A Bump in a New Direction

Ejji was in a rather good mood. Today was a fruitful day for him, since he had already finished all his studies and done his homework for the next day. Most would feel proud at this achievement, but for the Reiguu heir it was nothing special. Sometimes he felt that the material they covered during lessons was rather simple, so he had decided to do his homework during the classes themselves. Naturally, he had yet to complete the one that was given to the class at the end of the last lesson for today, but it would probably take less than an hour, so he wasn't at all concerned with such trivial matters.

The next thing Ejji needed to do, was to make a visit to the Library. He always enjoyed that particular part of the floor he was currently in. It was one of the few places of relaxation he had frequented the most, as well as a place outside of the Literature Club clubroom where they gathered on occasion.
The young man tugged at the collar of his school uniform, carefully unbotunning the few upper buttons. He disliked this small aspect about the school itself, since he loved when his neck was free of anything obstructing his breathing, and the collars were a bit too tight for his liking. Besides, it didn't help his somewhat, bad boy image. He always made sure to keep it between the "honor student" and the "hot student", while not really going for a complete look. The teachers did not object, and the femle population was only happy to see him walk by.

His train of thought was rudely interrupted when he felt a body slam into him. For all his boasts about being perceptive and alert at all times, he let himself slip like that. Luckily enough, Ejji was not a stranger to physical mishaps. His training at the kendo Club, and his private teacher, who instructed him since childhood, made sure he always could react to anything like this happening... well, not exactly like this, but even if caught off-guard, he would not fall on his butt.

So Ejji made sure to quickly and gracefully steady himself, and since the school hallway was not empty, he made sure to try and help the one who bumped into him. The things he did for his perfect public image. With the other hand he swept his hair back, taking a good look at the one who gave him such troubles.
He decided not to speak, since he was not sorry for this situation. He wasn't the one presumably speeding through the hallway.

Outwardly Ejji appeared to be nonpulsed, but on the inside he had to sigh internally. This guy seemed already to be a talkative type, or at least the type to apologise a lot. Besides, he had just told him not only that he was sorry, but also the reason why they collided and where he was going. This was all unneccesary - it was not like Ejji wanted to hear this man's whole life story, the why's and the what's. But he guessed he could be less harsh in his judgement, simply because his attention was turned to something else at that moment.

The young man with the freckles on his face picked up a Disciplinary Committee armband. Intriguing. So this boy was a member of the Studen Council, and that pretty much meant that he could get away with a few things most in this Academy could not, but then again... if someone caught a member of the Council doing questionable things - the punishment would probably be harsher than normal. Unless, of course, the person in question also had good connections. So many variables.

Ejji furrowed his brows and studied the person before him. His mind quickly went thought the list of the Student Council members that he knew of. The Reiguu made a rule to know as much as he could about the group without looking like he had ulterior motives, and really, he had none. Other than maybe joining them, but that was an idea for another time. Getting back to this guy...

He remembered the name - Kano Genji, a Third Year student. He seemed to remember him from somewhere else though, since his face was somewhat familliar. He couldn't be exactly sure - so many simple folk around that even a man with a memory as good as Ejji's could have trouble remembering faces. He knew clearly though, that he had never really spoken to him before, having never done anything to earn the attention of the particular brach of the Student Council this young man belonged to.
But enough of that, Ejji decied to speak, since the silence was starting to get uncomfortable.

"No, you didn't." he answered truthfully, making sure to make a step back to give this man some space. "But you should be more careful in the future." Ejji concluded, with a hint of a mentoring tone in his voice.

Ejji decided to see what the reaction would be. Maybe the boy would be offended by the tone of his advice?

Ejji, of course, already knew the name of the young man before him, but he decided to keep that fact to himself. Instead he quickly analyzed the situation. It seemed that they were both going to the library, and it would be useless to try and dissiduate this guy, since if Ejji made a sharp turn and just walked away right now, Genji would simply follow him. Perhaps he would even continue to pester him with useless talk. So the right decision was pretty clear - Ejji would have to give his name and spend some time in the company of this student.

It would be okay too, if not for the fact that this Genji just went and compared the two of them. Naturally, none of the frustration at the fact showed on Ejji's face, but it was still not right. The heir of the Reiguu knew for a fact he was a better person all around. He was not going to just admit that Genji's remark about getting lost in thought was spot on. No - it was the other's guy's fault and only his.

"I'm afraid you are wrong. Things like that don't happen to me." Ejji replied coldly, making sure not to show any other signs of negative emotion. After all, was he not a merciful person? Surely Genji would make his own conclusions and see who was a better man.

The honor student then took some time to look aside, in the direction of the Library. He supposed that there was no other way around, and he would lose some of the precious time he had in the Library. He just wanted to be left alone to his own business, but no. Things were never that easy. His perceptive eyes caught the signs of the students gather around the two of them. Perhaps they thought it was a confrontation of sorts? One thing was for sure - the others gave Ejji and Genji a wide berth. It was to be expected - Reiguu Ejji was a too high-class and few dared approach him, and Kano Genji was a member of the Disciplinary Committee which made sure people were weary of him.
It was time to move, lest they attract too much attention. Ejji was sure some sort of rumours were going to start because of this.

"Let us go." he decided not to elaborate on his reasons and turned around, turning his head only to add one more thing. "I am Reiguu Ejji."

He started to walk towards the Library.

As Ejji walked away, he made sure to turn his head slightly in order to observe the young man disperse the crowd with ease and practise. Guess he wasn't in the Disciplinary Committee for nothing then, and coul handle a situation before it started. Commendable.
Ejji took some time to think about what he observed just mments before. It seemed that this Genji person caught on with the fact that Ejji was displeased, if the freckled boy's face was anything to go by. At least it was pretty easy to read his new acquaintance.

