Kaburagi barely paid attention to any girl aside from Yurie-sama. Therefore, unless it was necessary, he would not accost a girl.
"Hey, Takamichi."
"Oh, good morning."
Kaburagi greets Wakaba-chan every time they pass in the hall, as if they were good friends. Also, since she was in the same class as Enjou, I hear that he talks to her every time Kaburagi goes to see him during breaks. They can no longer claim happenstance like the morning of the opening ceremony. To top it off, she recently became friendly with Enjou through Kaburagi. Because of that, the Tsuruhana-group's No2 began picked up her harassment on Wakaba-chan.
All of my friends are fixated on rumors between Kaburagi and Wakaba-chan. Serika-chan and Kikuno-chan even prodded me,
"Reika-sama, please ask Kaburagi-sama at the Salon." Nooo...
But really, Wakaba-chan, what happened over summer vacation...?
My sanctuary from the disturbance permeating the high school were the handicrafts club and the Petit of the elementary school. I was to see Mao-chan in the Petit today. I heard of a typhoon approaching, and as expected, clouds were gathering... As I walked to the Petit looking out the windows, I spotted a small shadow hunched over.
"Wha, Yukino-kun!?" As a looked closer, Yukino-kun was crouched holding his chest, and looking to be in pain. I ran over in a hurry. "What's wrong, Yukino-kun!?" It seemed to be too difficult to reply, looking paler than usual, and repeating shallow breaths, 'hyu-hyu' sound emanating from his thoat. "Is it an asthma attack?!" He nodded. Oh, no!
Yukino-kun struggled to find something from his bag. What? What are you looking for? An inhaler came out. He tried shaking it with trembling hands, so I shook it for him. Would that work? He took some medicine with a 'pu-shu' sound, but it must not work immediately. His breathing problems don't improve.
"Yukino-kun, let's go to the infirmary for now, okay?"
He answered, "ok..." in a small voice. I took his hand, but he's shaky from hypoxia, and almost fell.
"Yukino-kun!" I held him up, but I can't let him walk like this. What do I do? I desperately thought. I know! "Yukino-kun, climb on my back!"
"...eh..." I crouched down and turned my back. I'll have to carry him, now! "But..." Yukino-kun hesitates, but there's no time for that. He's still pale. He might have improved after the inhaler, but it doesn't look like he's well at all.
"Do it! Hurry!" I prod him, and he timidly gets on my back. His weight pressed down. He looked fairly skinny, but still, he's in the first grade. He's heavy. Can I get up? I can hear the difficult breathing next to my ear. His hand on my shoulder is cold.
Ok! Show some guts! Awaken! I built up muscles from jogging this summer! Nuwooooooo! I began running heavily carrying Yukino-kun. Ok, I can do this! "Hang in there, Yukino-kun!"
Luckily, we crossed paths with some kids from the Petit, so I asked them to take our bags to Mao-chan while we headed to the infirmary. Goooo! Show some spirit! Let's go to Honolulu-! Uwooooo! I stomped through the elementary school halls carrying Yukino-kun to the infirmary.
At the infirmary, the school nurse took him to the bed immediately.
"Are you all right, Yukino-kun? The doctor contacted your brother and parents, so they'll be here soon."
"Yes... Thank you very much... Reika-onee-san..." He seemed worse lying down, so Yukino-kun was sitting up.
"Does it happen a lot, these attacks?"
"Today, because typhoon is
coming..."
So it's worse when typhoons come? They come many times a year! Does he have to suffer every time!?
He sipped some warm tea and murmured, "I'm okay..." with a wary smile. It's not okay, Yukino-kun!
Enjou came in to the infirmary then. "Yukino!" He went straight to his bedside and checked on him. "Did you use the inhaler?"
"Yes."
"We have a car coming. We'll head to the hospital. They know we're coming."
"Okay..." Yukino-kun got up supported by Enjou.
"Can you walk on your own?"
"Yes..."
Mao-chan and Yuuri-kun brought the bags I had left with the kids from the Petit, so I took carried them to the parking lot to see the Enjou brothers off.
"Kisshouin-san, thank you for saving my brother. I'll make it up to you no matter what."
"Yukino-kun is a cute, important kohai to me, so there's no need for thanks. Just get to the hospital, and let me know how he is tomorrow."
"Sorry, thank you."
We waved to the Enjou family vehicle as it sped away.
"Yukino-kun looked distressed..."
"Yes."
Please get better, Yukino-kun...
The next morning, Enjou called me out to the hall. "How is Yukino-kun feeling?!" I asked skipping any greeting.
"We had him stay at the hospital. It was fairly mild this time, so he'll probably get out tomorrow or the day after."
"I see..." He's still at the hospital, poor thing...
"Kisshouin-san, Yukino said that you carried him to the infirmary? He must have been heavy. I was surprised when he told me."
"No, it wasn't bad." It was worth running every day with the demon-coach, Mihara-san, without giving up. I've definitely improved my weak muscles. My arms that I didn't train are sore since this morning, though!
"He was a little depressed that he was carried by a girl, though."
"Oh, my!" Did it hurt the boy's pride? That reminds me of when he worried about his height at the summer party. "Please apologize to Yukino-kun for me."
"There's no need. To have done so much for Yukino, I'm really grateful. Thank you." Enjou inclined his head. I saw the attention this was gathering. I hastily stopped him. Give me a break.
I then saw Kaburagi and Wakaba-chan walking in from the distance. So they came to school together, again. I wonder what made them suddenly get along. I want know, want know, want know...
"You're worried about them?"
"Ue!" Enjou read my mind!
"Should I tell you? How Masaya and Takamichi-san became friendly?"
"Huh..?"
I thought I saw Enjou's eyes sparkle with amusement.
"No! There's no need!" A wise man never courts danger! That was close! "I'll be going now!" Saying that I returned to my
classroom.
Now, I need to decide what to do for the athletic festival! I can't be bothered by somebody else's love life! I gained confidence from carrying Yukino-kun yesterday, so maybe I'll try a relay?
"Reika-sama, are you going to participate in the costume relay this year?"
No, not that relay.