, could speak, several thunder roars echoed through the air, and the cruise ship was shaking because of incoming waves.

"I completely forgot about the storm. I thought that because nothing happened for two minutes, everything was already over. That doesn't seem to be the case now."

"Yeah, me too," I replied.

"[To all passengers on the board, please immediately head out to your respective rooms. A large storm has been detected. I repeat, to all passengers, please immediately head out to your respective rooms. A large storm has been detected.]"

"Talk about luck, heh? We are estimately fifteen minutes away from our respective rooms, and if the storm is as large as they make us believe, we shouldn't head out. We should rather wait until the storm stops or calms a bit down," he said.

"I agree. We should wait."

We weren't precisely at the safest place currently.

However, even if the library is a bit more dangerous, the bookshelves here were attached and safely guarded. The books would fall down, but not the bookshelves, which was a huge relief for me and Kaoru.

Before any of us two could do anything, the cruise ship shaked, and the two of us fell down on the ground. The chairs, tables, and books around this place and the wooden ladder all fell down to our direction.

The two of us looked at each other with a horrific expression, knowing we were screwed.

In an instant before I could react, he pinned me down on the ground while he was on me, protecting me from the incoming objects.

"Why are you doing this, Kaoru?" I asked.

"To protect you, Hiyori. Don't worry, I'm more than just my grades or my face. I can handle this much," he said.

Several chairs, books, and tables hit his back. Yet he still didn't move an inch.

Some chairs cracked, while others didn't. Some tables hit him on the back, while some didn't.

I could see blood pouring down from his forehead to his eyes until it dropped on my face.

There was far more blood. It was pouring down from his arms to his hands, and his back must be the most crucial location.

This was definitely not the result of a normal large storm in the seas. Definitely not. It wouldn't be that disastrous otherwise. If I had to suspect, it'd be a hurricane that appeared without the captains information beforehand.

It definitely doesn't look good. We aren't in a large area. The library wasn't. It was rather a place for ten to twenty students at most to read.

Thus, it could be already imagined how small this must be compared to any normal libraries.

It's unfortunate because the exit is opposite to us, and the storm has yet to stop. Even if we managed to get to the hallway, it would be hard to arrive at our rooms.

But the hallways are definitely better than this small library.

"Kaoru, let's try to go to the hallway."

"Yeah, I just wanted to say the same thing."

He said, quickly getting up, then helping me up. "Hold my hand, Hiyori."

I simply did as he told me, and we both immediately ran to the exit of the library.

"Are you alright, Kaoru?" I asked, in a worried tone.

"I think so. Aside from blood here and there and the pain in my back, I should be okay."

"That's not okay at all. We should head out immediately to the nursery station."

"I doubt that anyone would be there. After all, everyone was told to immediately head out to their respective rooms, the nurses and doctor's included."

"The nursery station could still be opened. The announcement came unexpected, so they might not have locked it. It's also on the way to our rooms. So, there will be no harm in checking it out."

"Yes, I suppose you are right."

Even admits the chaos that everything was shaking while we were on our way to the nursery station, we did not fall a single time again.

The previous case was rather a surprise that happened since we didn't pay attention to it.

We continued to sprint in the hallway for a few minutes until we arrived at the nursery station.

I checked the doorknob. "It's not locked."

Without any hesitations, I opened the door.

"Well, I guess they didn't have the time to lock it, considering the sudden announcement."

"Yes, I would have also completely forgotten it to lock the door when there is a storm outside that would be this heavily. I can't really blame them."

"Agreed," he said.

The room wasn't really affected much. Most of the items were locked in closets, so they didn't get out.

It would have been pretty dangerous otherwise.

Before pondering myself with these thoughts further, I searched for the first aid kit in the room. After a few seconds, I found it and took everything with me that he would need.

"Found it," I exclaimed.

"That's great. I suppose it wasn't that bad to come here after all."

"Yes, it seems so. Kaoru, could you please sit down?" I asked.

"Yes, of course," he replied.

