The ‘straight’ girl and the library / It’s not easy being part of a family!
Had this idea *cough* dream *cough* about a girl falling in love with a librarian but librarian lady had a small daughter so now I'm trying to write it might take a big ass time but for a first chapter I don’t think this is bad (it’s 4 am excuse me for any mistakes made)
Komatsu was never that girly. Ever since she was little she liked boys things ‘But who doesn't at that age?’ she always thought. But she grew up and learned how to put on make up, dyed her hair, the usual teenage stuff, it didn't mean she liked it but she felt obligation to her parents since they always gushed at how cute their daughter was and how womanly she had to become. Get a good husband and give them grandchildren.
It was a particularly cloudy day with 76% chance of rain, the news said, when she decided to go out with her new boyfriend on a date. ‘I hope I didn't come too soon...’ Komatsu ended up sighing. 4 minutes till her date time and she already had waited 10. ‘But why do I have to come sooner? It’s not like guys mind if I'm a bit late, what’s their problem?’ her friends had told her it was cute and proper for a girl to show up early because it was... ‘cute’. Their wording.
‘Cute my ass!’ Komatsu thought ‘If they don’t like it it’s not on me! Just because I've been dumped...’ she started counting with her fingers as she was thinking ‘… 8 times was it?’
‘Komatsuuuuu!’
Great. Her date had arrived.
‘Hibiki you’re late!’ He was. 2 minutes.
‘Sorry, sorry the train was crowded. Did you see the news? It might rain today.’
‘I didn't really, is it bad? Can we still go to the park?’
‘I thought we could maybe hit the library instead? It’s a 76% chance of rain or something.’
‘A date? In the library? Are you crazy that’s so boring.’
‘C’mon, Komatsu that way I can also see the new sports magazine! Came out yesterday.’
So that was the reason he didn't mind the rain, his favourite sports magazine had come out recently.
‘Well ok we can go then. But! You owe me a decent date!’
‘Yeah yeah, thank you Komatsu! Love you lots!’
The walk to the library was somewhat dull and boring, Komatsu thought. Just holding hands and not much talking.
When getting there first thing to do was find an empty table but the only one available was near the counter, so it had to do.
‘Hibiki, I'm gonna grab some drinks from the vending machine we just passed through. Want something?’
‘Huh? Oh yeah sure black coffee would be great if you don’t mind, thank you.’ Hibiki was already reading the magazine and not paying much attention to anything else.
Komatsu gladly got up and made her way outside to the vending machines by the convenience store near the library. It had started to drizzle a bit but nothing serious, still far from full on rain, when she spotted a lady with her hand stuck in the snacks vending machine.
‘Wow she’s really getting in there huh? Looks frustrated to boot. Weirdly cute.’ Komatsu thought. A woman that looked in her early 30’s (maybe 20’s-ish) with brown hair in a ponytail, stripped sweater topped with a black apron was trying to take her hand out, or maybe it was the snack too? While whispering things to herself.
‘If she works at the store she can just ask for help from a senior. Wait maybe she can’t? Maybe she’s the senior and doesn't wanna be seen like that. I feel you lady!’
The closer Komatsu got the more she could hear the struggle.
‘C’mon! Get! Out! Here! I’m hungry! I just wanted to eat why did this thing had to get stuck? Who makes a bag this size and puts it in a machine in the first place if you cant get it out? And who even buys it? Me apparently… God!’
‘Do you- Can I help maybe? Is it just you on your shift? Or I can get someone from the store maybe?’ she offered. Didn't hurt to help since she also needed to use the vending machine.
‘What?’ The woman finally looked up. ‘Oh thanks I just… I can’t take my lunch out and really need to eat you know? Now is the only time I could come to the vending machine to grab something and the thing just! It doesn't want to give me my food even though it ate my money so well.’ She stuck the tongue out at the machine in a fit. Now that Komatsu looked better how was it that the ponytail was still hanging? And the glasses were almost falling out, but the woman looked young and cute all dishevelled like that.
‘Here let me help.’ Komatsu said while taking the glasses off and cleaning them with her shirt before putting them in the woman’s face again. She then crouched enough so she could put her hand in the machine herself and take the woman’s lunch.
‘Thank you so much! I would've given up eventually but I think the library isn't that full right now because of the rain.’
So she worked in the library not the convenience store.
‘I'm Komatsu.’
‘Oh sorry! Natsuki nice to meet you. And thank you once again.’
‘No problem, we've all been there. Want a drink? Came to get one for me and my boyfriend but might as well get you one too since you’re going to be eating. Truth is I don’t really want to go back inside right now since he’s going to be distracted with sports magazines and I didn't even bring my homework. It was supposed to be a date you know? But rain and stuff.’
‘Sure! Then let me buy you a snack too. As a thank you.’
The two of them kept themselves near the wall so the rain didn't hit them, amongst the interaction it started to rain fully so the best spot was there. They also had been talking for about 15 minutes before Natsuki had to go back to work and Komatsu followed her shortly after.
‘You know if you’re going to eat just that for lunch, in the afternoon no less, why not bring something from home?’ Tact was the one thing people said she didn't have and it was not girly at all, but Komatsu didn't mind, she could fake the rest but not her personality. ‘Sorry! Dumb question, you’re probably busy to make it. Or… laziness?’
Natsuki laughed. ‘Are you like that to everyone you just meet?’
‘What, amazing? I think like to think so.’
‘I meant direct. I have a daughter in pre-school so I can’t make it in the mornings, does that answer it?’
‘It actually does. But you still should eat at decent hours. And more than that. Buy something from the convenience store instead of the vending machine.’
They had arrived at the counter.
‘Well but isn't the vending machine faster? Is that your boyfriend over there?’
‘Yeah I’ll just give him the coffee give me one second.’
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking random things, getting to know each other and every time Komatsu glanced at her boyfriend she thought that, maybe he wasn't for her since he didn't even lift his head from the pile of magazines he had with him to check on his girlfriend.
