Thursday, February 1st, 2024

• Classroom 12-B

"Last month, the school held a mock exam, and there are 5 chapters in the mathematics subject, including linear and quadratic equations, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and basic calculus. I hope you all can-"

~Teng-teng-teng-teng-teng~

"Alright, we’ll end the lesson for today since it’s already break time. Don’t forget to study the material and the exam outlines I just handed out."

"Thank you, sensei!" ( everyone says in unison )

~

"Ha, finally, break time! Come on, Akira, hurry up! We need to rush to the cafeteria! They said today's lunch menu is karē raisu (カレーライス)!"

"Eh, w-wait, Haruki! Don’t run ahead!"

~

"Haha... You better catch up if you don’t want to miss out on karē raisu again this time!"

"Ha... ha... ha... You wait, Haruki!"

~

"Haha, come on, hurry up and catch me! Oh, Akira, watch out on your right, someone’s coming out from the library door!"

"Ha... Ha... You said w-...!"

Brug! ( sound of people colliding )

"Ouch... My butt hurts so much..."

"Haha, Akira-Akira, I told you someone was coming out from the library door."

"Damn, this is all your fault! If you hadn’t told me to run, I wouldn’t have crashed into someone and fallen like this! And it really hurts! Ouch..."

"Hehe... Yeah, yeah, sorry~."

"Ugh... Whatever." (While standing and rubbing his sore bottom)

"I feel worse for crashing into someone here. Hey, sorry for bumping into you earlier, are you okay? Let me help you up-"

Oh no! This guy is so incredibly handsome! How can there be someone this beautiful in school?! W-wait, I'm not gay, but why is my heart beating so fast?! I didn’t even finish my sentence to him earlier!

"Hey, Akira! Why are you spacing out like that?!" Haruki says while nudging Akira's left arm.

"E-eh, ah, l-let me help you up- Eh, where did he go...?"

"Idiot! You're too late, that guy’s already gone over there. And you were spacing out too."

"Damn it, you should've told me sooner!" ( hastily runs )

"Eh, where are you going, Akira?! The cafeteria’s not that way!"

"I’m going to catch up with that person, you go to the cafeteria! Get the bread and milk for me and bring them to the school infirmary, okay?"

"Bread and milk...? The school infirmary...? What do you mean? Ah, whatever, I’ll go to the cafeteria first."

~

Akira, you fool! How could you space out at a time like this?! Where did he go... Eh, wait, is that him? Eh?! Yeah, it’s him!

"Hey, you with the books! Wait!"

"You're the one from earlier, what’s up?"

"Ha... ha... ha... I'm so tired... Oh, I came here to apologize for bumping into you earlier."

"It’s fine, no worries."

"E-eh, wait! I want to- eh, why is your hand bleeding...?! Ah... it must be because we collided earlier. We need to go to the school infirmary and treat your hand!"

"It’s nothing, it’s just a small wound."

"No! How can you call this a small wound! The blood keeps flowing, you could get infected later! We need to treat it now! Let’s go!" ( while pulling the person towards the school infirmary )

"Eh?! Slow down!"

Ah, this is making me nervous! Without realizing, I dragged this person and forced them to the school infirmary! What will they think of me now? What if they think I'm a rude, shameless guy?! No, no, I hope they don’t think that about me. Phew... Calm down, Akira, just act like usual. I hope this heart-racing feeling doesn’t get heard by him.

• School Infirmary

Creak ( the sound of a door being opened )

"Excuse me, eh, there’s no hokenshi (保健師 - nurse) on duty here... Ah, right, it’s still break time."

"Well then, since no one's here, I should just leave." ( turning to leave )

"E-eh! Wait! Even though there’s no hokenshi, I’m here!"

"You...?"

"Yups, I can treat your wound too! Alright, let’s go!"

"Eh-eh, why are you carrying me?! Put me down!"

"No, if I don’t carry you, you’ll just run away again." ( carrying the person to the beddo ( ベッド ) /bed in the school infirmary )

~

"Now, sit here for a moment, I’ll get the kyuukyuu-bako (救急箱 - first aid kit) from the cabinet."

