Episode 50: A Cold

「…Ugh, this is rough… I feel like garbage.」

I totally blew it. I thought I was being careful after that day, but here we are.

If Senpai finds out I caught a cold, given the timing, she’ll trace it back to that rainy day in a heartbeat. She’ll probably start saying it’s all her fault…

And I’ll probably get a lecture for my lack of self-care.

If I just stay home tomorrow, I’ll have the whole weekend to recover.

The problem is the senpais. I’ll send a RAIN message saying I’ve got errands to run so I can’t make it tomorrow.

If I can dodge the morning and lunch, I should be able to hide it from them.

「I’m sorry, but about tomorrow, I have some errands to run so I can’t walk with you in the morning. I’ll be busy during lunch too, so let’s skip the bento and watering. Sorry.」

「Understood. That’s a shame, but I’ll make one for you again starting next week.」

「Yes, thank you. Goodnight.」

「Goodnight.」

This should be fine for now. As long as Senpai doesn’t come to my classroom, she won’t find out…

…And that was me setting up yet another massive flag.

In the morning, I went by Takanashi-san’s classroom just to say hi, but it looked like he hadn’t arrived yet.

Arriving right at the last minute… he must be really busy.

Would it be bad to force my way in? But since we won’t see each other at lunch, I at least wanted to say hello and see his face.

「What’s up? Didn’t get to see Takanashi-kun?」

「No… he messaged me saying he’s busy today.」

It’s lonely not being able to make Takanashi-san’s bento. It’s become part of my daily routine.

「Even if he’s busy, he should be able to at least say hi. Why not go during lunch?」

「Yes, I plan to do that.」

「Takanashi-kun is out with a cold today. The teacher said so during morning homeroom.」

I came to see how Takanashi-san was doing during lunch break.

Since he wasn’t around, I asked a girl who happened to be nearby and that was the answer I got.

…A cold… he didn’t seem like that yesterday… did he get worse during the night?

I need to get back to my classroom immediately.

Sara rushed back.

She has a grim expression. Did she fail to see Takanashi-kun?

Wait.

Why is she suddenly packing her bags?

Wait, no way!

「Sara! Why are you trying to leave? School isn’t even over yet!」

「Takanashi-san is absent with a cold. There is a high probability that the rain the other day is the cause. If that’s the case, it’s my fault, so I’m going to nurse him right now…」

「Hold it! Um… what are you going to tell the teacher? And Sara, do you even know where Takanashi-kun lives?」

「Yes, we walked home together the other day. I will go explain things to the teacher now.」

What’s this about the rain… and more importantly, when did she find out where he lives? Wait, that’s not the point.

I have no choice. I’ll have to use Takanashi-kun as leverage to talk her down.

「Sara, I get how you feel, but if you leave early just for this, Takanashi-kun is going to be troubled. He’ll worry about how he made you skip class just because of him.」

「Ah… ugh… but…」

Oh, I see. Telling her Takanashi-kun will be troubled actually stops her.

「Takanashi-kun probably lied because he knew you’d get like this. So, if you’re going to go, you have to finish school properly. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting all the consideration he showed you, right?」

…I didn’t hear it from Takanashi-kun, but assuming he lied because he didn’t want Sara to know, that’s probably the reason.

If it’s going to cause trouble for Takanashi-san…

I suppressed my desire to go to him right this second.

That’s right… Takanashi-san is a kind person, so he must have lied for my sake.

Catching a cold at this timing, I can only think that day was the cause. But he thought to keep me from realizing it.

In that case, if I don’t finish school properly, I’ll be doing a disservice to him. I will visit him after school is over.

…Of course, he’s getting a lecture for the lie itself.

「I understand. I will visit Takanashi-san’s home after school. Though I will be skipping my student council duties.」

「I’ll contact Daichi too, so let’s head out as soon as school is over.」

I have never wanted classes to end as quickly as I did today.