Tenchi Muyo! in the World

There were several of Washu's favorite places in the campus. A small space only for her. She made a simple field and allowed no one to enter this place. But one day, there was an intrusion to her small world.
Long branches were bowing down from the thee reaching the ground, and the tree looked just like a umbrella of a size of 10m round. Under the tree, Washu was revolving in her thoughts, when suddenly a young man came in though the branches.
'…What?'
'…Oh. I, I'm sorry!!'
It seemed that the guy was more surprised than Washu and apologized and tried to run away.
'Wait Not that way!' knowing that there was a cliff in the direction which the guy went, Washu cried out in a hurry.
But.
'Ahhhhhaaaaaa!!'
It wasn't the answer from the guy but his scream, which was heard, tipping over the cliff. By Washu's help the guy managed to scramble up and was roughly breathing.
'Phew, I thought I was dead…'
'You are so clumsy… Niwase Mikamo-kun.'
'Wh-, why do you know my name? Er, er..' The man called Mikamo looked at Washu in surprise. Eyes with strong will, red hair of passion, a attracting proportion, all looked so beautiful. If he had ever met her before, he would have never forgot her.
'…The sun is hot there. Come here,' Washu smiled at him and walked in beneath the tree shade.
'…Er…' Not knowing what to do, Mikamo stood outside the tree.
'…What is it?' asked Washu.
'I am terribly sorry for interrupting you. I was just walking around thinking for other things and I didn't notice. … I'm so sorry walking into a ladies room without knocking.'
Listening in silence, Washu laughed out.
'Well, particularly, it isn't my room. Come in.'
'Yes, but…'
'You don't want to spend time with me?'
'Of course I do!!'
Washu laughed again.
Teasing with Mikamo, Washu liked Mikamo's politeness and chastity.
'By the way, how ever have you managed to reach here? I set a simple field around here, you know. …Perhaps it's broken?'
'…Er, er, I think it's not broken. I…, you see, when I am walking around thinking of something, I often end up in a place where usually others can't enter. Professor Ikuma told me that I have a great deviation in probability…'
It seemed that he had made lots of mistakes by this before, and he looked down with shame.
'I see. Looks like a favorite topic for Professor Ikuma. …Be careful not to be anatomized by him, Mikamo-kun.'
'Er, please for give me, but why do you know my name? I believe that this is the first time we met, isn't it?'
'There was a student in the first class I made, you know. This guy kept on sleeping from the beginning to the end at a nice sunny warm seat. His name was Niwase Mikamo,' said Washu wittingly and with a large smile on her face.
At last Mikamo found who she was.
'…Er, are you then Dr. Washu?'
Watching Washu nod, Mikamo came to attention and bow again and again.
'Oh, please for give me, pardon me, well, at that lecture... you see…'
'That seat is very comfortable especially during this season. The sun shines the longest there, you know. I love that seat, too,' said Washu smiling to Mikamo.
Mikamo smiled back with shame. Then the clock rang telling them that the lunch break was over. Washu got up picking up her things and looked at Mikamo.
'But take care, if you sleep again, I'll anatomize you myself.'
To her words, Mikamo froze. Washu winked to him with a smile and walked away.
Since then, Mikamo kept awake and listened to her lecture.
This was their first meeting. And even now, Washu laughs out recalling the way Mikamo flustered at that day.


Several hundreds kilometers far from the main campus, which was used then, stood the old campus, which was used several thousands years before. This was one of Washu's favorite places.
Because the whole planet was occupied by the academy, it wasn't special that one department organized one whole continent. Actually, the department of philosophy had a continent of the size of Africa. And if there was one place where a single student of Professor was using, no matter how old the building was, repaired it might be but it wouldn't ever be taken down. This old school house was given from Prof. Ikuma to Washu guessing that she would like such kind of places. It was build by wood having some special coating on it to perdure the wind and rain.
This place was a secret place for Washu.
The reason why Washu loved this pace so much was because there was a library preserving old books in it. Whenever she had time, she came here and kept on reading the books.
And also today she was there reading the books.
'Who is it?'
Washu was decrypting an old book in the library when suddenly she heard a noise of the floor squeaking.
No one should be here, she thought.
'Who is it?' she asked again.
'…Dr. Washu?'
It was Mikamo who appeared from behind the bookshelves.
'Yo, you. what are you doing here?' asked Washu in surprise.
'I came here to read some books. What are you doing here, too Dr. Washu?'
'To read a book also. …Haha.'
To this clumsy conversation, Washu laughed out.
'Of course we are here to read books, it is a library. Well, I didn't mean to ask that, but it's all right. I won't ask how you came here. But this is my private place.'
'Oh, is it? Pardon me. I didn't know that. I will leave at once.'
'We meet together in special places, don't we? It's OK. I'll allow you to stay here, specially,' said Washu stopping him. 'But I'm surprised to hear that you read books.'
At this age, books meant just the same as stone printing and wall printing do in the present Earth. Reading it is rather like archaeology than earning knowledge. Mikamo found what she was asking and replied.
'We, well. To tell the truth, I had this kind of room at my home. It was my favorite place since I was a child and, well I don't know why, I felt comfortable when I stayed there… And, you see, feeling the weight of the book, the sound of turning the pages and the letters and figures like wall paintings, they are mellow, aren't they?' said Mikamo closing his eyes and patting the book with his hands.
Washu went on after him.
'… So am I. I like it because you can see the information directly, not by numbers. Glorious and it's like something is indwelling in it. And…'
When Washu was going to say the next words, Mikamo also opened his mouth as if he recalled it just then,
'…I like the smell of the old books.'
'…I love the smell of the old books.'
There voices made a complete harmony.
Washu and Mikamo looked at each other and at the next moment, they started to laugh.
'Ahahahaha… You are so nice, Mikamo-kun. I admit you as the first clubber of the book loving club and allow you to enter this place.'
'Thank you very much. …Er.'
'What is it?' asked Washu.
'Well, if I'm number one, then Dr. Washu is…?'
'I'm the advisor,' smiled Washu winking to him.
Was this a knot it was not sure.
But at this moment, there was a space of Mikamo in Washu's heart.