About thirty minutes have passed since I received the previous message, I have been idle in front of my notifications.
It's vibrating again.
Sorry … it wasn't on purpose, my roommates stole my phone and sent you that message.
What a jerk, seriously…
Strangely, I don't feel anything in particular, either sadness, or anger. I buried myself under my comforter and got ready to go to bed.
Maeda approaches me, looking worried, and whispers to me.
— Are you okay, Yamazaki-kun?
—I'm fine.
—You've got tears coming out.
I put one of my hands under my eyes and feel the drops.
Why am I crying?
—It must be tiredness.
He keeps silent and turns over before falling asleep.
The next day, my roommates looked worried and tried to make me laugh in their own way.
You're depressing me right now. Why did I try to fit in with this crappy universe?
I brought Shimizu's scarf that she lent me a few days before. I see her in the distance, approach her and with a jerky voice say to her.
—Here, I give it back to you.
She seemed rather sad.
Too bad, I won't keep it forever.
On the bus, we didn't choose but to sit next to each other as we were a pair.
—Let's go to our second destination, Kamogawa Sea World! our teacher shouted.
Yippee.
—Let's go!' exclaimed my classmates.
Turn around, turn around, turn around, please…
Arrived at the destination, I propose to Anzu.
—Shall we start with the dolphins?
Is it the right approach? For pity's sake, it already annoys me to be here. Try an effort Anzu, we don't choose
I analyse Anzu, the empty look, the pale expression.
Bald, you would look like Mob, pull yourself together, seriously!
—I'm following you, Ki… Kinari.
Calling me by my first name … don't get carried away…
On our way here, something bothered me.
The absent vision, the flat face, she certainly looks like Mob. But he doesn't walk in slow motion and put his hand on her forehead every five seconds.
Let's try something.
I point to one of the pools and exclaim.
—Wow! Look at the dolphin show, Anzu!
Nothing, absolutely nothing. His view remained the same, a neutral smile.
A defeat much more painful than the battle of Atropathenes
I was beginning to get a feel for this girl, she was the kind of person who would rave about anything and everything.
So why are you pulling such a face?
Second attempt.
I sit down on a bench and invite her.
—Will you come and sit next to me, Anzu?
Still nothing, not a single smile, what an ordeal to understand the emotions of 3D people.
My partner really doesn't look good. I stare at her, then ask her in a soft voice.
—Can you close your eyes?
Isn't that too kinky?
—Uh … yes, if you want, Kinari.
She lowers her eyelids.
She's so beautiful… With her eyes closed, she looks so innocent, so calm…
I slide my hand against her forehead.
What warmth! That her heart is boiling why not, but her forehead, it's not a good sign. This fever … how could she not complain?
—Would you like to rest?
—Can I lie on your lap, Kinari?
Now I'll definitely look like a maniac in the eyes of society…
—Yeah…
She's lying on top of me.
How sweet … calm down… You take care of your classmate, it's not romantic or perverted.
Suddenly, a memory comes back to me. Chizu … asleep in the hospital bed, her forehead boiling. Having this young girl on top of me sends a wave of intense nostalgia through me.
I hate this feeling, damn it, I hate it!
Two elderly people passed by us and exclaimed in a dreamy tone.
—How cute are two lovebirds.
Phew! Thank goodness she dozed off, this heroine of the normies. I would never have dared to look at her otherwise. It would have been so embarrassing!
Anzu had been resting on my lap for almost an hour. I decided to wake her up by whispering to her.
—Are you better, Anzu?
No answer … am I cursed at this point?
I gently shake her arm and try a new approach.
—Are you better, Anzu?
—It seems so … it was good for me to rest, thanks, Kinari.
I hope it did you good, I can't even feel my knees.
—Are you going to be able to walk?
—Can I shoulder you?
Shouldering? I've had more than enough physical contact for one day. If you were Yukinoshita, why not, but this…
— Kinari?
How could I resist that smile…
—Yeah … if you want, Anzu.
We stood up and Anzu slipped her arm around mine.
Is that what she calls 'supporting me'?
