Chapter 18

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Chapter 18!

Title: Satou-san has a slight fever.

The holidays went by in the end. Is it because of the depression? It’s the end of the holidays, and Satou-san is quiet today. She is lying on her desk even though it’s the beginning of her lunch break. Normally, she would be the first to take out her lunchbox and start eating. The other guys are starting to eat, and the quick ones have already finished eating and run out into the corridor. But Satou-san is leaning against her desk. She’s been like this since before the end of the fourth period class, even after I went to buy some food and came back to the classroom.

I bite into a piece of bread I bought and watch her as she doesn’t move. Fifth period is gym. So, I guess. That’s why she is so tired. Satou-san, it seems that she is still bad at gym. I heard it’s not a marathon today, but she’s not good at any other sport. I don’t know what to makes her have such a lack of energy. Come to think of it, there was a time before the holidays when she was like this . At that time, she seemed to be troubled about her friend, but I wonder if that was resolved well. It’s hard for me to ask because she hasn’t said anything. She doesn’t really have to report anything. But the quietness of the current situation is bothering me. We don’t have an infinite number of lunch breaks. If you don’t eat, you won’t be able to get through the physical education class.

You’re not sleeping, are you? She hasn’t even tried to get up since the fourth period – but I’m suddenly curious, and I put the bag of bread down and get up from my seat. I stand by the seat next to her and look into her face as she plops down. And then I saw Satou-san’s face, with its bright red cheeks. Her downcast eyelids were trembling slightly and her breathing was labored as it escaped from between her lips. Sweat was also on her forehead, and her bangs were sticking up.She was tired to look at.

“Satou-san?”(Y)

I called out in surprise, and her eyelids moved. She opened her eyes and gave me a depressed look.

“Yamaguchi-kun……..”(S)

“Are you sick?”(Y)

I asked. No matter how you looked at it she looked like she had a fever.

“Yeah…”(S)

“I’m kind of in a daze. I’m starting to feel lightheaded.”(S)

She said this in a faint, breathless voice.

“I think you have a fever,”(Y)

“Maybe…”(S)

She wobbled and finally sat up, and she looked like she was in pain. I told her definitively,

“Maybe you should go to the nurse’s office.”(Y)

“But….”(S)

For some reason, Satou-san is hesitant.

“You should go take the fever looked at.”(Y)

She doesn’t take my advice very well.

“I’m trying to get an award for perfect attendance so…”(S)

Her moist eyes look up at me with a troubled look.

“If I have to leave early, then I won’t be getting the perfect attendance award, won’t I?”(S)

“It doesn’t matter.”(Y)

If the school nurse saw her now, she would tell her to leave early. That’s how bad she looks. But what’s the point of a perfect attendance award? It doesn’t add up to anything. What matters is your taking care of your body.

“Let’s go. I’ll stay with you.”

I urged her on. Satou-san shook her head quickly, as if she still had time to be able to stay.

“Nah, it’s okay. Even if it’s just me going.”(S)

“I don’t want you to wander off and fall down the stairs. I’m not busy anyway.”(Y)

“But, Yamaguchi-kun, you’re not even on the health committee…”(S)

I had to look around the classroom in a hurry after Sato-san told me to. Fortunately – no, unfortunately, the health committee member, Saiki-san, was not in the classroom. If there is no committee member, it can’t be helped, we need a substitute.

“That’s fine. I have time, I’ll go with you.”(Y)

When I told her again, Sato-san nodded her head in a very apologetic manner.

“Yeah I’m sorry, Yamaguchi-kun.”(S)

“Don’t worry about it, it’s what neighbors do.”(Y)

It was only natural for me to be concerned for Satou-san’s health and to escort her to the infirmary. It’s nothing unusual or strange.

Satou-san’s walking was dangerous as she made her way to the nurse’s office on the first floor. I almost reached out to her when she wobbled on the stairs, but she managed to hold on to the railing, which was a relief. But unfortunately, the infirmary was empty. The school nurse might have gone put for lunch. The only thing that wafted through the white curtains of the infirmary was the unfamiliar smell of chemicals.

“The nurse is not here.”(S)

Hearing Satou-san’s somewhat vague mutterings, I boldly open the curtains. Pointing to the empty bed inside, I tell her,

“Satou-san, you can go back to sleep for now.”(Y)

“What, are you sure…?”(S)

“It’s fine.”(Y)

I nodded at her anxious expression. I really shouldn’t be using the bed without permission, but it’s an emergency right now, so it can’t be helped. There is an unmistakably sick person here.

