I found Soomin in the library the next evening, tucked away in a quiet corner where the shelves muffled sounds from the rest of the building. She sat cross-legged in an oversized leather chair that swallowed her petite frame, a sketchbook balanced on her knees while a small desk lamp cast a warm circle of light around her. Her pink hair fell forward to obscure her face as she concentrated, the tip of her tongue poking out between her lips in that unconscious way people do when they're focused.
I approached slowly, making enough noise that I wouldn't startle her by scuffing my shoes lightly on the carpet and clearing my throat.
"What are you drawing?"
She jumped anyway, nearly dropping her pencil as her eyes went wide with surprise.
"S-Satori! I'm sorry, I was just..." She moved to close the sketchbook while her cheeks flushed pink.
"May I?" I gestured to the book, keeping my voice low and my expression curious rather than demanding.
