Chapter 54The Goddess Opens Her Eyes
(TL Note: There's a slight difference from the LN version, where in the LN version this part used the Narrator's POV, while in this WN version, it used Aika's POV.)
I couldn't concentrate in my classroom. It was also because the back of my chest was buzzing all the time.
I didn't need to find a reason to be mad, because this had been going on since a guy I knew collapsed. I was surprised when he fell with a loud noise and couldn't get up. I thought he would wake up soon because he fell with a stupid noise, but it turned out that something was wrong, but I ran to him because Sensei was freaking out.
"Sajocchi...!? Hey, Sajocchi!?"
My best friend, Ashida Kei, and our other male classmates called out to him as he lay limp. The first time I came, I was sitting far away from him and could only see him lying on his face, being carried by our male classmates, so I couldn't see his expression.
It wasn't until Sensei called him and some of the male classmates carried him that his face came into view for the first time. His face, which should have always been smiling, was bright red and looked distressed as if he was in great pain. As if dragged away by the scene, every heartbeat that came from inside my chest swelled and I felt like I was suffocating. I must have been dumbfounded when I realized that, after he was carried away, I stood there until I realized that my classmates were calling me.
(Is he going to be okay...?)
Probably looking for a way to keep my mind calm, I just turned to my best friend. Maybe I hoped that she would make eye contact with me and tell me that he would be okay like he usually does. However, she just stared at the empty bench in front of her with a rather pale-looking face.
♦
As soon as class time was over, I headed straight to the infirmary. My best friend, Kei, also accompanied me. When I knocked on the door and went inside, I was greeted by Shindou-sensei, the infirmary doctor. When I told her the truth, she seemed to understand what I meant and told me that it was just a common cold. Hearing that, I felt relieved and unintentionally exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Gosh, that's a really poor condition indeed."
When I explained what happened when that guy fainted, the doctor seemed unconcerned. I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks that story is easy to tell. Anyway, I was relieved to know from his condition that it wasn't a very serious condition. But still, it seemed that it must have been a high fever.
The doctor sprayed alcohol on our hands, we took masks and went into the room behind the curtains of the bed by the window where he was sleeping. I could see how expressive he was every day, and his expression while sleeping with his mouth hanging closed was so new that I felt like I had never seen it before. Seeing his expression of pain, I knew that his normally carefree state was not unusual.
"You guys just go back there, the next class will start soon."
"Uh, ah-."
The doctor urged the two of us to go out into the corridor as if we were being kicked out in the midway. The worried expression on my best friend's face strangely seemed similar to the feeling I was experiencing.
She was just his classmate. Would it be rude if she also had the same concern for her as I did, just like I did for my little sister when I saw her having nightmares, was our concern about this fever the same? Inevitably, every time I thought of her condition earlier, I was reminded of my little sister, Airi, when she cried at night.
He was already in the infirmary, with the doctor by his side. Just knowing that was a huge relief for me. I don't know why, but right now he seems to be trying to force himself to digest his grief and suffering. It was a relief to know that the Doctor was continuing to take care of him.
(Thank goodness... ─Why was I worried so much, anyway?!)
As if someone from my family was lying down... When I realized this, my face got even hotter, as if this wasn't a feeling I would have with a person of the opposite gender. I talked to my best friend to cover up my feelings, and by the time we returned to the classroom, I had regained my composure and so had my best friend.
♦
We returned to our classroom before the fourth period started. We quietly left the infirmary because we might wake him up if we were too noisy. Moreover, we would also be scolded by Shindou-sensei. Besides, I was also worried about how it would affect my little sister, Airi if I got infected myself.
The fourth period ended while the frustration that hadn't been fully digested interfered with my concentration. Looking around, it seemed that today was exactly like any other day, but it seemed that among the several empty seats, there was only one person who wasn't in the far corner of my sight. Before I knew it, the bell signaling the end of class had rung.
It felt strange not to have that guy around, even though he had a big presence, for better or worse, even though he was sitting on the seat far away from me. ...It also felt strange to have an empty seat in front of my best friend's seat, which was beautiful and versatile. Anyway, for me, what is the relationship between the two of them...?
(...Wait a minute. If it's about Kei, why are you also thinking about that guy...)
Suddenly, while thinking calmly, I realized. It's strange, even "his" presence shouldn't be so noticeable to me. Even though we've known each other for a long time, but until now, I still feel annoyed with him. Even now, I should be annoyed with his presence. So, why is that guy filling most of my thoughts?
"Wow! Cool..."
"...?"
The classroom suddenly began to buzz with the murmurs of the female students. I looked up, curious about this unusual situation, and found a familiar face standing at our classroom entrance.
"Hey, um, ...You're Ashida-san, aren't you?"
"Wow... ...yeah, l-long time no see!"
Shinomiya Rin-senpai. She is the President of the Kōetsu High School Disciplinary Committee. My best friend, who claimed to be her biggest fan, stood in front of her and responded with a "cautious" attitude.
Her long ponytail was tied up, swaying gracefully. I felt that I could understand my best friend's admiration because she was a girl with a dignified attitude.
(Could this have something to do with Wataru...?)
