It was getting late. The sun was nearly setting but I find myself continue on walking. While others are on their way to return to their homes or get to their jobs… I find myself heading to the one place I often visited during my childhood.

The Grand Archive.

This place was once said to be the greatest library of human kind. It held all their history, inventions, and achievements on the very shelves they sat upon.

Many would flock to learn about the human race… but now.

"Welcome," An old husky voice said as I went through the doors.

"…" I turned to the man without giving any reply.

It was a man who almost looked my age but had a rough complexion. His hands held unto a book he was currently reading with a pair of glasses on.

I took notice to his hands. They have a lot of callouses for a librarian and I don't know why. It reminded me of the time I was still training for the United Space Force. And that was a long time ago.

"This place looks clean," I silently remarked as the place hasn't changed much unless you ignore the high-tech improvements given to the place.

"I keep it clean." The man replied without looking away from his book. There was a sense of power behind his words but I held down the feeling of being intimidated. "No fool ever sets foot here but I keep it presentable for the kids,"

He wasn't kidding about there being kids here. The place may appear old to the newer generation but to some of them who aren't blessed with funds this place is a treasure haul of great wonder and mysteries.

"Do you know why I am here?" I asked as I reached for the backside of my pocket, secretly arming myself with my standard plasma handgun.

"Yes," He said curtly but ignored any sense of danger around him. "My answers still no."

At this point in time, this man who held his stance to protect The Grand Archive all those years ago still serves his purpose to this day.

On any other occasion, such actions deserve an honorary celebration of a job well done. But, in this case, the government has decided to spit on his face.

"I have come to tell you that your services are no longer required." I said as I finally showed him a device revealing orders of vacation. "This place has been deemed obsolete."

"Hah," The man laugh and I felt a cold chill go down my spine as he snaps the book he held with his hands shut. The angry snap vibrated around us as I focused my attention on him.

"Back in my day, they also said that our own home world has become obsolete." I felt a strong sense of fear as his own cold and weary brown eyes stared into mine. "They destroyed what was left of it and took the moon too. Colonized Mars next and set the moons out but where did that got them?"

He stood up and I noticed he was just a few inches taller than I was.

"So tell me lass," He took out an old wooden pipe. Analyzing the object told me that it was used throughout the years as it burned a mixture of smoking remedies. "What does the government want to take away from this Archive that they would call it… obsolete?"

I remember how I first have gotten these orders. I just returned after a long and hard five year war with an enemy colony occupying the same quadrant of space we have colonized.

All those years I have spent fighting for what was ours earned me the right to return home and stay as one of their public general affairs officer.

Originally, I was ecstatic to learn I could finally go home. Years of attrition with the enemy has worn down all of my lost youth and some have mistaken me for looking thirty when I was just twenty-three.

But when I did get home, something changed. I don't know what but all of the people I knew who were running our community were replaced by a younger generation of delegates who spent their lives living the best of what our generation has built on.

I really hated those guys. They were a bunch of pretentious pricks. And because of them the community became divided as a result.

However, as the whole of our home became separated by our own borders… there was one place that held their doors open for all.

The Grand Archive shook the world when this man in front of me declared his neutrality on our hostile home. Of course, both sides answered back with violence but the man returned all the drones they have sent to pieces.

The day we received an anonymous package left behind on our own office sent everyone to disarray. And after someone went was dispatched to check on them it left a lasting impression on every single one of us.

Each and every drone, dismantled to pieces and turned into compact steel cubes. A note was left which read: "Next time, send someone human. Don't expect a bunch of bucket of bolts to do your job for you."

Leaving aside that he singlehandedly destroyed drones from both sides of this conflict, the fact that he can have them delivered back reminded all of us that said man was an old veteran from a past war we barely won over.

And now they have sent me, Special Agent SH-10-R-1, to take care of this place.

However, this man, I can tell. He has seen war, has seen far more death than even I care to admit I have seen.

This leaves the question… why is he here? If he is truly the best of a generation long past… why does he guard this place like his life depended on it?

"The look in your eyes, I can tell." He spoke once again after taking a few puffs of his pipe. Smoke left his nostril and mouth as he spoke. "Those are the eyes who have killed a man."

