Chapter 309: Turns Out Idiots Also Catch a Cold
The birthday ended.
The third semester of Shuchiin only had one month left, during that time there would be exams and then the graduation ceremony of the third-year students.
"Sakurai, come with me to the girls' basketball club for a bit."
Hearing that, Sakurai Saki stopped what he was doing, he was reading a book.
Recently because he had to split his energy tutoring the five Nakano sisters, plus his girlfriend being too clingy, Sakurai's grades dropped seriously, if he didn't work hard he would fall out of the top 5.
"Umu."
Sakurai put down the reference book in his hand.
Shirogane Miyuki observed his hand, there was something that caught his attention.
"Sakurai, you're wearing a ring now?"
On the ring finger of his right hand was an extra ring.
"That's right."
On his birthday he received it from Ai-chan. The thing she said was a surprise turned out to be this, Sakurai Saki really hadn't guessed it.
But dating for almost a year already without buying rings, that was actually quite rare? Anyway, it was only a couple's matching ring, not an engagement ring.
"How romantic." Shirogane Miyuki said with admiration.
"Uh..." Sakurai Saki stood up.
Whether it was romantic or not he wasn't sure, but after giving the gift that day, Sakurai Saki decided he should be more discreet lately.
He couldn't have too much contact with other girls anymore.
The way Ai-chan got jealous was really too scary, recently he had to rebuild his stamina.
Shirogane Miyuki looked at the thermos bottle on the table, inside the red was goji berries with red dates?
"Sakurai, why did you suddenly start practicing health preservation?"
"No choice." Sakurai Saki said while coughing lightly a few times, then changed the subject: "What about you? Why are you going to the girls' basketball club today?"
The two left the student council room.
"Hasegawa-senpai asked me to help tidy the storage. Honestly I didn't want to go, but Hasegawa-senpai this person is also quite..."
"Actually, she's very gentle."
"That's only gentle to you, right? I can never understand why you're so popular."
Sakurai Saki pointed at his own face: "Sorry, being handsome means I can do whatever I want."
Shirogane Miyuki: "... Indeed."
The two went downstairs, changed shoes, then headed toward the gymnasium.
"On your birthday, Shinomiya actually prepared that kind of cake for you, I was scared too."
Shirogane Miyuki recalled the experience a few days ago.
Good heavens, that cake was more than enough to be a wedding cake.
Who knows what Shinomiya Kaguya was thinking at that time.
In other words, Shinomiya Kaguya actually likes Sakurai, doesn't she?
Outsiders are clear-headed, but those involved are muddle-headed, Sakurai seemed to have no concept of it at all.
"Chika even gave me a board game set, saying I could go to her house and play with Moeha." Sakurai Saki covered his face.
Honestly speaking, he had a bit of aversion toward the Fujiwara family, mainly because of that last Christmas.
Too chaotic, that entire family had no one normal.
Shirogane continued recalling: "Iino gave you a music box, right? And it was quite an expensive kind too."
Sakurai nodded: "Ishigami gave me a game console. And you gave me a couple's movie ticket, a few days ago I went to watch it already, it was pretty fun..."
After a few minutes.
The two stepped into the gymnasium.
The members of the girls' basketball club were practicing, the scent of effort hit their faces, which was also the scent of sweat.
Droplets of sweat kept falling to the floor, the girls tied their hair in ponytails, wore thin clothing, and occasionally their jumping movements were extremely eye-catching, especially the members with big chests.
Normally the girls' basketball club allowed practice to be watched, but boys very rarely came.
Mainly because it was easy to be considered perverts.
Girls could freely go watch the boys' basketball club, but boys could not go to the girls' basketball club.
Truly unequal, when will boys be able to stand up?
The two went around the girls who were watching, then headed toward the storage room nearby.
"Isn't that President Shirogane and General Affairs Sakurai?"
"Eh? It really is, why did they suddenly come here?"
"Must be student council business?"
The girls whispered among themselves.
'That's Yotsuba?' Sakurai Saki cast his gaze toward a girl resting by the side of the basketball court, her face flushed, probably from overexertion.
So Yotsuba had officially joined the girls' basketball club? Sakurai had never heard her mention it.
But whether Yotsuba really wanted to join or not, Sakurai wasn't sure.
She always just went with the flow, unable to be flexible.
Completely the opposite of Miko.
Iino Miko was too stubborn about herself, not caring the slightest about others' gazes.
But Nakano Yotsuba cared too much about others' gazes, to the point of losing herself.
Sakurai suddenly remembered half a year ago, he used his ability to hear some gossip from the girls in the basketball club. Roughly, they said Yotsuba being late affected practice, but back then Yotsuba wasn't even a member yet.
Thinking about it made Sakurai angry.
Are good people the ones others point their guns at? What kind of logic is that?
"You're looking at… ah, that's Nakano-san. This is Yotsuba?" Shirogane Miyuki had also seen her a few times.
"Umu. Among the five sisters, this one's the dumbest." Sakurai didn't say more.
...
After cleaning up, Shirogane still had other things to do, so the two parted ways at the gym entrance.
Sakurai bought a coffee from the nearby vending machine.
"Tap-tap~"
The sound of footsteps rang in his ears. Sakurai looked over and saw Yotsuba, having just changed out of her uniform, walking out from the gym entrance.
Sakurai held the can of coffee, he walked closer.
"Sakurai-san?" Yotsuba looked up, when she recognized him she tried to put on a smile.
"You joined… Wait, why is your face so red?" Sakurai placed his free hand on her forehead.
"It's nothing." At this moment Yotsuba was like a wilted flower, completely without her usual liveliness.
"Earlier I saw you resting quite a while, and now your forehead is still hot. Did you catch a cold?" Sakurai asked worriedly.
"Idiots don't catch colds." Yotsuba laughed foolishly once.
"I'll take you to the infirmary, have some medicine first." Sakurai didn't care whether others were watching, he supported her, his actions a bit forceful.
"Sorry for troubling you." Yotsuba didn't refuse anymore.
On the way, quite a few students glanced at them, but seeing Yotsuba's weak state, they could guess somewhat.
"Why did you still go to basketball practice when you're already sick?" Sakurai asked.
"Because everyone needs me."
Again, that same reason.
"Only during tutoring sessions does Sakurai-san need you, right?" Yotsuba recalled the original promise — every week when it was time for tutoring, she would try her best to give up going to help the club.
She had done it. For half a year now, she had hardly missed a single session.
"Have you ever thought for yourself? You're sick and still going to help, acting like that is destroying your body."
"I just felt unwell earlier so I already asked for leave." Yotsuba tried to prove she wasn't as foolish as he thought.
Hearing that answer, Sakurai could only feel helpless.
A normal person would take a break right away when sick.
Who would still force themselves to work?
Moreover, those so-called friends of Yotsuba's… Sakurai didn't even know how to comment.
'I must find a chance to make her give up this kind of lifestyle.'
Otherwise, sooner or later she would collapse.