Chapter 10: What they would do…

「...damn it.」

「Now, now, you can’t blame her for misunderstanding.」

「Are you okay, Junichi-kun?」

「Yeah, but this hurts like hell.」

「S-sorry, Aniki(1).」

After a certain someone had calmed down, the four individuals holding very different emotions gathered.

Naturally, there was the apologetic little sister. A concerned childhood friend. A mediating doctor.

And of course, an annoyed young man with dark hair.

「Hey, watch it!」

Saito Junichi scowled, glaring towards his back as his face was distorted by agony.

Currently, the dark-haired youth was getting treated by none other than the school’s infamous wi---doctor, Shizuka Manami-sensei(2).

Yet, even though he was usually an aloof and nonchalant individual, it would seem that even Junichi wasn’t immune to pain.

「C’mon, you’re a man, aren’t you?」

「What’s that got to do with it?」

In the face of Shizuka-sensei’s playful comment, the boy could only sigh, rubbing his treated wound before turning towards his sister.

「But man you hit hard, don’t you Mana?」

「Geez~ It’s because you were gawking at Shiori’s body.」

In a flawless attempt at defending her actions, Miyazawa Mana puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms as she turned her head.

And, while Shiori’s face grew slightly pinkish thanks to her comment, no one pointed it out as the conversation’s focus shifted directly towards Junichi.

「…I wasn’t gawking.」

「But you did see it, right?」

「*cough* A little bit.」

As the boy admitted thus upon being met with Mana’s questioning gaze, Shiori’s face flashed from a light shade of pink to a bright crimson, tilting her head down as she attempted to bury herself within the curtains of her flailing hair.

「J-Junichi-kun, s-saw-!」

「I didn’t see that much.」

As the stuttering intellectual clenched the clean bed sheets tightly, Junichi turned his head, an image of Shiori’s small chest resurfacing in his mind.

「Don’t worry about it.」

「Guu~」

Although questionable whether this was a conscious decision, Hitomi Shiori unleashed a baby-like cry, immediately pulling the covers over her as she hid herself from view.

However, in doing so, a patch of red was revealed to the dark-haired boy, allowing him to notice that the corner of the blanket had become stained.

Stained by the girl’s wounds which, unlike his, had yet to be healed.

(She’s pushing herself.)

The boy concluded, warily pretending to be completely oblivious to this sign of disaster.

Junichi understood how sensitive Shiori was of others.

And this patch of red, along with her not displaying any signs of pain, was proof that she was trying desperately to keep him from worrying about her.

Truly, a kind girl whose efforts were wasted on scum like him.

Nevertheless, understanding that the girl’s struggle would be fruitless if he revealed this, the boy chose to feign ignorance.

「Saito-kun, do you mind if I talk to you for a moment?」

Choosing to intrude upon his thoughts with awfully convenient timing, Shizuka-sensei called out to Junichi, her eyes hinting over at the corridor’s exit.

Initially perplexed, the boy’s eyes flickered, allowing his mind to analyse the instructor’s behaviour.

And from what he could tell upon a quick glance-

(She probably doesn’t want Shiori or Mana to hear what we’re going to talk about…)

-he deemed that it would be wise for him to follow, causing Junichi to stand before exiting the infirmary with the young doctor.

「A-Aniki?」

『Don’t worry Mana, just look after Shiori.』

Hoping to nip his sister’s concerns in the bud, Junichi’s eyes transmitted this message before he shut the sliding door.

However, unbeknownst to the dark-haired boy, this only caused the girl to feel more worried.

(….but, Aniki…)

Mana stared at the door in a daze, her mind still focused on the figure of her brother’s back.

The very same back which had protected her from the 〚Lion’s〛 assault.

But alas, before she was allowed to wallow further in her thoughts, a sudden sound tore through the little sister’s depression.

「Guh-!?」

「Sorry, Shiori! Are you ok?」

As Shiori grimaced at the pain her body tried to ignore, Mana grew distraught, quickly grabbing the ointment that was lying on the short stool beside her friend’s bed.

Yet, in a manner befitting of her conservative nature-

「I-I’m fine.」

-Shiori tried to reassure her friend whilst unconvincingly falling onto her back in agony.

「…why did you try to hide it from Aniki?」

As she deftly unbuttoned her friend’s shirt with the utmost caution, Mana’s concern rapidly rose as tears began to pool in the corners of her eyes.

Having been called the 〚Grace〛 of 【Phoenix Gakuen】, Miyazawa Mana was highly empathetic towards the feelings of others.

Perhaps it was because of this high empathy that she was able to uphold her school-idol image among her cohorts (who weren’t in her class).

That said, even with her talent of feeling others’ emotions, seeing how she lacked Shiori’s ability to logically understand another’s thought process, she simply couldn’t understand why her bespectacled friend went through with such a dangerous act.

