But just going to the infirmary, why does it take four people together?
She and Horigome, the two of them, are supporting Ayano to the infirmary, so what is Hikigaya going to do?
———
Actually, Hachiman had originally arranged to wait for Lala and the others to come over, and at the same time introduce Iris and the others to Kitagawa Marin, who wanted to understand elf culture to cosplay.
However, he forgot that today was the day for physical measurements, so even if he came over, he would have to go back immediately. So he contacted Iris and told her that Lala and the others didn't need to come looking for him, since they would see him at the infirmary during the physical checkup later.
Sobu High has such a strong atmosphere of banning romance, and this kind of physical measurement that not only includes height, weight, vision, blood pressure, and even possibly bust size, is naturally separated by gender.
However, due to the large number of people, each class was sent in turns to the infirmary for checkups. Hachiman felt that after sending off Ichinose Ayano, he still had plenty of time to go home and see whether Gabriel had evolved into a lewd little angel.
"Teacher Mikado, our classmate Ichinose isn't feeling well. Do you have a moment to take a look?"
Hachiman walked ahead and knocked on the infirmary door, looking at the school nurse inside, Mikado Ryoko, an orange-haired big sister with a generous chest under a white coat.
This Mikado Ryoko was a black market doctor from the same universe as Lala, with the best medical skills in the galaxy. As long as someone wasn't dead, she could bring them back.
However, he didn't have a strong impression of Mikado Ryoko's medical techniques. He only knew she was really skilled and could make artificial bodies for ghosts to possess.
He had a strong impression of that ghost girl who was easily scared out of her soul, though he had forgotten her name, seemed like she was called Shizuka, same as the cute Shizuka.
Speaking of ghosts, he had also met Yotsuya Miko at this school before, but he had never triggered a mission, nor did he deliberately go find her despite knowing she might encounter ghosts and monsters.
"I just happen to be free now, but I might not be later. Ichinose-san isn't feeling well again?"
Mikado Ryoko looked at Ichinose Ayano, who left a deep impression on her last time, being helped in again by Ichinose Honami and another girl. Then her eyes fell on Hachiman, and she smiled.
'So it's this guy...'
Last time she was wondering who had managed to fool her and sneak around in her slacking-off spot at work. So it turns out to be the recently infamous Hachiman.
She had also heard rumors about the elf princess from another world. But to her, another world was just like a faraway planet that had somehow connected to Earth via a dimensional portal. Going to another world was like going to another planet.
Elves, mermaids, and other such species, compared to humans on Earth, were essentially aliens.
Of course, even if they weren't, it wasn't up to a doctor like her to dig deeper.
If on this entertainment-filled planet you still had to worry about these troublesome things every day instead of enjoying life, then that would just be tormenting yourself.
"Yes, Ayano didn't feel well again this morning for some reason. I thought her condition was really bad, so I brought her to get checked."
Ichinose Honami helped Ichinose Ayano onto the bed. When Mikado Ryoko brought up the previous incident, she quickly responded.
She didn't know that Hachiman was also there last time, so she naturally thought Mikado Ryoko was talking to her.
"Mm-hmm, Ayano's body should be perfectly fine. I don't know what happened, but ever since that swim class, she's often felt unwell."
Ichinose Ayano's close friend Horigome China also nodded in agreement. She had been swimming with Ayano in gym class at the time. Only Ichinose Honami had brought Ayano last time, but this time both she and Hikigaya came along too.
Hmm... Although she felt Hikigaya's presence was a bit strange, since Ayano and Honami didn't say anything, she didn't feel comfortable questioning it either.
"Her condition is the same as last time, just a bit more severe. Hmm... To put it simply, she's overexcited. Although you're still young, you can't always do things that overtax your body without restraint."
Mikado Ryoko gave a quick check to Ichinose Ayano lying on the bed, then looked meaningfully at her and at Hachiman who stood silently by her side.
There were no visible signs of anything excessive, but her condition was exactly like last time. She couldn't help but suspect that the young ones had tasted the forbidden fruit and were now constantly stuck together day and night, leading to her physical exhaustion.
"Overexcited?"
"Overtaxed her body?"
Ichinose Honami and Horigome China were both confused. Was this what Mikado-sensei meant?
As healthy high school girls, they felt their thoughts were probably going in the wrong direction. A rich young lady like Ichinose Ayano shouldn't be the kind to wear herself out without moderation...
"Mm..."
Lying on the bed, Ichinose Ayano silently pulled the blanket up over her eyes, too embarrassed to speak and defend herself.
Mikado Ryoko was the school nurse, a skilled and experienced doctor, so there was no hiding her condition.
But whether it was Mikado-sensei or Ichinose Honami, they were all mistaken. She hadn't gotten intimate with anyone, nor had she done anything to reward herself.
She had simply been tortured by the empathy bracelet sent to her by the club president.
Last night, Ichinose Honami had knocked on her door and handed over a very familiar silver bracelet, saying that Hikigaya had asked her to pass it along. Ayano had almost cried on the spot.
