Chapter Text
It was Monday.
The school day would begin soon at Kimetsu Academy.
Rui was there early. Muichiro arrived later, with approximately ten minutes left before the bell. As always, Kimiko arrived in the final minute. Also as always, they were sitting together.
Many people were absent this day. Kaigaku and his friends, thankfully, were among them. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were absent as well.
It was clear it was going to be a quiet school day, which Muichiro liked.
“We’re going to the library today,” their homeroom said.
“The library?” Muichiro thought.
Kimiko raised his hand.
“Yes, Kiyomi?” the teacher asked.
“Why are we going to the library?” Kimiko asked.
“I see many people are absent today, and the library is open this period,” the teacher explained. “Teaching a lesson may not be the best thing to do today. Instead, we could have a study session in the library.”
“We get to study in a library three days in a row,” Rui said. “Who would’ve guessed?”
“The school library isn’t on par with Central Library,” Kimiko said. “No, not by a longshot.”
Muichiro smiled. “But still… LIBRARY…”
Silence.
“I guess,” Kimiko smiled. “Libraries are pretty great…”
…
Muichiro’s homeroom class headed to the school library.
They didn’t get to go to the library very often. As such, it felt pretty special to get to spend a period studying there.
Muichiro, Kimiko, and Rui went to a quiet studying area nestled in the corner of the library.
From their location, they could see grand locked doors leading to another part of the school library.
“Those are big doors,” Kimiko said. “With big locks.”
Rui sighed. “I don’t know, but we’d get in massive trouble trying to find out. That’s the private section of the school library reserved for the imperial scholars.”
“I wonder what’s there,” Muichiro said.
“I’m sure it’s not anything super special,” Rui said. “It’s not like it’s a magical vault. It’s only a private area for the elite of this school…”
“But that’s exactly what they want you to think!” Muichiro protested.
“He’s right!” Kimiko agreed. “It’s the PERFECT place to hide a magical vault!”
“Wait… what?” Muichiro asked.
Kimiko laughed. “It’s a joke, nothing more.”
“But anyway, what should we study?” Rui asked.
Kimiko blinked. “Study?”
“It’s a STUDY SESSION, Kimiko-kun,” Rui said, eyebrow raised.
“I don’t study, though,” Kimiko said. “If you’re going to study, I’ll be leaving.”
“Kimiko-kun, don’t leave, please,” Muichiro said.
Kimiko sighed. “I don’t study, though…”
“You should,” Rui said. “You’d do amazing.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Kimiko said. “I’m doing well enough as is.”
“Then… you won’t study with us, Kimiko-kun?” Muichiro asked.
Silence.
“I thought he hated looking at people,” Kimiko thought. “Why is he staring at me?”
“Well… what are you going to study?” Kimiko asked.
“More algebra!” Muichiro exclaimed. “Algebra is the best!”
“It IS the best,” Kimiko said. “Alright, I’ll practice algebra with you. For fun.”
“Okay, great,” Rui said, opening an algebra book. “Now then…”
…
After school, Muichiro went to Sanemi’s car.
“How was your day?” Sanemi asked.
Muichiro shrugged. “Good.”
They went home together.
…
It was midnight, that night.
Two crossed paths resulted in a conversation.
“Long time no see.”
“Um, yeah… it’s been long…”
“Where have you been? In hiding?”
“Yeah…”
“Makes sense.”
“Um… have you seen… any of the others recently? Like- maybe-”
“Not HIM, if that’s who you mean.”
“I meant 001, actually…”
“Oh, yeah… I saw him.”
“You HAVE!? I- how-”
“He’s doing well. What about you, have you seen any of the others?”
“Only one… it wasn’t HIM… or 001.”
“Who?”
“005…”
“And how are they?”
“Fine.”
“Good. And you?”
“M- me?”
“Yes, you. 003, how are you?”
“I… well…”