I answered him by giving a strong glare of my own. He barely even flinched before taking another whiff of his pipe.

"Touched a nerve now? This generation is too innocent for my taste. Not enough blood spilled before they had the nerve to declare to the world how great they are."

"Those kids… they have never worked hard a day in their life. Have never risked their lives nor worked hard to get to where they want. A bunch of spoiled rotten kids,"

He deposited the remains of his pipe onto a trash dispenser next to him before putting the pipe away.

"Tell me, child." He said finally before all the air left me as a sense of dread filled every fiber of my body. "What makes you think that you will walk out of here in one piece? That you will destroy this humble home for all the generations before you?"

"What right do you have to take these all away?"

..

I blinked my eyes as I finished all the way to this part. I turned to the shy girl beside me as she continues to write on a piece of paper frantically.

This girl, Shiori Shiomiya as I have come to learn yesterday, is currently writing a story while the two of us bunker down on the fortified wall of books she built around us.

If anyone would have seen this, they would have looked on in surprise and maybe a bit of ire for using books like some makeshift pillow fort.

However, the reality is that only the two of us are here. Shiori has decided to lockdown the entire library keeping anyone from entering while also bunkering down on a fort made of books while writing a story.

No matter which way I looked at it. I have once again found myself involved in a troublesome situation.

The World a Librarian Only Knows

Flag 3-3: "My Story: Built Upon The Foundation Of Books"

I recall how I got myself into this situation. It wasn't long ago when I was coerced into helping this girl out. Rather forceful of him, I might add, but effective as I was here doing as he requested.

I learned from Sena that the library committee plans to toss away a few books to make way for a new studio that was on hold till now. Because of the efforts of one particular boy, the budget needed to further reach their goal was met and now these two, Shiori and Sena, are at odds with the whole committee.

Of course, Sena only told Shiori that I was going to help her out. Note that I only needed to help her. Not him. Sena came to me when we left the library, he told me that he will handle everything tomorrow and that Shiori will most likely stall for time.

It was a guess well-founded as said girl did stall for time… in the most extreme way possible. Who the hell locks themselves up inside the library and hope to stop the committee's plans that way!? Oh yeah, her. Seriously this girl loves books than her own life and I just met her yesterday!

This was thirty minutes ago. Around the time after classes have ended when I came here earlier than usual just to get this over with. That was when I heard the doors being slammed shut.

Of course, the committee were furious and banged on the door nonstop. When Sena heard of what she did he immediately contacted me. I opened my e-mail through my PFP and read his message, demanding what was going on inside and if we were safe.

Apparently, everyone outside thought that someone outside our school has entered our library and triggered an emergency lockdown; trapping the two of us inside along with whoever caused it.

It was far from the truth.

It took me a good ten minutes to explain what was going on and I had to reassure him that we were not in any danger. He didn't give a reply right away as I decided to ask how things were on his end.

"Not good, everyone is furious and don't know what to do. I think they are planning to involve the teachers but I told them not to involve the faculty just yet."

Sena never clarified what he meant and everything went cold from there. Bored out of my mind, I decided to continue playing my games. It was a good use of my time until I noticed papers being stacked up around me like hills.

I turned and found the girl absentmindedly writing on a sheet of paper completely ignoring me.

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that this girl decided to allow me into her fort. At first I was confused but she insisted anyway. I have no idea why I even agreed to sit next to her but this apparently calmed her somewhat tense body.

I decided to read one of them and, to my surprise, found myself reading a sci-fi story about a distant future of war, internal wars, and wars of ideals.

Intrigued by such a tale I decided to read it. A good ten minutes of my life was used to finally get to the point where I am and so far I can see who she is projecting to.

Apparently, this younger generation replacing the previous generation is alluding to the books being replaced by the new booth.

The man protecting the archive is a projection of a mixture of me, Sena, and Shiori all together. However, that wasn't all as the girl in the middle of this is also Shiori.

As I continued to read I can tell that she is having an internal conflict. She is divided by her desires and her duties as a member of this library and this is reflected by the fears she had when confronting the man.

I put the paper down as I looked at her. Her hand hovering over a sheet of paper but hovering still. It was a sign that she had reached a block. A writer's block as they called it when someone reached a point where wrote what they originally wanted but don't know how to go from there.

