The Girl(s)... in the Library?

"Is this library the study session location Uesugi-kun mentioned?" Sakayanagi Arisu sat sideways beside Uesugi Hara, her fingertips gently twisting the page of a book, though her gaze had lifted from the open classic to rest upon him.

"Where else did you think it would be?" Uesugi Hara glanced at her. "Besides, we've been sitting here for several minutes; why are you only just now asking?"

Sakayanagi Arisu traced a soft semi-circle along the edge of the page, her lips curving into a faint arc. "Because when I first walked in, I smelled the scent of ink from old books and got lost in the reading."

She pushed the classic toward the center of the table, the gold-stamped title on the cover flashing in the light filtering through the window. "Still, the spot Uesugi-kun chose is quite good—look, the bookshelf over there blocks the aisle. We aren't disturbed by passersby, yet we have a clear view of the entrance. It suits your usual habits perfectly."

Uesugi Hara followed her gaze to the corner of the bookshelf behind them and tapped his notebook. "Stop observing such trivial things. You should focus on what you're going to explain when the others arrive."

Uesugi Hara didn't say more, rising to head toward the self-service coffee machine nearby. The soft click of the buttons was exceptionally clear in the quiet library. He chose the most standard blend and added a splash of milk.

The machine hummed, dispensing two cups of warm coffee. By the time he returned, Sakayanagi Arisu had closed the classic and was tapping her fingertips against the tabletop, as if counting the patterns on the floor tiles.

"Here." He placed one cup by her hand; the paper cup felt slightly hot to the touch.

Sakayanagi Arisu picked up the coffee and took a small sip, the milk softening the bitterness as the warmth spread down her throat. "Standard coffee with milk; it's much gentler than black coffee." She looked up at him. "Were you worried that if the coffee were too bitter, I wouldn't be able to speak while explaining the problems?"

Uesugi Hara took a sip himself without replying, simply pulling a stack of printed practice problems from his bag. "When they arrive, we'll start with the basics. You're in charge of the functions section—don't go saying 'these simple problems don't need detailed explanations' later."

"Understood." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, tapping the edge of the workbook. "Though, the sight of Uesugi-kun pouring coffee is actually more pleasant than usual."

No sooner had she spoken than the soft sound of bag straps brushing against fabric came from behind the nearby bookshelf. Two heads poked out, one after the other—Kamuro Masumi clung to the edge of the shelf, while the tips of Morishita Ran's hair still caught the sunlight from outside. "Sorry, sorry! We aren't late, are we?" Kamuro's voice was hushed, yet it still carried a hint of her usual boisterous energy.

Yamamura Miki followed behind them, clutching her notebook tightly. Only when she reached the table did she speak softly: "Good afternoon, Classmate Uesugi... Oh, Classmate Sakayanagi, you're here too. Good afternoon." She picked at the cover of her notebook, her expression somewhat reserved.

"Sakayanagi, why are you here?" Kamuro straightened up and scratched her head, clearly not expecting to see her. "Wasn't this study session just for us?"

Sakayanagi Arisu, who had been twisting the corner of a page, looked up at the question, her lips curving into that faint arc. "Uesugi-kun asked me to come and help you all with your studies." Her tone was as natural as if she were commenting on the weather, though her eyes stole a glance at Uesugi Hara.

Morishita Ran placed her bag on an empty chair and leaned toward Uesugi Hara. "Uesugi Hara, is that true?" Her eyes were bright, filled with curiosity.

Uesugi Hara was looking down, rubbing a water stain off the bottom of his coffee cup. At her question, he glanced at Kamuro Masumi before his gaze returned to Morishita Ran's face. He didn't answer immediately, instead tapping his workbook with a crisp "clack." "Find a seat first."

Kamuro Masumi wanted to say more, but Morishita Ran tugged on her sleeve—she had already noticed Sakayanagi Arisu holding a finger to her lips in a "shh" gesture, a hint of amusement hidden in her eyes.

Yamamura Miki pulled out a chair quietly and sat down, pushing her bag to the corner of the table. She whispered, "We... we brought the problems we got wrong last week."

