Chapter 4

In the end, surrounded by the concerned looks of Zé and others who came to apologize, saying, "It was too much... I'm sorry," I was taken to a nearby hospital in my homeroom teacher's car.

Incidentally, I had to change into the gym uniform because my school uniform was completely soaked. Of course, I didn't have an extra pair of underwear, so I was in a rather pitiful state under the gym uniform...

At the hospital, I was diagnosed with, "It's not the flu, but your fever might rise further tonight. I'll give you some fever reducers."

After that, I had to receive an IV for about an hour, so I called the movie theater where I work to let them know I would take a break for a while.

Fortunately, it was the period before the final exams when part-time jobs were prohibited, so I had my schedule free. The manager didn't make a fuss and would probably have found a replacement right away, but it still felt bad to cause such trouble.

Thanks to the IV, I could move a bit more normally, but my feet still felt wobbly from the fever. My male homeroom teacher drove me to my apartment building.

"Thank you very much."

I expressed my gratitude from behind the mask I received at the hospital, and the teacher smiled, saying, "You had quite a day, huh?"

"By the way, are you really okay on your own? Should I come up to your room with you?"

"No, it's fine. There's an elevator, so it's no problem."

"Is that so? Well, take a good rest this weekend. And if you need anything, let me know."

"Got it."

The teacher scratched his stubbly cheek and closed the passenger door. After seeing off his light car, I headed to the entrance and was startled to see Hanakawa Riko huddled in front of the glass door of the apartment building, looking cold.

"Eh... Hanakawa-san?"

"Ah... How was the hospital...?"

Riko, who had been looking down, raised her face quickly and ran over to me, like a dog waiting for its owner in front of a supermarket.

"Why..."

I couldn't think of anything else to say. Riko didn't live in this apartment building.

...Could she have been waiting for me here all this time?

No, that's impossible.

Waiting for someone like me.

She's Hanakawa Riko, after all.

"I'm sorry... I was waiting... But I was really worried..."

"..."

My thoughts were confirmed by Riko's straightforward admission, and I froze.

...No way.

"How are you feeling...?"

"Ah, yeah. I got an IV, so I feel a lot better than when I was at school."

"That's good... I'm glad..."

I still couldn't believe the situation and kept blinking.

She was worried and waited for me...

Even if it was for a handsome guy, it's one thing, but for someone like me?

Especially in this cold weather.

Even with a coat, it was freezing...

Looking closely, her nose was red, and her eyes were watery from the cold.

...How long has she been here...!?

Unlike me, who went to the hospital with the teacher, the other classmates, including Riko, should have been able to go home after the cleaning time. During the exam period, not only part-time jobs but also club activities were prohibited. The students were practically chased out of the school building as soon as the cleaning was over to go home and study.

The distance from the school to the hospital was about ten minutes by car. The waiting time, the examination, and the hour-long IV...

Because of my injury, I took a lot of time with everything, and it took me over an hour and a half from leaving the school to getting home.

If, by any chance, Riko had come straight to my apartment from the school, she must have waited for a considerable amount of time.

...That can't be, right?

On a day cold enough to snow, waiting outside for an hour would feel like torture.

Only a loyal dog like Hachiko could do that.

I wouldn't last five minutes.

...So, it's impossible that Riko was here the whole time.

...Or so I thought.

"Um, Riko-san, did you wait somewhere else...?"

When I asked just to confirm, Riko tilted her head with a cute smile.

"Eh? No, I came as soon as school ended to avoid missing you."

There really is a Hachiko in this world...

Moreover, Riko looked a bit proud, like a dog expecting praise from its owner.

No, no, no.

Thinking that the school's top beauty is like Hachiko is just weird.

While I was flustered in my mind, Riko suddenly looked worried.

"I got your address from Zé."

This means I'll have to deal with an overexcited Zé on Monday.

"I'm sorry for asking him...!"

"That's fine, but..."

"I just couldn't go home like that."

"Y-Yeah."

She was that worried about me.

Riko... How good of a person are you?

Not only is she cute, but her personality is also amazing.

"Um, sorry for all the trouble... I made you wait for so long."

"No, no! Don't apologize! It was my decision."

"But..."

We were at a loss for words, and an awkward silence fell.

This was definitely the time to end the conversation.

I couldn't let Riko freeze any longer.

"Ah, it's not good to stand here and chat when you're not feeling well...!"

"No... Well, I already told you the diagnosis. Thank you so much for waiting in the cold. Well, then..."

I tried to pass by Riko quickly due to the awkwardness, but I stumbled again and lightly bumped into the apartment wall.

"Are you okay...!?"

Riko rushed over and helped me up. After falling on my butt, I showed her another embarrassing side. I couldn't meet her gaze and mumbled my thanks while looking down. Honestly, I wanted to run away from this place right away.

When I tried to pass by her again, she stopped me.

"Wait, Shinoyama-kun...!"

Riko moved her gaze uncertainly and bit her lip for a moment, as if gathering her courage. I didn't know why she stopped me and felt extremely uncomfortable as I waited for her next words.

"Um... Well, if it's not too much trouble, could I take care of you...?"

"Eh...?"

Take care of me...?

Riko?

Take care of me?

Her proposal was so unbelievable that I couldn't understand what she meant.

Noticing my confusion, Riko added an explanation.

"But I don't want you to feel responsible..."

"No, no! It's not like that! I just thought if I could help in any way, it wouldn't be a big deal...!"

"I don't want to get you sick..."

"I never get sick, so it's fine!"

"But my room is a mess..."

I thought of the empty PET bottles and piles of laundry scattered around my house.

"I'll clean it up."

"Eh..."

"Just think of me as a trial version of a helper robot that suddenly arrived at your house! If someone offered to help you with a product introduction, you'd try it out, right...? Right...?"

What kind of analogy is that...

I understand it, but I don't...

A day when a perfect helper robot (and a beauty) suddenly arrives at your house is still a future that hasn't come, even after the end of the Heisei era.

I was surprised to find out that Riko, whom I thought was a quiet girl, could talk quite a bit. When she got flustered, she spoke a bit faster, and her breathing was a little off.

She was cute not just because she was a beauty, but in every little way.

She's incredibly kind, too...

If she weren't, she wouldn't offer to help me.

...But, this is a problem.

No matter what, I would feel hesitant.

It's not right for me to be taken care of by the school's top beauty.

My mind was a bit hazy, and I thought about this.

"Um, Riko-san, I appreciate it, but..."

The moment I started to refuse, Riko's well-shaped eyebrows turned upside down.

Seeing that face made me feel like I was bullying her, and I couldn't find the words to refuse.

What a problem...

I was still unsure if it was really okay, but in the end, I said:

"...Well, can I ask you to help?"

I still remember Riko's smile when she heard my answer clearly.

At that moment, I was so captivated by her that I forgot to breathe, and even the pain in my foot.

I didn't know why she showed such an expression, but I thought that a smile like a blooming flower must be what she looked like.

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