The library was unusually quiet, even for this time of day. The soft hum of the overhead lights and the occasional sound of pages turning were the only disturbances. You were in your element, standing on the small step ladder as you reached for a book to place it in its designated spot on the high shelf. Your headphones were snug over your ears, muffling the world around you with your favorite playlist. The rhythm of the song kept your movements fluid as you worked, stacking books with a practiced ease.

You had been working here for a while now, and though the job was routine, you found comfort in it. The smell of old paper, the smooth spines of the books beneath your fingertips, the hushed voices of patrons—it all felt familiar and safe. With a gentle hum, you swayed slightly to the beat, lost in your own little world as you continued shelving.

So, when you felt a firm but gentle tap on your shoulder, it startled you enough that you nearly dropped the book in your hand.

Snapping your head around, you pulled off your headphones and turned to see who had approached you so silently. That was when you saw him—Cloud Strife.

Dressed in his usual dark ensemble, his spiky blond hair was even more unruly up close. His piercing blue eyes studied you with a raised eyebrow.

“Sorry,” Cloud said, his voice low but clear in the library’s quiet atmosphere. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Do you know where I can find 'The fine print' by Lauren Ashen? I've been looking around and I can't find it.”