People that are residing the interiors of the public library, accessed to everyone within the town, are either reading books, catching up on their work, or are looking at their phones with little to no noise as they're focused on their internal and personal affairs while respecting the silence towards others.
One such resident included is nothing more than Issei himself, scanning around the bookshelves that contain what he wanted to take out and possibly borrow using the library card within his wallet.
So, it came to a surprise when the young chestnut-haired man began holding several Japanese-translated books and manga alongside some classical books in his hands as he scans any spots for him to sit down and read, aside from doing some homework assignments.
Though when he continued to look around for a place to sit down and read, Issei noticed a young woman reading a Japanese-translated novel, her mood feeling calm and peaceful as she gradually flips a page at a time without even skimming through them.
Not only that, the young woman, clad in a white sweater, a magenta and white mid-thigh skirt, and socks with oxford shoes that are both black, and appeared to a Caucasian with long reddish hair, creamy fair skin, reserved blue eyes, and a . . . womanly body that would certainly draw attention to others around her.
Had Issei been less concerned about improving his self-image and getting his life together, he would had been excited to see a young woman with a healthy body like that and would have resorted to some silly antics to get her attention.
Here however, the young man decided to walk next to the redhead in a reasonable manner until he was close enough to see her face.
"I didn't know you were reading Japanese-translated novels, ma'am," Issei complimented.
The young woman turned around towards the chestnut's attention for a moment before a small smile emerge from her pink lips. "Thanks, I'd appreciate that. And I guess you're reading Japanese-translated books as well, isn't it."
"Yeah, I guess so," the young man shrugged his head. "I need to remember my Japanese language by reading these books. Anyway, can I sit next to you?"
"Sure," the redhead nodded. "Feel free."
"Thanks," the young chestnut man sat next to the redhead while putting the books on the table besides him until he puts the satchel leaning on the chair around the floor. "So, what's your name?"
"Rias Gremory," the young woman greeted, offering up a handshake. "And you?"
"Issei Hyoudou," the young man shook her hand gently, feeling the softness coming from her hands.
The handshake lasted a few minutes before they let go of each other.
"So, I guess you must be a college student, isn't it?" the now named Rias saw through a few books not translated in Japanese.
"Yeah, let's just say my professors have some upcoming projects that I need to work on for classes," Issei couldn't help but rub his head. "Have to maintain my grades and all."
"I can't blame you for that," the redhead had to cover her mouth to keep herself from laughing. "Especially with all these lessons popping up."
"Yeah, of course," the chestnut gave her a blank look. "How about you? Are you a college student by any chance?"
The redhead stopped herself for a moment. "Not exactly, but I do like to read lots of books on my spare time."
Though she acted quiet all the sudden, Issei knew better than to press the issue onto her, especially they started to meet each other.
"Well, are there any other languages you can speak, besides English and Japanese?" The young man decided to change the subject.
"I did known Latin, Hungarian, Scadinavian, and some Greek as well," Rias replied, before speaking the listed languages in a casual conversation with ease.
"That's pretty surprising, Rias," the chestnut felt impressed with how the redhead managed to speak. "You speak far better than I am."
"I'd appreciate that, Issei," said redhead couldn't help but smile from the compliment like that.
"Anyway, do you have any parents and siblings within your family?"
". . . I don't want to talk about my parents," Rias couldn't help but tilt her head down over the mention of her parents. "But I have an older brother named Sirzechs who does dote on me whenever possible and cares about my well-being. However, he does feel annoyed that people teased him for having a sister complex despite looking after me countless times."
"Yeah . . . I'm just glad your brother does look after you, Rias," Issei knew that topic with her parents isn't an easy subject to begin with. "For me, I did have mom and dad back in Kuoh, Japan, but I moved to the US around Forest Tide, Maine just to get an education, alongside a new life here. And while I do care about my parents, I can't help but feel sorry that they must work long hours just to make ends meet, especially since they weren't always there to look after me."
"I'm sorry to hear about that Issei," the redhead offered a hand to the chestnut's shoulder.
"It's fine, Rias," the young man nodded. "While I do chat with them whenever possible, I still can't help but feel sorry that my parents have to live within a workaholic culture, and I want to escape from that."
"I don't blame you for moving here, Issei," the young woman couldn't help but agree with him. "The citizens shouldn't have to work like this nonstop."
"Given that Japanese leadership either doesn't seem to have a problem with it, or worse, exploit it for their own agendas, it's easier said than done." The chestnut shrugged his head. "It wasn't surprising that a societal collapsed happened a few years ago, especially since mass protests and violences started popping up before the collapse. Even then, I was among the ones that left the country for the US, and I need to constantly adapt without losing my native roots."
"Yeah, I get that." The redhead couldn't help but shake her head over the Japanese leaders' blatant incompetence over the well-being of their citizens, though that could also extend to several leaders throughout the world as well.
Especially since terrible leadership means terrible countries if experience can go by.
"But anyway, what kinds of books do you like?" Rias offered to change topics.
This peaked Issei's interest. "Well, to start out . . ."
The back-and-forth conversations the two begin talking about include what books they like, what genres they're most fond of, and any favorite moments within the stories either one of them read.
During their conversation, both the chestnut and the redhead continued to look at each other as they chatted, somehow not caring about what they were doing now when they unconsciously start move closer to each other when . . .
"The library is about to be closed in fifteen minutes," a female librarian, possibly in her middle years, stated as everyone began to notice the clocks around the building.
But for the two young adults, they quickly stop what they were doing as they forgot the time the library closes.
"I got to head back to my apartment," Issei blushed nervously as he pulls up his satchel, collects his books, and got out of the chair. "Because I don't want to be late on my studies."
"It's fine, Issei," Rias got out of her chair as well, making her height almost the same as the young man in front of her. "At least I get to know you a lot more better in the process."
"Same here, Rias," the chestnut simply nodded. "Can we hang out again in the library tomorrow afternoon around four pm?"
"Sure, I love too Issei."
"Great. See you tomorrow."
"You too, Issei."
Once the young man heads out the table next to the redhead, he quickly goes to the counter to borrow the books in his possession with his library card before putting them into his satchel and heading out the library.
Though the sun is slowly starting to set, Issei didn't mind one bit as he heads back to his apartment, anticipating meeting with Rias again back at the library after classes around campus.