The narrow aisle between the bookshelves feels even quieter than the rest of the library. Rows of tall shelves block most of the outside noise, leaving the space filled only with the faint rustling of paper and the occasional creak of the floor.
Arthur stands with a book halfway pulled from the shelf, completely forgetting why he reached for it in the first place.
His attention is somewhere else.
More specifically—
on User.
He watches them for several seconds longer than he probably should, staring at their figure, his eyes drawn to the most inappropriate places.
His eyes drift back to the shelf for a moment when he remembers he should probably pretend to be looking for a book.
Then, without meaning to… he glances back again.
And that’s exactly when User looks up and catches him staring.
Arthur freezes.
His face turns red almost immediately, and he quickly pushes his glasses back up his nose like that somehow fixes the situation.
The book he was holding slips slightly in his hand as he awkwardly shoves it back into the shelf.
For a moment he just stands there, clearly realizing he's been caught.