A/N: This is a oneshot I wrote set during the Kamoshida arc, based on some fanart I saw on Twitter. Please read, review, and enjoy!

Queen of the Library!

The scratching of graphite against notebook echoed in the brunette's ears as her other hand rested against the book to her left. Her fingertips itched to turn the page, her mind hungry for knowledge despite the fact that she had just started the page her eyes were currently scanning. Despite the growing popularity of laptops and smartphones for notetaking, the traditional Makoto Niijima preferred the old-fashioned form of academics.

E-books and smartphones are too distracting for this; there's no telling when I could get pinged… She mused, grimacing at the thought of the smartphone in her bag going off at any moment. I'm glad that some of the students are able to use them productively, but I can't focus if I spend too much time in front of a screen. So many noisy distractions…and the recent gossip is already providing that in spades!

Just because Makoto paid no mind to rumors didn't mean she was unaware of them. As Student Council President of Shujin Academy, she had become accustomed to keeping an ear open, just in case a faint rumor did lead to a more substantive issue for her and the Student Council to resolve.

Too bad the only information flitting about consists of ridiculous rumors about that delinquent transfer student…what was his name again…? Whatever, criminal record or no, there's no point trying to recall someone who's at the core of such baseless rumors. Seriously, elephant tusk trafficking? Who comes up with these things? I almost feel sorry for the delinquent…

Realizing she had wasted precious minutes of study time musing about baseless rumors and a delinquent she had no intention of interacting with anyway (unless they were going to cause trouble for the Student Council to solve), she sighed and redoubled her focus on her book. The familiar sounds of her pencil etching her notes into her book calmed her mind, bringing a slight smile to her face as her heart became armored in knowledge once more.

The back cover of the book closed with a gentle thud, allowing Makoto to smile in satisfaction. Not one to stop after just one book, though, she stood up and picked up the piece of literature from the table she was sitting down at. Making her way to the small number of shelves their library had, she glanced around, trying to find the shelf she had originally grabbed the book from. So distracted was she in her search for the correct shelf that she failed to notice the person she bumped into.

"H-Huh?"

"Oh, sorry." A quiet, apologetic voice uttered. "I didn't mean to get in your way."

Blushing in slight embarrassment, Makoto shook her head. "No, it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention to my…surroundings…"

Makoto trailed off, looking up at the person who was apologizing to her. His head a mop of messy black hair, his eyes were hidden by a pair of glasses so shiny and reflective that her face seemed to stare back at her. His body seemed unusually stiff, his hand holding a book just out of range of the nearby shelf. Time seemed to freeze as she stared up at him, and he down to her. To an outside observer, the two might have seemed to be staring into each other's souls.

Upon realizing what she was doing, Makoto quietly squeaked, averting her eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare."

The boy shook his head. "No, you don't need to apologize, Miss…"

"N-Niijima. Niijima Makoto. I'm the Student Council President here at Shujin, so if you have any problems at school, let us know and I'll see what I can do to help-"

"Does she even know who she's talking to?"

Huh? Makoto wondered, now listening intently to the gossip that had just resumed. What are they talking about? And this is a library; don't they know better than to talk like this? Her curiosity multiplied when she saw the boy tense up, his apologetic lips becoming even more downcast. Though why is their gossip affecting him so much…?

"Seriously, she might be the Student Council President, but she should be careful who she offers the Council's assistance to."

"Seriously, he could just knife them all if they say something he doesn't like?"

Knife us? Are they talking about him? Why would he want to kill the Student Council?

"I wouldn't put it past him. He did get convicted of assault after all. Didn't the rumors say he almost killed a guy?"

…Could he be… Makoto's epiphany was more or less confirmed by the biting of his lip. …the delinquent transfer student? She subtly tried to scrutinize him, though not subtly enough for the boy, sho tried to avert her gaze as best he could. He's a little skittish, sure…but he doesn't look particularly aggressive…

"…I should go…"

"W-Wait!"

Makoto froze, her voice coming out a little louder than she planned. Regardless, her urgency made the boy freeze in place, buying her more time.

"Sorry for startling you, but I don't even know your name. Tell me what it is, if you please."

Makoto winced at her wording, but to her surprise, the boy's lips curved into a barely noticeable smile. "What, are you the Queen of the Library?"

Makoto momentarily puffed her cheeks into a pout before she relaxed, reminding herself not to take the remark personally. At least he's talking…

"…Alright, it's Amamiya. Amamiya Ren."

"Ren Amamiya…" She mused before looking at him. "You…don't need to leave the library, you know. It's for everyone to use, as long as you're not being disruptive."

For a brief moment, Ren's eyes seemed to sparkle from behind his glasses before they were hidden once more. "Thanks, but I think my presence alone is causing a disruption." He gestured to the other gossiping students, though their chit-chat had quieted down by that point. "If even the assistant librarian more or less tells me to leave, I think it's safe to say I don't belong here."

Makoto couldn't help but look at him in pity. Criminal record or not, the revelation that any student couldn't just study or read in peace at the library without being the target of disapproval or gossip seemed to ignite her sense of justice.

"I'll just…go check my book out and head home."

Ren gave a polite bow before he turned around and shuffled out of the library as best he could. Makoto Niijima was left to her thoughts, disgusted with her school for such ostracization of one of their own students. Needing to be anywhere else for once in her life, she quickly shoved her book back on the appropriate shelf and stormed out of the library and her school. Once she reached the gates, she let out a sigh of relief, leaning against the wall.

…Queen of the Library, huh? If I really was Queen of the Library…I'd decree it a welcoming place for all who want to learn from its knowledge…

"Queen."

The now converted Makoto Niijima blinked. Queen? Like…Queen of the Library? Makoto mused with a hint of amusement in her eyes. Did he honestly pick that out from our first conversation in the library?

"Whoa, I totally see it!"

"It fits so well that I'm at a loss for words here."

"Queen…" With a slight giggle, Makoto agreed "It has a nice ring to it." Contrary to the pout she showed the first time Ren called her that, Makoto nodded with an almost eagerness. "I like it. Let's go with that." I'm Queen…and this time, I can actually do something to protect my peers from harm!