He made sure to make it look like he didn't pay much attention when Genji caught up to him. He made it look like he turned his head when he started speaking. At first the Reiguu heir was about to be annoyed, but then Genji actually said why he wanted the help of the snow-haired student, and that caused a barely noticable twitch of Ejji's lips. So, this new "friend" of his actually understood that Ejji was smarter than most people. Perhaps he misunderstood something about earlier, or perhaps Genji understood it just now - it didn't matter.
Ejji decided to not let the scilence linger this time, opting to grace the boy walking beside him with a conversation. It could prove enlightening.

"Hn." he began, running a hand through his hair, smoothing it out, even thought it was unneccesary, the haircut being perfectly as he wanted it to be anyway. "I suppose I should help you then. I am a member of the Literature Club, and am no stranger to the Academy Library."

If he were a lesser person, he would be feeling pretty smug with himself. But he didn't, seeing as it was pretty natural for him - he was one of the top of his class, and the very best... if it weren't for that new transfer student. But that was of no matter now.
A few more minutes, and they would be at the entrance to the library.

Ejji actually had some time to enjoy the silence as the two of them neared the entrance to the Library. He honestly did not think that his new acquaintance would keep quiet for the rest of the way, and he was pleasantly surprised. It seemed that he had been too quick to judge Genji... although on the other hand this could be one of the few exceptions. Perhaps the fellow student was simply this way when he first met someone, seeing as people behaved differently when they were in a company of a new person. Ejji could not discard this theory. He loved to take all the options into account - it kept his mind sharp and open to possibilities. This also allowed for better experience when dealing with something similar in the future.

And so, after another minute, the two students stepped foot into the Library. The sight that greeted them inside was spectacular indeed. it always brought a hint of a smile on Ejji's face. This section of the Academy was quite old fashioned. The long bookshelves stood tall and proud, almost reaching the ceiling. There were wheeled ladders all over the place, so that people could actually reach to the highest sections of the bookshelves. There were also a few areas with chairs and long tables, where people could read or do their homework. And then there was the check out point near the entrance, where the two new arrivals now stood.

Ejji took a second to inhale the scent of old books, enjoying in this small, weird pleasure, and turned his head to his companion.

"Where to?" he asked a simple question. Of course, by these words he wanted to know where they should begin. He still didin't know what kind of books Genji was looking for.

Ejji took but a few moments to go through the memories of the library in his head, quickly remembering the correct route to a specific place they needed to go. With a small, affirmative nod to himself he turned his eyes back to his companion and spoke.

"Follow me."

And with that he started walking. Their path took them between the different aisles of the room, between the numerous bookshelves. On their way they encountered only a few students, which were busy with their own searches for knowledge. Perhaps some were here to relax and simply read to their heart's content. Ejji had often being one of those people, not realy needing to visit the Library often for class-related purposes.

The Reiguu wondered while they walked, guiding his companion on autopilot. This boy was a Third year, and so it automatically made him a "sempai", but Ejji had yet to call him that, as well as adress him by his name at all. He scolded himself mentally. No mattter what sort of person Genji was, unless he was a delinquent, Ejji knew better than to break the rules of conduct and proper behaviour. He had to rectify that mistake.

He made sure to do that, once they reached the object of their search. They stood one before one of the long bookshelves, and with a quick scan, Ejji thrust out his hand and grabbed two books in a single, swift motion. They were not very thick, so that made it look easier... and a bit more stylish, but Ejji would never admit that to anyone. With these, Genji would have no problem.

"These are the books you need, Kano-sempai." Ejji adressed the boy by his last name. Funny, he was too used to hearing that same "-sempai" suffix being used with his own last name, usually sounding in overly sweet, girly tones. He suppressed a groan and a chuckle, remaining completely calm.

Everything seemed to go smoothy after that point. Genji had seemed to be overjoyed by the fact that the books he was looking for were found with such ease. Ejji would make a wild guess and say that his new acquaintance would feel extremely thankful to him for the whole day. The Reiguu was not a real bad person, but something inside his brain began to work in the direction of making something useful from this encounter. Perhaps he could gain something from this boy, if he played his cards right? Having a... "contact" in the Studen Council, and the Disciplinary Committee was a good thing, even if his reputation was impecable.

And lo and behold, something seemed amiss. Ejji noticed that Genji stopped in his process of checking out the books. The white-haired student watched the whole proceedings carefully, even while thinking. Genji seemed to grow sad and inactive at the mention of his library card. Perhaps he had forgotten it somewhere, or lost it? It didn't matter - for this was a really good chance to interviene. Play the benevolent benefactor. Ejji barely kept a smirk from taking over his features.

With a decicide step forward, Ejji quickly took the initiative.

"Please, let me. It seems my friend lost his card, so I shall check out the books." Ejji used a bit of his charm, but that was really unneseccary, since the librarian knew him. The woman smiled from behind her thin glasses.

"Very well, Reiguu-san. I trust you to return them in time." she told him, finishing the task.

"Of course." Ejji nodded, taking back his card.

He did not let Genji say a word and the two quickly exited the Library, where the Reiguu handed the young man his books. It seemed that everything was going as planned, if he dared say so.

"Here are your books. I hope they help." Ejji made sure to act calm and collected. No smiles, no nothing. Like he didn't even think twice about using his card in Kano's place... and, really, he didn't. It was an "everyone win" scenario.