Only then did Sakayanagi Arisu turn to Morishita Ran, tapping the notebook in front of her. "Uesugi-kun said you all keep mixing up the physics formulas, and as it happens, that's a section I'm quite good at." She looked up, curving her lips at Uesugi Hara. "I couldn't let him sit there frowning at you all by himself, could I?"

Uesugi Hara finally opened the workbook, drawing a line across the function graph on the first page. His voice remained flat. "Enough talk. Classmate Morishita, redo the uniform linear motion problem you missed last week. Kamuro, watch her steps—Yamamura, write out the chemical equations on the scratch paper to the side."

Kamuro Masumi let out an "oh," but as soon as she sat down, she leaned toward Morishita Ran's ear to whisper, "That guy Uesugi, he asks for help but still acts so serious..." She hadn't even finished when she met Uesugi Hara's gaze, immediately shrinking back and picking up her pen to pretend to flip through her book.

Sakayanagi Arisu watched the scene, took a sip of her coffee, and the amusement in her eyes deepened.

Kamuro Masumi was occasionally reminded not to lose focus by the sound of Uesugi Hara tapping the workbook; Morishita Ran frowned at her mistakes but her eyes would light up whenever Sakayanagi Arisu offered a hint; Yamamura Miki sat quietly, writing and drawing on her scratch paper, occasionally looking up at the others.

"Uesugi-kun, I knew you'd be here." Shiina Hiyori walked over, holding two mystery novels. Her voice carried a familiar lightness. Without needing to look up to confirm, she walked straight to the empty seat beside Uesugi Hara. "I guessed you'd choose this window seat if you came to the library."

She placed one of the books on the table, cover up—it was the new release Uesugi Hara had mentioned wanting to read last time. "It just arrived at the library. I saved a copy for you."

As the group turned, they saw Uesugi Hara pick up the book and flip through a few pages, his finger pausing on a certain line. "The locked-room trick I told you about last time—they actually used an improved version in this one."

"I knew you'd notice." Shiina Hiyori smiled and sat down, naturally hooking her bag over the back of the chair. "Are you all having a study session? Did I come at a bad time?" When she looked at Kamuro and the others, her smile was polite and gentle, clearly distinct from the familiarity she showed Uesugi Hara.

"It's fine, we just started." Uesugi Hara set the book aside. "Let me introduce you. This is Shiina Hiyori from Class C. These are Kamuro Masumi, Morishita Ran, Yamamura Miki, and... Sakayanagi Arisu."

Yamamura Miki offered a quiet greeting, while Morishita Ran stared curiously at the mystery novel. "Uesugi Hara actually reads novels?"

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at the mystery novel on the table, twirling her pen. "It seems Classmate Shiina and Uesugi-kun are quite close? You even remember the books he wants to read."

"We run into each other at the library often and chat about mystery novels," Shiina Hiyori replied candidly, then turned her head to add to Uesugi Hara, "By the way, I figured out the motive for the murderer we discussed last time—do you remember that withered orchid in the victim's study?"

Uesugi Hara was about to speak when Kamuro Masumi interrupted. "Wait a second! This guy Uesugi actually talks to people about novels? And mystery novels at that?"

Shiina Hiyori was amused. "Uesugi-kun is very sharp when analyzing clues; he's even clearer than the detectives in the books." She glanced at the workbook on the table and stood up. "I'll go read over there, then. Call me when you're finished? I still want to hear your thoughts on the ending we didn't get to finish discussing."

"Mm." Uesugi Hara replied. He watched her walk to the single seat diagonally across from them before turning back to tap Kamuro's workbook. "Can we continue now? Classmate Morishita, redo the problem you missed last week."

Kamuro Masumi pouted, but as soon as she picked up her pen, she couldn't help but mutter, "He was chatting so enthusiastically with Classmate Shiina..." She didn't finish the sentence before meeting Uesugi Hara's gaze, immediately shrinking back and pretending to study the problem intently.

The scent of ink from old books mingled with the sunlight filtering through the window. Amidst the rustling of pen tips on paper, the occasional sound of Sakayanagi Arisu's explanations drifted through the air, while Shiina Hiyori sat diagonally across, head bowed over her book, her occasional page-turning as light as a feather.

This Saturday study session slowly unfolded in an atmosphere that was both subtle and remarkably peaceful.