At this moment, a message made its way into my earphone as I turn my gaze from her to my handheld device.

"I talked things out with everyone on this side. How is Shiori?" It read as I went to reply immediately.

"Not good. She has gotten silent and has been frantically writing a story on a piece of paper. Took my eyes off of her for a few minutes and I am already ankle deep on papers."

Another notification entered my ears as I once again read his message.

"That's not good. She is getting anxious about what she did."

Another message entered right after.

"Look, I know I am asking for much but can you do me another favor?"

I asked for what he wanted. I was already here so I will at least hear him out.

"Can you get her to open the doors on her own?"

I looked on in silence as I stared into the bright lights of my portable. That was when I heard a small gasp right beside me. When I turned I knew who it was but tears were already falling from her eyes.

Shiori is crying.

"You okay?" I asked silently as I put my handheld away.

But she turned away and stubbornly held her knees to her chest as she silently cried.

Not knowing what to do, I decided to give my response to the boy outside these door.

"I messed up. Shiori saw the message and now she is crying."

A moment later and I received a new message followed by a few others.

"Dang it! Why is my luck so terrible at such crucial moments!?"

"Katsuragi, I am sorry but can you do your thing like with what you did with Kanon-chan?"

"I know this might seem unreasonable but I will let you know that everything is fine. I managed to convince everyone here that a few of the students, both from our own and the college building, don't want books thrown out of the library. I have a petition ready and I showed it to them and they agreed to change their plans!"

"But if Shiori-chan doesn't open the doors then the committee will have no choice but force their way in! This might also reach the faculty and if it does then it will be bad!"

"Do what you need to do! I'll give you time to calm her down and convince her to open the door. If I can't reach her now then maybe you can! Please, I seriously ruined this very badly so try and calm her down."

That's a tall order and you know it. The girl is still crying and you expect me to fix all this!? I'm no miracle man!

It is so frustrating but I know I can't leave. I got here early and waited for everyone to come when Shiori decided to put the place on lockdown.

And now the girl beside me is silently crying her eyes out thinking she was betrayed.

"Give me all the time I need. This isn't going to be easy," I decided to reply before everything became silent once again.

It took a good five minutes before I decided to try and talk to Shiori. It ended up as well as I thought it would. She refused to talk to me and I had to sit there completely frustrated.

I took a deep breath and decided to take a different approach. I decided to continue reading the story… but this time I will say it out loud. See if she will give me a response.

"'What right do you have to take these all away…' was it?" I heard the girl say beside me as I decided to barricade all the entrances of the doors and all the windows locked shut with stainless steel locks.

"Aye lass?" I decided to humor her despite the fact I am injured everywhere and the enemy is right outside the door planning to tear the door down at any second.

What is this? Isn't this story far ahead from the one I am reading?

"Why… did you say it like that back then?"

For a moment I stopped. I turned to the girl beside me but stopped midway. This was good so I decided to continue.

"Lass, how do you think knowledge spread during my time?"

"By paper… I presume?" I could barely hear her voice but it was better than complete silence.

"Aye, this true lass. All knowledge spread through paper. In our time, it is the best resource to spread knowledge around… but did you know that this wasn't widespread at first?"

"What?"

It feels like she is becoming a bit more vocal.

"At the time, only those fortunate enough to buy books have the power to acquire knowledge. A book of fine paper was worth its weight in gold."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Lass," I had to cough a bit as I was not used to talking this long. "If I let this place burn… won't those less fortunate than us lose their ability to acquire knowledge?"

"…" Her silence is actually within the story so I continued.

"If we allow them to take away books… would they stop there?" I paused to deepen the drama of the situation. "Won't they take your fancy gadgets next? How about your access? Would they block areas they deem inappropriate for them? Would they also take away your ability to communicate long distances?"

"I… don't think they would go that far,"

At this point, the story stopped. This was the moment where Shiori hit a writer's block. This was the time where she was having second thoughts. When she read the message Sena gave to me.

Should I improvise?

"Who knows?" I continued nonchalantly grabbing my imaginary pipe and doing the motion for lighting it. "But I do think that taking this place away from everyone is a bad thing."

