Ever since I can remember, I have always loved books.

These sheets of paper that are bound within their covers, they look simple and even boring to most people. I, on the other hand, find them very fascinating. I always wondered how these sheets of paper which are inexplicably turned into a piece of literature can bring a person into another world vastly different than ours, just by the power of a thousand words and countless paragraphs. Isn't that a mysterious and a wonderful thing? Words are indeed very powerful, after all. The possibilities are limitless. The world they create, it could be very dull, dark and lonely, or it could be beautiful, divine and friendly. If there would be a limit, then it would be one's own imagination.

So I started to follow my own path different from most people. I grabbed whatever books I found interesting and read them to my heart's content. I absorbed a thousand words' meaning instead of playing violin. I skimmed through hundreds of pages instead of idly chatting about crushes. I chose to explore entirely different worlds instead of taking in the one I'm living in.

Up until this point, I have been contented just continuing to tread my own path. I have been my own person.

But deep inside my heart, a certain feeling has slowly grown too as I grew older myself. Longing, perhaps? Eh…but, longing for whom? Longing for what? I have been wondering about these kinds of questions in my head. I only had an idea, but never an explanation.

"…yeah, I liked this one, too," said the boy beside me as I almost jumped up from having my thoughts being suddenly interrupted. He is pointing to the book that we're now both holding together. "Hmmm. A story that is both melancholic but happy," I said as I tried to describe my own thoughts about the piece of literature that we're sharing. He just nodded at me and didn't say anything, but he also didn't need to. I can see in his eyes full agreement.

We've been in the library after the classes ended for the third straight time this week. The boy beside me, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka-kun, is someone who I unexpectedly made a connection with. A connection made because of the similar kind of travel that we did. He's also a boy from a different class than mine.

"…"

I looked back to Ayanokoji-kun. He didn't stand up so we can finally go home for the day, so I found it a bit odd.

"What is it, Ayanokoji-kun?" I somehow felt this was the right question to ask.

"I was just wondering, why you gave me that bookmark yesterday," he answered.

I looked at him in wonder for a second. It's true that I kind of did it in the spur of the moment, but I don't want to tell such an inexplicable excuse. After all, in that moment when I gave him something that I truly treasured ever since I was young, I just had a weird premonition that it would lead me to the answer to that question that I've been pondering about for so long.

"It's a special bookmark that your parents gave you," he added. I just nodded back at him. It was indeed a special bookmark that my parents gave me to show their support when they discovered my love for literature. I have only used one bookmark ever since.

"Like I told you, Ayanokoji-kun, it was a bookmark, but it was also a charm. It worked yesterday, right?" I told him. "It's just that, I want the people that I care about to be happy. You've been a dear friend to me, so I felt like giving it to you makes a lot of sense," I finished.

The truth is, I don't exactly know why either. I just had a feeling that the person before me, the boy who I made an unexpected connection with, is someone who will grow to be significant to me. So giving someone like that a simple gift such as the bookmark isn't such a bad thing.

"Shall we go now? I don't think I can stand being locked in again," I jokingly told him. He finally stood up from his seat. "You're right. Let's go, Hiyori."

We walked in silence as we proceed to return to our dormitory. Side by side we walked, a boy and a girl. Oddly enough, the silence between us felt very comforting. Most people would feel awkwardness in these kinds of moments, but between the two of us, the silence we share is something that I would like to maintain. At the very least, that's what I feel. I wonder if Ayanokoji-kun feels the same way.

He turned his head towards me.

"No matter what the reason, thanks for this gift, Hiyori. I will use it well," he said in a quiet voice. I smiled at him again for the third time today. "You don't need to be so proper like that, it makes me feel awkward, you know? Just tell me when the charm works again, okay?" I answered as a gesture of courtesy.

"…is that so? Very well. Then it just did," Ayanokoji-kun is suddenly staring directly into my eyes.

Realizing the meaning of his words, I couldn't find mine. All I can do is look back, then feel my heart race, just a little bit.

This time, the silence didn't feel very comforting. I can feel myself having a little bit of panic.

"I feel fortunate to have someone I can relate to and share my thoughts with, so I feel like the charm is working as intended, right now."

Aaaaah, so that is it.

The feeling that I've been wondering about for so long. The feeling of wanting for another person to feel the same way as you. Now that I've thought of this, isn't that mysterious and wonderful, too? Like the power of written words. This feeling that is welling deep within me right now, it's equally powerful.

No, maybe more than that, it could very well take me to another world that I haven't been to before. A world entirely different from the ones that mere words and paragraphs can bring me to. A world so unknown, it makes your heart race. I have a strong feeling that this is the case.

Shall I go explore it then?

"Ayanokoji-kun," I suddenly muttered.

"What is it?" he immediately answered.

"Are you free this weekend?" I finally blurted out.