Translator: RaidenTL
Miyuki entered the small hospital entrance and, after a friendly chat with the nurse, began writing something on the registration form.
Then, she handed it to me as I approached.
"You have to fill out the rest, Matsuda-kun. Or do you want to tell me what to write? I can do it for you."
"It's fine. It's not like my fingers are broken or anything…"
I took the form with a bored expression, but I had to suppress a smile when I saw the guardian section Miyuki had filled out.
[Guardian: Hanazawa Miyuki]
[Contact: 080 – XXXX – XXXX]
I really liked that word, 'guardian.'
And I really liked that Miyuki had written her name without a moment's hesitation.
As I held the pen and started filling in my information, Miyuki was staring intently at the form. I spoke bluntly.
"What are you looking at?"
"Well… your handwriting is worse than I imagined…"
"…What, am I supposed to take a calligraphy class to fix it?"
"If you're going to a class, shouldn't it be for handwriting correction…? But you can improve your handwriting a lot just by practicing, so… I don't think you need it."
"You're so serious about everything… It's exhausting."
"Do you think I have an exhausting personality?"
"Very."
I answered curtly, finished the form, and handed it to the nurse.
She had been clicking her tongue at the wounds on my face, but after examining the form, she pointed to a corner of the room.
"Please wait over there."
"Okay."
We sat side-by-side in the corner, talking while we waited for my name to be called.
"Matsuda-kun, did you see how that nurse was looking at you?"
"I saw."
"Doesn't it make you angry?"
"Not really."
"Why?"
"It's a pain to worry about every little thing like that."
My answer seemed to please her, as the corners of Miyuki's lips crept upward.
"The old Matsuda-kun would have confronted her, asking why she was looking at you like that…"
"You know me surprisingly well. Have you been interested in me since way back?"
"Wh-what kind of nonsense is that…!"
Miyuki raised her voice, completely aghast.
Thanks to her, we drew the attention of the other waiting patients.
I shook my head and said, "People are staring. Lower your voice."
"Ah…"
Realizing her mistake, Miyuki bowed her head to the people around us with an embarrassed look.
Then she scowled and glared at me.
"This happened because you were making weird jokes…!"
"Are you sure you didn't just overreact? Don't try to shift the blame. And I'm a little hurt, you know."
"Hurt? About what all of a sudden…"
"If you weren't interested, you could have just ignored it. Was there really a need to get that angry?"
"Wh-what are you talking about… It was so ridiculous, I was just dumbfounded…"
You really thought it was just ridiculous? No, you didn't.
You've started to see me as a man, even if just a little.
Though I'm sure your negative image of me is still stronger.
"Matsuda Ken-nim, we'll start with a CT scan."
The nurse's clear voice called out.
As I stood up, Miyuki said, "I'll be waiting. Call me when you're done with the scan and about to go into the doctor's office."
"Got it."
After a consultation with a rather old doctor, I was diagnosed with a mild concussion and some bruises.
The concussion just needed plenty of rest, and the bruises… well, my body was sturdy, so they'd heal quickly.
It was also a relief that there was nothing wrong with my aching ribs.
Just as the consultation was wrapping up smoothly, an incident occurred.
"I'll prescribe some painkillers, so take them if you get a headache. Do you live with your girlfriend?"
The doctor thought Miyuki was my girlfriend.
I expected her to have a much more violent reaction than she did in the waiting room.
But…
"No. We live separately. He lives alone, too."
Miyuki maintained a calm expression as she answered the doctor's question.
Sitting in the chair, I was completely floored by her unexpected response.
Miyuki glanced down at me, smirked, and continued her conversation with the doctor.
"Is that so? Well, for the next few days, you should keep a close eye on him when you meet. It could be dangerous if he suddenly faints or complains of dizziness."
"Yes, Doctor."
"And you, kid, stop getting into fights. Were you trying to show off in front of your pretty girlfriend? You want to die sooner than me?"
The meddling doctor's scolding snapped me back to my senses.
"Huh? Ah, it wasn't about showing off… Wait, Doctor. Why are you speaking so gently to her but threatening me?"
"Because you're pathetic, you punk."
Is this another trope? The eccentric, ill-tempered old doctor from a battle or sports manga who scolds the protagonist for being reckless with his body?
Better not to fight it.
"Hah… Fine, just write me the prescription."
"You disrespectful brat… For the next few days, avoid any relations and get plenty of rest. Light daily activities are fine."
At the doctor's casually tossed-out words, Miyuki's face instantly turned bright red.
She had realized he was talking about sex.
My opinion of the doctor changed dramatically.
So he was a likeable side character who helps the protagonist after all.
Not a nasty old geezer, but a high-ranking, benevolent angel.
After getting the prescription, we walked to the pharmacy next door without a word, picked up the painkillers and ointment, and left.
As dusk began to settle, the breeze turned cool.
Miyuki must have felt the same, as she stretched with a look of relief.
Then she whipped her head around to look up at me.
"You know you would've been in big trouble if it weren't for me, right, Matsuda-kun?"
"What are you talking about?"
"If you didn't know you had a concussion, you might have gone out to have fun and gotten into another accident. So you should be grateful to me."
"Yeah, yeah… you're so great. But what was that about?"
"What was what about?"
"Back when we were sitting, you freaked out when I asked if you were interested in me, but when the doctor…"
"Doctor-sensei."