Shiori looked at me as I leaned my back on a pillar of books imitating the character the best I can. Hopefully, she will take the bait and continue with this.

"…" She was silent, almost hesitant to give a reply. I was about to drop the act when she took a deep breath and continued.

"Can you share that with me?" She asked as I raise my eyebrow. I think she was talking about my imaginary pipe so I decided to shrug my shoulders and give it to her.

"Careful lass, this is powerful stuff." I continue on thinking of the mixture as some sort of strong medical concoction.

Surprisingly, she cough a bit as she took a few puffs.

"Take a big drag… then exhale very slowly," I advised but I wasn't sure how they do it really.

A few moments later she returned my imaginary pipe. I wiped the mouthpiece a bit before taking a whiff myself.

"I… I am sad if they take these books away," She finally said. I didn't turn to her so that she can continue.

"I… spent my life reading books. They are my longest companions… and my greatest friend."

"That's surprising," I commented as I removed my imaginary pipe from my mouth. I blew imaginary smoke away from us.

"Yes… I think that books are my whole world. That they are the only things I need in my life…"

Why do those words feel familiar… wasn't this the same way I thought of my games too…?

"That's actually sad," I told her honestly not caring if I am breaking character. "Even if I look like this… all alone in my own world… I have people I can get along with,"

Honestly, I could say that I get along with them. Ayumi, Kanon, and maybe even Joy if I stretch it enough. Though I know games are all that I need… I think having someone to talk to isn't bad.

"You have such people?" She asked as I turned to see her reddened eyes. "Is it nice?"

"It is," I nodded as I adjust my position slightly to keep this conversation going. "Though there were times I think they were annoying… it wasn't really bad."

A moment of silence took over as I contemplated my response earlier. My time spent with Nurse Joy was mostly me complaining about Kanon. Though it was also spent with a bit of teasing on her part I think my time spent with her wasn't bad.

Kanon wasn't my greatest experience so far. But, the time we shared wasn't all bad. There were times where I find her persistence endearing. Her attitude for reaching new heights is worthy of my interest. As I too wish to reach my own goals.

Finally, there is Ayumi. Though I think our strange relationship started out of nowhere I didn't once felt that it was strange. She would always find me and drag me to lunch with her friends. Her fanbase is annoying but I don't feel threatened by them.

All three of them… I can tell that my time spent with them has been an experience.

And this experience… she has none of it. All her life she has surrounded it in books. I would even bet that she joined the committee just to avoid the most contact.

If so… then should I help her out? I think someone else has already reached her heart, while I am just here to watch over her.

I think I am getting too deep into this. I think it isn't right that I am the one who is involved in her story.

Like the man who stubbornly protects the books of this library. It needs three people to work together to reach that goal.

Right now… I am such a person. I am filling the role given to me by the one who is concerned for her.

Sena… what was he thinking when he asked for my help? Isn't it better if he did this by himself…?

No, that isn't possible. Even I had times where I think having someone beside me is a lot better than doing things alone.

However, no matter what I do… I don't think I can reach her. I am so far away from her heart that I had to squint my eyes to even see my place in all of this.

It is obvious that this girl thinks highly of Sena… but I get the feeling that they are incompatible. I think this is a good opportunity to know what she thinks of him.

"Hey," I called out as I turned to Shiori. "What is your relationship with Sena exactly?"

It was silent for a moment but the girl decided to speak.

"I… loathe him,"

That was an answer I wasn't expecting.

"He… returned books we didn't need… kept the ones that were alright."

It is starting to feel like these two are more like enemies than friends. But why did Sena decided to help her? Why would he risk taking on the Library Committee?

I don't get him and that is what bugs me. He is acting like an ideal. A good boy who helps out anyone who ask. And I find the idea stupid. Because there is no ideal human in this world.

What makes this boy occupy so much of her thoughts then?

"But he… helps," There was a hint of a smile on her face for a split second. "Everyone looks up to him like a dependable brother…"

"I… I guess…"

I looked into her eyes as she stared back up at me.

"I was drawn to him… he was so reliable that I ended up looking up to him," There was a sparkle in her eyes that surprised me. "A person who I thought I could reach but…"

Tears once again fill her eyes.

