"Truth is stranger than fiction."
There's a saying like that in Japan, and the problem I'm facing right now is exactly that.
After finishing a study session with Minamizaka-san and heading home, I decided to cut through the school building to take a shortcut. At the school building entrance—well, I guess that's the right word?—there's a staircase leading to the second floor just after you go inside, and as I was trying to pass in front of that staircase to reach the opposite entrance, I suddenly felt a presence.
Wondering what it was, I turned toward the staircase—and saw a thick book flying down from the top of the stairs, shooting toward me with tremendous momentum.
(Ah, this is gonna hit me…)
You know those moments when your brain understands what's happening, yet your body won't move? That was literally me right then. I knew I had to dodge, but my body just wouldn't respond.
There was a light novel in my previous life that began with the line, "Do you believe a girl will fall from the sky?"—but never in my life did I think a book would fall from above instead.
"PUGYA!!"
A book as thick as a dictionary smashed into my head, and I was thrown backward dramatically. My vision and consciousness spun. I couldn't even keep my balance, and I landed squarely on my butt.
After sitting down hard, a moment later the pain hit my head and buttocks. The butt was fine, but my head hurt badly—bad enough that I curled up and groaned in a voice no girl should be making.
Fortunately, my consciousness cleared up quickly, and when I touched around my head there was no bleeding. Doesn't seem like a concussion either.
"Are—are you alright!?"
Through still slightly shaking vision, I heard a panicked voice from the top of the stairs, accompanied by frantic footsteps running down.
"A-are you okay!? Should I check consciousness first!? But you are conscious so maybe um—um!?"
(If someone is injured, first think about secondary hazards and confirm surroundings are safe, you know…)
Seeing the horse girl who had rushed to me, I couldn't help making that internal comment. Well, I guess in this situation secondary hazards don't matter though.
With my vision finally back to normal, I looked at the horse girl in question. Her black bay-colored hair—no blaze—was cut into a bob, and her blue eyes were trembling anxiously.
"I'm okay, so don't worry."
"However, I still think you should go to a hospital once!"
Even after I stood up slowly and told her that, she still didn't calm down. Well, what she said is correct, technically.
"I have someone I know who's knowledgeable about this kind of thing. I'll have them check me first before deciding."
"Then I'll accompany you!"
Saying, "It's my responsibility!", she followed me while picking up the fallen book—the very one that hit my head. The title was "World Confectionery Complete Encyclopedia (With Recipes)".
…Yeah, no wonder it was thick.
"For now, it's fine if you come along, but at least let's introduce ourselves. I'm Nice Nature. First-year in Middle Division."
"I am Eishin Flash. I am a study-abroad student from Germany, but since I am also a first-year like you, please speak casually."
…Yeah, I kind of suspected that.
She looked a little younger than her version from the app, but she still vaguely resembled it—and most importantly, she wore the white scrunchie-style ribbon with navy and white colors on her right ear.
It seems Eishin Flash's overly serious personality hasn't changed even in the middle school division. Well, personality doesn't shift that easily anyway…
With Eishin Flash, a bit calmer now, accompanying me, I had no choice but to walk back the way I came.
We passed beside the training grounds where students who didn't return home were doing voluntary practice, and though she stayed right beside me, checking on me constantly, it honestly felt suffocating.
While watching distant cumulonimbus clouds, I wondered how I should explain this to Minamizaka-san.
"…I see. I understand the situation well."
"I am truly sorry for my carelessness."
"It's alright, Eishin Flash-san. I also do not have urgent work today, so I will accompany you to Tracen Academy's affiliated hospital."
Minamizaka-san was surprised when I returned to Team Canopus' club room, but since Eishin Flash explained everything concisely, she accepted it right away. In moments like these, Flash's calm and serious nature is really helpful.
As for me—yep, the moment I sat in the chair, Flash immediately made me lie still, so now I'm being forced to rest…
"Sorry, Minamizaka-san. I caused trouble."
"You're one of my students now. This much is nothing. More importantly, are you alright?"
"Yup. No swelling, no bruising. I mean, I don't know about my brain, but physically nothing seems wrong."
When I said that, she told me she would at least check—and her fingers began gently examining my head. She did it as softly as possible, but honestly, it was extremely ticklish.
After about one or two minutes, she removed her hands.
"From what I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any abnormalities, but to be safe, let's do an MRI."
"Okay."
I answered flatly, and collapsed onto the desk.
Seeing me, Flash looked worried, so I waved my hand and smiled at her, "It's fine, it's fine."
"By the way, Eishin Flash-san, do you like making sweets?"
"Yes, my father is a pâtissier… so I've liked it since I was young."
"In that case, you might get along surprisingly well with Nature-san. Making sweets is her hobby too."
Apparently she had glanced at the book Flash was carrying and noticed.
"Really!? That's unexpected."
Flash widened her eyes and stared at me in surprise. Honestly, insulting. Just what kind of horse girl does she think I am?
"Well, I only make simple things though."
"No, no—your cookies were very delicious."
"Yeah yeah, even if you flatter me I'll take it."
Saying that, I waved at Minamisaka-san too.
Then I turned toward Flash.
"If you want, I can make something next time."
"Really!?"
She responded a bit too eagerly. I thought she was just a sweets lover—but that wasn't it.
"I don't have anyone around me who likes making sweets. I'm really happy to find someone who shares the same hobby!"
"O-oh, I see."
She began talking nonstop about what sweets she liked, low-calorie options, sweets that wouldn't affect training… so I just nodded along while smiling at this unfamiliar side of her—something the app never showed.
Seeing her speak with a bright, age-appropriate expression felt like a pleasant betrayal of the strict scheduling image I had from the app. (Though I never pulled her when I was alive…)
"But Nice Nature-san, you're really different from what people around me said."
"Oh boy, I'm really curious what they say—but I'm always like this, you know?"
"You just seemed… very hard to approach."
She said that with a cheerful tone. I'm glad we've gotten along.
"Alright, everything's ready, so let's head out."
Our fun conversation concluded. I couldn't trouble Flash any more—so this was the end of her involvement.
"Thank you, Flash. We'll handle the rest, so let's talk about sweets again sometime."
"I… see. I am still worried, but it cannot be helped if accompanying you further is inappropriate."
(Cute.)
She looked a bit lonely, and I couldn't help thinking that.
"It's fine. We can meet tomorrow, or the day after, or anytime. Want to exchange contacts?"
"!? May I?"
"Sure."
"Thank you!"
We exchanged contacts via UmaPhone. For someone with few friends like me, this was incredibly heart-warming.
With both of us smiling, we parted, and Minamisaka-san and I headed outside.
"Well then, Flash—see you later."
"Yes. I pray that there are no injuries."
Now that we were friends, without even deciding who started it, our way of addressing each other shortened naturally.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah."
Separating from Flash, I got into Minamizaka-san's car and headed to the hospital.
This isn't exactly an afterword, but after receiving the detailed examination at the hospital, there were no problems. The doctor said the angle at which the book hit was good, and the fact that I had bent backward easily dispersed the shock.
No injury is great, but the panic Okino-san went into after hearing from Minamizaka-san the next day was exhausting. I had to explain for tens of minutes before she accepted that I was fine.
I also reported the situation to Flash through UmaPhone, and we both laughed over the call and said thank goodness.