Even If I Killed This Love, Only You Wanted To Protect It (R15) - Chapter 2.2 Part 2

“Oh, aren’t you that transfer student?”

When I looked up, I noticed that the one who put their hand on my shoulder was none other than Shimizu Terumichi.

As he stood in front of me, he answered with a light tone, “I’m Shimizu!”

“So, what did you want to do, teacher? If it’s about errands, then I’ll do them! I only recently transferred to this school, so I’d like to get to know you soon!”

“No, I just wanted to notify your homeroom teacher about changes in the timetable of your class, but she seems to be sick…”

“Oh! Then I’ll go to the infirmary and deliver the message to Andou-sensei.”

I was silently standing near the two and listening to their conversation. But before I knew it, I was walking beside Shimizu Terumichi straight to the infirmary. Behind my back, Kurai-sensei’s “I’m counting on you then” could be heard.

I was sure Shimizu Terumichi would deliver the message properly. He knew that Kurai-sensei would get angry if something went wrong.

However, as I got relieved, Shimizu Terumichi looked into my face with anxiety in his eyes.

“You look so pale. You okay?”

I shook my head at his words. But he looked closely at me and muttered, “No, I’ll take you to the infirmary,” and started walking, pushing my back lightly.

“Eh, eh-“

“I’ll take you to the infirmary. You’re covered in cold sweat and your face doesn’t look so good… Wait, maybe you don’t know me? I transferred to this school a week ago, and I’m currently in the same class as you… Don’t you know?”

It’s not that.

My complexion looks this way because Kurai-sensei asked me to deliver that message, so I’m not feeling sick. Besides, it’s not that I don’t know you.

When I stopped walking, Shimizu Terumichi looked at me.

“Maybe you don’t want to go to the infirmary? Is there anyone you don’t like?”

“N-n-no…”

I tried to speak as naturally as possible, but that didn’t seem to help. When I thought that he was simply fooling around, he looked at me silently and said, “You should definitely go,” and started moving forward, supporting my shoulders.

It seemed as if he didn’t care about the way I talked. However, that couldn’t possibly be true. Perhaps, he just didn’t notice it? But he was certainly responding to my words.

“… A-ah- W-wait, I don’t need to go to the infirmary.”

“Even though you look so pale? I would really like to show you the way you look right now. Just what kind of a guy I am going to be, if I leave you all by yourself when you’re like this?”

Shimizu Terumichi adds, “We’re going either way,” and takes me right to the infirmary. Not knowing what to do, I was heading there as if drawn by him.

“Excuse meee, a sick student is here!”

Upon arriving at the infirmary, Shimizu Terumichi went inside first.

Despite being a transfer student, he took the shortest route to the infirmary. I assume someone in the class showed him the way before.

When I entered the room right after him, the inside of it reminded me of junior high school, having two beds separated by curtains in the back and a shelf surrounding the entire room.

There also was an office desk near the window where the teacher was supposed to be working, as well as a large round desk placed in the center of the room. Chairs were scattered around it, and a student with a mask on their face was sitting in one of those chairs.

A textbook that seemed to belong to the student was placed on the table. Noticing the number 2 on it, I assumed the said student was a senior. When Shimizu Terumichi approached that person, he asked, “This girl is a little sick. May I know where the teacher is?”

“Oh, the teacher is talking on the phone in the staff room right now.”

The senior stood up and approached me with the sound of some metal rubbing. They were wearing trousers as their uniform. In this school, there were trousers for both girls and boys. They differed by pattern, and the one the senior was wearing had a common color, so it was impossible to assume their gender. They also had a peculiar voice that could either be high or low.

“Are you feeling sick? You sure don’t look so well.”

The student looked into my face. The bangs that were entwined in a circular motion in the air were long, and although it was possible to see their eyes, I felt like their entire face was hidden behind the mask. They nodded silently and urged me to bed, saying, “If so, you can sleep.”

“In the infirmary, there is a sheet to write down about what kind of symptoms you have when you’re sick. However, you look so pale that it would be best for you to do it later. When the teacher comes back, I’ll leave all the talks to you.”

When I was a little lost for words and turned to Shimizu Terumichi, he nodded as if relieved and laughed, saying, “Don’t tell the teacher of the next lesson.”

Eventually, a peaceful atmosphere was created in the infirmary. But, was that really okay…? Did I really have such a terrible complexion?

When I looked at the mirror above the sink in the infirmary, I could see my pale face, which seemed to be covered in cold sweat.

“Careful, careful.”

As I walked to the nearest bed, my senior added, “Take off your slippers when you go to bed. Oh, and don’t forget to close the curtains.”

“Well then, rest well. Please, take care of Higuchi.”

With that said, Shimizu Terumichi left the infirmary. The senior got back to studying.

Although I was confused, I closed the curtain near the bed, took off my slippers, and then laid down. The ceiling was just white with no stains, and a light pink curtain surrounded it so that it seemed to be cut out in a square.

I could hear the senior writing something on the desk and the sound of the clock ticking. I couldn’t hear any footsteps. I was sure Shimizu Terumichi was already far away from the infirmary.

As I closed my eyes, I recalled what happened in the hallway.

Could it be that I ended up owing that guy? That carefree person? I mean, what was with that attitude earlier, even though he was acting like a complete fool in the classroom?

Actually, didn’t he say that he was going to shoot a video in the first place? Because of that, I had no other choice but to leave the classroom.

While I was wondering, a bell started ringing, informing students of the start of their classes. I made myself comfortable on the bed and just looked up at the white ceiling.