"I guess… even he cannot do everything on his own,"

She didn't speak after that. I guess it came as a shock to her that Sena wanted her to open the door.

Whatever bond they had now was being tested. She clearly has low self-esteem and cannot truly stand up for herself.

At a time like this… I am reminded of that Nurse who kept me annoyed all the time. How I was always able to meet her and end up talking to her to pass the time.

If there is one thing she thought me all this time… then it is that girls are complicated.

However, I can see who they are and how they would act. Ayumi had signs of self-doubt and Kanon had an innate fear of being invisible to others.

Shiori, couldn't speak to save her life. She is unable to speak clearly to anyone due to an ill-perceived notion of being hated. I need to break that part of her.

I need to have her realize that it isn't true. That she has friends on her side who would listen to her.

And if all else fails?

…I will not fail. I am the God of Conquest. There is no girl who I haven't save to this day. Whether game or real, I will successfully reach the ending.

"Shiori," I called which caused her to look at me in surprise. "I don't think that guy is all he is. I think that he is more or less than what you perceive him to be,"

Shiori looked at me and I can feel a deep contemplation deep in her eyes. A thick fog is visible for me to see. A number of thoughts running through her mind at the speed of thought.

"But," I say clearly as to catch her attention. "There is one thing I do know about him. And that is that he kept his promise to you,"

"…what?" She asked almost surprised that she said that out loud. I can already feel a smile making its way to my face.

"Sena told me that he has everything under control…" I contemplated whether this is a good time to tell her but I decided to wing it. "Things are fine, surprisingly. This is actually more than I could expect."

Shiori is once again stuck on her own thoughts but I snapped my fingers to get her attention.

"Listen girl," I called out rudely but she didn't seem to mind. "Sena may have saved the day with what he did but…"

I took a pause as I look into her eyes. I want to know how she would react to being attacked directly.

"Will you keep bothering him for help at this rate?"

Her eyes widened. I can see her mouth quiver but no words would come out. Silent tears begin to come but she wipes them away just as quickly.

I never looked away from her during all this time. She begins to notice this a bit and blushes a little but I kept on giving her a stern stare. She paused for a second and tried to look away but I shook my head at her, telling her not to look away.

"Sena did as you requested. I think he did it out of the goodness of his heart but I think otherwise." I clear my throat as she desperately wanted to look away from me. "He did this cause you asked him to. He was doing this out of an obligation I have no idea of knowing."

"H-he… did…?" She asked afraid but I shook my head. I couldn't really give a concrete answer.

"This is only my conjecture. I have no concrete proof. But, to be honest, I don't like that he stepped up to help you."

The cold truth slapped her across the face. I can see her stinging at my words but I continued.

"I get it, you needed help but do you truly need to ask him?" I continued my assault. "You knew you had the power to reverse the decision of your fellow members but-instead, you went to the one man who you think is dependable!"

"Sh…" She tried to say but I only spoke up louder.

"He did what he could for you but that doesn't mean you will have to trouble him for it! Now, because of you, he is in deep trouble!"

"Shut-what?" She looked at me in surprise. She has no idea how deep we are in trouble doesn't she?

"Yes," I told her as I confirmed her fears. "You locked away everyone from entering the library. Committee members, visitors… and especially him."

This time, I knew something inside of her broke. The look in her eyes is too painful to look at but I push on. This is for her sake and I don't plan to back down. Even if I end up becoming the villain this girl needs to reach the ending.

"See where your selfishness led you?" I told her not once mincing my words. "You have landed all of us into hot water."

"…" She tried saying but I couldn't catch that.

"What?" I said.

"Sh…" I can hear her a little better.

"What is it? Speak up will you?"

"I SAID SHUT UP YOU BIG IDIOT! MEANIE! I HATE YOU!"

..

I hid a smile. She finally spoke what is on her mind.

"I'm sorry," I said with all the slyness of a bastard villain. "Would you like to clarify that?"

"No! I don't want to! I have had enough of this!" She continued to screech but with a more bearable, if only soft, voice instead.

"I spent my whole life having books as my only companions! There were barely anyone who talked to me and those who did only tolerate me because I am part of the committee!"

