Chapter 13: Don't Whine!

Don't Whine!

"...Sorry for causing you trouble."

Lying down on the bed, Ijuin finally calmed down and spoke a mixture of apology and gratitude.

I turned around after putting the thermometer between his armpit.

"I didn't do anything special."

Unfortunately, there was no one in the nurse's office.

There was a small whiteboard hanging on the entrance door that said "Teacher not present," and there were no other students sleeping.

Beep beep!

After the measurement is complete, remove the thermometer from his armpit.

"A little over 37 degrees, huh..."

I thought the fever would be worse given the fatigue, but I was glad that it was only a slight fever.

If he keep going at this rate, he'lll be better by tomorrow if he eats properly and go to bed early.

"...I may have been a little over my capacity recently. Taking care of my health is also my own responsibility. I'll be more careful next time."

Lying on his back and staring at the ceiling, Ijuin muttered something that sounded more like he was talking to himself than to me.

"So it's over capacity? What were you doing?"

"...I have a little student council work to do..."

Ijuin began to answer my questions dutifully.

He explained the student council's most recent duties to Ijuin in a way that was easy to understand even for an outsider like me.

But...

"...Is that really the student council president's job?"

"…………"

It was almost like a chore.

"I mean, Ijuin, you're a third year, right? Aren't you taking the entrance exams?"

"...I'm cutting down on my sleep and studying."

Hey hey!

Of course it'll make you sick.

What are the people around him doing, leaving someone who is working so hard to end up breaking down?

"Are none of the other members of the student council willing to help?"

"...It's quicker if I do it alone."

"If you collapse from that, it's pointless."

"………"

Ijuin fell silent in response to my sound argument.

...I guess he's the type of person who is really bad at things like relying on others or complaining.

The same can be said for the fact that he did not call for help even though he was in a condition where he could not walk properly.

I think the hard work behind the scenes is great.

Honestly, he's a pain in the ass.

"Don't take on too much on your own."

"Eh……?"

I sat on the bed where Ijuin was sleeping.

The bed creaks with the force of my weight.

"If anything happens, I'll help you."

Since I'm not in the student council, I don't think I'll be able to help out much directly.

But I can't just leave someone who's trying too hard alone.

I stroked Ijuin's head.

"...!"

Ijuin looked at me with a surprised expression, but didn't resist in any particular way and just let himself be petted obediently.

Somehow, Ijuin seems like a little child.

Even though in this world, he's older. 

His undamaged hair flowed through my fingers without any irritation.

"……thank you"

"Yeah."

Ijuin thanked me surprisingly honestly, and I smiled back.

If I don't want to set up a romantic relationship with Ijuin, he shouldn't try to approach him like this.

I knew it in my head, but I just couldn't bring myself to abandon this clumsy man.

Furthermore, if my relationship with Ijuin becomes closer, the chances of obtaining more in-depth information will also increase.

"...Hey, were Ijuin and Onizuka good friends in the past?"

I felt like he might be able to answer the question that Onizuka had brushed aside the other day.

"Ah... Rei–... did you hear from Ayanokoji?"

Ijuin looked as if he had realized something and raised only the upper half of his body.

"We were childhood friends, and the three of us used to hang out together a lot when we were little."

"So why now...?"

"...Until that happened."

"...Huh?"

"…………"

When I interjected, Ijuin kept his mouth shut.

Is there something he really doesn't want to remember?

It seemed that Onizuka didn't want the topic to even be mentioned either.

"…………"

"…………"

As I waited for an answer, Ijuin spoke in a defeated manner.

"...Onizuka betrayed me."

...He betrayed you?

It's a very impactful word to choose from when spoken by a young boy.

But I just couldn't believe it.

Onizuka betraying his friends?

I found out that Onizuka has a kind personality.

I just can't believe that someone who is considerate enough to pick up a cat in the rain and put his blazer on a girl (me) who he's not particularly close to would do something so evil as betrayal.

"...I've always thought of him as friend, even best friends. But after that incident, we all just became separated..."

Ijuin's fist creates deep wrinkles in the sheets.

Does he hate Onizuka that much...?　

Ijuin seems to be a hardworking and serious person, so he doesn't seem like he's lying.

"B-But, you're still going to the same school, so isn't there a chance you could become friends again? Don't you want to go back to the days when you were good friends, Ijuin?"

I wasn't trying to support Onizuka, but I said it to try and save face.

Because they remain apart, I, the heroine who in shoujo manga is supposed to be the lubricant and soothing presence in a complicated relationship, end up being fought over between the two of them.

If the two of them, or rather the three of them including Ayanokoji, were to become friends again, it would ruin the story of the shoujo manga itself, and the arrows of affection they have for me might point in a completely different direction.

In fact, there may not be any room for me to fit in anymore.

"To go back..."

Contrary to my optimistic thoughts, Ijuin looked off into the distance.

"If I could go back..."

"Then..."

"But it's impossible."

"Why, you won't know until you try it, right?"

"No, I just understand that. We can't go back to the way things were."

Ijuin gradually begins to look down.

There was no trace of the confident man he was when we first met, in front of Onizuka.

The Ijuin in front of me was just a cowardly boy, whining and moping.

"Ijuin..."

Probably if I were a real girl, like the heroine of a shoujo manga.

I guess they'll hold him there and comfort him.

And then the love flag will be established.

But I'm a man.

I was extremely annoyed by Ijuin's behavior.

I stood up from the bed I was sitting on and glared at Ijuin.

Ijuin looked up at me quizzically as I stood up without any warning.

"...? What's wrong──"

Smack!

I slapped Ijuin's cheek, which had soft, smooth skin.

Ijuin was stunned by the sudden attack and held his hand over the cheek that had been slapped.

I stood with my arms crossed and placed my hands on my hips.

"It's annoying! You keep whining and complaining about how you can't do it!"

"Huh...?"

I yelled at him, leaving Ijuin unable to comprehend what had suddenly been said.

"But if you have the desire, don't give up without taking action!!"

"...!"

Ijuin's long, sharp eyes widen vertically.

After saying that, I came to my senses.

I let my emotions get the better of me and ended up hitting someone.

And I even gave them a lecture...

After Ijuin recovers, I can't complain if I get beaten up.

I would reap what I sowed.

"I, I'm sorry for hitting you...! So, that's it!"

What on earth does this mean?

I don't even know what I'm saying.

I simply apologized and then quickly left the nurse's office.

"Ah, hey...!"

Ijuin seemed to want to say something, but nothing good would come from listening to him.

Above all, I didn't want to be in the same space as Ijuin as the person who hit him any longer.

Thinking back on it, there was no need to hit him.

Well, well, there's no heroine in a shoujo manga who would slap a guy...!

Besides, there's no way anyone would fall in love with someone who criticizes them...!

To put it in a positive way, you could say that the romantic flag was dashed.

...Yep, everything turned out fine!

I gave up and headed towards the classroom.

Lunch break is almost over.

Using a slight fever as an excuse, I decided to leave school early today.