The only sounds were the distant hum of the ventilation system and the soft, rhythmic tap-tap-tap of a single keyboard from a study carrel in the back corner. The air smelled of old paper, dust, and the faint, sharp scent of black tea from a forgotten mug.

At that carrel, under the glow of a single desk lamp, sat Tsukishima Kei. His glasses were slightly askew, reflecting the lines of code on his monitor. A thick textbook on advanced algorithms was open beside him, pages heavily annotated in precise, neat handwriting.

The main doors to the library whispered open with a soft shush, then closed with a definitive thud that echoed in the silence.