At least, not until she heard the reason from her very own mouth.

「…because I didn’t want him to worry.」

As her clasped hands began to fidget on her lap, Shiori’s face blushed for the nth time that day.

With that said, however, it was clear that embarrassment was not the cause for her rosy cheeks this time.

For it was another emotion--more complex than the universe itself--which caused blood to rush to her face.

「Shiori…could it be that you-」

-like Aniki?

Unable to voice the tail of her question, Miyazawa Mana could only remain still, silent as she stared at her friend who was seemingly trapped in a tender daze.

But of course, being held captive by this whimsical emotion, Hitomi Shiori could only sigh, her heart throbbing wildly as the name of her saviour rolled off of her delicate, shivering tongue.

「Junichi-kun…」

「So what’s her condition?」

「You come off rather strong, don’t you?」

Having exited the infirmary, Saito Junichi and Shizuka Manami engaged in a silent conversation, ensuring that the two girls who they had separated from couldn’t hear its contents.

One one side, the boy with dark hair propped himself up against the window, his hands lazily held in his trouser pockets.

On the other side, the doctor of wavy orange hair crossed her arms, seemingly holding her moderate chest as she straightened her back.

And, while both of these individuals were vast contrasts of each other, there was one thing that they currently possessed in common.

Neither of them was smiling.

「There’s no damage to her vitals, however, her body can’t cope with the excessive trauma.」

Shizuka-sensei cited, offering up a careful analysis of Shiori’s condition as her lab coat billowed behind her.

With her sharp glasses, white coat, and red work tie, she honestly looked more like a scientist rather than a nurse.

Yet, the boy made no comments about her arguably seductive attire as he continued to listen to the doctor’s explanation.

「Basically, her wounds aren’t closing up fast enough to heal.」

「…thought so.」

Junichi gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing as he recognised that his suspicions had been confirmed.

Seeing how weak her constitution was, it seemed almost natural that such wounds wouldn’t close, even with ointment.

With that said, this did not stop the boy from placing his hopes in the power of medicine.

「Can you cure her?」

「Well, I tried an ointment that can temporarily close her wounds.」

「-and?」

「From my observations, she won’t heal completely.」

「Damn.」

With a swift and sharp tongue, Junichi lightly swore between his teeth which were clenched as tightly as his pocketed fists.

However, this frustration passed quicker than it came as the boy’s rational self raised another question to the lady doctor.

「You got anything else?」

「I’ve got a potion that helps stimulate the body’s regeneration of cells.」

Deciding not to comment about Junichi’s rapid mood swing, Shizuka-sensei took out a wad of paper from inside of her coat, gripping it between her index and middle finger as she passed it towards the unkempt youth.

And, although he was at first confused by the sudden gift, the scientist’s next words placed everything back into perspective.

「However, it seems that I don’t have the supplies I need right now.」

“So take this list and go get them for me”---or so was the message that the 〚Last Ranker〛 inferred from his instructor’s actions.

Seeing how Shizuka-sensei had her own obligations to fill, it would be considered difficult for her to leave her post to obtain the so-called supplies to heal his friend.

Thus, it was reasonable for Junichi himself to go and fetch medicine.

And, while the boy didn’t particularly mind doing so, he wasn’t entirely confident whether he procure the necessary materials.

Especially after he glimpsed but a section of the long, long list.

dried bat wings worm blood newt’s eyeballs

「…are you a witch?」

「Who knows?」

In the face of Shizuka-sensei’s mischievous smile, the boy with unkempt hair couldn’t help but feel himself breaking out into a cold sweat.

Nevertheless, understanding that he would waste time if he pursued the matter further, he instead changed his line of questioning.

「So where do I get this stuff?」

Having already predicted such a question, the doctor handed Junichi another slip of paper, its contents seemingly a set of directions written on the back of a small map.

「I usually order supplies from this store. I’ve already paid for them so you just need to go pick them up.」

「Got it. I’ll head there right away.」

Answering swiftly, Junichi glanced at the memo before pocketing it.

And from this quick glance, he understood that, wherever this store was, it wasn’t going to be within the campus.

Thus, he raised his body, opening the window behind him as he allowed the summer breeze to enter the tranquil corridor.

「I’ll call the ［Student Council］ and tell them you’re running an errand for me.」

「Thanks.」

Expressing gratitude towards his instructor’s consideration, Junichi turned towards the second-storey window he had opened.

And then, without any sort of warning whatsoever, it came.

A mysterious force assaulted the confined area, rattling the doors whilst causing the young doctor’s coat to flutter wildly.

A force so quick that it was relentless. A force so trivial that it was gentle.

And it was with this force that Saito Junichi once again disappeared on a gust of wind.