I thought the atmosphere would improve a bit, but before I could even finish speaking, Zi Qian, standing next to me, glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. He didn't say anything, instead silently walking off towards the bookshelves.
"Hello, classmates! Welcome to the library. I'm the librarian — Hyen Zhi Qing. Is there anything I can help you with?" asked a female NPC standing at the entrance counter, with a "Librarian" badge pinned above her school emblem.
"Is there a book here called Grimm's Fairy Tales?" I didn't immediately follow Zi Qian, who had already walked away, but instead tried to get mission information from this NPC.
But before I could hear Zhi Qing's reply, Xin Hui called me to follow her.
I followed Xin Hui, weaving through rows of bookshelves.
"... Are you also looking for Grimm's Fairy Tales? That book was borrowed by someone named Boon Fong. He dropped his student ID here. Could you please return it to him?"
Another female NPC, also with a "Librarian" badge pinned above her school emblem, blocked the path in front of the bookshelves. She handed a light blue student ID card to Zi Qian.
I tried to get past the librarian to reach the shelves behind her, wanting to check if Grimm's Fairy Tales was really there.
Suddenly, a hand gripped my shoulder firmly, and an emotionless "Where are you going?" came from behind me.
"Looking for Grimm's Fairy Tales," I turned around to answer Zi Qian's question. "The girl in the Discipline Room said..."
Before I could finish my sentence, Zi Qian immediately cut me off, speaking with an impatient tone: "The librarian already said the book was borrowed, what are you still looking for?"
"I just wanted to check the shelves. Do you have to speak so loudly?" I pushed Zi Qian's hand away and retorted, feeling very confused and displeased.
After I spoke, Zi Qian and I stood there glaring at eachother for a few seconds. "Um..." Xin Hui wanted to step in and defuse the tension but didn't know how to start.
Fortunately, the NPC librarian nearby happened to speak up: "I remember Boon Fong said he was going to Class 1-6 to investigate something. You should be able to meet him there."
Xin Hui quickly seized the NPC's words to change the subject: "Let's go quickly! Let's go to Class 1-6 to find him."
Zi Qian and I have been classmates for 2 years. Although we rarely interacted, we never had any conflicts before.
At first, I thought we just weren't familiar with each other, but now I feel he isn't happy about my presence and joining, as if he dislikes me.
Lost in thought, I followed behind Xin Hui and Zi Qian.
When we reached the library exit, they suddenly quickened their pace and disappeared in an instant. Just as I thought about catching up to them, a shadow suddenly fell over me, and then a voice sounded.
"We are the robots, specialized in punishing students who break the rules."