My name is Eugene Holt. I'd always loved the quiet solace of the library, the smell of old books and the sound of pages turning. There was a kind of peace in the atmosphere, the hum of the fluorescent lights and the muffled chatter of students outside. I had been working as an assistant librarian for nearly a year at Bridgeschool, a position that had given me a sense of responsibility and a space to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the high school drama. And it was there, amidst the rows of bookshelves, that I first met Mizuki.
She wasn't like the other students—at least, not in the way that everyone seemed to notice. She was quiet, reserved, and a little lost in a school that thrived on social circles and alliances. I had heard whispers about her—the girl who wasn't exactly part of the 'in crowd' despite having a sponsor like Nancy Anderson. Nancy, after all, was the most popular girl in school, and everyone wanted to be in her circle.
I watched Mizuki from a distance at first, noticing how she tried so hard to fit in, but it was like watching someone trying to force themselves into a mold that didn't quite match. She would sit with Nancy and the others during lunch, but no one ever really spoke to her, not in the way they spoke to Nancy. They would smile at her politely, but there was a coldness behind their eyes. Mizuki seemed to sense it, though she never voiced it.
Nancy would try—sometimes too hard—making sure Mizuki was included in conversations or trying to pull her into group activities, but it never quite worked. Mizuki would smile weakly, looking like she was suffocating beneath the attention that wasn't truly hers. She didn't belong in that world, and I could see that it made her uncomfortable, even as she forced herself to smile and engage.
One day, as usual, I was behind the front desk sorting books when she walked into the library, her eyes scanning the rows. She didn't come to check out books; she simply walked over to the reading nook by the windows, settling herself down with a book that was too advanced for most of the students here. I admired that—how she sought peace in a place where no one seemed to care if she existed or not.
It wasn't long before I went over to her, quietly sitting beside her. I didn't know why I did it—perhaps because I'd noticed how alone she was, how much she tried to blend in but was always ignored. I wanted to offer her something—anything—because I knew what it felt like to be invisible.
"Hey," I said, my voice soft, unsure of how she would respond.
She looked up at me, her expression blank for a moment before she gave a faint smile. It was a smile that didn't reach her eyes, one that I had seen on too many faces in this school—students who smiled to hide the pain of being out of place.
"Hi," she said quietly, and I noticed her hands were wrapped around her book tightly, as if she was trying to hold onto something solid in a world that was slipping away.
From that moment on, I made it a point to sit near her whenever I was working in the library. We didn't talk much at first. But slowly, Mizuki started to open up. She was reserved, but I could tell she was kind, intelligent, and thoughtful. She had a way of seeing the world that was so different from anyone else I had met. It wasn't long before we became friends, though I never imagined it would come with complications.
I learned quickly that Mizuki had a complicated relationship with Nancy. They had been friends for a long time, but it was clear that the dynamic wasn't healthy for Mizuki. Nancy wanted to control everything—her image, her friends, and how she was perceived. I thought it was strange at first, how Nancy would always pull Mizuki away from me when we had conversations, always ensuring that her 'pet' was close by. But I didn't understand how deep it ran until much later.
One afternoon, after school, Nancy cornered me in the library. Her presence alone made my heart race—she was beautiful, popular, and had everyone's attention. But there was something icy about her, a control that made me uncomfortable.
"You're really getting close to Mizuki, aren't you?" Nancy asked, her voice sweet but sharp. Her eyes bore into me like daggers.
I nodded, trying to keep my voice even. "She's a good person. We just talk, that's all."
Nancy smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "She's my pet. You don't get to have her for yourself. I've worked hard to make her a 'proper' person, you know? I've been teaching her the way things should be done, and if you keep associating with her like this, my family might decide to cancel her scholarship."
The words hit me like a slap in the face. Cancel her scholarship? I didn't know much about the school's politics, but I knew that scholarships were a big deal, especially for someone like Mizuki who seemed to be holding onto something fragile.
"You wouldn't," I said, though I wasn't sure if I was asking or telling her.
Nancy's smile faltered for a moment. "I would. And you'll stay away from her, Eugene. Or I'll make sure that your little friendship costs her future."
I could feel the weight of her threat, but I couldn't bring myself to understand it fully. Mizuki didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve to be pulled away from the only real connection she had at this school.
But Nancy's power was undeniable. Mizuki's scholarship depended on her approval, and I could never be the cause of Mizuki losing that.
So, I did what I thought was right.
I began to avoid Mizuki. I told myself it was for her own good, that if I stayed away, Nancy would leave her alone. But every time I saw the hurt in Mizuki's eyes, every time she tried to approach me and I looked away, a part of me broke. It felt like I was betraying the one person who had ever truly understood me at this school. But how could I not listen to Nancy? I couldn't risk Mizuki's future for a friendship.
It wasn't long before Mizuki began to notice. She tried to talk to me, to ask what was going on. But I just turned my back on her, pretending like I didn't care. Every time, it felt like my heart was being torn in two. I told myself it was for the best, that I was helping her in the long run. But the guilt kept eating at me. I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't want to lose her friendship.
The day of graduation came, and Mizuki found me again. I saw the way her eyes softened as she walked toward me, and for a moment, I thought maybe things could go back to how they were. But when I saw Nancy glaring at me from across the room, I froze. I felt the weight of her gaze, the pressure of her expectations.
Mizuki stopped in front of me, her lips parting as if to speak, but I couldn't bring myself to look her in the eyes. Instead, I turned away from her, feeling the hot sting of tears I had to force back.
I could hear Mizuki's breath hitch, and I could almost feel her disappointment, her heartbreak. She turned and walked away, her shoulders slumped.
Maybe one day, when Mizuki was free, when she found it in her heart to forgive me, we could be friends again. But I knew, deep down, that it would never be the same.