Chapter 2: Library Assistant

Looking over at the wall, it was massive yet no entrance at sight. Mimi glanced at both corners but there was no gate. There was basically no entry leading inside.

“Um… Sena-senpai, where’s the entrance?” Mimi asked, her voice wobbling.

“Oh, you’re new, so you probably didn’t know,” Sena said with a soft smile. “For safety reasons, the only way inside is using a brooch.”

“???”

She pointed to a brooch pinned on her uniform. It bore the headmaster’s seal, but if Mimi hadn’t looked closely, she would have thought it was just a decorative ornament. Before she could even process it, Sena took her hand and in an instant, they were inside.

Teleportation?!

“The high walls you saw outside are for our safety,” Sena explained. “Unlike other students, we’re specially sought by the school. Only we and a few permitted staff can enter. But mostly…it’s us who come and go.”

The moment they passed through the dorm's wall, a wave of cool, mana-infused air brushed against Mimi’s skin. The interior looked like something straight out of a luxury magazine, tall glass walls that reflected the clouds and sleek marble floors.

“This,” Sena said, spreading her arms, “is the Academy's Exclusive Dormitory, Luminescent Dorm. Home to students with special scholarship status, like you, Mimi-chan.”

“This looks like a five-star hotel with ‘dorm’ tagged on its name!” Mimi whispered in awe.

Never in her life did she think someone like her would live somewhere so luxurious. Even the cockroaches here probably paid rent, if there were any.

Sena chuckled. “You’re not entirely wrong. The headmaster believes a comfortable environment helps with magical focus.”

Mimi glanced around. There was a huge open lounge filled with floating crystal lamps, comfy couches, and what looked suspiciously like a cafe counter in the corner and... wait... was that a mini indoor waterfall?

“This place is ridiculous…” she muttered. Even her old apartment’s bathroom had been smaller than that fish tank.

Sena looked over her shoulder, clearly amused by Mimi’s reaction. “You’ll get used to it. Come on, I’ll show you your room.”

As they walked down the pristine hallway, enchanted portraits greeted them with polite nods, and faint chimes rang each time they passed a door. The air smelled faintly of lavender and mana crystals, like someone mixed a spa with a science lab.

By the time they reached the end of the corridor, Mimi was already overwhelmed.

“Here we are,” Sena said, stopping in front of a silver door marked Room 011. “This will be your room for the year. It comes with everything you need, kitchen, bath, magic terminal access, and an automatic temperature enchantment.”

“T-Thank you for guiding me into this place, Sena-senpai,” Mimi smiled. “You shouldn’t have really troubled yourself.”

Who wouldn’t want to be personally assisted by the Legendary President, Sena Akebono, herself? She would, but unlike Mimi, Sena was a busy person. Many people would have grovelled under her feet to experience such a thing.

“But…” Sena mumbled.

Mimi tilted her head. “But?”

Before she could answer, Sena suddenly leaned down and wrapped her arms around Mimi. She froze completely. Her head went on blue-screen mode!

“W–wah?!” Mimi’s face went straight into Sena’s uniform. Warm. Fragrant. Dangerously soft.

“My goodness,” Sena muttered with a sigh that sounded suspiciously like admiration. “You’re even cuter up close… how can someone be this tiny and adorable?”

Huh?! Did she just compliment her while squeezing her like a plush toy?!

“Ah! I’m so sorry for hugging you out of nowhere, Mimi-chan!” Sena said quickly, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

“I–I liked it!” Mimi blurted out, voice cracking. “Please don’t be embarrassed!”

Sena pulled back slightly, her lips curling into a smile that was half amusement, half affection. Then she laughed softly, the sound like gentle chimes. “You’re too cute for your own good, Mimi-chan. I might end up... kidnapping you.”

“K-Kidnapping?!”

Suddenly, a door next to Mimi’s room slid open.

Out stepped Kagami Hoshizora, the Second-year representative and an ice-beauty. Her eyes were sharp, her posture perfect, and her expression gave off a “don’t even think about bothering me” kind of warning.

“Noisy,” she muttered, her gaze flicking toward Mimi with a frosty edge. “Who’s this?”

Her tone was sharp and cutting, like a whip snapping in the air. Mimi froze, suddenly feeling like an intruder in her perfectly ordered world. Maybe her voice was too loud; she’d make sure not to be too noisy!

