LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 31: Interest
A few days had passed since the intense match between Pyrrha and Rinko, yet the excitement in the academy had simmered down, returning to the usual routine.
For Rinko, everything now felt relatively mundane. The only thing keeping him engaged was the novel he'd been devouring for the past few days.
With only a few pages left, he found himself hurrying to the library, eager to reach the end of Volume 6.
As he read the final lines, Rinko let out a long sigh, a mix of satisfaction and bitter disappointment washing over him.
The cliffhanger at the end of Volume 6 left him wanting so much more, and he quickly realized that Volume 7 wasn't available yet.
"I need more..." he muttered to himself as he reluctantly returned Volume 6 to its place on the library shelf.
Just as he was heading for the exit, something caught his eye. Tucked away in a corner, Blake sat with her nose deep in a book, looking absorbed as always. Rinko couldn't help but smile-her taste in literature often exceeded his expectations, and he'd come to appreciate her recommendations.
"Yo," he greeted, his voice breaking her focus. Blake's bowtie perked up at the sound, and she glanced up with a welcoming smile.
"Hello, Rinko," she replied, marking her page. "Finished your book?"
"Yeah... unfortunately," he sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "What are you reading this time?"
"Oh, it's actually... Volume 7!" Blake's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"What?!" Rinko's eyes went wide, and he practically jumped at her words. "The library has it?"
Blake chuckled, holding up the fresh copy. "Yep. They just put it out this morning. I managed to grab it before anyone else did."
Rinko felt a surge of excitement, mixed with a hint of envy. Volume 7-the continuation he'd been waiting for.
His voice quivered with anticipation, and he could hardly keep the desperation out of his tone as he asked, "C-can I read it with you?"
Blake raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You must be really hooked on this series."
Rinko gave her a sheepish grin. "You have no idea. That cliffhanger in Volume 6 was cruel."
Blake laughed softly, scooting over to make room beside her. "Alright, you can read with me. I haven't started it yet-was just skimming through the table of contents and the chapter titles. They look pretty intense."
Rinko sat down beside her, practically vibrating with excitement.
As they opened the book together, Blake quietly read the chapter titles aloud, each one sounding more thrilling than the last. Rinko's eyes sparkled, his focus completely drawn into the page.
"'The Betrayal of the Shadow Clan,'" Blake murmured, reading the title of the first chapter.
She glanced at Rinko, who was already fixated, eager to dive into the story.
They both leaned in, sharing the book and their mutual love for the series.
With each page they turned, Rinko found himself diving deeper into the story-not just captivated by the thrilling plot twists, but also by the quiet satisfaction of sharing the experience with Blake. As they huddled close, engrossed in the unfolding tale, he felt a growing sense of connection, the kind that only came when two people were completely immersed in the same world.
After about an hour, they'd devoured a solid twenty chapters. Rinko leaned back, taking a deep breath as he absorbed the latest revelation.
"My, my... It all makes sense now," he murmured, a spark of realization lighting up his eyes.
"Right?!" Blake replied eagerly, her excitement mirroring his. "This first arc really clears up that plot hole from Volume 4! I thought they'd just forgotten about it."
"Exactly," Rinko nodded. "I kept wondering how they'd left that thread hanging, but now it's like everything's clicking into place."
Blake grinned, clearly impressed by the story's development. "And the way they brought back the Shadow Clan? I was not expecting that twist. I thought they were just villains of the week back in Volume 4, but now it feels like they were setting this up all along."
Rinko's gaze turned thoughtful. "Yeah, the whole thing was actually pretty clever. They hinted at the Shadow Clan's grudge against the main character ages ago, but it was subtle enough that we didn't realize it was going to be a big part of the main story."
Blake looked at him with an appreciative smile. "It's nice to have someone to read with who picks up on the little details," she said. "Most people just read through it and miss half the connections."
Rinko chuckled, giving her a warm smile in return. "Well, I guess you bring out the literary critic in me, Blake. It's refreshing to talk about something this complex with someone who gets it."
They shared a moment of quiet understanding before Rinko turned back to the book. "So, do we keep going?" he asked, his tone teasing.
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Oh, definitely. We're just getting to the good part."
And with that, they both leaned in, eyes locked on the next page, ready to dive back into the world they both loved.
