The library smelled like old books, air conditioning, and quiet judgment.
Ryota, Junpei, and Sota walked in with all the confidence of students who might be here to study, but were definitely not going to.
A sign near the entrance read:
"Please maintain silence. No food, no drinks, and absolutely no shouting."
Sota pointed at it. "You hear that, Ryota? No shouting."
"I never shout," Ryota said.
"You shouted at a vending machine last week."
"That machine ate my coins and mocked me with flashing lights."
Junpei sighed. "Just don't get us banned. My mom actually uses this place."
They found a quiet table near the back, tucked between the psychology section and a shelf full of large dusty encyclopedias no one had opened since the early 2000s.
Ryota dropped into a seat and spun around once in the chair. "This place is so quiet I can hear my own boredom echoing."
"Then maybe open a book," Junpei said, pulling out a notebook. "You did say we were coming here to study."
Ryota pulled a random book from the shelf next to him. "This is a dictionary."
"Perfect. You can finally learn how to spell 'embarrassing' correctly."
Sota set his bag on the table and leaned back. "We haven't even started and I already want to go home."
Ryota flipped open the dictionary dramatically. "Did you know there are over 400 words that start with 'dis'? Disagree, disapprove, disappoint... I'm feeling very on-theme today."
Junpei ignored him and started writing something. Sota peeked over.
"Are you actually doing homework?"
Junpei nodded. "Math packet."
"You're such a responsible citizen."
"Someone has to graduate on time."
Ryota slowly slid the dictionary across the table like it was cursed. "I think this book is draining my soul."
Sota reached into his bag and pulled out a manga volume. "I brought something better."
Junpei looked up. "You brought manga to the library?"
"It's technically reading," Sota said.
"Is it about a guy who gets hit by a truck and wakes up with a sword for a face?"
"...Yes," Sota replied. "It's better than it sounds."
Ryota leaned over. "Lemme see."
They huddled together flipping through the first few pages, whispering commentary:
"Wait, is that his actual face or just a metaphor?"
"Nope, it's his real face."
"He can't even eat like that."
"Plot twist: he doesn't need food, just vengeance."
Across the room, the librarian shot them a look.
All three straightened up at once.
"Back to silence," Junpei whispered.
Sota pretended to be deeply invested in a physics textbook. Ryota tried to look like he was pondering the meaning of the Dewey Decimal System. Junpei kept writing, clearly the only one actually doing anything productive.
After a long pause, Ryota leaned in again. "You ever wonder why libraries are so serious? Like, who decided the only way to read is in dead silence?"
Sota nodded. "Why not have chill background music? Or beanbags? Libraries could be vibes."
Junpei didn't look up. "Because people like you two would turn them into hangout cafés."
"Exactly," Ryota said. "That's the dream."
Sota looked thoughtful. "You think they'd kick us out if we brought a portable speaker and snacks?"
"Yes," Junpei said immediately.
"But what if the snacks were quiet? Like pudding."
"Pudding isn't quiet, it's suspicious," Ryota muttered. "No one trusts a snack that jiggles before betraying your spoon."
"What does that even mean?"
"Life experience," Ryota said solemnly.
---
Twenty minutes later…
Junpei had finished one math section and was now chewing the end of his pencil.
Ryota had found a book titled The Secret Life of Eels and was flipping through it with increasingly horrified fascination.
Sota had fallen asleep with the manga over his face.
The librarian passed by once, eyed the scene, and kept walking.
Ryota leaned toward Junpei. "Did you know eels can live up to 80 years?"
"Can they live long enough to finish your math homework for you?"
"Unclear. I'll keep reading."
Junpei paused. "Hey, you guys ever think about how we spend so much time doing nothing?"
Sota stirred under the manga but didn't wake up.
Ryota shrugged. "I like doing nothing."
Junpei leaned back in his chair. "I know. It's just weird how much of our lives will probably be this—just… sitting around, goofing off, pretending we're being productive."
Ryota closed the eel book. "Yeah, but someday we'll be doing 'nothing' in completely different places."
"Like college campuses?"
"Or trains. Or cramped apartments with bad lighting."
Junpei chuckled. "And we'll miss this stupid library table."
They looked at Sota, who snored once and mumbled something about pudding in his sleep.
Ryota smiled. "Yeah… probably even that."
---
4:12 PM.
Sota finally woke up, blinking at the fluorescent lights. "Did I miss anything?"
"Eels," Ryota said.
"And regret," Junpei added.
"Cool," Sota yawned.
They packed up slowly, stretching like cats and grabbing their bags. On the way out, Ryota nodded to the librarian with the most innocent smile he could muster. She did not return the gesture.
"Let's never study again," Ryota said as they stepped outside into the golden hour sun.
"Agreed," Sota yawned.
Junpei shook his head. "Next week, we're going to the café with the Wi-Fi and soft chairs."
"You mean the one with the espresso jelly drinks?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm in."
And just like that, the library chapter closed—unread, slightly crumpled, and absolutely perfect in its own useless way.