Sena stepped lightly beside her, her grin unfazed. “This is Mimi-chan, our newest resident. She’ll be joining us in the Luminescent Dorm—your new neighbor.”

"... I know her." Kagami’s eyes narrowed as she studied Mimi. “Hmm. Just make sure you don't cause ruckus in the middle of the night. Unlike someone…”

“Y-yes!” Mimi squeaked, clutching her suitcase harder.

Sena just laughed softly, clearly entertained by Mimi’s flustered reaction. She handed her a brooch, gave a playful wink, and quickly bid her farewell.

Mimi stepped into her room, and well, it was exactly what she expected: spacious, luxurious, and brimming with magical amenities.

After a quick glance around, she unpacked just enough to call it a day.

For a year, all she did was work tirelessly every day. Doing gigs in her free time, part-time jobs at night, and catching up on lessons by day. Studying wasn’t even a thing unless she was cramming overall lessons.

She took out her books and started to study. Her forte before coming to the academy was ancient language and magic re-creation, something that people hated to study the most.

“Finally…”

When night fell, she didn’t linger. She took a quick bath, letting the warm water wash away the overwhelming excitement of the day, and collapsed onto the soft bed, immediately drifting into sleep.

The next morning, Mimi woke to the quiet hum of the dorm. Looking around the dorm lounge, it seemed the other students had already left for their classes.

After attending her own lessons, she made her way to the library as instructed, her heart still fluttering at the thought of this new change. No more late-night jobs, and most of all, she could finally focus on her studies!

She stepped up to the front desk, trying to muster all the confidence she had. “H-hello… I’m the new library assistant. I was told to-”

But the librarian didn’t even look up from the massive ledger in front of him, just gave a simple nod.

“Arrange the books left by the students,” he said, his voice flat and monotone, as if she were invisible.

Mimi blinked, her hands gripping the edge of the desk. “O-okay…” she mumbled, feeling her heart sink.

Turning toward the shelves, she realized the library was huge. Endless rows of towering bookshelves, stacked with thick tomes, glowing scrolls, and odd magical artifacts. Her brain scrambled, thinking about where to even start.

Well… as a scholarship student, she’d better figure this out on her own. Taking a deep breath, she rolled up her sleeves and stepped toward the first pile of abandoned books.

“Let's do this. Fighting!”

Hearing her remarks, the librarian looked in her direction and smiled.

After an hour of duty, Mimi stood on her tiptoes on the ladder, wobbling dangerously as she tried to return a heavy book to the top shelf. She had already wasted her mana on too many flight and levitation spells.

“Why are these shelves so tall?!” she muttered through gritted teeth.

She tried stretching her arms as far as they could go. The edge of the book barely brushed against its slot before it slipped from her fingers.

“Wah-!” she shouted.

Mimi fell backward, her arms flailing in a desperate attempt to regain balance. She was too careless; she tried to hold the edge of the bookshelf, but it didn’t work. She closed her eyes, ready to hurt herself from falling. Until…

"???"

Mimi's eyes widened in disbelief. She did'tn fell on the hard floor nor hurt herself. She felt her body resting on a soft surface, particularly on her hands. It was like touching a soft, big marshmallow. 

Feeling it more, Mimi suddenly hear a voice.

"Hngh~"

Wait... soft texture?

Mimi quickly got up and saw herself lying in front of a black-haired girl. The girl's eyes were covered with a book while half of her face was red as a tomato. Mimi swelled in embarrassment.

Oh no... this can't be happening?!

"I'm sorry!" Mimi shouted.

Unexpectedly, Mimi accidentally squish the girl's breast harder.

"Angh?!"

Hearing her voice made Mimi's heart skip a beat. She felt her face burning from desire. The girl beneath Mimi did'tn move nor complain. Her voice was cute and seductive that Mimi could'tn help but fondle her breast more.

"Hnggg~! Ahh~ wait!" She moan while gasping for air. "No, Anghh~?!"

Mimi's hands melted from the softness while the girl's voice was too alluring to the ear.

In a split second, Mimi heard a voices coming from the other side.

"Did you hear that?"

"Heard what?" 

Mimi stop and contracted her hands from the girl. Looking at the disheveled and flustered person under her, Mimi realized what she did was wrong. She stood up and immediately run away while covering her face with a book

"I'm so sorry!!!" Mimi shouted in embarrassment.

The girl sat up, while huffing softly. "...Mimi?"