We headed towards the bus to meet our main teacher, Tamura-sensei.
Luckily for me, she didn't notice that I took a selfie while she was sleeping; otherwise I would probably be dead.
Anzu follows me without worrying about anything.
So much the better, reckless as she is, she would never have accepted to go to the infirmary.
I didn't choose, seeing her moping around so much bothers me. It's an obligation to take care of her! Especially since she reminds me so much of my sister, that heroine.
You also have to rest in a medical area.
Tamura-sensei noticed us and ran to Anzu.
Our teacher is excellent. To see from so far the distress of Anzu, what a woman.
Out of breath, she laughs.
—Well, well, well, two little lovebirds.
What a pathetic woman, she is beside the point!
I quickly explain to her the situation: Anzu's fever and the fact of bringing her to a place to rest.
Our main teacher approaches me and whispers.
—Do you want to accompany her to the hotel infirmary?
It may save me from wandering aimlessly.
—Yes, sensei.
—I see, I'll take you there.
Do I really want to take care of her or is this just an excuse to skip this trip? I've been asking myself that question the whole way here.
The nurse really understands Anzu's situation and let me stay with her.
—Don't worry, it's just a simple tiredness, you don't have to worry.
I seem to have empathy, maybe?
—Thank you, ma'am.
I had to wait seven or maybe eight hours at his bedside. I waited, touching his forehead to see if the fever was subsiding or not.
Exhausted from the previous day's ordeal, I fell asleep.
Two hours later, I hear a rather vague noise in the room. I feel something warm touching the top of my head.
Her hands so soft, this delicacy in the touch…
I open my eyes and discover Anzu who has slipped her fingers into my hair. Smiling, she whispers to me.
—The nurse explained to me … you stayed there for ten hours waiting for me. I'm much better now, thanks, Kinari.
I keep silent and enjoy the few caresses.
I love it.
—Kinari, I'm sorry about last night. After my girlfriends sent you this, I couldn't sleep. I was stressed, anxious and this is the result.
—Don't worry, it's true that it shook me up a bit, but it doesn't put you in such a state for me.
With her little finger, she grabs my finger then looks me in the eyes and adds happily.
—I promise you, Kinari. And believe me, this one I will keep.
I'll keep it? Has she already promised me something ?
She has a way of making me so curious…
—Do you have permission to go out?
She nods.
—Follow me, I have something for you.
—For me?
—Yeah.
We thanked the nurse and Anzu walked me to the door of my room. I turned to her and asked her to wait for me, closing my eyes.
When I was looking after Anzu, I had pause to snack. In front of the restaurant where I had eaten, I had seen the perfect gift in a souvenir store: a scarf. It was identical to the one Anzu was wearing. So I bought it for 2000 yen, all my savings. After having it in my hands, I put my perfume on it to impregnate it with my smell.
It will please him.
After having recovered the scarf, I go out of the room, approach Anzu's ear then blow to him.
—Close your eyes, Anzu.
I grab her scarf with finesse and put it on. I grab my gift then unwrap it around Anzu's neck.
Everything is ready.
I whisper to her in a soft voice.
—It is good.
She opens her eyelids, has a moment of absence, then a smile slowly appears on her face. Her eyes sparkle and then, little by little, her tears begin to flow. She hugs me and then whispers gently.
—Thank you, Kinari.
Don't squeeze me so hard…
She releases her hold, then exclaims.
—I'll take care of it, Kinari, thank you.
—I'll take care of yours too.
She grabs my pinkie again with her own finger and asks me with a smile.
— Promise, Kinari?
— I promise, Anzu.
She releases it, then adds.
—I'm going to join my girlfriends. Good night, Kinari.
—Good night, Anzu.
What a day, I've seen it all…
I luckily dodged the interrogation of my cellmates who didn't hear me go to bed. The pressure was off.
The second gift I give to a girl is only the second.
Mob: Main character with a neutral face (Mob Psycho 100)
Battle of Atropathènes: Battle opposing the Lusitania to the parses. (The Legend of Arslan.)
Yukinoshita : Waifu of a love triangle. (Oregairu)