The club president had been so busy all day he didn't have time to deal with her, and he hadn't given her the empathy bracelet after school either. She had thought she'd managed to escape punishment for another day.
Who would have guessed that Honami, after visiting the president's house, would bring back this thing she both loved and feared?
She had wanted to leave it on the bedside table and wear it the next morning for school.
However, after much hesitation, she ended up locking the door, closing the windows, pulling the curtains, and putting on the empathy bracelet before climbing into bed and silently waiting for the club president's "trial."
She didn't even dare take it off in the middle of the night. She only fell asleep around dawn, and not long after, Ichinose Honami knocked on her door to wake her for breakfast.
A whole night of torment had already exhausted her, and since she didn't dare skip school and miss the club president's next test, she could only rest on her desk in class.
This was why Honami and China thought she was sick and were so worried about her.
Her condition truly wasn't good, but not because she was ill. She simply didn't get enough rest...
"Hehe, I'll give you some extra nutritional supplements. Drink one bottle a day to quickly replenish your body's nutrients, and you won't have to visit the infirmary so often."
Mikado Ryoko looked at the embarrassed Ichinose Ayano who dared not make a sound, then at Ichinose Honami and Horigome China, who had realized something and were blushing. She smiled teasingly, then turned to the medicine storage to fetch some special supplements.
Living among students really was nice, it made her feel more youthful and energetic.
Although she had no intention of falling in love herself, she was very interested in other people's romances.
Sobu High forbids impure heterosexual relationships, and the morality committee is always cracking down. But isn't that even more exciting? Secretly dating is thrilling, and secretly observing the underground romances of these girls is even more thrilling.
After Mikado Ryoko left, Horigome China hurried to Ichinose Ayano's ear and whispered.
"Ayano? Did you go that far with the person you like?"
Unlike Ichinose Honami, as a close friend, Horigome China knew that Ichinose Ayano had someone she liked. But since Ayano never said anything, she didn't know who it was.
"No... China, don't say nonsense...", Hearing that, Ichinose Ayano couldn't help lifting the blanket a little to secretly glance at Hachiman standing next to Ichinose Honami.
Like? What like, Teacher Hasegawa had already been "disappeared" by her father. Her romance hadn't even begun properly before it was nipped in the bud.
It was exactly because of this abrupt ending that she realized her life had always been under her father's control. Now, the only reason she could live as a pampered rich daughter was because her father wanted her to be the Ichinose family's representative.
If her father didn't have an illegitimate son somewhere, then marrying a capable man into the family would be her best outcome.
If he did have one, then she'd be used for a political marriage.
Since she would have to contribute to the Ichinose family either way, why couldn't she make the choice herself? The club president was someone even her father wanted to win over. If she pledged herself to him, she could one day take her father's place and become the head of the Ichinose household.
Then she could let her father go live with his mistress and not bother with Ichinose affairs.
However, even though she knew that as long as she pleased the club president, given his relationship with the elf princesses, she could take control of the Ichinose family and help it thrive, facing his trials for real made her realize: even a week is not a short time.
Just last night alone, she didn't even know how many bottles of electrolyte drinks she had drunk. If not for being adequately prepared, today she wouldn't just be feeling unwell, she would be dehydrated and hospitalized.
"Mm?"
Horigome China keenly caught the abnormality of Ichinose Ayano sneaking glances at Hachiman. She couldn't help but glance at Hachiman, who had obviously come together to send Ayano here, yet was now avoiding suspicion and not touching Ayano.
'Could it be… the boy Ayano likes is Hikigaya-kun?'
If it's Hikigaya, it does seem like the relationship must be kept secret. After all, Hikigaya is surrounded by so many girls, if it's exposed, then it would be easy for her to be ostracized by those girls all at once.
Moreover, Ayano hadn't joined any club before, and suddenly running to Hikigaya's Service Club for no reason, maybe it really was because of Hikigaya.
Because there are too many excellent girls in the Service Club: Yukinoshita Yukino of the Yukinoshita family, the elf princess Iris and her guardian Aegis, the second-year ace of the girls' swim team Hayase Saki, etc. Just learning a bit about the Service Club is enough to make a girl feel ashamed and discouraged.
It's totally normal for Ayano to rush to join the Service Club, fearing Hikigaya might not withstand temptation.
Ichinose Honami, unaware that Ichinose Ayano and Horigome China had already developed a misunderstanding with just a few exchanged words, looked at Hachiman standing beside her, feeling a bit awkward, not knowing what to say.
What Mikado-sensei just said, Hikigaya must have heard it too, right? That kind of thing, Mikado-sensei really doesn't shy away from saying at all, completely disregarding their embarrassment.
Although it wasn't about her, saying something like Ayano may have landed in the infirmary due to "self-reward". She really couldn't pretend she didn't understand and act as if nothing happened.
"Ayano's physical condition is that bad. Not to mention the fitness test, even physical measurements like height and weight probably can't be taken. Later, you two go get changed and prepare for the body measurements, I'll stay here and watch over her."
