Chapter 20:

Body Measurement Day

Sora no Kiseki: A Bittersweet Return to the Stars


On an autumn morning shrouded in mist, Blue Sky Academy was having its regular health checkup day. Golden ginkgo leaves were fluttering down, covering the schoolyard and creating an almost fantastical atmosphere. In the classroom, students were chattering excitedly before the annual body measurements.

"I hope I've grown taller since last year!" "I skipped breakfast to look lighter on the scale!" "Thank goodness they separate boys and girls..."

Amidst these whispers floating through the classroom, the homeroom teacher entered. "Alright, we'll now begin body measurements. Boys will go to the nurse's office, girls to the gymnasium." Prompted by the teacher's voice, students headed to their respective locations. The nurse's office was filled with the clean scent of disinfectant, with autumn sunlight filtering through white curtains.

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In the nurse's office, the boys formed a line, waiting their turn as soft autumn sunlight streamed in. The quiet space, perfumed with disinfectant, echoed with footsteps and voices. "Stand up straight... next person, please." Following the school nurse's instructions, the measurements were progressing smoothly.

However, the tranquility was suddenly broken as the door burst open energetically. With light footsteps, Sora appeared— Her black twin-tails swaying in the morning sun, her uniform ribbon bouncing cutely. All the boys' eyes turned to her at once.

"Oh? Everyone's getting measured here?" As Sora tilted her head innocently, The boys were momentarily stunned. "Eh!? Sora!? Why are you here!?" "Girls are supposed to be in the gym!?"

"Um, Sora-san. The girls are supposed to be..." The school nurse tried to intervene, but— "Hehe, but this was closer! Besides, it's more fun when everyone's together!" Completely oblivious to the chaos she was causing, Sora beamed a bright smile.

An unspoken "That's not the point!" rippled through the boys. However, faced with Sora's overwhelming innocence, no one could stop her as she proudly joined the boys' line.

"I can't believe Sora-chan came here...!" "Is this some kind of special event?" Takashi clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure as Sora's every innocent gesture tested his limits.

Finally, it was Sora's turn. The boys watched with bated breath. The Guard Squad members held their breath, while Yuta averted his eyes. "Well... let's measure your height." Sora removed her white socks and stood before the height measure. Her movements were strangely graceful, captivating the boys' attention. Ren's attempt to remain calm faltered as the faintest blush betrayed him.

"Let's see... 156cm. Exactly the same as last year." Hearing the nurse's comment, Sora beamed with her usual bright smile. "Really? I haven't changed at all!"

At those innocent words, Yuta's expression flickered for a moment. He seemed to sense something "unusual" about Sora, but before he could dwell on it, the next measurement began.

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Next was the weight measurement. As Sora stepped onto the scale, the boys tensed up. Her bare feet touched the scale, her skirt hem swaying slightly. Her profile in the autumn sunlight was as beautiful as a painting. "Please don't move." At the nurse's voice, Sora nodded with a smile. The gesture was so charming that blood suddenly dripped from Takashi's nose.

"Seriously, stop looking...!" At Yuta's voice, Takashi hurriedly covered his nose, trying desperately to contain the bleeding.

While the boys struggled with their conflicting emotions of admiration and envy, Sora continued with the measurements, completely unconcerned. Then finally, as they moved to chest measurements, Sora reached for her uniform buttons— "Eh, wait...! Sora-chan, you don't need to...!" "Don't look!" "I refuse... because it's my duty!"

As the boys turned bright red, struggling with where to look, Yuta finally pushed Takashi's face against the wall. "Don't you dare turn around... absolutely not...!"

"Um, Sora-san, you don't need to undress that much..." The nurse tried to stop her hurriedly. "Eh? But don't we need accurate measurements?" Takashi faced the wall, Ren stared at the ceiling, and Yuta fixed his gaze outside the window. The air in the nurse's office suddenly became heated.

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"Well... I'll measure now..." The nurse continued the measurements, slightly blushing herself. The measuring tape wrapped gently around Sora's body. As the measurements progressed, the nurse's expression changed. Looking at the data comparatively, she wore a puzzled expression. "How curious... not a single measurement has changed since last year, as if time had stood still." "Oh, really? I guess I haven't grown?" Sora tilted her head, smiling innocently.

The boys felt an odd unease creeping in, but Sora's disarming smile quickly swept it away, leaving their thoughts scattered.

After finishing her measurements, Sora began dressing as if nothing had happened. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, playing across her white uniform and casting an almost heavenly glow. The entire nurse's office seemed enveloped in a soft light, like an angel's halo.

Finally, Sora began comparing heights with the boys. "Hey, tell me your heights! Let's compare!" "Wait, Sora, you're too close!" Yuta tried to back away frantically, but Sora playfully linked arms with him. "People taller than me feel so reassuring. Being embraced by such a broad back must be nice!"

Yuta's ears turned red, Takashi banged his head against the wall in agony, and Ren looked away while seeming subtly pleased. "Look, Ren-kun too! You're so tall and cool!" "It's... it's not like that..." Ren made excuses in a small voice, his face bright red. From the schoolyard came the sound of ginkgo leaves fluttering down. The soft autumn breeze stirred the curtains in the nurse's office, as if gently soothing the boys' agitated hearts.

"Well, I'm off to the gym to compare with the girls next!" With that, Sora finally left the nurse's office. The boys relaxed their shoulders and let out deep sighs. "...Sora really isn't normal, is she?" At Ren's muttered words, Takashi nodded emotionally. "Sora-chan must be an angel...!"

Though Yuta smiled wryly at those words, he found himself watching Sora's retreating figure. (She won't stay like this forever—or maybe that's just my imagination...)

And so, the day of body measurements, dominated by Sora's innocence and mysterious presence, came to a close in the soft autumn sunlight.

Ameniwa
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