—

  —

  The library door swung open as Hazel and I stepped inside. The air was filled with the aroma of polished wood and aged paper, creating a serene atmosphere that instantly made me feel more at ease.

  “Good morning, ma'am,” Hazel said cheerfully to the woman stationed at the desk.

  The receptionist’s face lit up. “Hazel! How are you today?”

  “Great,” Hazel replied.

  “Good morning, ma’am,” I said, drawing her attention.

  “Hello, dear. What’s your name?” she asked politely.

  “Marcus, ma’am,” I replied.

  “Marcus—what a nice name,” she complimented.

  “Thank you,” I said with a small smile.

  “Ah, Hazel, that book by Thomas Perry has arrived,” the receptionist mentioned, making Hazel’s eyes widen with excitement.

  “Hero? That was quicker than I thought,” Hazel said, leaning on the desk eagerly.

  “That’s what I thought, but it seems our distributor was lucky,” the receptionist nodded.

  While they continued talking, I took a walk, admiring the library’s architecture. The sunken layout provided a clear view of the bookshelves and studying students below. The dome-like ceiling, adorned with intricate paintings, felt almost otherworldly.

  “It caught your eye, didn’t it?” Hazel’s voice came from beside me.

  “Yeah, it looks familiar,” I said, still gazing up.

  “The Camera Picta, or better known as The Camera degli Sposi. It's a room filled with paintings. The library’s ceiling was inspired by it,” she explained.

  “I didn’t know you were an art connoisseur,” I teased.

  She laughed. “I’m not, just interested in this piece. But that does make me better than you in this regard.”

  “Give me a week, and I’ll be an expert in library art,” I said confidently, following her. She laughed again, amusement gleaming in her eyes.

  “Alright then, on Saturday, let’s meet here to test our knowledge. All artworks in the library are fair game,” Hazel challenged.

  We descended the grand staircase, the steps echoing pleasantly beneath us. The library was vast, with rows of towering shelves, each marked with suspended planks for organisation.

  Browsing the aisles, I marvelled at the sheer number of books. Each one held a new world, making the library a treasure trove of knowledge.

  “How many artworks are in the gallery?” I asked.

  “Seven. Not too many, right?” Hazel replied, leading the way.

  “It’s enough, but I don’t want to make this easy. When I win, no excuses,” I said, grinning.

  “Bold,” Hazel replied with a teasing smirk.

  As we walked through the seating area, students sat absorbed in their studies or quiet conversations.

  At one desk, two girls sat—one focused on her phone, the other resting her head sideways, reading a book propped up by her bag.

  “Hey, Harley and Ohara,” Hazel greeted warmly.

  The girl looked up from her book, stretching her arms above her head.

  “Hazel, you’re here. And you?” Harley said, her voice groggy from reading.

  “My name is Marcus,” I introduced myself.

  “Oh, you’re Marcus. Heard quite a bit about you,” she said with curiosity.

  “Is that so?” I responded, intrigued.

  “Yep, I’m Harley Sherman, and that over there is—”

  Before she could finish, Ohara stood abruptly, her expression fierce.

  “Harley, you seriously aren’t going to do this, are you? There will be consequences,” she warned.

  “I already told you I don’t care. I’m just listening to their offer,” Harley groaned.

  Ohara looked ready to argue but held back, clearly frustrated.

  “Sorry about her,” Harley said. “She’s just worried about me. Let’s get straight to it—I need to get back to reading.”

  Except for Ohara, who remained standing with tense posture, the rest of us took seats.

  “Harley, I’d like you to join my election team as our treasurer,” I said, watching her reaction closely.

  She took a deep breath. “I know Cohen is making recruitment difficult for you, but why me? I doubt I have the skills for the position.”

  “To be honest, I agree. We don’t know much about your skills, and you just admitted as much. But this is a gamble I’m willing to take. The longer we wait, the worse our situation gets,” I explained, opting for complete transparency.

  “I see. I’m not too keen on joining, but it is an interesting proposal,” Harley said, her gaze narrowing thoughtfully.