They spent the rest of the afternoon reading together, their quiet laughter and shared comments forming a comfortable rhythm.
By the time they reached the final chapters available in Volume 7, the library was almost empty, the soft hum of closing time filling the space.
Blake stretched, her gaze lingering on the book. "Looks like we're done here, at least until the next volume arrives." She sounded almost reluctant, as though she didn't want their time together to end just yet.
Rinko leaned back with a small sigh. "Yeah, but it was worth the wait. These new twists... they just made the story feel alive again." He paused, catching a glimpse of her content expression. "And, well, reading it with you was... different. Better, even."
Blake's eyes met his, and for a brief moment, a flicker of surprise crossed her face. "You're not so bad to read with yourself," she replied, her smile soft. "Most people can't keep up with the story, let alone catch the nuances."
He gave her a half-smile, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I'm just... invested. It's a refreshing break from, well, training, classes... everything else that goes on around here."
Blake's expression softened as she nodded. "I get it. This is the closest thing I have to a moment of peace, too." She turned, glancing out the window where the early evening sun cast a warm glow over the grounds. "Sometimes I feel like this place is just one battle after another."
Rinko's gaze shifted to her, watching the way her amber eyes glowed in the fading light. He felt something in his chest tighten, a mix of admiration and an unfamiliar warmth he couldn't quite name.
He quickly shook it off, attributing it to the lingering rush from the story.
After all, he knew the source of his spirit and mind. He was Kakashi Hatake, the Sixth Hokage, and he'd seen and done things beyond his peers here.
Emotions were... complicated, but he'd learned to keep them in check. He wouldn't let fleeting feelings interfere.
But then again, he thought, this body was young. Rinko Schnee was still a teenager, and hormones, it seemed, had their own stubborn way of slipping into his thoughts.
"Well," he said, standing and offering her a hand, "how about we take a walk before heading back? I think we both need a little time to process that cliffhanger ending."
Blake blinked, then nodded, slipping her hand into his. They walked together down the library steps and into the campus gardens, the evening air cool and refreshing after the hours they'd spent indoors.
"You know," Rinko began, glancing at her as they walked, "you remind me of someone I used to know back in where.. I'm from. She had that same strength, that way of looking deeper, beyond the surface like you are."
Blake's brow rose, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "Really? From Atlas? I didn't expect that. Who were they?"
He paused, memories surfacing-ones he hadn't visited in a long time. "No, not from Atlas but.. somewhere along my journey. Her name was Rin," he said softly. "A friend I respected more than she ever knew. She... showed me what it meant to trust someone, to let them in. To value friendship, even when I thought I didn't need anyone."
His smile was a little distant, touched by bittersweet memories, he continued,"It was her way of reminding me that sometimes, the people closest to you can be the ones who help you see the real you, past all the walls you've put up."
Blake fell silent, clearly reflecting on his words. "I suppose that's true. Even if it feels... risky sometimes."
Rinko nodded, his gaze softening. "Yeah. But without risk, there's no reward."
Blake's expression softened, a quiet understanding passing between them. "Sounds like she meant a lot to you."
"She did," Rinko replied, glancing back down at the book in his hand. And, for a moment, he let himself remember-before the memories faded back into the background, and he returned to the present beside her.
They walked in silence, each seemingly lost in their thoughts.
For Blake, it was rare to find someone who understood her need for quiet, for introspection, and who valued the stories that connected them.
They stopped under a tree as the sky turned a deep shade of violet, the first stars beginning to twinkle.
Blake looked up, her face touched by the soft starlight, and Rinko felt his breath catch.
Still, he knew that something had changed. Maybe it was just this world, or maybe it was this body he inhabited. Or perhaps it was something simpler, something he hadn't been open to in a long time.
"Blake," he said softly, catching her gaze, "thanks for sharing today with me."
She looked at him, her expression gentle. "Thank you too, Rinko. I don't usually... open up to people like this."
He smiled, feeling a rare sense of vulnerability, yet somehow secure. "Well, maybe it's just the start of something. We'll see where the story takes us, right?"
With a final, lingering glance, they walked back to the dorms in companionable silence, each feeling a quiet thrill at the possibilities that lay ahead.
[End]