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o5 - Library

Haru loves books. All books– colorful books, short books, large books, black-and-white books. Wide-eyed and leaking with curiosity, he leafs through several books at once as they gather in a semicircle around him.

There's a gentle humming of contraptions in the background; contraptions Yuki calls computers.

There are hushed whispers here, and the heat of the sun streaming in through open windows. There's the chirp of cicadas, and the scent of dusty books. And if he listens hard enough, the low rumble of the sea calls to him.

He's currently reading what Natsuki called a 'children's book'. Haru sees nothing "childish" about the watercolor trees, the pastel rabbits, or the blue-gray machine called a train that almost looks alive. He can hear the whistle and the wheels as they roll down the track. He can feel the morning breeze. And best of all, he can hear the seagulls singing.

Haru doesn't read the words, not because he can't, but because he wants to save that for later. He wants to cuddle up under his sheets, maybe with a nice warm cup of what Kate calls her "love tea" with jasmine. He wants to enjoy this book with Coco.

So for now, he'll just go through the pictures, awestruck and energetic, as the minutes fly by.

He gets immersed in the picture story, piecing together possible scenarios as to what might be happening. There's a rabbit that seems to be pleading to the train conductor, probably asking to come aboard the train. It weeps and howls until the conductor welcomes it aboard. But once inside, everyone shuns the poor rabbit, giving it suspicious stares.

On another page, the rabbit takes a seat, lonely, sad, heartbroken and shunned. Haru bats away a few tears as he turns the page.

Now, another rabbit has joined the first, happily welcoming the lonely one to the train. The two share a hug, and Haru notices they both look very much the same. Same white fur, scarlet eyes, slender bodies.

The two ride together on the train, laughing and singing. When they arrive at their destination, they hop off together hand-in-hand, and Haru reads the words "The End".

Just then, there's a crackling above him, and he hears a muffled voice say, "The library will be closing in 15 minutes. Please begin gathering any material you want to check out, and call for any rides you may need."

Haru sighs, upset that it's time to leave already, and he takes up his collection if books and returns them all to their designated shelves.

All of them go back to their place, except one– the bunny book.

He gingerly picks up the pink and purple book and takes it to the counter, carefully, as if it might break. As he walks, he goes over the procedure Yuki taught him over and over: place books on counter, give librarian library card, tuck receipt in pocket at the back of the book, remember to take library card, tell librarian goodbye, leave.

Haru focuses a bit too hard on the whole process, sticking his tongue out in consternation as he tucks the receipt into the back sleeve. When the fit is snug, he smiles again, taking back the blue library card that bears Yuki's full name in thin, soft characters.

He happily waves goodbye to the librarian and begins marching home.

The library is a nice place. Quiet and filled to the brim with colorful books. The only thing that could stand to change is their 'No food or drinks' policy. He feels a little dry.

Marching home in the humid breeze with the book tucked under his arm, Haru's fantasizing the light sweet taste of tea that's waiting for him. And maybe even a long, deep soak in the bath.

As he congratulates himself for an evening well-planned, he reaches his home. Taking the key from his spotted pink sweater pocket, he undoes the lock and pushes the door open, calling out a jubilant, "I'm home!"

Kate greets him as she usually does, bowing deeply. Haru hastily asks her for her love tea, and Kate happily obliges.

With the tea and the book, Haru huddles under the covers. Earlier in the bath, he had called Coco over, and now she's here with him, huddled under the blanket with her own cup of tea.

With a slow voice, Haru pronounces each of the words of the story. As he reads, all the pictures are explained. The story is one about a bunny that wanted to travel to an island where its sister lived. But everyone saw the bunny as strange and shunned it. Even the conductor didn't want it aboard.

Through much pleading, it was allowed to ride. And during the journey it was surprised to see someone just like it, another bunny that was going to the same island. The two became friends, singing and laughing and not caring about the mean things anyone thought of them. When they got off the train, they both went to go meet the first bunny's sister to make friends with her, too.

When the last page was read, Haru looked at Coco expectantly. She said she loved the story, asking why he chose it.

"It reminded me of Yuki, me, and you. Yuki's the first bunny, I'm the second, and you're the sister!"

Coco protested that she wasn't Yuki's sister, but Haru reached over and hugged her, saying, Yuki was like family. His family was her family.

Coco smiled, straightened her back and yawned. She placed the two teacups on the floor, making sure they were both drained of every last drop.

Then, she pulled the blankets over herself and her older brother, and whispered, "Goodnight, Brother."

"Goodnight, Coco."