"…Right, when Doctor-sensei made that misunderstanding, why did you just let it slide?"
"I didn't think it was necessary to correct him. I felt like it would just drag out the conversation with things unrelated to the examination."
Even so, given Miyuki's personality, if she had absolutely no interest in me, she would have denied it immediately.
She reacted sensitively when I asked if she was interested, yet she smoothly let the doctor's misunderstanding pass.
All in all, today's haul was a real score, bonus included.
So, is now the time for a little mischief?
"Is that so…?"
I let my sentence trail off and gave her a mischievous grin.
Miyuki's eyes darted around nervously.
"Wh-why are you making that face…?"
"It's a shame."
"What's a shame…?"
"The doctor said so himself. That we shouldn't have relations for the next few days."
"M-Matsuda-kun!!"
Miyuki yelled, her face turning as red as before.
She stood there glaring at me as I cackled, then shook her head as if to say she couldn't deal with me.
"Haaah… I think you tease me more because I keep reacting."
"You're right. It's always more fun to tease someone when their reaction is entertaining."
At that, Miyuki let out a small laugh.
"I agree. Sometimes I want to tease you too, Matsuda-kun."
"I guess I give a pretty good reaction myself. That's why I got beat up like this."
I said self-deprecatingly, pointing to my swollen face. Miyuki let out a dry laugh.
"You're incredibly positive."
"Thanks. So, are we studying tomorrow?"
"Hmm…"
Miyuki thought for a moment before speaking.
"The doctor said to keep a close eye on you for a few days… so I guess we should? But studying uses the brain, so let's see how you're feeling first."
"Sounds good."
"I should get going now."
I rummaged through my pocket and found three crumpled bills.
Three thousand yen. I smoothed them out and held them out to Miyuki.
"Take a taxi."
"What… No, it's fine. I'm not in a hurry, I can just take the bus."
"Just take it and get a taxi. I can't stand being indebted to you."
"I said it's fine. Besides, a taxi from here to my place is less than a thousand yen. It's expensive…"
"Then let's do this. I happen to need a taxi, and you happen to be going home. Being the kind-hearted person I am, I've decided to give you a ride. We'll stop by my place first, then I'll have the driver take you to yours. I'll pay. Why? Because I was going to take a taxi anyway."
Miyuki's mouth fell slightly open, dumbfounded by the clumsy scenario I'd just made up on the spot.
I grinned and started walking quickly.
"Let's go."
"M-Matsuda-kun…! You shouldn't walk so fast…!"
She hurried after me and grabbed my arm.
No matter how many times I think about it, Miyuki is just too nice.
I want to start flirting for real already…
So let's start planning the next event.
It's a few days away, but the more time I have to plan, the better.
@@
Click-! Whoooosh-!
The moment she pressed the switch, the fan began to spin rapidly.
After finishing her shower, Miyuki plopped down in front of it to cool off.
It was still hot, even after a cold shower.
She wished she had an air conditioner at home. It was a real shame she didn't.
As she sat with her eyes closed, enjoying the breeze, Miyuki suddenly felt a desire to go to Matsuda's house.
'Matsuda-kun's house is so cool…'
Unlike her place or Tetsuya's, his house had an air conditioner. Plus, it was built like a traditional house, so it had great ventilation.
Sitting on the tatami mats and eating watermelon or melon there was the perfect way to escape the heat.
They said tomorrow would be even hotter. It would probably be best to leave early and avoid some of the heat.
With that thought, Miyuki took out her phone and opened her messaging app.
[Matsuda-kun, I got home fine in the taxi.]
She had sent the message as soon as she arrived, but even now, after her shower, there was no reply from Matsuda.
Worried that something might be wrong with him, Miyuki was about to send another message when,
[Yeah.]
A reply from Matsuda arrived.
A cocky response. She could feel his smugness even through the text.
Miyuki let out a small laugh and tapped her fingers on the screen.
[Is it okay if I come over early tomorrow?]
[What time.]
[Around eight? I want to get there before it gets too hot.]
[You miss me that much? Then you can come early.]
He can't just agree without adding some weird comment.
Miyuki shook her head and typed back.
[Can I take that as a yes?]
[Whatever.]
[Can't you be a little nicer in your replies?]
[This is just how I talk, what do you want me to do?]
[That's how you talk, but your hands can type differently.]
[Are you nagging me here, too? You're going to start showing up in my dreams at this rate.]
Reading that message, Miyuki giggled to herself.
She imagined Matsuda covering his ears and looking pained whenever she lectured him. The thought was funny.
[So I'll be there by eight?]
[Whatever.]
[Matsuda-kun.]
[Please stop. I can already hear your deadpan voice in my ears.]
There was something fun about talking with Matsuda.
Was it what he himself had called 'getting a good reaction'?
Maybe that's why she wanted to tease him more and keep the conversation going.
But she decided to stop her teasing for the day.
If she kept going, Matsuda might get genuinely annoyed.
[Okay, I'll stop. Rest well and see you tomorrow, Matsuda-kun.]
[Whatever.]
That makes me want to tease him again.
Miyuki barely managed to suppress the urge and ended the conversation by sending an emoji of a fist-pumping, angry face.
'Oh, right.'
She had completely forgotten to contact Tetsuya.
She'd told him she would, but so much time had passed… She felt terrible.
A wave of guilt washed over Miyuki, and she immediately started typing a message to Tetsuya.