Summer - the best period of year. Especially here, in Japan: the final exams, the smell of fresh hot air and sunny days all week along. What could be more exciting than going to the sea and swimming for a while? Or sunbathing with the soda in your hand, listening to the sound of the waves, lazily approaching the shore?

"Hayashi-san?" A nice woman's voice was heard from behind.

Yes, summer is the most beautiful season, but if you live in Japan, it's better to forget about all of these things and focus on the work itself. Otherwise, you could get fired or lose your job really quickly.

"Y-yes?" the man in a white gown asked with the slight hope of being tricked by his own imagination.

"Are you going to the festival?"

"Ugh..." He groaned quietly, sighing and looking aside, and then turned around, smiling with the pursed lips for a moment till his face changed to a mild expression of relief. "Yes, Fubuki-sensei, I was just going there. Wanted to come over to Otsube-sensei, and... Wha...?!"

He could hardly catch the box that Fubuki-sensei just pushed into his arms.

"Could you please bring this to the festival? I baked them myself, I bet they're sooo delicious!" She smiled widely, clapping her hands and raising her eyebrows, making the kind of expression that no one could withstand.

"Okay." The man's lower voice showed the explicit obedience, leaving his mainly side no choice other that accept their fate. "I will bring it to the festival."

"You know, you should hurry until Otsube-sama sees you're slacking off here, pretending you're super busy!" The woman nodded and proudly returned into the classroom, humming some kind of melody.

"Yeah, yeah!" The man glanced through the window, seeing the stadium full of people. "And why should it always be me?"

He walked along the corridor, coming to the entrance. The quiet and metered sound of the empty school changed to the shouts and music outside. It was festival.

Not exactly the one you may have imagined, but one of those that are usually held in Japan. This time it was a few local schools competing for the first place in some kind of a relay. The stadium was bursting with excitement while a few people were trying desperately to get the score.

"Hey, Fubuki-sensei told me to bring it here. I guess it's for the food stalls." The man put the box on the table and exhaled shortly.

"Ah, Hayashi-san, please, we need you to put your name here." Another man approached the stall with the badge.

"Yes, of course." He took the badge and scrawled 'Ayato Hayashi' on it. "I believe it's mine now, right?"

"Yes..." The man nodded, when the HT suddenly hissed, interrupting their conversation.

"Chisaka-san, to the tribune 3, repeat, Chisaka-san to the tribune 3, copy..." the HT said.

"Okay, I need to go." The man hurried to the tribunes, pointing Ayato to his desk. "The med stall is there!"

Ayato nodded and moved forward to the desk. First minutes of relay had already passed. The med desk's duty was giving water and cooling towels for players and students. They also were responsible for providing any help if needed during the competition.

"Why did I even agree?" Ayato whispered, giving another boy a bottle of water.

"Did you say anything?" the boy asked raising his head.

"No-no-no," the man chortled. "Just remembered something."

"Hayashi-san." These words made his silly smile disappear immediately. "Please, come with me, we need your help."

Ayato didn't say a word and only followed the other man, who approached him behind. They hid behind the tribunes and moved towards the changing rooms. There were already two people: one man with the HT, and a woman.

"I found him like this a few minutes ago, Otsube-sama. He's not from our school," the man stated. "No one else was found around."

"Hayashi-san." The man, who brought Ayato there, nodded and opened the door.

They both immediately covered their noses and mouths with hands.

"Yes, someone definitely had fun here recently."

"Yes." Ayato moved forward, seeing a boy on the floor between the second and third aisles. "Please tell me it's not what I think it is."

"It is it," the man answered. "As a Head of this school I thought I took all the precautions for such accidents not to happen."

"And it happened anyway." Ayato slowly approached the student, who was trembling on the floor, hugging his own shoulders.

"And... How is it?" The Head peeked over to see the whimpering student.

"He was bitten," Ayato confirmed, covering the student with his gown.

"Well, I'll tell the other teachers, and you take care of him. We will figure it out.” The man disappeared behind the door.

"Well, boy." The nurse gently took the badge, making the boy shudder. "It's okay... It's fine..." He read the name fast. "Akito-kun... Let me just take you slowly... Yes, you're doing great, yes, just like that."

"Mmmh..." Akito squinted, pushing the nurse away as the man tried to take him in his hands.

"Don't worry, Akito-kun..." Ayato's voice was calm and steady. "Listen to my voice... Akito"

"Mm..." Akito slowly opened his eyes.

"That's right." The man smiled kindly and nodded, standing on his feet with the boy in his hands. "You're doing great... We're going to take you out of here... Akito... It's a nice name... Very bright... Akito..."

"Mmm..." the boy whimpered, grabbing the man's shirt and clenching his teeth.

"I know, Akito..." Ayato slowly moved towards nurse office inside school. "You may not like me... I can feel it... But just let me talk to you at least... Akito..."

"Mms... nn..." Akito mumbled.

"You can tell me, Akito... Tell me... Don't be shy..."

"Nnic... smell... snic... sss..." Akito suddenly started wailing like a real kid, though he was far from being so.

"Yes, Akito..." Ayato smiled gently. "You will be alright..."

***

"I sedated him and suppressed the pheromones... He will be fine in a couple of weeks..."

"I called the parents... They're on their way..."

"To think about it could happen here..."

"...-san, please, let's not bring this up..."

"You understand it may lead to..."

"...I will return in a few moments..."

Fast steps could be heard from behind the door, making a little spy shiver as Ayato grabbed the handle and went into the corridor.

"Uh?" The man stopped, leaving the door ajar with his hand on the handle, and whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"Um..." The boy looked at the door with the 'nurse cab' written on it.

"Are you hurt? Stomachache?" Ayato asked automatically without thinking.

"I... just..." The boy looked right into the man's eyes, but Ayato-san's eyes were far from that place.

"Well, just... Wait here for a second, alright? I will be right back."

But when he returned the boy had already disappeared.