~

"Okay, give me your injured hand."

"You... Do you really know how to treat wounds?"

"What? Of course I can! Are you underestimating me?~" ( while treating the wound )

"No, it’s just... I didn’t expect someone like you to be kind and responsible."

"Eh...? What, do you mean because of my face?"

"Umm... I feel like your face looks like... a delinquent gang leader...? Maybe...?"

"Oh my god, how can you judge someone just by their face?! I’m nothing like that! I’m the best, sweetest, and most polite guy in this school, you know!" ( speaking in a funny tone )

"Pfft... Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you."

"Huh, this is unforgivable! How could you laugh after accusing my handsome face like that!" ( speaking in a funny tone )

"Pfft... Ah... Sorry again... I know you're upset, but why are you expressing your frustration with that strange tone..."

"... I'm happy to see you laugh like that."

"What...? Your voice is too quiet, what did you say?"

"I said, there are three things you need to do if you want my apology."

"Eh...? How can it be like that? You’re so petty."

"What? Me? Petty?! Can't you see?! I was the one in the wrong, and you apologized while laughing, which sounded insincere. That’s why I made three requests. I promise nothing I ask for will harm you in any way. In fact, it might even benefit you."

"......................................................"

"Hey, why are you so quiet? Do you still not believe me? Well, how about this, if what I ask for is hard for you to do, I’ll change it. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t like. How about that? Deal?"

".... Alright."

"Really?! Yes, it worked!"

Creak ( the sound of a door being opened )

"Worked, what did you mean, Akira?"

"Eh, Haruki. Ah, you bought everything, right? Give it to me. Here's the money, now go." ( takes the items from Haruki’s hands and pushes him out )

"E-eh, wait! How can you treat me like a servant? I still haven’t apologized to that person."

"Never mind, you don’t need to do that, I already did it for you. You should go to the teacher’s office. Kawaguchi-sensei called you, said there’s an issue with your grades."

"Eh, really?! Oh no, if I’m late, I’ll be asked to summarize the book again!" (hastily runs to the teacher's office )

"Phew... Finally, that kid’s gone, so annoying. I was trying to talk too. Ah, sorry, that was my friend, he came because I told him to."

"It’s okay." ( while glancing at the plastic bag Akira was carrying )

"Why are you looking down-... Ah, this? I asked my friend to buy some bread and milk from the cafeteria. Do you want to pick one?"

"What? No, that’s not necessary. I’m not hungry right now."

"But... I really feel guilty for bumping into you earlier and making you lose your break time in the cafeteria... Especially since today’s lunch is karē raisu TT..."

"But..."

"Please, just one, I’ll feel bad if you refuse..."

"....Alright, I’ll take the chocolate one, thank you."

"Hehe, you’re welcome!"

"Ah, I forgot to put a band-aid on your elbow! Hold on... Hmm... Done! Now you can go back to your activities. But remember, you need to change the bandage and plaster every day, okay?"

"Of course, thank you."

"Yeah, um, by the way, we haven’t-"

~

~Teng-teng-teng-teng-teng~

"Ah, the bell just rang! I need to get back to class! Thanks for treating me, I’ll leave now!"

"H-hey, wait, what’s your name?!"

"( Stops ) .... M-Mori Yuki. Sorry, I need to go!"

"Eh, what class are you in? ... Ha... He’s already gone. I need to hurry back to class now." ( heads back to class )

• Classroom 12-B

~Teng-teng-teng-teng-teng~

"Alright, students, since it’s time to go home, we’ll finish the lesson here. And don’t forget to study the material that the teachers have provided."

"Thank you, sensei!" ( everyone says in unison )

"Hey, Akira! Why are you in such a hurry? Where are you going?"

"I’ve got something urgent to take care of. You go to your extra lessons first." ( quickly leaves )

"Eh, but-...! Damn, just as I was about to say something, he’s already gone."

~

Ha... I need to find that person now! I’ll check every classroom, from the first floor to the second. I hope I find him soon.