Okay, so I'll just give everyone the setting of the story now.

This is an AU type of thing. There is no 'East City' or 'West City' in this fic, just a plain old city.

Kakeru – New to the school. He transferred a week ago and landed in Subaru's class (of course). Also *laugh* please ignore the fact that he's already a librarian in such a short time. I guess the school's library really isn't a hotspot in the compounds.

Subaru – One of the prefects in the school. He has a good reputation among the students, but has no actual friends (just like the original that we know and love).

Kakeru is the heterosexual one in this fic. He is still good old innocent Kakeru who happens to become Subaru's best friend.

One more thing: In this fic, they are the same age. I'm going along with the assumption that Subaru is a few months or so older than Kakeru. (BTW guys, is the wikia's info correct? Because I'm quite convinced that Subaru's not a middle-schooler no matter how mature he is. But if he really is in middle school, then Kakeru has to be as well… I think. I don't really know. Ignore my nonsense. XD)

Kakeru's version of the story is out as well! Please check that out if you haven't already. Thanks!

Chapter 1: First Thing that happens in the Library

"True love isn't always about two persons loving each other. Sometimes, it's just a person who loves the other."

- random anime quote that fits the story

Subaru questioned the need for two genders in this world.

Two genders meant that the world has heterosexual people. In fact, the existence of two genders meant that the so-called 'correct' sexuality in the eyes of the rest of the world was to like the other gender. Maybe that came to be the unspoken rule because there were more people who liked the opposite gender rather than their own. When you liked someone you own gender, people gave you these weird looks, as if you were guilty of some kind of crime.

Why? Subaru forgot how many times he'd been questioning it. You're free to like anyone you want to. If the world had only one gender, then the drama and humiliation of liking the same gender wouldn't exist at all, because there would be no other choice. That kind of world would be perfectly plain and simple.

But noooo, the world has to have two genders. Well, there was also the fact that the world needed two genders in order for human reproduction to work, but Subaru couldn't care less.

As he sat there, reading a book he didn't even especially like in the library, he kept stealing these tiny, miniscule glances at this particular librarian. The librarian in question was Ryugasaki Kakeru.

Subaru had picked his seat in such a way that the blue-haired librarian wouldn't notice if he was really into the book in front of him. Truth be told, he did pick an okay book to read, but there was no way the printed words were nearly as interesting as the person sitting behind the desk.

He'd glance up once in a while, usually finding the boy sitting there without disturbances. He would be silently stamping the library books with a calm, serene smile gracing his face. And he had a rhythm as he worked. Two stamps on the book, one press on the ink pad.

Stamp, stamp, press; stamp, stamp, press; stamp, stamp, press…

And on and on it would go, like the ticking of a grandfather's clock. He relaxed when he could hear the beat, and his reading seemed to match the librarian's pace as well. But when the rhythm stopped…

Subaru looked up. Instead of the tranquil silence that settled comfortably like snow, there was chatter.

A girl was speaking to Kakeru. Immediately Subaru's gaze was nailed onto the girl's back, transforming into something akin to a glare now. She was talking in such a carefree tone with the friendly boy that it was making him all stirred up inside. And although he'd felt this feeling before, he couldn't tell what it was. All he knew was that it happened when Kakeru was talking to other people and that it made him uncomfortable.

And then, she did something that Subaru vowed to make her pay for. She winked at Kakeru all seductive and edgy, and she had leaned into the counter. Subaru felt the feeling well up in him even more than before, and he tried to cure himself by intervening.

He'd shushed them. The girl looked in his direction with dissatisfaction written all over her ugly mug, and it was all Subaru could do not to ruin his prince-like image and reputation by doing something nasty and childish right back. So, he used his eyes to stare directly at hers. Knowing she wouldn't win, she slunk away from the counter – away from Kakeru – and out the library.

Kakeru was now looking at Subaru with 'Sorry!' clearly written all over his face. Subaru pretended to return to his book, and Kakeru continued to stamp the books after that.

Since there were no more disturbances, Subaru was able to work on reading his book a little better. He didn't feel the urge to look up every so often – the continuous stamping reassured him that they were the only ones in the poor, desolate, no-one-ever-comes-here library. Hell, why would there by only one librarian at any given time unless the place wasn't the busy type?

It wasn't like he was unhappy with the fact. No, not at all. He was utterly delighted with it. That meant that they had their privacy, however easily broken it might be.

"Sorry about earlier. I apologize."

Subaru looked up from his disguise. Kakeru was standing right beside him, bowing. He'd said sorry for supposedly 'making noise' and disturbing Subaru. Sure Subaru was disturbed, but not by Kakeru.

"It's alright, although I'd expect the librarians to be mindful of their own rules." Wait, why am I being so harsh? I didn't actually need to reprimand him, did I? Oh well, what's done is done.

