Episode 33: Sara’s Breaking Point

「Morning~」

「Good morning.」

Coming in this late is rare for Sara.

Did something happen… wait, what is she holding?

「What’s that? It looks like it’s wet.」

Sara carefully spreads it out on her desk.

It’s a shirt… a boy’s uniform shirt?!

She’s pressing a towel against it, seemingly trying to soak up the moisture.

「Wait!? What’s with that shirt… whose… well, it couldn’t be anyone’s but Takanashi-kun’s. What happened?」

I didn’t even need to ask whose shirt it was.

I guess that’s why she was late…

「Actually, on the way to school, a truck splashed water on us… Takanashi-san shielded me and got soaked in my place…」

Yikes, that’s rough.

But as expected of Takanashi-kun, he’s a real man.

「That sounds like a disaster of a morning. How is Takanashi-kun doing now?」

「He wiped himself off in the nurse’s office and changed into his gym clothes.」

…I can’t imagine Sara just stood by and watched that in silence…

「Did you dry him off properly?」

「Yes. I had him take his shirt off and I made sure to dry his head and body well.」

Ooh, as expected of Sara, you went that far.

And without even a hint of hesitation… maybe she just wasn’t aware of how it looked…

And so she brought the wet shirt back with her…

Still, seeing Sara spreading a guy’s shirt on her desk to wipe it down is a truly unbelievable sight… I wonder what everyone around us thinks.

「Good morning, Satsukawa-san… Um, that’s a guy’s shirt, right? Why do you have it…」

「I have my reasons. I am busy right now.」

「Ah~ my shirt got wet too. What should I do…」

「Me too. Satsukawa-san, could you do my shirt—」

「 」

Well, of course she’s ignoring them.

I swear they never learn. Don’t they realize they aren’t even on her radar?

「Satsukawa-san, that shirt—」

Are you still at it? There’s no saving an idiot who can’t read the room.

「Be quiet. This is my precious person’s shirt, so please do not interfere with my work.」

Ah, if she says it like that…

「Wha?! What do you mean, who?!」

「Wait, I haven’t heard about this.」

「Satsukawa-san, you have someone you’re dating?!」

「No way!」

…Well, that’s how they’d react.

I should probably step in before it causes trouble for Takanashi-kun.

「It’s the shirt of Sara’s precious best friend. Let her focus.」

「Best friend? You mean just a friend?」

「Oh, it’s just a friend. You scared me.」

「Wait, I can’t even ignore the fact that a guy became friends with Satsukawa-san.」

「I’m jealous enough as it is.」

「Ah, that’s the first-year who’s been walking to school with her every morning.」

「That guy, huh.」

Well, there’s no way people wouldn’t know.

「That guy who doesn’t know his place…」

「You’re being noisy, you who don’t know your place. I don’t see why I should listen to someone whose name I don’t even know talk about my friend like that.」

That was fast.

This might be bad…

「No, I’m in the same class…」

「I don’t know you. I’m not interested. Let me tell you this: I will never forgive anyone who insults Takanashi-san… Remember that.」

Aah, now she’s mad.

The guys all went silent, probably not expecting her to get this angry.

Maybe I should talk to people in the class community.

It looks like the number of guys stepping on her landmines is going to increase.

Just then, the first bell rang.

「Sara, the teacher is coming soon.」

「Once I’ve gotten a bit more water out, I’ll fold it neatly.」

「By the way, I hope Takanashi-kun doesn’t catch a cold after getting that soaked.」

「You’re right… I’ll check on him during lunch break.」

Speaking of which, it’s raining today, so I wonder where we’ll eat.

Ugh, my head hurts… it’s getting pretty bad.

This might be a migraine.

I wish it would be break time already… I want to take my medicine.

Having PE at a time like this is rough. Every time I stop moving, it throbs so much…

I managed to survive PE and took some painkillers, but the pain hasn’t fully subsided…

Just like that, it was lunch break.

Since the student council room was empty today, we were planning to eat lunch there.

I endured the throbbing in my head and reached the room, where Sara-senpai and Natsumi-senpai were already waiting.

「Sorry, am I late?」

「It’s fine. We just got here ourselves.」

「Takanashi-kun, you had a rough morning today…」

「Well… but I’m okay.」

I don’t want to worry them, so I have to endure it…

「…………I’m sorry. I was going to ask how you were feeling, but it looks like you should lie down first. Takanashi-san, over here.」

Senpai, who had been looking at my face for a moment, suddenly said that. She took my hand and led me to the sofa.

「Eh? Sara, what’s up?」

「Sara-senpai?」

「Talking and eating can wait. Please lie down for a bit.」

When Senpai sat on the sofa, I was forced to sit next to her since she was still pulling my hand.

As I sat, she tilted my body down in one smooth motion and put my head on her lap… wait, a lap pillow!!??

「Sara!?」

「Se-Senpai!?」

「Don’t raise your voice. Just calm your heart. It’s okay.」

As she said that, she started stroking my head…

Ah… this is calming… this is… I feel like the headache is actually settling down a little…

「Fufu… just rest like this.」

Senpai kept one hand on the side of my head and used the other to slowly stroke my hair.

Oh no, I’m going to fall asleep… but I can’t… sleep…