Echoes of Fractured Realities: The Convergence Beyond Worlds

Ep 5 : Shadows of Uncertainty

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As the classroom emptied, I found myself alone with my thoughts. The quietness was oddly comforting, allowing me to focus better. My pen scratched against the paper as I worked through the homework, and despite the lingering tension from Miss Lavenoir's gaze, I was managing to finish faster than I expected.

'Maybe history isn't so bad when you actually pay attention,' I thought, a small smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. But that thought was fleeting. The image of Miss Lavenoir's smirk flashed in my mind again, and a cold shiver ran down my spine.

Was she messing with me on purpose? Or did she enjoy making students squirm?

I shook my head, brushing those thoughts aside. There was no point dwelling on it now. I had homework to finish, and the last thing I needed was to give her a reason to assign me extra work.

After what felt like another hour, I stretched and packed my things. Toru was already gone, and I wondered what his plan was for handling the homework collection tomorrow. Knowing him, he'd probably be stressing about it all night. I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

Should I head home now? Or maybe stop by the library for a bit before leaving?

I stood up, slipping my notebook into my bag as I glanced at the clock. There was still plenty of time before I had to head home.

The library felt like a good idea. I hadn't spent much time there since I started at this school, but the quiet and the endless rows of books always had a way of calming my thoughts. Plus, it was the perfect excuse to delay the walk home, where I'd likely be bombarded with more homework and chores.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and made my way out of the classroom, the hallways already buzzing with students rushing to their next destination. A few familiar faces waved or nodded in my direction, but I didn't stop to chat.

The library was tucked away in a quieter corner of the school, and as soon as I stepped inside, the noise of the busy halls faded into a soft hush. The scent of old paper and polished wood greeted me, instantly putting me at ease.

I found a seat near the back, in a spot where I could hide between towering shelves of books. I pulled out the book I'd been reading, a novel I'd been slowly working through in my free time. It wasn't for school, just something for myself—a world far away from all the stress and confusion of real life.

As I settled in, I couldn't help but glance around the library. It wasn't too crowded, just a few other students scattered at different tables. In the far corner, I spotted someone familiar—Toru. He was hunched over, scribbling something in his notebook. Probably planning out how to handle tomorrow's homework collection, I guessed with a small smile.

For now, though, I had some time to escape into the world of my book. I opened it to the last page I'd marked and began to read, letting the words pull me into a different reality.

As I tried to immerse myself in my book, my eyes kept drifting back to Toru. He seemed deep in concentration, his hand moving quickly across the pages of his notebook. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should approach him. But the thought of having my homework done right and avoiding a scolding from Miss Lavenoir was too tempting.