Episode 62: I Absolutely Will Not Let You Go Home Alone

「Are you okay? Your cold didn’t come back, did it?」

「Before you head home, stop by the nurse’s office to borrow a thermometer…」

「I am checking Takanashi-san’s condition myself, so there is no need for concern.」

！？

When did she…

Senpai approached with an unnaturally wide smile.

Her eyes were clearly locked onto my forehead. No way…

…Wait, there are still a lot of people in the classroom, Senpai!?

「Takanashi-san, please let me measure your temperature, okay?」

Since she put it that way, I had no way to resist…

Forehead, neck… for some reason, she measured for longer than she did during lunch break… right in front of everyone.

Voices vanished from the classroom… even those two froze up…

「I don’t feel any change compared to noon. You should be fine.」

Even as she said that, Senpai looked into my face.

「But are you a little tired? I get that impression…」

「Ah, yes, I guess I’m a bit worn out…」

「…I see… understood.」

Senpai seemed to think for a moment and paused.

Then she looked at the two girls…

「Thank you for worrying about Takanashi-san. From here on, “I” will be accompanying him closely, so please do not worry.」

The extremely polite response made me feel something else entirely…

「Y-yes, well then, we’ll leave it to Satsukawa-senpai.」

「We’ll be heading out now.」

「Now, Takanashi-san, shall we go?」

「Y-yes.」

I couldn’t ask where.

For now, I just wanted to make an emergency exit from the classroom.

My hand was firmly caught… gripped by Senpai, and a short while after we left the room…

「What the hell was that!?」

「What does she mean, accompany him!?」

「Are they really just friends!?」

「Gwaaaaah, Satsukawa-senpai is…!!!」

…Somehow, I think I heard something like screams coming from the classroom…

Senpai kept her grip on my hand and walked as if leading me somewhere.

Ah, we’re really drawing attention…

I was planning on going home, though…

「Um… you have student council now, right, Sara-senpai? I’m just a little tired, so I can go home on my own—」

「Regarding the student council, do not worry, I have a plan. I will prepare a place where you can properly rest, so I am sorry, but I would like you to wait until I am finished.」

Wait, I have a really bad feeling about this!?

Or rather, isn’t this the first time Senpai has been this forceful?

「I cannot leave Takanashi-san alone when he causes even his classmates to worry.」

…By any chance, are you a little angry…?

「S-Sara-senpai, I’m okay going home on my own…」

「No! I am accompanying you, so I absolutely will not let you go home alone!」

「Yes! I’m sorry!」

I’ve caused Senpai trouble again…

But it’s only Sara-senpai… who accepts me like this…

「Sara-senpai, I’m really sorry for all the trouble…」

「Takanashi-san, I…」

「But Sara-senpai is the only person who has worried about me this much, accepted me, and even looked after me. I was so happy about it that I ended up depending on you…」

「…Takanashi-san」

「Y-yes?」

「Is it only me?」

「Pardon?」

「Am I the only one for you, Takanashi-san? Am I the only one you depend on?」

In reality, there’s no one else who’s this kind to me, helps me, and proactively takes care of me. My mother is out of the question.

「Um… well, I haven’t had anyone other than Sara-senpai look after me like that, or anyone else I’ve depended on.」

Ugh, I’m saying something pretty pathetic and embarrassing…

「Only me… only me… fufu… I see.」

！？

For some reason, Sara-senpai’s smile became incredibly sparkly.

「Takanashi-san, I will look after you whenever you are in trouble, okay? Also, please tell me if you ever want to depend on me. It is okay anytime, you know?」

「Y-yes, thank you?」

「Fufu… now then, shall we go?」

Did her mood… improve?

When we arrived at the student council room, Senpai tried to lead me inside with her.

I’m really going in too!?

Rattle rattle rattle

「Good work.」

「「「「「Good wooooork!」」」」」

「Satsukawa-san, good wor…k?」

The President was surprised to see me.

That’s only natural, even I’m wondering why I’m here.

「My apologies, but I have a matter to discuss regarding Takanashi-san.」

「Ah… what’s the matter, Takanashi-kun?」

「「「「「Takanashi-san!! ??」」」」」

Whoa! That scared me!

What!? Did I do something!?

「Takanashi-san is just recovering, and there are still some concerns about his condition. I wish to accompany him home, so please allow him to use the break room until the student council is finished.」

「「「「「What!?」」」」」

What, are the student council members even unified in their reactions?