"Hey, wait up!" Chester called, run after Alise.
They were in the long corridor that led to their next lecture hall at the far end.
Alise didn't slow, didn't even glance back, as though Chester were nothing more than a draft of cold air.
He closed the distance anyway.
A timid voice suddenly piped up from the right, from the side passage that led to the book-club reading room.
"U-um… excuse me, senpai… could you maybe help me?"
The girl's words stumbled over one another. Her gaze flicked nervously between them and the floor.
Alise kept walking. "I'm late for class."
The refusal was flat, almost curt. The younger girl flinched, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"I've got time," Chester cut in smoothly.
The girl's eyes widened in alarm the moment she realized who had spoken. Gratitude warred with obvious fear of the infamous Chester Kerl.
"I… um… e-etoo…" Her voice shrank to almost nothing.
Chester flashed an easy grin. "Relax. I'm not nearly as self-absorbed as some people."
Alise stopped dead. She spun around, eyes blazing. "What did you just say?"
He met her glare with a crooked, mocking smile. "You heard me."
For a heartbeat it looked like she might explode. Then, inexplicably, the fire drained from her face. She dropped, shoulders hunching as if someone had let the air out of her.
The younger girl took a hesitant step backward. "It's fine, really. I'll manage—"
Chester caught her wrist before she could flee. "I said I'd help."
The girl froze, cheeks scarlet, caught between panic and the fact that Chester Kerl was actually holding her hand.
"I'm coming too," Alise declared abruptly.
Chester blinked. "Seriously?"
"You were heading to study anyway, weren't you?" he teased, unable to resist prodding the embers still glowing in her eyes. "Go on, then."
"
"Shut up. I don't trust you not to take advantage of her," Alise snapped, voice sharp enough to cut glass.
Chester raised both hands in mock surrender. "You wound me. Do I really seem that evil?"
The younger girl managed a strained, awkward smile.
***
Sunlight filtered through dusty and golden through the reading-room windows.
Rows of shelves stood in perfect order, every spine aligned by category, except for the very last aisle. There, books lay scattered across the floor like fallen soldiers.
"Some students came in earlier," the girl explained, words still tripping. "They pulled everything out and just… left it."
Chester nodded. "Won't take long with three of us."
Alise said nothing. She simply crouched, scanned the coloured labels, and started sorting with brisk efficiency. Chester and the girl joined her.
Silence settled, broken only by the soft thud of books finding their places and the occasional rustle of pages being straightened.
Six minutes later the shelf looked immaculate again.
Alise wiped a faint sheen of sweat from her brow, stood, and headed straight for the door. Halfway there she paused and glanced back at Chester.
"Don't forget. After classes, music room. We're discussing the Event."
Then she was gone.
The younger girl opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again. Nothing came out.
Chester gave her shoulder a gentle pat. She jumped like a startled rabbit.
He offered a small, reassuring smile. "She's not as cold as she seems. She actually cares. A lot. She just shows it… badly."
The girl nodded, still unsure.
"If that's everything, I should get to class," Chester said.
He was already at the faded oak door when her voice rang out again, clearer this time.
"Chester-senpai!"
He turned.
"Thank you!" She bowed quickly, cheeks flaming.
"Anytime."
A shy smile broke across her face.
"Call me Tina!"
"Got it, Tina."
Footsteps echoed down the empty corridor as he left, the door swinging shut behind him with a soft, final click.