Keys To My Heart [Hanako-kun x Reader]

[Chapter 12] Apparition 6: The 4 O'Clock Library

"Minamoto-kun?"

I returned to what I was doing, leaving the other two to have their "moment" in peace as my [Eye Colour] eyes scanned the bookshelves briefly once again. Just as I was doing so I caught sight of a black butterfly, which had beautiful accents of deep magenta and a sparkling turquoise, fluttering past me. Entranced, I stumble over my own two feet before slowly walking in the butterfly's direction which was over to where Kou and Yashiro were.

I saw Yashiro also following the butterfly with her eyes as soon as it came into her field of vision, letting go of Kou's hand who was still unfortunately stuck in place with his hand held out as he tried to soak up everything that just happened in the past few minutes. Taking my place next to the other girl, we both watched as the butterfly settled on top of a singular book on the bookshelf, a small diagram of presumably a cobweb imprinted on its spine.

Yashiro took a curious step towards the butterfly, extending her arm out to touch the book. "A butterfly?"

My eyes widened in sudden realisation as I tried to reach out and pull her back. "Nene-chan! Wait-!"

A cloud of smoke suddenly enveloped me as I heard Yashiro let out a shriek of surprise. Letting out a few coughs, I fanned my hands trying to get the smoke to clear quickly before I caught sight of Yashiro who had fallen onto the floor.

"Senpai!" Kou exclaimed, finally coming to his senses as he jogged over to us and helped Yashiro back onto her feet who gave a slight nod of gratitude to the blonde boy.

In front of us laid a door that had seemingly emerged from the bookshelf just as Yashiro touched the book. It was a simple wooden door with a gold coated door-handle. A small circular window was displayed towards the top of the door, the design of a butterfly carved in the centre of it. Yashiro took a single step towards the door.

"Could this be the 4 O'clock Library?" Yashiro asked with curious eyes, tilting her head a little.

"Well, we'll just have to take a look and find out ourselves..." I lowly mumbled, already knowing what was on the other side as my hand reached for the door handle before pushing it open.

Yashiro and Kou peered over my shoulder, watching as the door widened to reveal a seemingly abandoned hallway. A long line of bookshelves were laid out on the right-hand side, being inhabited by books. The place itself was very dimly lit, small glass lanterns scattered here and there to give off just the smallest amount of light. Looking up I could see the ceiling infested with cobwebs causing me to cringe at the sight. I swear, it felt like every time I came back here there would be more and more cobwebs piling up on the ceiling. I thought Tsuchigomori knew better than to leave the place a mess... What is it with apparitions leaving their boundaries in such a messy state anyway? First we have Hanako who constantly makes us clean the girl's bathroom (or as he calls "toilet duty") proving to us how unsanitary the place is, then we had Yako with her various knick-knacks all over her previous boundary, and now we have Tsuchigomori with his spooky cobweb aesthetic.

Yashiro gasped in awe. "Wow..."

"Another Boundary. This is a border between this life and the next. We've got to watch out." Kou warily warned us as we finally stepped into the hallway.

"That's right Kou-kun, and this time we won't have Hanako-kun to help us if we're in trouble either. We must be careful." I added on to Kou's warning as the two nodded at me in agreement.

"It's awfully dark..."

A familiar pink Mokke appeared from the bookshelf using its ear-like limb to hold out a glowing lantern to Yashiro, offering it to her. "Want one?"