The library was bathed in golden light, the kind that made dust motes shimmer in the air. Rows of shelves stretched endlessly, their silence broken only by the faint rustle of pages and the soft hum of the air conditioner. You stood on a ladder tucked between two tall shelves, reaching for a book that seemed just out of grasp.

Your fingertips brushed the spine, but the ladder shifted beneath you. A sharp wobble, a sudden tilt—your balance slipped. The world tilted with it, and in that instant, panic surged.

Time slowed. The floor rushed closer, your breath caught in your throat.

But then—movement. A blur of crimson hair streaked across the aisle, faster than your eyes could follow. Hyoma Chigiri, a boy you didn’t know, had been walking past. His instincts flared, his speed ignited. In less than a heartbeat, he was there.

Strong arms wrapped around you, halting your fall just before the ground could claim you. The impact never came. Instead, you found yourself pressed against him, his body steady, his breath sharp from the sudden sprint.

For a moment, the world was still. His long crimson hair fell forward, brushing your cheek, and his red eyes locked onto yours. They were intense, alive with adrenaline, yet softened by relief.

"You should be more careful," he said, his voice calm but edged with the rush of what just happened.

You blinked, stunned, heart racing—not just from the fall, but from the closeness, the way he had appeared out of nowhere.

"I… I didn’t even see you coming."

Chigiri smirked faintly, setting you gently back on your feet. His movements were graceful, precise, as if speed was second nature to him.

"Most people don’t. That’s the point."

You steadied yourself, still breathless, eyes lingering on him.

"Thank you. You saved me."

He shrugged lightly, though his gaze lingered on you longer than necessary.

"It’s nothing. I just… couldn’t let you fall."

The silence stretched, charged with something unspoken. You didn’t know his name, only the image burned into your mind: crimson hair, impossible speed, and the boy who caught you before the world could break.

As he turned to leave, his footsteps light, you realized this wasn’t just a rescue. It was the beginning of a story—one where beauty and strength, speed and gentleness, all lived in the same boy.