The Librarian's Daughter (Ryuji Suguro x Reader)

8) HE IS ASTONISHED

𝐻𝐸 𝐼𝒮 𝒜 𝒮 𝒯 𝒪 𝒩 𝐼 𝒮 𝐻 𝐸 𝒟

"Dear students," Ryuji's old and chubby homeroom teacher greeted the class as he walked into the room and put down his bag on the desk, "you're getting a new classmate today. Please welcome her kindly." And with that, Bon regained his posture and looked at the door with much anticipation in his eyes.

The girl he got to know the last few weeks slowly walked into the classroom and eyed the everything cautiously. What fell into everyone's eyes right away was how she didn't wear that yellow uniform every girl wore on this campus - her uniform was black instead, but with a pink skirt nonetheless. As the teacher gestured her to stand in front of the class, she soon got to halt and everyone just stared at her. A little bit taken back by this, she tried to find a fixpoint and well - Bon luckily felt into her eyes quick enough. The female gave him a small smile which he returned encouraging.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," the (hair-colour) female finally spoke as she took a small bow. "My name is (Name) (Last Name)," the teacher wrote down her name on the blackboard, "and it's great I have the chance to get taught at this school. I'm looking forward to working with all of you."

Well, she was very polite, one couldn't deny that. But what amazed Ryuji was how carefree (Name) could talk in front of so many people she didn't know. Maybe she just imagined them as her favourite books who sat at deks, but... guess she wasn't that kind of person.

The girl made her way towards an empty desk that had been prepared for her already. It was a bit near to where Bon sat, only one table away diagonally in the row in front of him.

"Don't you think she looks a little shabby?" Ryuji heard some female voices chatter behind him. They didn't talk loudly of course or else the librarian's daughter would her them. Bon turned around and gave them a very sinister glare which made them quiet down immediately.

But they weren't completely wrong. (Name) did in fact look more worn out than usual which the boy hadn't noticed right away. The eyebags under her eyes pulled more downwoards than ever and the delicate colour in her soft lips seemed to have faded the slightest bit, too. Were the bandages reaching the backs of her hands as well?

Since it wasn't very welcomed to see students chatter and (Name) was used to be silent when authorities were near, she only turned around for a few seconds to give Bon a greeting nod, accompanied by her usual gentle smile. The boy returned this and mouthed a ‚Hello' with his lips.

Well, this first school day had passed quickly and it was finally time for lunch.

✧ ✧* . . ✧ *✧ ✧

"Everything alright with you?"

Many students had already left the classroom and it were only a few left, (Name) and Ryuji being two of them.

The girl stretched herself before getting up and held a hand in front of her mouth while she yawned. "I didn't sleep very much this night. I guess I was just too nervous." She eyed the empty seats before giving Bon a drowsy look. "You don't have to be nervous, you did pretty good in front of the class, (Name)," Suguro spoke smiling as he adjusted the strap of his backpack, the girl giving him a shy grin in return.

"Do you want to go to lunch with me and the other exorcist exwires today?"

And so, both of them left for the familiar outside eating area of True Cross Academy. The boy who (Name) assumed to be Rin was already sitting at their usual table, a blonde girl next to his side.

"Hello Bon!" the dark-haired boy waved at the male before taking notice of the reserved girl that walked next to him. "Did you find yourself a girlfriend or something...?"

Suguro facepalmed at Rin's words before he hastily answered with a tone more rough than he intended to. "She's just a friend. Stop assuming things, Rin."

"A new friend?" the blonde girl spoke up happily as she balled her hands into fists. "My name is Shiemi Moriyama, it's a pleasure to meet you."

(Name) would not have expected so much friendliness coming towards her. "I'm (Name) (Last Name), it's great to meet you too, Shiemi."

Bon was glad his exorcist friends didn't make this complicated or awkward in any way. They were very quick at welcoming (Name) the best they could and even wanted to share some of their food with her (which she denied politely), having brought her own dishes already. It wasn't very long until the well-known friends Shima and Konekomaru arrived as well, bringing a brunette girl with pigtails along. They looked a bit confused, seeing a girl they've never met before sitting at their usual table, eating with the others.

So this girl decided to introduce herself to them, too.

"Erm," she began while looking up at them, "it's nice to meet you. I'm a new student in Ryuji's class," she turned her head towards the boy as she said his name. "(Name) (Last Name)."

"Well, you're cute, that's for sure," the pink-haired boy spoke with a blush on his face while sitting down (Ryuji raised one eyebrow at this) and didn't retreat his gaze from her once. The bald one and the other girl did the same and put their food trays down on the table as well. "Nice to meet you too, (Name). I'm Konekomaru Miwa," the boy held out his hand for the girl to take it - which she luckily did. Izumu didn't seem instantly as fond as the boys, but didn't want to be unpolite.

"Izumu Kamiki," she responded and took a bite of her food straightaway, having her eyes closed.

The familiar group soon began discussing and talking about stuff (Name) had never heard of before - to be honest, she was amazed by how much these people of her age could have in common and talk with each other so freely. She leaned closer to Bon who was sitting on the chair nearest to her and whispered, "are all of them your friends?"

Said boy took swallowed his food before answering and turned his head towards the curious girl. He eyed every single one of them before he decided to answer.

"Yes."

(Name) nodded at his answer and continued eating herself, too. She ordered some soba noodles and a bottle of water for dinner today. The female didn't even realize herself, but her previous smile faltered as she had the thought he wouldn't see her as a friend. After all, they didn't know each other for very long. But one can dream, right? Especially when you've been trapped in the darkness for so lo-

"That includes you too, idiot."

The girl immediately perked up at his words - Bon didn't even look at her as if he didn't want her to see some kind of gentle expression on his face.

"Thanks Ryuji, I'm glad!" She had that genuine smile on her face again.

"Say (Name), why did you transfer into Ryuji's class in the middle of the year?" Konekomaru asked the girl interestedly. The others looked at her with eager eyes now, too.

"Erm, well you see...," she began and tried to sort her thoughts. She wouldn't want to lie at them, so she just determined to skip things she didn't want to to tell. "I've been home-schooled for as long as I can remember. Eventually my mother decided it would be better for me if I meet people who are my age..."

The group went into thinking for a short time until Rin spoke up again. "So you've never been to a normal school?" His eyes were open wide.

"No," (Name) replied while rubbing her neck. Ryuji noticed this seemed to be some kind of habit of her when she got nervous.

"I haven't been attending normal schools too, so don't be worried," Shiemi mentioned with a friendly smile. "You'll get used to it faster than you think, I'm sure of it!"

(Name) only smiled at this. "Thank you Shiemi, you're really kind." She then looked around the group and somehow, a bittersweet feeling formed inside her stomach. "I wouldn't have thought that exorcists can be such good people. Thank you for showing me the opposite."

The school's bell rang before anyone could even answer and (Name) was already packing her stuff. "I'm looking forward to seeing you all again... if you want, that is. But I have to get going now."

It was only Ryuji that noticed the tears that had formed in the girls eyes as she quickly left the table and walked out of the exit.