The next batch of students went inside the ward to see Yuichi.
" How are you feeling?"
" Are you perfectly alright?"
" Your fight was so exceptional even under those circumstances. I can't believe you were able to beat him."
" Not to brag or anything, but what's your constitutional magic attribute?"
…
They asked me questions non-stop, and I was in a bind as to who to answer first. Fortunately, the doctor interfered and saved me from all those non-stop questions that were coming from every direction.
" The patient has to rest. You can ask him whatever you want once he's discharged."
They felt bad all of a sudden right after the doctor's interference.
" We're sorry! We forgot for a moment that you were still hospitalized."
" Take care, and we'll see you tomorrow."
" Thanks for coming!"
With the second batch of students out of the ward, the doctor turned to me, and I felt a shiver going through my entire body all at once.
(He's pissed! Did I do something uncalled-for?)
" You----------"
" Yes!"
Just the sound of his voice scared me. It was impenetrable and strong.
" You barely escaped death. Take care of yourself more!"
…
(Oh, is he worried about me?)
" If you're uncomfortable, you should just say so instead of keeping it all in."
(He must be referring to the bunch of questions the students were asking me earlier.)
" You shouldn't be receiving all those visits all at once. I'll tell the others to leave; you need your rest."
The doctor was heading toward the exit, but I stopped him. I didn't want the other students to have a bad impression of me or think I was driving them out.
I understood the doctor's concern for me, however, I wanted the chance to get to know my future classmates and potentially friends.
" Wait, doctor!"
" What is it?"
" Could you please not tell them to leave?"
…
I humbly asked the doctor and I thought as I did so that he would certainly refuse, however,---------------------
" Go in, but don't stay too long! He needs to rest; it's essential for recuperation."
" We won't stay too long."
(Thanks, doc!)
The next batch of students got in and just as they said, they didn't stay for too long. They just inquired about my health and left.
The remainder of the students did the same. Nearly a hundred students came to see me. I was elated, as I never thought to receive so many visits in just a single day.
The doctor thought of closing visits for the day. When he was about to do so, he realized seven more students were waiting in attendance.
(There's more of them. Hopefully, there are the last ones.)
The doctor helplessly let the remaining seven students enter the ward.
" How do you feel now, Yuichi?"
Tatsuya was standing right before me with six other students.
" A bit painful, but overall, I'm fine."
…
" Hey!"
" Hello, there!"
" We're glad you're fine. This guy over here was worried sick about you."
" Had we not insisted, he wouldn't have participated in the round at all."
…
…
" Sorry to have worried you, Tatsuya!"
…
" You better be! What were you thinking? Why did you go on with that absurd fight?"
…
" What if you had gotten mortally wounded?"
…
With each passing word, I could sense how worried he was about me, simply by the sound of his words.
" Sorry! I wouldn't have thought at all if he didn't attack me first."
…
" He led the first blow, so I had to defend myself. If it could have been avoidable, I wouldn't have fought him."
…
" What matters is that you're okay! Will you be joining us at school tomorrow?"
" I think so, but what class will I be in? Do you guys know?"
…
…
" I wasn't there, so I don't know how the results came out in the end. Do you guys know something?"
…
…
" What's wrong? Why have you gone quiet all of a sudden?"
…
…
" I'm so sorry, Yuichi! So sorry!"
?
" With the precipitation, I forgot to check your results and class affiliation."
?
" I'm sorry. I was so worried and wanted to see you as soon as possible that I forgot to check."
…
" Don't feel responsible! I'll ask around tomorrow when I get there."
…
" Thanks for coming to see me and for worrying about me!"
…
" I may not have been able to check your results, but I can tell you mine."
" Oh, I'd like to hear it."
" I got a perfect score on the exam and was affiliated with the Quest Class. They were also affiliated with the Quest Class, but in different factions."
" Different Factions?"
" Yes! The Quest Class is divided into three factions. There's Quest Class A, B, and C."
…
Tetsuya explained to me the class classification in detail. The classification was based on how we did on the exam.
(I wonder how I did on the exam and what class I've been affiliated with.)
" I'm happy for all of you. Congratulations to all of you for making it to the Quest Class."
" Thank you!"
" Take care!"
" We'll see you tomorrow!"
" I'll see you at school tomorrow, yeah!"
" Yes! Thanks for coming!"
…
…
The last batch of students walked out of the ward and visits were closed for the day.
Tatsuya and the other students on the way back------------------
" You must be relieved now that you were able to see him, right?"
" Yes, I am!"
" Tomorrow, he'll probably be discharged from the hospital and won't know what class to go to."