As I thought about the reason for coming to our classroom, the face of Wataru who had just been brought to the infirmary came to mind. How could she, a senpai and also the President of the Discipline Committee, knows him? What was the relationship between this popular senpai and him?
"I came here looking for Sajou, but... ...I don't think he's here at the moment, huh."
"A-Actually..."
Shinomiya-senpai and Kei were surrounded by girls within 10 seconds of their appearance together. Senpai was treated as if she were a male idol. For some reason, Kei was also a bit like that type, ...and in terms of hairstyle, Kei looked more like a guy...
"Fufu, ...Aichi..."
"...!"
I shook my head and dispelled my fantasy.
This one is no good. Despite her boy-like haircut, she's still too pretty to pose as a boy. At least in my mind, she's reliable and cute at the same time. How could I be who she called by the cute name of "Aichi"? Her gestures and personality were very feminine. On top of that, she would change her face to "girl" when dealing with Senpai.
My best friend seemed to be explaining the truth to Senpai that that guy should be sleeping in the infirmary while trembling with nerves. Staring at Senpai's face gradually became stern, scaring me. Even so, I couldn't keep quiet when it came to that boy, so I approached them directly.
"─ So, that Sajou fainted, huh?"
"Yeah..."
"That... ...this news might be hasn't been told to Kaede yet, huh."
"Kaede". The name suddenly sounded familiar, I thought for a moment and remembered. Sajou Kaede. That was his Big Sis' name. Before coming here, Shinomiya-senpai had asked her if she had any messages for her little bro. The big sister replied to the message casually, so Senpai made sure that she did not know that her little bro was brought to the infirmary.
"Mmm... ...I'd love to track down that truck, but... ...that's not the point right now. It's just lunchtime and I was wondering if you guys were going to visit him by chance...?"
"Ah, yes. I think we're going to visit him in the infirmary."
"The two of us* will also come to visit him later. So, you guys can go first."
(TL Note: Rin and Kaede.)
"R-Roger that."
Senpai turned around and walked quickly. When I see her like that, I'm reminded of the martial arts vibes with the sharpness of her movements. She must be very strong, otherwise, she wouldn't have such a confident vibe. She has a cool look, and I can understand why my best friend Kei is such a fan of hers. If she can be confident like that, she must have a different outlook from me.
"Kei, let's go."
"Yeah."
"Kei."
I pinched my best friend's smooth cheeks.
♦
Just in case, I brought Wataru's bag to the infirmary. Kei asked, "What do you think is in this bag?". She smiled and was about to look through the contents of the bag, so I decided to keep the bag. When I took the bag from her, it was surprisingly light. I understood that Wataru liked to put his things in lockers. I shook the bag for a moment and heard a jingling sound inside. It must be his wallet or maybe his coin purse.
"Ah... ...ah."
I realized that I was lifting Wataru's bag to the level of my face when his smartphone charger fell out of an opening somewhere. The girl next to me said, "You want to open this bag, right? Don't you want to open this bag?". Stubbornly, I refused, out of a sense of justice. No matter if Wataru was sick and being treated in the infirmary, he still had his privacy. Besides, what kind of look should I show if I found an inappropriate book or something?
(But he's also a guy, ...and no, no, no! What the hell was I thinking?!)
Calm down, calm down me, suggest yourself stay calm. Wataru would never bring that kind of thing to school. I want to believe that. First of all, now is not the time to be distracted by such things. This girl walking next to me, she's a very pretty girl. I sighed and wondered where was she when she reprimanded me sternly that time.
"-Sorry to interrupt... ...Huh?"
As I entered the infirmary, the smell of medicine tickled my nostrils. The infirmary doctor, Shindou-sensei, was not there, and during this silence, there was a goldfish tank on the shelf making a clattering sound.
Looking out of the curtainless glass door, I found that the rain outside, which had been heavy just now, had subsided. The ground, visible from here, was covered in puddles, and it was no longer possible to walk on it. I wondered what would happen in tomorrow's field practice.
At the back of the infirmary, there are three beds. Among these beds, there was only one bed near the window at the end that was blocked by this curtain. Needless to say, I understood that Wataru was sleeping there.
"Sajocchi~...? Are you awake? ...You're sleeping, aren't you?"
"Yeah, ...I thought so."
We called out to him from outside the dividing curtain, but of course, there was no answer. In the first place, I didn't expect that he would stay awake in this lonely room in the first place. I'm sure that the reason I knew this and finally called out to him, was because I hoped that he would recover.
He was breathing very hard. It had only been a little over an hour since he fainted. ...He might still not wake up. There's no doubt that he still hasn't recovered from his condition.
"I brought your bag- ...Woah."
"Woah...-What?"
Next to me, Kei slowly opened the curtain, calling out to Wataru in a whisper, and he took a step back and looked somewhat surprised. I caught up to him and looked at the bed that was visible through the gap, and my eyes widened involuntarily.
A rough white bed, like the ones usually found in the infirmary. I'm not too fond of it. But still, he wrapped himself up quietly on the other side of the curtain.
He peeked faintly from inside, the rain falling outside through the window while staring at it.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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