"Th-that's true. I'll keep it in mind." Silence overtook the conversation for a little while, creating a thick awkwardness between the two boys. Kakeru coughed (probably fake, to get Subaru's attention).

"I know it's unreasonable, but would you mind helping me shelve the books?" Subaru eyed the librarian for a second. He seemed genuine about it, and perhaps he was just trying to create some kind of thing going on besides stamping, shelving and reading.

"Sure, why not."

Subaru got up from his warm chair and pushed it in. Kakeru asked if he wanted to borrow the book he was reading, to which he declined. Kakeru then instructed to leave it on the table first, as he was going to show Subaru how to arrange the books.

"For example, the author of this book is Usami Akihiko, so the book would belong on the U shelf. Then find Us, then Usa. Basically–"

"Alphabetical order, according to the authors' names," Subaru interjected, finishing off Kakeru's sentence. Kakeru looked shocked, but not very shocked.

"I've been here for how many times now? Of course I know the bits and pieces of how this place works." Kakeru blushed and paced away to grab Subaru's book. The two of them got to work immediately.

"Y' know," Kakeru started to say in the middle of the task, "I'm grateful to you. For shushing that girl."

"She was making noise in the library. I had to do something," Subaru replied.

"No, I'm serious. I really am grateful. She's been pestering me about everything and anything lately, and I haven't been able to tell her to leave me alone," Kakeru explained.

"Why not? Just tell her straight. You don't need to sit through her nonsense if you don't want to," Subaru said according to his own wisdom. He didn't understand why people put up with situations that would only be bothersome. And besides, perhaps he didn't want him talking to her.

"I just… I just don't want to hurt her feelings. Know what I mean?"

"Sort of." He wasn't telling the entire truth. If the girl was a nobody, then who cares if you had hurt her feelings? She should just learn her place.

But then again, what if Kakeru looked at him to be a nobody? Would he want Kakeru to tell him straight to his face? Probably not.

Soon, they were done. Kakeru pushed the book cart away while Subaru returned to his table where he'd left his bag. He slung the backpack over his shoulder effortlessly and looked up to see Kakeru pick up his bag by the handles.

"It's almost five," Kakeru said. "I should lock up the place already."

"Yeah, you do that," Subaru replied, making his move towards the door.

"Hey…" Kakeru said weakly right at the moment Subaru was about to exit the glass doors. Subaru turned back to find a faint blush on Kakeru's cheeks.

"Your name's Subaru right?" asked the librarian.

"Yes. Subaru Shirogane. I think we're in the same class," he responded, somewhat offended. He couldn't believe that Kakeru hadn't learned his name for sure.

"Yeah well… It's just that I'm new to the school – I just transferred a week ago –, and I hadn't had the chance to learn everyone's names yet. Please take care of me," he said, bowing 90 degrees over. Subaru's eyes softened at that.

"Okay," Subaru simply said. "You can call me Subaru if you like."

Wait, what?

"Subaru-kun it is then!" Kakeru exclaimed, his cheeks still pink and he was smiling from ear to ear. His smile was a goofy one, much like an innocent kid's.

"Bye." Subaru said before leaving.

On the way home, he found himself wondering.

Why did I say that? Me and my stupid big mouth! I don't let anyone else call me that, so why had I suggested it so freely to him?

He blushed so much that he could feel the heat in his cheeks. He knew that it was for damn sure freaking visible, and he was just lucky that nobody was around to see it.

He wasn't one to blush often by nature, and he liked it that way, because blushes were often put together with the word 'cute' and he didn't like that word to be used on him. He found it weird that someone like him could be found anything near adorable.

I usually don't run my mouth like that, but it felt right to say something back there. And the grin he had when he said my name…

"Subaru-kun!"

And it just sounds so natural…

He sighed. It was going to be a long night of wondering for Subaru, and he knew it.

Hey world! Look, I'm sorry but I was right in the feels to write this out rather than work on my other story. You can clearly see the quality of writing deteriorate right at the ending. I started writing with the feels in tow, but couldn't finish it, so I continued on the next day, and the feels were gone! But I really wanted to finish it up as soon as possible so you guys would have something to read for a while.

Kakeru's version of this story will be longer than Subaru's, I think, for there are way more things to write about from Kakeru's viewpoint compared to Subaru. Just compare these few words to that other piece of work and you have your comparison already.

I hope this multi-chapter fic won't come to a sudden hiatus like the other one. This one is closer to my heart because the circumstances are much more realistic in comparison, so perhaps even if there is going to be a sudden hiatus, it (hopefully) won't be too long.

Please, dear readers, to share some ideas to insert somewhere if you like with me. I will credit you guys for your ideas.

Disclaimer: The pic used is not mine. Credit goes to its creator, whoever he/she may be. I do not know who he/she is for I found this lovely thing off the internet XD

Thanks to everyone for reading. Review if you wish.

~PhoenixFireBlade~