" I say that we head back to the event hall to check his results first. What do you guys think?"
" That's a great idea! Let's go!"
Tatsuya and the students headed to the event hall. When they got there, they were sad to discover that the room had been closed.
" What do we do now? Should we ask one of the instructors?"
" We could, but it's so late already. Besides, we don't know where they live."
…
…
" You've got that right! We should leave it to Yuichi. There's nothing more we can do at this point."
" I agree!"
" Let's head back!"
…
Tatsuya and the others headed to their dorms, disappointed that they couldn't find the information they were seeking.
Early in the morning, the next day-------------
" I'll discharge you, but you have to promise you'll keep it easy and won't be getting into another fight."
" You're not fully recovered yet. I wasn't able to completely cure you, so be careful!"
" I will! Thanks for everything, doctor! I'll be going on."
I left the ward at 6 a.m. I headed to my dorm straight away.
When I got inside, I felt a sharp pain going through my body, which made the doctor's warning a reality.
(He was right! I feel terrible.)
Magically, the pain I was feeling a second ago vanished out of thin air. I was now in perfect shape to go to school. Not only did the sharp pain vanish, but the remaining bruises I had left also completely vanished altogether.
(How can my pain suddenly vanish like that? Could it be-------------------?)
I ran to my bag and let the grimoire out of it, and what I saw shook me.
There was another spirit card inside the grimoire and other writings that had appeared inside it.
(This spirit card has healing attributes. Was I healed by this maiden? This grimoire still has many secrets left for me to uncover.)
…
" Thank you for healing me, beautiful maiden!"
For a moment there, I had the impression that the spirit card moved slightly. When I looked again, it was at his rightful place, which made me think I might have imagined it all.
Right when I was about to go shower, I looked at the picture frame of my family who was at my bedside.
(I should let them know that everything went well. They must be worried sick back at home.)
Before going to take my shower, I opened my wardrobe to look for my school uniform. It was there as soon as I opened it; a blue uniform with insignia. I took it and went in the shower afterward.
Twenty minutes later, I was done with the shower and all dressed up as well. It was around 7:15 a.m. by the time I finished.
Before heading out of the dorm, I opened my bag and let the grimoire out of it once more.
" I don't think it would be convenient to bring you with me. You'd better stay here."
….
I closed the bag and walked out of my room. After leaving the dorm, I headed to the eatery to have breakfast.
When I got my food, everyone wanted me to sit with them. The offer was coming in all directions, and I was in a bind as to who to choose.
A cute girl came in just then and saved me from the situation I was in.
" He's with me!"
?
She dragged me to her table almost instantly. I was grateful for her help.
" Thanks for your help back there. I was in a bind and didn't know what to do."
" I could see that, which is why I had to interfere. What's your name?"
…
" I'm Yuichi, Yuichi Hanagawa. Nice to meet you!"
"Likewise! As for me, my name is Aiko Kanzaki. Nice to meet you!"
" The pleasure's all mine."
…
" Are you the Yuichi everyone's talking about?"
…
" People are talking about me?"
" Yes! Didn't you know?"
…
" Not really! What are they saying about me?"
" Everyone's singing your praises regarding your fight with that student. The unwanted attention you got today was due to that."
…
" It's not every day that you get to encounter someone as strong as you. I also heard you were severely wounded as a result. Are you alright?"
…
" Yes! I'm perfectly fine now."
…
" I suppose that you don't yet know your results, right?"
" Yes, I don't!"
…
" Perfect!"
?
" Once we're done with breakfast, we'll go look for your results."
" You're not obliged to do that. I can find out my results easily by asking one of the instructors at the school."
…
" It's no trouble at all. It'll be my pleasure to help you. Please, don't say no!"
Based on the fact that she had helped me out earlier, I couldn't refuse her.
" Thank you!"
Several minutes later, after we were done with breakfast, we left the eatery. She dragged me to an unknown place inside the school.
" What are we doing here?"
" We'll find out your results here."
" Here? There's no one nearby that can help us."
" Don't worry! We don't need anybody's assistance. We've got everything we need here."
?
Meanwhile, in the headmaster's office, terrible news arrived.
(That's not good! The signal was cut)
" Headmaster, there's a telegram for you."
The headmaster's assistant processed the telegram to him.
" What does it say, headmaster? Is it bad news?"
…
" They got ambushed on the way. Reinforcements have to be sent out right away. Notify the instructors of the situation."
" Yes, sir!"
(They just started school today. I didn't want this to happen so soon but looking at the situation, we've got no choice whatsoever.)