The quiet hum of the school library was the perfect backdrop for Aiko's plan to escape the usual chaos of the day. She had been studying for hours, but her thoughts kept drifting to Ren.
"Hey, over here!" she whispered, ducking behind a tall bookshelf and peeking around.
Ren's head popped up a few aisles away, a mischievous grin on his face. "You're hiding from me?" he teased softly.
Aiko giggled, ducking further behind the books. "Maybe I am! Can you find me?"
Ren pushed his glasses up, pretending to think hard. "Hmm… let's see… I think the answer is right behind the—" He paused, noticing her sudden movement. "Ah! There you are!"
Aiko squealed, and Ren quickly closed the small distance between them, gently grabbing her hands. "Gotcha," he said, smiling warmly.
"You're cheating!" she laughed, though her heart was racing. His hands were warm, and the teasing in his eyes made her blush.
They wandered through the stacks together, pretending to search for books while secretly enjoying each other's company. Every time their hands brushed over a spine or when they leaned close to look at a title, Aiko felt a flutter in her chest.
"Why are you always so calm?" she whispered as they leaned together over a book.
Ren glanced at her, eyes soft. "Maybe because you make everything more exciting."
Aiko froze, cheeks heating. "M- Me?"
"Yeah… you," he said simply, smiling.
They continued their playful hide-and-seek, ducking behind shelves and giggling quietly so no one else would notice. At one point, Aiko leaned too far while trying to hide, and Ren caught her by the waist. Their faces were closer than usual, and Aiko's heart skipped.
"Thanks…" she murmured, eyes flicking up to his.
"No problem," he replied softly. "I've got you."
Eventually, they settled in a quiet corner with a pile of books between them, sharing notes and quietly laughing at each other's doodles. The closeness was comforting, and Aiko felt the warmth of their hands brushing occasionally.
When it was finally time to leave, Ren slipped his hand into hers naturally, their fingers intertwining effortlessly. "Same time tomorrow?" he asked, eyes soft.
Aiko nodded, heart fluttering. "Definitely."
As they walked out of the library together, the quiet of the school hallways felt like a private world for just the two of them. Between playful teasing, gentle touches, and stolen glances, Aiko realized that these small, ordinary moments were quickly becoming some of her favorite memories with Ren.