Chisato, once again in the infirmary in a short period, is not only feeling a bit uneasy but is also breathing heavily.
Although Hitori, who fainted for some unknown reason, isn't very heavy, the distance from the club building to the academic building is not short.
Moreover, it's not just carrying the girl; he also has to hang her guitar around his neck.
Added to that is the fatigue from being outpaced in the long-distance run.
Arriving at the infirmary in one piece is already a major achievement, and gasping for breath is nothing in comparison.
When she arrived, the school nurse was napping with her head resting on the desk.
It took some effort to wake her up to help lay Hitori on the bed and conduct a preliminary examination, which took about five minutes.
The very pretty nurse, Mrs. Kumikawa removed her stethoscope from Hitori's chest.
Considering the situation Chisato had described, she determined the cause of the girl's fainting.
"Her heartbeat is normal, her temperature is normal, and there are no injuries. It's probably just due to being overly excited."
"Excited, huh…"
Chisato glances at Hitori, who is sleeping peacefully on the bed, feeling frustrated but unsure how to express it.
"Well, just like when you brought her in before, her condition is mostly due to psychological reasons."
"So, even if you leave her alone, she'll wake up on her own after a while."
"Next time you encounter this situation, it's recommended to gently shake her shoulder or lightly pat her face."
Mrs. Kumikawa demonstrates these actions on Chisato.
After giving these instructions, she extends her index finger and lightly taps her forehead.
"Also, regarding school matters… It's better to keep a low profile. If you can't help yourself, locking the door at home and focusing on your own matters might be better."
Chisato is about to argue when Mrs. Kumikawa, smiling, slides her finger down to his lips.
She pulls something out of her white coat and, without looking, shoves it into Chisato's pants pocket.
"Even though Japan is facing a serious declining birthrate, it's not a responsibility you need to shoulder right now. Just remember to stay safe."
"I'm not involved with Gotoh…"
"I understand~ I won't say anything about Tōuma. The class preparation bell has rung, so you should head to class. I'll take care of Goto here."
"What does Tōuma have to do with this…"
"Alright, alright~ I get it. I'll definitely keep it confidential~"
Chisato, with a resigned look on his face, is gently pushed out of the infirmary by Mrs. Kumikawa.
Back in the classroom, the lesson has started. He reports to the teacher and returns to his seat.
Chisato notices the empty seat next to him—Kazusa is absent.
It's not the first time, so he doesn't think much of it.
The first class of the afternoon is classical literature, which is Chisato's strong subject, thanks to his talent for "Kasumigaoka's Unceasing Writing."
It's a subject where not paying attention doesn't affect his grades.
After a night of poor sleep, he rests his chin on his left hand and lowers his head, preparing for a brief nap.
"Chisato, please read the next passage."
Called by the teacher, Chisato stands up with a smile, while internally grumbling.
…
"...!"
After struggling three times to open the door, Kazusa still can't manage to get it open.
With clenched fists, her anger rising, she prepares to slam her fists against the door, but just before she makes contact, her mother's voice echoes in her mind:
"As a pianist, you must always prioritize protecting your most important hands,"
This thought makes Kazusa's fists fall uselessly to her sides.
Remembering her mother's words at a time like this seems foolish—she's left you behind. How silly.
With a self-deprecating smile, Kazusa sits back down at the piano.
She understands her situation: she's been locked in this rarely visited first music room by a scheming person.
It's afternoon class time, and the club building is almost empty. She has a slim chance of getting help by shouting loudly.
Even if she knew that might get help, Kazusa likely wouldn't do it.
She's not used to interacting with others and has forgotten the necessary steps to seek help.
So, she'll just have to wait.
Wait until afternoon classes end and the students almost all leave. After that, the school janitors with flashlights will likely come to inspect the building.
By then, they'll surely notice the oddity of the door handle on the outside of the first music room, and she'll be able to leave.
But... that's still over five hours away.
Kazusa looks at the time on her phone, and finds only three contacts: her mother, the caretaker who looks after her daily needs, and the delivery number for her favorite dessert shop.
Nothing else.
Forget it.
She puts the phone aside and rests her head on the piano.
Having just witnessed that situation outside and now dealing with such an annoying problem, she feels exhausted and has no energy left for more thoughts.
"Coo…"
Just as she closes her eyes, Kazusa slowly lifts her head. On the windowsill, a black crow is staring at her intently.
She doesn't mind birds with the same color as her own hair, as long as they don't make those annoying "caw caw" noises.
The crow in front of her might be a young one, and thankfully, it doesn't make those irritating sounds.
Its chirps are quite pleasant, somewhat like a magpie.
"I don't have anything for you here. Try your luck elsewhere."
Kazusa, who usually doesn't show much kindness to others, is able to speak kindly to a bird.
"Coo…"
The little crow doesn't leave. Instead, it flies into the room and lands on the floor.
"Heh, how did you know I had something to eat? But this isn't something birds can eat."
Kazusa takes a small pudding from her pocket, unwraps it gently, and places it on the floor.
"Coo…"
The little crow, under Kazusa's watchful eyes, pecks at the edge of the pudding's plastic wrap and shakes it until the pudding falls out.
Then it carries the plastic wrap in its beak and flies out the window.
"Little foolish bird, that's not something you can eat."
Watching the dusty pudding on the floor, Kazusa's mood sinks again.
She slowly sits down and rests her head on the piano, closing her eyes once more.
___
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