She continued to berate me but all I can do is sit there in silence.

"I am so sorry that I caused all of you trouble but what was I supposed to do!? I couldn't speak up to them no matter how much courage I tried to muster!"

The frustration made her cry but she continued to speak out her mind.

"I am not like you! I am not like Sena! I am just me! I am shy! I can't start a conversation properly! And I always end up saying what I feel rather than what I think!"

She paused catching a breath as she once again takes a seat on a pile of books surrounding us. The fort has collapsed during the middle of her rant that I had to move my seat slightly to avoid the heavy books from hitting me.

"What do you want me to do…?" She finally said, hot steamy tears racing down her face as she covered her eyes with a sleeve. "What can I do to fix this?"

..

I looked on in silence. I was tempted to give her the answer but instead I chose to remain silent. She has finally exhausted; all the stress she felt is released and she is now contemplating on what to do.

All she needs now… is a little push at the right direction.

"You already know the answer to that question." I told her and I can see her glare at me slightly behind her sleeve. "I know you know it. Do you even want me to say it to you?"

"No…" She said finally as she sat up, wiping away the tears from her eyes for the umpteenth time today. "But I don't know what to say to them."

"Do you need to think?" I asked her silently as she turned once again to look at me. "Didn't you say what you really felt about all of this not a minute ago?"

"That's different!" She said clearly, her voice a bit hoarse for not being used all that much. "They are the committee! My companions! I betrayed their trust and you expect me to walk up to them and apologize?"

I stood up from my seat as I finally wipe my glasses. "Sometimes… a word of apology is enough to settle a dispute."

"How do you know that?" She asked confused. I guess my reputation hasn't reached her ears then.

"'Cause I once faced the same problem." In a game. I said to myself silently. "Listen to me Shiori, who do you trust most?"

"Books," She answered matter-of-factly, I almost laughed at her answer but it was acceptable.

"Good. Tell me, do any of the books say that saying sorry is bad at this situation we are in?"

Shiori had this look on her that I can't really pinpoint. It was as if she is recalling every single book she read through her life looking for an answer.

"No," She answered honestly. "In fact, all the books I read encouraged forgiveness and acceptance."

I didn't say much as I put my glasses back on.

"Do I even need to say more?" I asked rhetorically. "If books are the only things you trust then that's fine. But you need to know one thing about books."

She looked at me daringly. As if telling me to say something which she probably already knows. I smirked at her. Of course I would! I am not letting this girl off so easily!

"Books are made by human hands," I told her as she stared at me dumbly. "Think about it, the stories you read, the advice you received… don't they all come from one source?"

"Yes… but what has that got to do with this? With anything?"

I couldn't help but helplessly shake my head in disbelief. This girl is really a lot of trouble and I am surprised I have even made progress with her at all.

"It just means that you need to give them a chance." I told her readily as she looked up from the books on the floor. "If books are the only ones you trust then… why don't you put that trust in them? In all of us?"

She looked surprise as I said that. "You put your trust on Sena… didn't you?"

She gave me a nod as I put forth my hand. "Then do so with everyone else!"

There was that feeling again. The feeling of something powerful flowing around us that I felt whenever I was getting close to the ending.

"But I am afraid! I-" She faltered slightly as she looked down once again. "I don't have the courage-"

"Then let me give you courage!" I shouted to her as I took her free hand and raised her up. I miscalculated; whether by my strength or her lightness, I don't know as at the last second I caused the both of us to trip.

A number of papers flew up and spread around us as I felt my lips grow warm with each second. I widen my eyes as I realize that the two of us are kissing. Shiori looked at me in surprise but didn't pull away and I felt the heavy feeling around us disappearing completely.

"…" The two of us parted after a few seconds. Both of us red on the face with embarrassment but hopefully she couldn't see my face. I noticed for the first time that the lights were suddenly turned off during the whole kiss.

"If…" I called out despite my embarrassment. "If you think that you cannot say a word… then think of me… and think of Sena…"

"…" She was silent and I didn't dare look at her anymore.

"The courage you displayed to stand up for yourself. Burn it into your mind… because the two of us are certainly listening."

..