Hachiman looked at Ichinose Ayano lying on the bed, not daring to look at him, then smiled as he turned to Ichinose Honami and Horigome China.
He wasn't too surprised by the vast gap in physical condition between Ichinose Ayano and girls like Yuina, even though they were all just ordinary people. Yuina and the others were many, but Ayano was just one girl, the level of exertion was entirely different.
And the empathy wristband only shares senses; it doesn't transfer matter.
So while Yuina and the others had overflowing life energy, Ayano didn't have even a trace of it.
It was precisely due to the lack of life energy nourishment that Ichinose Ayano was this weak. Otherwise, he wouldn't have kept switching people's wristbands last night just so Ichinose Ayano could persist all the way until dawn.
"You're staying here and watching her by yourself, Hikigaya?"
Ichinose Honami blinked slightly, looking at Hachiman with some hesitation.
To ensure more accurate data during body measurement, students usually change into thin gym clothes. After they take the measurements here at the infirmary, the physical data from exercises would then be measured in the gymnasium.
However, Ayano and Hikigaya aren't that close, right? Letting a boy like Hikigaya take care of Ayano.
"Hikigaya is willing to help take care of Ayano? That's really great. We have class soon and the next batch of body measurements will begin. Honami and I will go change in the bathroom now to make it in time."
Noticing Ayano's reaction, Horigome China spoke to Hachiman while dragging Ichinose Honami out of the infirmary.
"Ah? Is it really that urgent? Can't we wait for the next batch?"
"Let Hikigaya watch her for a bit. Once we've changed, we'll come back and relieve him. This place will be used for girls' body measurements soon, Hikigaya won't be able to stay here and look after Ayano then."
Horigome China's quick reaction caught Ichinose Honami off guard, but she didn't give her a chance, forcefully pulling Honami away.
Sobu High prohibits romantic relationships. It's rare for Ayano and Hikigaya to find such a suitable space for being alone together, she couldn't let Honami interrupt them.
Even though she herself had been forced by her parents into a ridiculous demand and might never experience it, as Ayano's good friend, she still hoped Ayano could have happy and unforgettable school memories.
Otherwise, after Ayano graduates, she'll probably be given similarly unacceptable conditions, and be forced to follow the family's arrangements.
"Ayano, your good friend seems to have misunderstood something."
Hachiman looked at Horigome China, who suddenly dragged Ichinose Honami away, then sat by the bed and looked down at Ichinose Ayano, gently stroking her cherry-white hair.
"It's not really a misunderstanding…"
Ichinose Ayano obediently rubbed her head against Hachiman's palm, gently bit her cherry lips with her pearl-like teeth, her watery bright eyes staring tightly at Hachiman. Her delicate, jade-like face gradually turned red.
Class will start soon, and there'll be several classes of girls coming to the infirmary for body measurements. Honami and China will come back after changing too, the president isn't going to just hide behind the bed curtain again, is he?
If Honami and China find out...
———
[Outside the Infirmary]
"Sensei, I'm feeling a bit unwell. Could I not take the body measurements with everyone else later?"
A cute girl with golden high ponytail and wearing black calf-length socks lightly knocked on the door and cautiously peeked her head inside from outside.
Seeing that the infirmary seemed empty, she hesitated for a moment, then walked into one of the beds inside, intending to pull back the bed curtain and lie down.
But before she could even open the curtain, someone tapped her shoulder. Her body tensed instantly, and she jumped back, face slightly panicked, until she saw it was a mature lady in a white coat with a health teacher's nameplate pinned on her full chest. Only then did she breathe out in relief and relaxed.
"Why're you acting like a thief, so nervous? There's a girl inside who's not feeling well. Are you her good friend coming to visit?"
Mikado Ryoko swept a glance, undetectable, at the almost-pulled bed curtain, then looked at the slightly suspicious girl before her with a smiling face.
She hadn't originally intended to come back so early. She'd wanted to see Honami and China return after changing and catch Ayano and Hikigaya in the act. But since this girl suddenly came, she couldn't delay returning.
She just wanted to enjoy the show, not let the infirmary become the show. She had to prevent anyone from spreading what might happen here.
"No, I thought no one was here, and wanted to lie down a bit."
Seeing the health teacher with the Mikado Ryoko nameplate misunderstanding her, the golden ponytail girl quickly shook her head and explained.
"Mikado-sensei, um… later it's our class's turn to take body measurements, but I'm not feeling well. Can I do it a bit later? Or, or maybe even earlier…"
She spoke while secretly observing Mikado Ryoko's expression, her voice growing softer and softer.
If possible, she didn't want to take body measurements at all. But if she really had no choice, then she'd try to do it alone, secretly.
As long as it wasn't done in front of everyone, even if the check required lifting her shirt hem a little, she probably wouldn't have to worry too much…
"Not feeling well? Then come register first, I'll give you a check-up."
Mikado Ryoko glanced over the golden-haired girl who looked fine on the surface, nodded, walked past her to place a bag of tonic medicine on the table, and sat down to register the golden-haired girl's information.
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