The week after the school festival felt strangely quiet.
The halls, once buzzing with energy, had settled back into their usual rhythm — sleepy chatter, hurried footsteps, and the sound of pages turning.
Aoi stretched as she entered the classroom. "Finally, no more decorations to hang or costumes to wash!"
Haruto looked up from his desk. "You say that, but you enjoyed every second of it."
"Guilty!" she said, laughing. "But my body didn't. Carrying all those boxes nearly destroyed me."
"Maybe if you didn't volunteer for every task…"
"I just wanted to help! And besides—" she leaned closer, grinning, "you were there too."
He blinked. "Yeah, because you dragged me into it."
"Semantics," she said with a wave.
---
That afternoon, when classes ended, Aoi skipped over to Haruto's desk with her bag slung over her shoulder.
"Hey, Haruto-kun. The library's open late today for the book fair. Want to check it out?"
"The library?" he asked, blinking. "You mean… voluntarily?"
"Rude! I can read, you know!"
He smiled faintly. "You mostly borrow comics."
"Graphic novels," she corrected, puffing her cheeks. "And there's a difference."
He laughed under his breath — a small sound, but real enough that she noticed.
"So?" she said, tilting her head. "You coming or not?"
He sighed, pretending to think. "…Fine. But only because I need a quiet place to finish my homework."
"Sure, sure," she said, tugging his sleeve. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
---
The library was bathed in warm, golden light. Rows of books stretched endlessly, and the faint hum of the air conditioner made it feel even cozier.
Aoi wandered through the aisles like a curious kitten, occasionally stopping to pull out a random book.
"Whoa, Haruto-kun! This one has like, no pictures at all!"
"That's how novels usually work," he replied, without looking up.
"Hmm… suspicious."
She found a seat across from him, plopping down with a manga. "Okay, study boy. You read, I'll… uh, support you spiritually."
"By distracting me?"
"By being moral support!"
He chuckled. "You're impossible."
---
For a while, the two sat in companionable silence — Aoi flipping pages quietly while Haruto worked.
Then, a soft thump.
She had fallen asleep, cheek pressed against her open manga.
Haruto looked up, startled. Her ponytail had come loose, and strands of hair brushed across her face. She looked peaceful, almost childlike.
He sighed, smiling despite himself. "You really can fall asleep anywhere, huh?"
Gently, he closed her book and adjusted her jacket over her shoulders.
Just then, her lips moved slightly. "Mmm… Haruto-kun…"
He froze.
"…don't forget… promise…"
"Promise?" he whispered, leaning closer. "What promise?"
But she didn't answer — only smiled faintly in her sleep.
He sat back, flustered, his heart skipping a beat.
"Aoi," he murmured, shaking his head. "You really… have no idea what you do to me."
---
When she finally woke up, the sun had dipped below the windows.
"Eh? Did I fall asleep again?" she yawned.
"Yeah," he said, smiling. "You missed your moral support shift."
"Oops." She stretched, then looked at him. "Hey, Haruto-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks… for letting me stay like that. It felt really warm."
He blinked, unsure how to respond. "…No problem."
She grinned. "Then it's a deal — next time, I'll watch you fall asleep and make sure you're comfy."
He frowned. "That's not how that works."
"Too bad, it's a promise now!"
And with that, she dashed off toward the exit, her laughter echoing through the quiet hallway.
Haruto watched her go, shaking his head with a helpless smile.
"…You're really something else, Aoi."
He gathered his books, heart oddly light.
Maybe keeping her "promise" wouldn't be so bad.