I slightly blushed because of the thing I would be saying now. "Can you take your shirt off. I can't really bandage you when your shirt is still on."

"Hold on, hold on, Hiyori. I can do that myself. You don't need to do that."

"Okay," I blushed, giving him the bandage.

After he had the bandage, I didn't really hear him do anything. Neither the bandage nor him taking his shirt out.

"Kaoru, is everything okay?" I asked.

"Truthfully, no. There's this funny thing about my shoulder. It happens to be dislocated. I can't move it."

I simply stared at him with an expressionless face, that was saying, 'Are you serious?' For a small moment, until I realized he just now knew about his injury because of the adrenaline rush we experienced.

"Should I bandage you?" I asked for a simple confirmation of his side.

"Yes, that would be appreciated," he said, with slight red cheeks.

"Okay, but for that, you know, you need to take your shirt off so that I can bandage you completely."

My cheeks began to get red again, and I felt embrassed about what I had just said. But for me to bandage him completely, especially on his back, his shirt was a problem, so I said it directly once again.

"Makes sense," he replied, taking his shirt with his left arm off.

I tried to prevent myself from glancing, but it didn't quite work as I imagined. I glanced a few times, sometimes longer, sometimes less.

It wasn't like I stared deliberately. I would later on see his body regardless, as I would be bandaging him, so why did I flush that much.

I slightly cleared my thoughts, but he had already finished taking his shirt off and stared at me with an uncertain expression, whether to shake me off my thoughts or not.

"I was in my thoughts. I apologize."

"There is no need to apologize, Hiyori. I'm thankful that you are treating me and naturally aware that this must be quite uncomfortable for you. If it's too uncomfortable, I can just ask Ayanokoji, Hirata, or Koenji, no wait, not Koenji, if they can bandage me later, after the storm ends and we both can finally go to our respective rooms."

"No, no, you would need to wait too long. The storm doesn't seem to be ending soon. Besides, the reason for most of your injuries am I, since if I wasn't there, you would have probably walked unscathed out of the library probably. The least I can do is to bandage you, regardless of the fact that I happen to blush a bit."

At that time, I didn't really pay attention to what I said in the end, but later on recalling this event, I would definitely recall the last part of the sentence frequently.

"Okay," he replied, slightly looking shocked and surprised.

I wasn't partially aware of what made him surprised and shocked, but it was probably because of my honesty that I felt guilty about his injury.

I looked at his injury at his right arm,

cleaning the wound gently with antiseptic wipes before applying the bandage. His shoulder injury was indeed dislocated, so I suggested that he shouldn't move it until we could get proper medical attention.

That was the initial idea that a doctor would take care of his shoulder, but he didn't seem to think the same. "What are you doing?" I asked, in shock, as I saw him rejointing his dislocated shoulder on his own. "You can't do that yourself!"

Kaoru winced in pain trying to fix his shoulder back into place. "I've done this before," he replied, his voice strained from the pain. "It's not the first time my shoulder has popped out like that. I'll be fine."

"But it's risky! You should let a medical professional handle this," I insisted, worried about him exacerbating his injury. "Please," I pleaded.

"I suppose you might be right, Hiyori. I might need to seek medical attention. I just wonder what the doctor will be saying after seeing me back with new injuries. First, the bite of a venomous snake a few days ago and now besides a dislocated shoulder, several injuries on the back."

"They'll be certainly shocked."

"Yeah, I think so, too. I just hope that they won't come to the miraculous conclusion to extend my stay in my room for a few days further. I already told my classmates that today would be the last day, and they thought of organizing for me a small party. I don't want to disappoint them."

"I'm sure they'll be understanding. But I suppose I can understand the discomfort you would feel to disappoint them and make them worry with further bad news."

"Anyways, Kaoru, we still need to treat your back. While your dislocated arm was the most fatal injury, the ones at your back should also be properly taken care of.

"Do you mind lying down on your stomach so I can properly treat the injuries on your back?" I asked gently.