Outside the library.

Everyone was getting anxious now. Sena, in the end, told them what was going on. He caved and gave in to their demands. Everyone was shocked at first but had a look of understanding shared between them.

During all of this, someone cut the power from the library. This would have automatically reset the password for the door but, to their surprise, they didn't have to.

By the door was the one girl who started this all. And by her side was the one who kept her company. No one really paid the boy mind as Shiori stepped forward and asked everyone to listen to her.

Sena looked at the entire scene in surprise. In just a short time, Shiori is talking with everyone about her thoughts about the new booth and how she didn't want to throw away the books to make room for them.

The whole committee looked at each other with understanding as they listened to her concerns. For a brief moment, Sena noticed that Shiori was staring at him intently. Confused for but a second, she finally told everyone what she should have said much, much earlier.

"I am sorry for inconveniencing everyone!"

That day was full of surprises. No one was more shocked than the president of the committee. As for as long as she had known Shiori, this was the first time she could hear her voice clearly.

Most of them were surprised but the most vocal about it was still the president. Sena wasn't sure how to approach this but decided to step forward.

"President, here. Don't worry about the Student Council, they will understand." He told them as he handed over a clipboard containing multiple signatures of students also against the throwing of books.

"Thanks Sena, we owe you much for this." She told him but he just shook his head. "Nah, I caused a lot of trouble in the end actually."

He really didn't know what to say in this situation so he just shrugged and turned away. "I don't have anything to do this Saturday so if you need any help to move a few books then you know who to call."

And he left just like that. Everyone else got inside and decided to talk about their arrangements privately. Luckily, other students came in much later. Though some of them suspect that someone had a hand in turning away students from getting near the library.

In the middle of all of this… a certain God of Conquest is walking home with a game console on his hand. He was furiously tapping away on the buttons to finish the game.

He was most certainly not trying to forget about what happened earlier.

Nope, didn't happen! He would deny it all the way until he slept.

Sadly for him, this little event isn't over just yet.

To be continued…

Author's Note:

Now this is a lot better than I expected it would be. Some of you voiced out your distaste for OCs… especially my OC but I can't really say anything that would justify that.

I'll just accept the dissatisfaction of having him there. I don't plan on removing him soon and the role he fulfills is rather important. Other than that, I cannot say much else.

Let me be honest with you guys here. As I don't think I can waste more on saying this next time. So if any of you don't want to hear bad news. Then please skip to the end. I'll space them out so that you guys can ignore it if you want.

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So, for the past four years, I have been dealing with a lot of problems. But my biggest problem as of recent is… my Mom is dying.

I cannot really say it any better than that. Because four years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer after an operation involving a cyst on her ovaries. You can understand where this is headed to.

So, we decided on a lot of things. Most of which I wasn't happy about at first but I came around. I also try to have time to work on the story but that didn't go anywhere until just recently.

I decided to work for my dad on his tailoring business. The Philippines isn't really big on jobs and if there are any available I don't have the qualifications to apply.

The only job that accepted me was a Data Encoder related one with a company I shall leave unnamed. I left only four months after because the days of continued overtime has left me cranky and the constant shift from morning to evening isn't helping with my health. My health isn't terrible but I can tell you that the food I was eating there wasn't healthy either.

So, any time now my Mom would die. She doesn't have much time left so I decided to do as she wished. One of them was getting a job, particularly helping dad work. Currently, I am doing fine and this gave me a flexible work schedule where I just need to do a bit of work at a time for him.

I hope you guys can understand why it took so long to reach this far. I know some of you have been waiting for an update so I am making up for lost time now.

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Anyway, this is a good time to think about the next girl. You guys may not know this but I have plans for the next girl. It isn't exactly something some of you would like but I think having her as my test subject for my ideas may prove more enjoyable in the long run.

Truth be told, I wanted to write her next but I decided to move her in till the last second. Her role is getting a much needed promotion from the original and fans of her will rejoice. Trust me, after all this time her appearance will be totally worth it.

Until next time, also please don't leave any reviews about my personal life. Just leave what you think of the story. Well, if you can't help it then please keep it brief. The next chapter is a continuation of Shiori and the last chapter. Hope to see you there soon.