“I’ll stay here until the nurse comes. And I’ll explain to her that Satou-san is not well.”(Y)

“But…”(S)

You can’t do your best, but trying to do your best is what makes you useless, Satou-san. Trying to force yourself to do your best when you’re having a hard time is of no benefit to you.

“It’s okay. I know you’re having a hard time. You shouldn’t push yourself.”(Y)

Perhaps it was because of my persistent speech, but she thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Then I will….. I’m sorry, I’m sorry about everything.”(S)

“It’s fine”(Y)

I felt like I was about to be thanked at length again, so I ended the conversation early. I pushed Satou-san inside the curtains and quickly closed them. The infirmary falls silent after the sound of Satou-san taking off her jacket, the faint creaking of the bed, and the sound of what appears to be a futon covering.

The infirmary, located on the outskirts of the school building, was very quiet. Through the corridors, you could really hear the hustle and bustle of lunchtime from a distance. I stood there with my gaze fixed on the spot, not having anything to do. There was nothing interesting on the shelves that housed the chemicals or the steel bookshelves. The posters on the wall with pictures of smokers’ lungs didn’t feel good to look at. The smell of chemicals in the air was somewhat unsettling. The stark white walls and curtains bounced off the afternoon sun and hurt my eyes.

My gaze wandered to the window for relief. Outside, the schoolyard was in the springtime. It was May, and I could see the lush green leaves of the trees swaying gently. Would it feel better if I let the wind in? I thought of that and went to approach the window.

“….hmmm…”(S)

Then I heard a voice. It sounded like a grunt or a throbbing voice.

“Satou-san?”(Y)

I called out to the other side of the curtain.She didn’t answer.

“Satou-san…? Are you sick?”(Y)

I should have been the first to check where the basin was. With that in mind, I called out again. There was still no answer, only the sound of the bed springs creaking.

I guess she is talking in her sleep. But if you’re too sick to reply – no, but. It’s not a good idea to peep in on them while they’re sleeping. But the other party is not feeling so well, and if something happens, it would be really embarrassing.

I hesitated for a while in the room, which had been quiet since then. But there was no sign of the teacher’s return, so I finally decided to open the curtains quietly. I could see Satou-san’s head in the space surrounded by white curtains. I wondered if she wouldn’t untie her hair when he went to bed, revealing the elastic that held her hair in a single knot. The thin futon was moving up and down slowly, and he was probably asleep. I can’t get a glimpse of his expression or complexion from here.

“Satou-san…?”

Feeling irresistibly awkward, I called her name. She didn’t answer. Is she sleeping? Then is that thing you said earlier also a sleep talk? False alarm.

With mixed emotions of relief and frustration, I turned to walk out of the curtain.

“I was waiting for you.”(S)

That sleep-talking sounded uncomfortably clear. It didn’t sound like she was talking in her sleep.

I stopped in my tracks and turned around. Satou-san, whose head is the only thing visible, did not even get up to continue.

“I……..”(S)

I can hear the interruptions in a tone of voice that seems to be buoyed by heat.

“I’ve been waiting for you for so long…”(S)

Her voice was faint as she clung to it. In the space isolated by the white curtains, she was sure of it. It was definitely a sleep talk. The evidence of this was that she began to toss in her sleep shortly afterwards. She fell asleep without explaining to whom she had said it or what it meant.

I don’t know who she called out to, only that it wasn’t me. I have no idea who it was, and I don’t remember keeping her waiting. I don’t know who Satou-san was waiting for. Was this someone else’s fault that she was running a fever? The school nurse appeared in the nurse’s office and I stopped to think.

Satou-san left school early that day. Apparently, she wouldn’t get the perfect attendance award anymore.

Notes:

I bet you are wondering who she is talking about. If you want to be spoiled you can read ahead in the manga. But I am guessing most you are already reading the manga so you already know the answer.

One of Yamaguchi’s lines was 「大丈夫」which translated to “big man” which would be funny when reading:

“Satou-san, you can go back to sleep for now.”(Y)

“What, are you sure…?”(S)

“Big man.”(Y)

I also broke deepL. It kept on repeating” that you’re not going to have to worry about the fact” 60 times

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