"Yes, of course," he replied.

I grabbed some additional antiseptic wipes and began cleaning the wounds on his back with utmost care.

After cleaning the wounds, I asked him if he could get up and sit normal so that I could bandage him properly.

I sat right in front of him, wrapping the bandage from the front of his body, his chest, and abdomen so that each injury on his back was wrapped properly with a bandage.

Occasionally, it happened that I had touched his chest or his abdomen, with my fingers or my hands, due to my clumsy mistake.

I blushed each time our skin made accidental contact, feeling a rush of sensations coursing through my body. Kaoru seemed to notice the effect he had on me, and a subtle smirk played on his lips. He didn't say anything, but his eyes held a hint of amusement.

As I continued to bandage his back, my hands moved with delicate precision, tracing the contours of his skin. I could feel the warmth emanating from his body, and the closeness between us felt electrifying.

"Thank you for taking care of me," Kaoru said softly, breaking the silence.

"You're welcome," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach.

His eyes never left mine, and I found myself getting lost in their depths. The intensity of the moment was overwhelming, and I could feel the tension building between us.

"Hiyori," he whispered, his voice low and husky.

"Yes?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I gazed into his intense eyes.

"The storm has stopped," Kaoru said.

I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. "That's a relief. We should head back to our rooms now," I suggested, still slightly flustered from the intense moments we had shared.

Kaoru nodded and got up from where he was sitting. "You're right. Thank you for taking care of my injuries," he said, a genuine smile on his face.

"You're welcome. Take care, and don't hesitate to seek medical attention if you need it," I replied, trying to maintain a composed demeanor.

He nodded, his smile lingering as he headed towards the door. "I won't. And Hiyori, thanks for being there when I needed help," he said, his expression softening.

I smiled back, feeling a warmth in my heart. "Of course, anytime."

"I'll be heading out. Do you want to come with me?" he asked.

"Sure," I replied, as he accompanied me all over to my room.

"Thank you for accompanying me, Kaoru."

"No problem. It was my pleasure. Well, farewell then."

"Wait a moment. Can I contact you regarding your status about your injury?" I asked, in a slight flushing demeanor.

I tried to hide it to my best ability, and seeing him not being shocked or anything whatsoever, I doubt he has noticed my flushed expression.

"Sure, feel free to contact me whenever you like. If it's regarding the issue with my injuries or for a meet-up with you, don't feel hesitant about it. I like spending time with you, Hiyori. There shouldn't be a barrier between us because of simple formalities or that we attend different classes."

"Thank you, Kaoru. I'll keep that in mind," I replied, a mixture of emotions swirling inside me.

As he turned to leave, I hesitated for a moment before reaching out and lightly touching his arm. "Take care, okay?" I said, my voice filled with genuine concern.

His eyes softened, and he gave me a small nod. "You too, Hiyori. Take care of yourself as well," he said, his voice gentle.

With that, he walked away, leaving me standing in the hallway, in front of my room, my heart still racing from the intensity of our encounter.

I couldn't deny the feelings that had surfaced during our time together in the nursery station. There was an undeniable connection between us, and I couldn't shake the thought that maybe there was something more than friendship.

For now, I would cherish the bond we shared and the special moments we had experienced together.

That was all I could do at the moment, until I decided to confess to him.

***

A/N: Well, it's been a while since I published a chapter, but I wasn't really having any motivations whatsoever to write.

I hope that cote can hype me again, as before, when I started writing this fic.

Y1V7 was such a masterpiece to read, I really wish I could erase my memory and read it from the start again.

Anyway, I'm sure I have said enough right now. I'll be active on this fic and don't drop it, but the updates won't be as frequent as they were once.

I think that this fanfic will reach its peak soon when Kurushima gets to know about the existence of the White Room and when the mind games between him and Ayano will start.

I already have several ideas for that, but all I can do is write these ideas in my notes for now.

Anyways, that'll be all.

Have a great day.

[Word Count: 4365]