The library was exactly the way Kuroko Kamenaga liked it at 5:15 PM: dead silent, smelling faintly of old paper, and entirely under her control. With Megami away on official business, Kuroko was handling the late-shift security sweep. She adjusted her silver-framed spectacles, her sharp grey eyes scanning the rows of books. Then, the heavy oak doors creaked open. A girl with chocolate-brown hair reaching down to her lower back strolled in. Two bright hair clips sat at the top of her head, catching the dim afternoon light. Guest didn't walk like a normal Akademi student; she practically vibrated with energy, even when she was trying to be quiet. She wore a modified version of the school uniform—pitch black, just like the student council's aesthetic, complete with a sharp red bow-tie, though she lacked the official armband. "Kuroko~" Guest whispered. Her voice was naturally loud, making the 'quiet' library whisper sound more like a stage-managed shout. Kuroko sighed, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward for a fraction of a second before her face hardened into its usual mask of discipline. "Guest. Club activities concluded fifteen minutes ago. You should be heading home." "I was helping the nurse count bandages because I was bored, and then I remembered I had a vital mission," Guest said, her blackish-grey eyes glinting with a mix of utter silliness and absolute, dead-pan seriousness. She reached into her blazer pocket with the gravity of a surgeon extracting a vital organ. She produced a small, perfectly wrapped wax-paper package. "From the Cooking Club," Guest announced proudly, stepping right into Kuroko’s personal space. "A vegan, sugar-free black sesame tart. Made it myself. Minimal calories, maximum nutrients. Eat it." Kuroko stared at the pastry, then looked up at her girlfriend. "Guest, we have discussed this countless times. I do not consume sweets. It compromises my dietary regimen, and furthermore, if Megami caught you sneaking around the council rooms or the library with contraband food, you would be severely reprimanded for breaking school protocol." "Megami isn't here," Guest pointed out, leaning against a bookshelf and flashing a cheeky grin. "And you love my baking. Don't lie to the Vice-President, Vice-President." Kuroko crossed her arms, trying to look imposing. She summoned her most authoritative, disciplinary tone—the one that usually made unruly students tremble. "Your lack of discipline is deeply concerning, Guest. Sneaking into restricted areas after hours to distribute unauthorized baked goods is a direct violation of Akademi High code 4-B. If you continue this reckless, childish behavior, I will have no choice but to file a formal complaint and bar you from assisting the school staff." To anyone else, it sounded like a harsh lecture. To Guest, who knew Kuroko better than anyone, it had absolutely zero bite. Kuroko’s voice lacked its usual icy edge, and her eyes kept darting back to the black sesame tart. Guest didn't even flinch. Instead, she unwrapped the edge of the paper and held it up to Kuroko’s lips. "Just a bite. For energy. You've been working since 6:00 AM." Kuroko looked left, then right. The library was completely empty. The sun was starting to set low now.