  “Are you serious, Harley?” Ohara spoke up, her voice rising with annoyance. “Just decline their offer.”

  “Kameko, just stop,” Harley said firmly.

  “Stop? I’m trying to keep you from being labelled an enemy of the class,” Ohara argued, fists clenched.

  “Kameko.” Harley’s sharp tone silenced her. Ohara sighed, shoulders slumping, then grabbed a bag from under the desk.

  “Good luck,” she muttered before turning and leaving.

  Hazel glanced at the empty space Ohara had vacated. “Uh…”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll calm her down later,” Harley sighed. “She’s a little clingy, like Chika,” she added under her breath.

  “Chika?” I asked, intrigued.

  “Ah, sorry. She’s my little sister, a junior here,” Harley replied casually. “Anyway, let’s get back on track. Can you hear me out?”

  “Let’s hear it,” Hazel said, leaning forward, her expression serious.

  “After my tennis tournament, I’ve been filled with competitive energy. I need an outlet,” Harley said, a smirk playing on her lips. “So, I propose we play a game. One with high risks.”

  The look in her eyes made me interested.

  “The game is simple. It’s a speed reading contest. We pick the same book at random and read for a set time. Then, we’re quizzed on the content. If someone can’t answer, the other can. The one with the most correct answers wins.”

  A test of speed reading and memory, which I felt I could handle. The content of the book would play a significant role, but I was about eighty percent confident I’d do well—I liked my chances.

  “I’m sure you all get that, so I’m playing against Hazel for this,” Harley declared.

  “Why?” I asked, caught off guard.

  “I want a fair competition. I don’t know much about you, Marcus, but I do know your academic performance is impressive despite joining last semester. You’re too much of an unknown. Hazel isn’t,” she explained.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  I understood. It was risky to engage an opponent you couldn’t gauge.

  “Plus, she approached me under false pretences,” Harley added.

  “Harley, I do enjoy spending time with you,” Hazel defended.

  “Sure, if you say so,” Harley replied indifferently. “If I win, I join your team. If you lose, I don’t—and Hazel leaves the team.”

  Before I could object, Hazel spoke first.

  “Alright then,” Hazel agreed before pulling me aside for a private discussion.

  “Why did you accept her terms so quickly?” I asked, crossing my arms. A little annoyed that she didn't take her time to think it through before accepting.

  “She holds all the power here. Negotiating further wouldn’t have worked,” Hazel replied.

  “That may be true, but confirming it to your opponent isn’t a good strategy,” I countered.

  “I know,” she sighed.

  “If you lose, you have to leave my team,” I reminded her.

  “I don’t plan on losing. Trust me,” she said confidently.

  “I do trust you. I just don’t want to lose you again,” I admitted.

  She looked away, startled, her cheeks flushing. Realising how that sounded, I quickly added, “Sorry, I worded that wrong.”

  “It’s alright. I just let that get to me,” Hazel said, regaining her composure. “Leave this to me,” she added with a confident smile.

  We returned to Harley, who had gone back to reading. Hazel leaned on the desk.

  “So, how do we choose the book?” she asked firmly.

  Harley closed her book and stood up. “We should ask the librarian.”

  She led the way, and we followed.

  “Marcus,” a voice called from behind. We turned to see a familiar face.

  “Natsumi,” I said as she scurried quickly over.

  “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” she greeted with a bright smile.

  “Has it really?” I replied sarcastically.

  “Hello, I don't think we've met. I’m Hashimoto Natsumi, but you can just call me Natsumi,” she said to Harley.

  “I’m Harley. Nice to meet you,” Harley replied, expression unchanged. “Hazel, let’s meet the librarian while Marcus talks with his friend.”

  Friend? With how little I knew about Natsumi, that wasn’t exactly accurate.

  “Yes, you should. We have things to discuss,” Natsumi added.

  That caught my attention, but I had other priorities. Before I could object, Hazel spoke up.

  “That’s fine. We’ll be back soon,” she said.

