Chapter 3: A Sudden Turn

It was an ordinary afternoon when the rain poured unexpectedly, drenching everything in its path. Hikari had been caught off guard, walking back home after school with no umbrella to shield her. The sky had gone from clear to dark in a matter of minutes, and soon, cold rain was soaking her through.

She could have waited it out somewhere, but she didn’t. She wasn’t the type to depend on luck or others. So, despite the cold seeping into her skin, she walked on, determined to get home. By the time she arrived, her clothes were drenched, her hair clinging to her face, and the chill had settled deep into her bones.

The next morning, Hikari still wasn’t feeling well, but she refused to stay home. She had endured worse before—this was just a cold. So, she got up, prepared for the day, and went to school as if nothing was wrong.

However, as the hours passed, exhaustion settled over her like a heavy fog. Her head was spinning, and her limbs felt sluggish, but she kept going, pretending not to notice.

As she walked down the corridor toward their classroom, her vision blurred slightly. She blinked, trying to steady herself, but her legs felt heavier with each step.

Then, she collided with someone.

Aoi.

Aoi had been striding toward class, her sharp gaze scanning the hallway as usual. The impact barely moved her, but Hikari stumbled back, struggling to keep her balance.

Aoi glanced at her, her expression unreadable. Then, as she noticed Hikari’s pale face and the way she swayed on her feet, something in her gaze shifted.

Hikari forced a small smile. "Sorry, I wasn't looking—"

Aoi didn’t say anything, but she didn’t look away either.

Hikari took a step forward—and her legs gave out beneath her.

Before she could hit the ground, strong arms caught her.

The world felt distant, her body weightless, and when she blinked up, Aoi was there, holding her without effort.

For a moment, Aoi simply stood there, steadying Hikari against her. Then, without a word, she bent down slightly and lifted her with ease, carrying her as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Hikari barely had time to react.

“No need to trouble yourself…” she mumbled weakly.

And then, before she could say anything else, her eyes fluttered shut.

Her body went limp in Aoi’s arms.

Aoi’s grip tightened instinctively, her steps momentarily faltering. But she didn’t panic. She adjusted her hold, securing Hikari more firmly before continuing down the hallway.

She didn’t acknowledge the students whispering around them, didn’t slow her pace as she walked through the hallway. Her focus was only on the girl in her arms—someone who, just yesterday, had seemed untouchable, unreachable.

By the time they reached the infirmary, the nurse rushed over, concern evident in her eyes. Aoi carefully placed Hikari onto one of the beds, adjusting the pillow behind her head.

The nurse began checking Hikari’s temperature, but Aoi didn’t leave right away.

She stood by the bedside, watching silently as the nurse pressed a cool cloth to Hikari’s forehead. Her fever was high, but not dangerously so. Still, Aoi didn’t move.

Minutes passed.

She sat in the chair beside the bed, arms resting on her knees, gaze fixed on the girl lying there. Hikari had always been composed, distant in a way that Aoi understood well. But now, she looked different—quiet in a way that wasn’t by choice.

The nurse spoke softly. “She just needs rest. Her fever should go down soon.”

Aoi gave a small nod, barely noticeable, and waited.

She stayed there until Hikari’s breathing evened out, until her fever cooled just enough that she no longer looked like she might collapse at any second.

Only then did Aoi rise from the chair.

Before she left, she set a bottle of water on the bedside table, just within reach.

She didn’t say anything. Didn’t wait for Hikari to wake up.

She simply turned and left, her footsteps quiet against the infirmary floor.

She had already wasted enough time. Or at least, that’s what she told herself.

But as she walked back to class, the feeling of Hikari’s weight in her arms still lingered—something unfamiliar, something she didn’t quite know what to do with.