A not-so-quiet battle

Yawn.

Did I just do that?

I hope she didn’t notice… she’s looking straight at me.

“Already bored?”

I placed my hands behind my neck, “The library ambience seems like the perfect place to fall asleep.”, and awkwardly chuckled.

I am the personification of I’d rather watch paint dry than study… No! Wait, focus. You’re not here to watch paint dry. You can do anything that fun now. You have to focus!

“Sorry…”

“It’s fine…”, she took out some papers from her bags and handed one of them to me, “I should’ve made this more interesting…”

I took the paper and looked at it. It seemed like a math question paper, puzzled, I looked at her.

“It’s a math mock paper. Created by me.”, I look over the papers on her hand, they seem to be the exact copy of the one in mine.

“That many?”, I ask, raising one of my eyebrows.

“HA! Yea, I make them for my friends every time.”, she smirked, “They usually just say thank you though.”

Right, we are friends, “Thank you…”

“No problem.”, she took her pen out and smiled, “Look at the questions first.”

I really shouldn’t have yawned, but it’s not like I did it on purpose… What’s done is done. I look at the paper, ten questions. Looks like I can do most of them! I look over at Mary, all proud, but she has already started with hers.

Can’t let her get that ahead of me, I start with all my might and end it at around thirty minutes in. I’d have been happier if I had gotten all of them correct and if this was the first time I’m doing this. I should be in college or something, I groan.

“Done?”, I look up. It seems that Mary had already finished.

“You know, this wasn’t a race?”

“It was.”, she smiled as she took my paper away from me. “You just came second.”

“You mean last…”

“Let me check first.”, she chuckled.

And check she did, intently too. She didn’t let the others disturb her, like how I’m not letting the others disturb me while I stare at her… I really shouldn’t do that, I look around, only to find Kuroki and Hinata trying their best to find a seat.

There’s two empty ones near us, I wonder if they’ll come here.

“Done!”

I turn towards Mary, “Already?”

She was all smiles, “You didn’t do too bad!”, I look at my paper. Six out of ten certainly isn’t that bad.

“How much did you get?”, I smile.

“Oh…”, she seemed hesitant, “Ten.”

“I expect nothing less from the class topper.”, I would’ve probably been mad if it was anybody but her but I’ll just chuckle.

She seemed somewhat relieved. I guess I chose the correct dialogue option there.

“Hey! Hinata!”, It’s Kuroki, “There are two perfectly empty seats here, calling for us!”

I think I heard Hinata quietly groan, “Yes… I can see that.”, she walked towards us.

“But maybe…”, Kuroki didn’t let her finish and sat right besides Mary.

“Hello.”, he smiled, “I don’t think we’ve talked before!”, he held his hand out for a handshake, “I’m Kuroki!”

“I know…”, Mary shook his hands. Why doesn’t that feel good? I mean it’d be weird if it felt good, why does it feel bad?

“I expect nothing less from the class topper.”, Hinata sat right beside me.

“Hey…”, she whispered. I guess someone really loves to follow the library rules, so I whispered back, “Hey.”

“Hey, dude!”, this looked like Kuroki’s first time in a library. Which was probably correct… I nod, “Hey.”

I am pretty sure that he sat here on purpose, there are still some other empty seats, even if they’re far from us. I don’t know if his plans are going to work or not, I kind of hope they do.

Mary didn’t seem to acknowledge Hinata at first but I could see her making glances at her.

Do I have to be the one to break the ice?

“So…”, I look at the both of them, “What brings you here?”, in a library…

“Studies, dude!”, Kuroki laughed. I did walk into that one. Maybe on purpose, but I did walk into that one.

“You seem close with Mary, Akari.”, Hinata smiled.

“We’re… friends.”

“Yes.”, I look at Mary who thankfully finally spoke, she smiled brightly again, “we’re friends.”, if accepting that we’re friends has this reward then I’ll make that my catchphrase.

“You know, I could help you study too!”, Hinata gestured towards Kuroki, “Just like I’m helping him.”

Kuroki nodded, “It’ll be just like old times! Maybe even jog up your memory…”, I appreciate the offer but there’s no memory there to jog.

He suddenly looked towards Mary, “You can join as well!”, he suddenly exclaimed, “The more the merrier!”

I had a strong feeling that I should look at Hinata, Yep, she didn’t like it.

“No…”, Mary kept studying, “I prefer to study alone…”

Oh.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”, I stumble few of those words out.

“No! I mean no, not like that, I… don’t mind…”

“See! You can study with us!”, Hinata cut Mary off. What is even going on?

“I said I don’t mind!”, Mary almost screamed. All the others in the library suddenly looked towards us.

“Sorry…”, Mary whispered.

Hinata chuckled, “You sure? Akari isn’t exactly good at studies…”

She jolted her face towards me, “No offence!”

“None taken.”, It’s not like she’s insulting me, but Akari and her haven’t met for at least three years right, Akari could’ve gotten better in that time frame but I guess I don’t know either.

“You could lose your position…”

“I can do both.”, Mary glared at her.

“Oh?”, Hinata smirked, “Want to make a wager?”

Mary thought for a while.

“I’m listening.”

“Let’s see who has the better average rank in-between you and Akari, and Kuroki and I.”

Mary pondered for a while. Was this what Hinata was after? She has a talent for getting under people’s skin apparently.

“Deal!”, Mary shook Hinata’s hand.

“Let’s make it more interesting…”, Hinata smiled. I feel like we’re walking into a trap…

“Whoever loses will have to listen to one favour of the winner.”

Mary looked at her with suspicion.

“Alright…”

“Don’t be that suspicious.”, Hinata laughed, “I expect good work from my vice class representative!”

“She doesn’t want to be one. Why are you doing this?”, I ask.

“Because I want her to!”, she looked at Mary, “Wasn’t her speech about being selfish? This is me being selfish.”, she smiled.

Kuroki seemed to be enjoying his imaginary popcorn since he started this and has made no other comment regarding this.

“Fine!”, Mary slammed her book shut. I wonder if there’s a library admin who’ll ban us forever.

Hinata got up and held her hand out, Mary got up after her and shook her hand. I shook my own hand under the table, didn’t want to be left out.

“Let’s go to my house… “, Hinata looked at Kuroki who was all smiles, “The library’s loud today.”, I wonder whose fault is that…

Kuroki nodded and excitedly followed Hinata out of the library, I don’t know what his plan was… I assumed it was reconciliation but maybe he’s fine with an all-out war too… Manga male leads are weird.

I look towards Mary, “Are you going to be alright?”

“Yes!”, she made a fist bump, I could see fire in her eyes. I do like fire…

“I’ll make some more papers and notes!”, she got up from her seat and looked at me with a smile, “Sorry… let’s end our study session here today…”

I nodded, “It’s fine. Good luck.”

She packed up her things and left soon after. I hope she’ll be alright… The average huh, I wonder how good is Kuroki in studies. I want to assume not much, but then again it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Maybe this is what I needed! Motivation to study!

“Hey…”, I hear panting noises, I turn back only to find Mary there.

“You didn’t leave?”

“No…”, she huffed, “I mean… I left…”

I pull a chair near her and gestured her to sit, which she did.

“You want some water?”, I ask. Why is she even here, in this state no less?

“I want your number!”

My number…? I mean, wait, what?

I look at her with confusion.

“You know… studies…”, her voice kept getting lower the more she spoke.

Don’t let confusion confuse you from what you want.

“Right! My number, I’m glad… I mean I’m happy that you asked me!”, I stumble as I took Akari’s phone out. “For studies… I mean…”