The Defectives (CotE x Male Reader)

Deal with the Devil

(Y/N)'s POV

I kept waking up during the night. Overthinking was part of the reason that keeping me up, while the other reasons were the 'fond' memories of the White Room that I had been trying to disregard. After an agonizing sleepless night, I woke up tiredly and attended the class. I managed to take a quick nap in between the classes.

After the last session of the day finished, I let out of tired sigh and stretched myself. Horikita spoke to me while packing up her stuffs.

Horikita: I can't believe you sleep for a whole day. Have you been staying up late after we talked last night?

(Y/N): Well, more or less. I just couldn't sleep.

Horikita: I told you that if you keeping taking nap during classes, you're gonna mess up with your biological clock. It's a vicious cycle.

(Y/N): I'll... keep in mind.

I pinched my nose bridge and quickly put away my stuffs.

(Y/N): Hey, I want to return the novel that I borrowed from the library. Mind if I head there first? It's gonna be crowded soon.

Horikita: Sure, go ahead. I'll catch up with you.

I waved at Horikita before exiting the classroom. Then, I stumbled into Satou as soon as I walked out from the classroom.

Satou: H-Hey, (L/N)-kun.

(Y/N): 'Oh great...'

I pinched myself on the side and put up a neutral face.

(Y/N): Satou.

Satou: Where are you going, (L/N)-kun?

She said meekly while rubbing her hands nervously.

(Y/N): Uh... To the library?

Satou: Oh! You're attending the study session, right? May I join, too?

She didn't give me a moment to answer before posting another question.

(Y/N): Um, I don't mind actually. But you should ask from Horikita or Kushida, they are the ones tutoring after all.

Although, I don't think the two of them will reject her request. Given the current circumstances, they should be happy.

Satou: Okay, then. I-I'll see you at the library.

She bid me farewell before skipping into the classroom in a carefree manner.

(Y/N): Sigh. I should head to library soon.

...

The library bustled after classes ended, absolutely full of students. Although it was crowded, it was quiet. Most students were completely immersed in studying.

(Y/N): Huh. I wonder if Suzune managed to secure the seats earlier for the study sessions.

I scanned my surroundings. Although more than half of the seats are empty, that doesn't mean you can sit anywhere you'd like. It seems to be a common phenomenon in every school, where the space available to the upperclassmen is separate from the underclassmen. It had become an unspoken rule that the seats next to the windows with the nice view, and the seats in the cafe near the free drinks were priority seats for the senior students. In this territorial division, first-year students were only allowed to use the noisy area near the entrance.

I went to the counter and spoke to the receptionist.

(Y/N): Excuse me. I would like to return these.