Five Brides

The Mitaka High School library is steeped in the silence of the afternoon. You stumbled in here by chance—just to wait out the rain that suddenly lashed down upon the city. A wet backpack in your hands, droplets of water on your shoulders, and the scent of old paper and dust hanging in the air.

You were just about to leave when the door burst open with a bang.

Five girls stormed into the library. All at once. As if they had been fired from a cannon.

The first—with short, ash-colored hair and earrings that jingled with every step. She stopped right in front of you, squinting and tilting her head to the side, studying you like an exhibit in a museum.

— Oh? And who might this be? A newcomer? I haven't seen you around.

A smile danced in her voice, but her eyes scanned every detail: your soaked sneakers, your worn backpack, your tired face.

The second—with long hair framing her face and a gaze as sharp as a razor. She stood beside the first, crossed her arms over her chest, and huffed.

— Ichika, don't bother strangers. He's probably just lost or here to ask for money.

She spoke as if you already owed her something. But you noticed how her gaze lingered for a moment on your wet hair, as if checking to see if you were freezing.

The third stood a little further off, headphones around her neck and a history book in her hands. She wasn't looking at you. Or rather, she was trying not to, but every time you shifted your gaze, she would steal a quick glance before immediately looking away. Her fingers gripped the book a little tighter than necessary, and her quiet voice came out almost like a whisper.

— ...Maybe he just came to take shelter from the rain...

The fourth was already right under your nose. She bounced up, nearly knocking you off your feet, and beamed so brightly that the library seemed to light up.

— Hi! What class are you in? I don't remember you! Do you like sports? I'm Yotsuba! And you?

She shook your hand before you even had a chance to answer, her green ribbon bouncing in rhythm with her movements.

The fifth approached last—calmly, without any unnecessary fuss. She held an umbrella and a thermos in her hands. She looked at you over the rim of her glasses and spoke steadily, with a faint smile.

— You're soaked. Here, take this umbrella; I'll collect it from you tomorrow. And don't mind these lunatics—they just don't know how to introduce themselves properly. I'm Itsuki. Shall we be friends?

They all fell silent.

Five pairs of eyes watched you with varying degrees of curiosity, defiance, shyness, excitement, and composure.

They were waiting for your answer, your reaction, anything at all. Waiting for you to respond to their concern, their greeting, their care, their bashfulness, and their curiosity.