  I sighed. “Alright.”

  As they walked off, I turned to Natsumi.

  “So, what’s this about?” she asked.

  “None of your business. Or are you just here to report back to Tomiko?” I said with a hint of sass.

  “I’m not her underling,” she scoffed.

  “That’s strange. From what I’ve heard, people look up to her,” I noted.

  She shot me a glare.

  “Who’s feeding you such lies?” she snapped.

  “Multiple people, but I’m not naming names.” In truth, I’d only heard it from Sullivan, but I wasn’t about to tell her that. I wanted to see if her dislike for Tomiko was personal or a shared sentiment. Her anger and surprise made it clear—there was tension in the class, with Tomiko at the centre.

  “Just know she’s not the great person everyone thinks she is,” she said, her tone bitter.

  “Care to elaborate?” I asked.

  “Aside from her overbearing attitude, she always thinks she’s right. She barely listens to anyone outside her little cabinet, and she’s just an over-controlling a-hole,” Natsumi said.

  “Yeesh, is she really that bad, or are you exaggerating?” I asked.

  “Trust me, that girl is entitled, and I hate it,” she said, crossing her arms. Then, she quickly turned back to me. “Enough about that—spill the tea on what you guys were doing.”

  She wasn’t letting this go. I sighed inwardly.

  “Aren’t you sticking your nose into other people’s business?” I asked, hoping she’d drop it.

  “I am, but since we’re friends and rivals, we should have each other’s backs,” she said, patting me on the back. The hypocrisy, considering what she just said about Tomiko, wasn’t lost on me, but I let it slide.

  “Friends and rivals? That’s a big leap,” I remarked.

  She chuckled, and as she did, I noticed Hazel and Harley returning, each holding a book.

  “A String of Beads,” Harley announced, revealing the book's title. I tried recalling if I had read it before, but nothing came to mind. “Have either of you read this?”

  “Nope, not much of a reader,” Natsumi said proudly, grinning and I shook my head as well.

  “Hazel and I have thirty minutes to read while you two can look up the book online and quiz us,” Harley stated.

  “The two of us?” I questioned. “I thought you wanted unbiased individuals. I could easily convince her to help me rig the game.”

  “It’s simple—I have faith in you. Faith that you won't resort to such tactics,” Harley said, placing the book on the table. Hazel and I exchanged looks. “Or do you want me to doubt you?”

  There was something intriguing about her. Natsumi’s arrival felt too convenient—was this a deliberate test? I didn’t know Natsumi well, but she and Harley could be working together. In any case, I should be alright because I was lucky not to resort to any underhanded tactics

  “No, you can trust me,” I said. I noticed a smile on Harley’s face and clasped her hands together.

  “Alright then. Let's begin,” she announced.

  “Good luck,” I whispered to Hazel as she passed by.

  “Thanks,” she replied, taking a seat next to Harley, who placed her phone on the table, displaying a thirty-minute countdown.

  “And start,” Harley said, tapping the timer. They both flipped open their books and began.

  I watched Hazel scan the pages, her lips moving slightly as she murmured the words. She looked elegant, and for some reason, I was captivated by her.

  “Stop staring,” a voice muttered. I turned to see Natsumi grinning at me, which immediately irritated me.

  “I was not,” I dismissed, pulling out my phone. “Let’s look up the book.”

  “Not here, idiot,” Natsumi said, grabbing my collar and dragging me away. Despite her small size, she was surprisingly strong.

  “Can you stop pulling me like that?” I protested as we stopped between some bookshelves. She finally let go, and I adjusted my collar, rubbing my neck. “You’re rough, you know that?”

  “Be quiet,” she said, pulling out her phone. “Now, explain everything.”

  Her question caught me off guard. If she and Harley were working together, she wouldn’t need to ask. That made it more likely Harley genuinely trusted me.

  “Guess I might as well tell you,” I said, giving in. “I want to recruit Harley for my election team. She proposed this speed reading contest—if we win, she joins us. That’s all.” Since it was information she didn't need to know, I omitted what would happen if we lost.

