Every single day, I'm in charge of drilling the newbies. And every single day, she slacks off at the very last minute of training.

"Kasahara! Just what are you looking at. If this was real combat you would be shot and killed. Keep this up and you'll never make it in the ranks of Library Corp." I say harshly, but I also eye the other new members of the Library Defense Force to make sure that they know I'm watching them too.

Iku is a fast runner. I give her that, but she sure lets her mind wander. A very dangerous thing to do in this job. Maybe, one day I'll bring in Komaki and a paintball gun to prove that point. That will make her pay more attention to her surroundings. I'm sure Genda will approve, he loves crazy schemes and well, he was one of the best instructors for trainees.

Kasahara is definitely one of the top athletes in this training group, but she has the worst temper out of all the others. All she ever does is complain about me once out of earshot. And she always compares me with her prince, who is apparently the complete opposite of me. If only she knew it was me, she would then shut up and stop complaining. But like hell that would happen. No siree, never. I'd never admit it to her dense self.

"Kasahara, you're going to drop the gun, hold it higher!" She did exactly as I told her, good. Every order that I give her results in a scowl as she does as I ask.

Kasahara ran up to the finish line but collapsed at the end. I hope I didn't push her too hard. But then again, there is no mercy in combat. If you fail, you will die or get hurt. There is no room for mercy in the heart of an instructor. You are preparing soldiers so that they will be ready to fight in a war they might not survive in.

"Kasahara! Did I say that you could rest? Go off to the side and give me a hundred push-ups." I watched her do a few push-ups and turned to the rest of my trainees.

"You can all leave for lunch, be ready for a hand to hand combat test at 1400 hours. You are dismissed." They all rushed away, we have been training since 0600 hours. Kasahara was on her sixtieth push-up, and she looked exhausted. After a minute, she had finished all her push-ups.

"Kasahara, you are dismissed." I watched as she got up and headed over to her water bottle.

I headed back to my office for a bit, the cafeteria was going to be crowded now, and I wanted to meet up with my best friend. Komaki and I always ate together, but he would always tease me about Iku. Her actions around me always seem to make him snicker. Sometimes, all I want to do is punch him hard in the ribs, but he is the best guy to go to for advice.

"Hey Komaki, do you want to head to the canteen now? The line up should probably be dead by now." I said, hoping that there would still be some seats in the cafeteria.

"Sure," he answered.

As we walked from the campus to the canteens, we received many salutes from the lower ranked soldiers and recruits.

So many faces to remember, but the most memorable face had to be Kasahara's. Her face has been carved into my memory. It has been six years since that event in the bookstore near the Irabaki library.

We got into line for the canteen after browsing the daily specials. I think the canteen for the higher ranks wants us to become vegetarian or go on some health kick. There was no meat or barely any protein on the menu. High ranked soldiers need protein too.

Komaki and I bought our food and started browsing for seats. He was choosing the seats today. I noticed that he was heading toward the middle of the room where there was someone having a shouting match with a girl from the Affairs Department, who was responding very calmly.

"It shows he has high expectations of you." She said in a calming voice.

"I don't think so!" I recognized that voice. And she was getting louder.

"I like him though. He's okay don't you think?" The girl said, trying to quiet down her friend.

"Huh?! Seriously?! That shorty?" She exclaimed.

That hurt, I was self-conscious about my height. But I tried to make it not bother me. It's not my fault that she has good genes in the height department. My parents were below average height too.

Komaki was starting to laugh a little. As much as he was trying to hide it, his tray was shaking. He then chose to sit at the table behind the shouting girl. Of course, he chose to have us sit near Kasahara. He knew about my secret of being her prince, no matter how many times I tried to keep him from mentioning her entry interview.

"You of all people can't be picky about height..." I agreed silently. She was two inches taller than me. And about the same height as most of the male recruits.

"Don't go there. He's mean too!"

Now that hit a nerve. I had to intervene before she attacked my character once more.

"So, is that what you think of me..."

She flinched, and I saw her shoulders tense up.

"That I'm a short mean maniac. Well, I'm giving you fair warning. I won't be held responsible for my actions after what I just heard. I am human after all." I said with a voice that meant business.

She started to eat all her food quickly. She choked a little but Komaki addressed her about that.

"You shouldn't eat so fast, Kasahara, It's not good for you. Make sure that you chew."

"I've lost my appetite. I don't want to eat anymore." She said as she got got up from her seat which was right behind mine.

"Don't be like that." Komaki said.

"Excuse me sirs."

She picked up her tray and started to walk away from us. As she took her third step, a letter fell out of her calf pocket. I picked it up.

"Let's go Shibasaki." Kasahara said as she addressed her friend from the Affairs Department.

They must be roommates, I thought.

"Kasahara, you dropped something."

"You can throw that away. I couldn't send it or else I'd be forced to come home." She said as she continued to walk away from the table.

I finished reading her letter. I started to rip it up.

"That means her parents don't want her to be in the Defense Force." H said after he read it.

I didn't reply to him. I just kept ripping her letter.

"And you're totally on her bad side. Maybe you should reconsider your method."

"If she can't take, she can quit."

"At least be honest with yourself. So, what do you think of her?"

That question struck a small nerve. I tried to hide it by taking a mouthful of my salad.

"She's the first woman to apply for a Defense Force position. She's unique."

"She's a monster. She finished twelfth against men in the high port race. I know she ran track in high school, but that was amazing. I think she'd be able to keep up with army training if she tried."

"Really?! Good for her. It's decided, then?"

"No it's not! Just because you're a good athlete doesn't make you qualified."

"Got it." He said with a small chuckle.

We finished our meals and headed back to our recruits. Very soon, we'd have to start the martial arts part of the day.

Today would be the day I'd take her on.

Author's note

Hello once again,

So what do you guys think so far. This is in fact my first Library Wars fan fiction after all. Other than my sentence structure being choppy at the beginning, what else can I improve? Also, if there are any things that you would like me to include in the story, just give me a review or PM. I will always answer any questions that you may have.

Thanks for reading this far.

Until next time,

shadow-of-doubtfulness