Episode 32: On Rainy Days…

It’s raining today… how depressing.

It’s because I’m prone to headaches.

It’s not a guarantee, but rainy days make the possibility of my head hurting go way up.

I’m usually okay if store-bought meds kick in, but when it’s bad, the pain won’t leave and drags on into the next day.

I hope I’ll be okay…

「Good morning, Takanashi-san.」

「Good morning, Sara-senpai.」

Come to think of it, it’s been a little while since we started walking together, but this is the first time we’ve had rain in the morning.

By the way, it’s just me and Sara-senpai today.

Apparently Natsumi-senpai is already at school because her club had a meeting.

「We have PE today, but it looks like it’ll be moved indoors.」

「My class has it today too. It’ll probably be in the gym.」

I head toward school while chatting with Senpai.

…?

Wait, a huge truck is coming this way fast… I’ve got a bad feeling about this…

I try to think of a way to dodge… at this rate, Senpai is going to…

「Sara-senpai, sorry!」

「Eh!?」

I didn’t have time to think. I instinctively tilted the umbrella Senpai was holding toward the road, and used my own umbrella to shield her from below.

Just as I thought, the truck tore right through a puddle as it passed… they really gave it to us good.

「…Sara-senpai, are you okay?」

「Eh, yes, I’m… I’m fine, but…」

Senpai, who had been staring blankly, suddenly snapped out of it.

「Forget that! Look at you, Takanashi-san!!」

Senpai pulled a towel from her bag.

It must be the one she’s supposed to use for PE today.

「Sara-senpai, if you use that now, you won’t be able to use it after PE.」

「That doesn’t matter at all!!」

Senpai started drying my head carefully, but we’re still outside in the rain.

「Sara-senpai, it’s not really working here, so I’m going to run to school. There might be towels in the nurse’s office.」

「…You’re right. You can dry off properly once we get to school. I’ll run too, so let’s hurry.」

「No, Senpai, take your time…」

「Do you really think I could just leave you like this, Takanashi-san?」

Senpai gave me a look like she was a little mad.

「…Sorry. Let’s hurry then.」

「Yes.」

We rushed to the nurse’s office and happened to run into the nurse-sensei as she was coming out.

「Oh? What’s going on? You’re soaking wet.」

「A truck splashed us on the way…」

「Ah… poor things. I’d love to help, but I’ve got to go right now.」

「I’ll take care of him, so it’s fine.」

Sara-senpai spoke up to sensei.

「Oh, Satsukawa-san? Wait, you’re going to look after him?」

「Yes. I’ll take care of Takanashi-san.」

「Heh, you don’t say, Satsukawa-san…」

She looked at us like she was extremely curious.

「Anyway, sorry. Just use any towel in the locker. Make sure to dry him off well so he doesn’t catch a cold. Got a change of clothes?」

「I have my gym clothes since I have PE.」

「Change into those then. I have to go, sorry. Satsukawa-san, I’m leaving him to you.」

「Yes. Leave him to me.」

With that, sensei hurried off.

I should hurry too. It’s actually getting a bit chilly.

We went into the nurse’s office and I got the towels ready.

Sara-senpai was waiting with a towel in hand.

Um… what do I do here?

「Now, Takanashi-san, your body is going to get cold, so please take off your shirt first. I’ll dry your head, so keep your upper body wrapped in a towel.」

「Eh!? No, I can do the rest myself.」

「No. In the first place, this happened because you shielded me, so I should be the one to do it. Though, I would do it even if that weren’t the case.」

…She was so assertive she wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Should I just let her do it…? But is this okay? Taking my shirt off and all…

「…Or is it that you dislike me doing this, Takanashi-san?」

Argh, that face is just cheating!

I’m not going to win anyway, so just deal with it, me!

「Sorry. It’s a lot of trouble, but please.」

「Yes! Now, sit on the bed and hurry and take your shirt off.」

I sat down and took my shirt off like she told me.

Whoa, I guess my body was colder than I thought… I hurried and wrapped myself in a towel.

Sara-senpai was already drying my head.

She was being incredibly careful.

Sigh… I’m embarrassed, or rather… no, I’m happy. I can’t quite put it into words, but I feel… fortunate. Maybe that’s inappropriate…

「Now, I’ll dry your back. Takanashi-san, please keep drying your head with this towel.」

I took the towel that was on my head, and Senpai started using the towel that was wrapped around me.

Technically I’m topless right now, but Senpai seems unfazed.

She’s a serious person, so I was just overthinking it.

「That seems to have done it… now you just need to change.」

「I’ll change into my gym clothes. I happened to bring them.」

「Then I’ll go wipe down this wet shirt a bit.」

She headed toward the lockers with my shirt in hand, so I changed into my gym clothes.

Sigh… what a disaster of a morning… at least I’m glad Senpai didn’t get wet.

I looked at the clock on the wall and realized it was getting late.

「Sara-senpai! Look at the time! I’m fine now, so please go. I’m heading to my classroom too. I’ll take the shirt…」

「You’re right, we’re out of time… Understood. I’ll take charge of this shirt and bring it back during lunch break. I’ll give you your thanks then, too… Well then, excuse me.」

「Yes, see you later!」

I hurried toward my classroom too.

No one really pointed anything out to me, except for my homeroom teacher.