  “I see. Was that so hard?” She laughed, slapping my shoulder.

  “Can we get back to reading now?” I asked, trying to refocus.

  “Ah, sweet lost child, have you forgotten the year we’re in?” she mocked. “Why stress when we have the power of AI?”

  I glanced at her, astonished by her enthusiasm, and let out a heavy sigh.

  I wasn’t against AI, or even terrified of it; rather, I worried about it replacing human thought and reasoning.

  “You’re one sly individual,” I remarked, flicking her forehead.

  She let out a small cry, rubbing the spot. “Was that necessary?” She tried to strike back, but I grabbed her arm.

  “Yes. Immediately resorting to that is an issue,” I said, holding her gaze.

  “But you’re not against the idea, right?” She smirked.

  “Come on,” I sighed as she moved closer, showing me her screen. She opened up the app already installed on her phone. A few prompts later, we had twenty questions and their answers generated.

  It was clear they wouldn’t get through even half the book in thirty minutes, so we focused on questions from the beginning.

  “Great, we still have about seven minutes. How about we—” Natsumi began.

  “Hold that thought. I’m going to the restroom,” I interrupted, seizing the chance for a break.

  Navigating the labyrinth of bookshelves, I walked briskly. The library’s whispers and rustling pages faded as I reached the more secluded restroom area. Pushing open the door, I was met with the familiar scent of cleaning supplies. The empty space gave me a moment of solitude.

  —

  —

  When I returned from my 'unfortunately' long restroom stop, only a few seconds remained on the countdown.

  “Did you fall in or something?” Natsumi asked as we walked back.

  “Nope, just enjoying the scenery,” I shrugged.

  “I guess whatever floats your boat, dude,” she replied, giving me a confused, slightly disgusted look.

  Right on schedule, the alarm went off as we sat down. Harley and Hazel shut their books and set them on the table. Hazel leaned back, eyes closed, while Harley stretched, arms above her head, letting out a small sigh—just like when I first met her.

  “You guys ready?” Natsumi asked eagerly.

  “Yes,” Harley replied, sitting up.

  “We are,” Hazel confirmed, eyes filled with determination.

  With a glint in her eyes, Natsumi opened the questions on her phone.

  “Let's begin,” she said, then turned to me. “Who should go first?”

  I pulled a coin from my pocket. “Heads for Hazel, tails for Harley.” Tossing it into the air, I caught it and revealed the outcome. “Tails.”

  “Do you just carry a coin around?” Natsumi asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “First question,” I said, ignoring her comment. “How does the story begin?”

  Harley answered confidently.

  “Correct,” I said, as Natsumi gave a small clap before turning to Hazel.

  “Next question,” she said, checking her phone before locking eyes with Hazel and asking the question. Hazel furrowed her brow in thought and then answered.

  “You are correct,” Natsumi said with a nod.

  The questions continued, with Harley and Hazel taking turns, each responding swiftly. Then came a tricky one—Harley’s turn.

  She hesitated, tapping her foot. “Wait… was it…” she muttered. “No, it wasn’t that…” Her eyes flickered as if recalling the text. “She cares about people?” she finally said, hesitant.

  “Incorrect. Hazel?” I prompted. Without missing a beat, Hazel answered.

  “Correct,” I said. Harley sighed, her disappointment evident but quickly composed herself.

  For Hazel’s next question, she frowned slightly, closed her eyes for a second, then nodded before answering confidently.

  “Correct!” Natsumi said, pointing a playful finger gun at Hazel, who grinned, pleased.

  The game picked up speed as we neared the end. With Natsumi’s final “Correct,” the game concluded. Harley sighed, leaning back, a mix of relief and disappointment on her face. Across from her, Hazel’s fists tightened in a small gesture of triumph, satisfaction clear in her expression.

  Harley stood and extended her hand with a slight grin. “A deal’s a deal. You beat me at my own game. I’m at your service, President.”

  I shook her hand firmly. “Welcome to the team, Harley Sherman.”