Vol.3 Ch.4: Yuko's Will, Kanna's Will ①

-Chapter 4-

On the morning of Wednesday, June 14th, Yuko had set an alarm and woken up early that morning. The night prior, she’d spoken with Tanabe on the phone and made plans to go see Eli together before school that morning. With that goal in mind, Yuko had already headed downstairs early.

“Excuse me!” Yuko spoke, peeking her head into the kitchen of the dorm’s dining area. Various members of the cooking club and other volunteers were already inside preparing the dorm’s breakfast selection. In addition, a handful of students who made their own lunches were also moving to and fro using the facilities.

“Hey!” one of the students inside responded. “Looking for an early lunch?”

Due to certain clubs that meet in the morning and other students that just tended to be earlier risers or partake in morning exercises, the cooking students would always make sure some food was prepared before others.

“Yes, please!” Yuko nodded with a smile.

After about a 5-minute wait, where Yuko just quietly waited in the dining area, one student exited the kitchen and handed her some food in a small plastic container. With a generous “Thank you!” Yuko exited the room, passing by a pair of friends sweaty from what Yuko assumed was a morning jog, both presumably coming in to get some food as well, or perhaps make their own.

Seeing the dining area so quiet is so a little odd, considering how busy it’s going to get in just half an hour…

Yuko couldn’t help but take note of the situation, having seen a sight she would miss when following her usual morning routine.

“Anyway, off I go!” Yuko smiled, leaving the dorm.

After walking outside, Yuko noticed Tanabe already waiting on a bench beside the walkway.

“Good morning, Yuko!” Tanabe smiled, lifting up his own packed lunch.

“Good morning, Murakami! Have everything?” Yuko asked.

“Yep. Let’s get going.” Tanabe stood up with a stretch, before the pair made their way towards Rigel Park.

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With the morning sun shining brightly in the sky, the cloudy skies from earlier that week felt like a distant memory. The cheerful chirping of birds and the rustling leaves in the morning wind created a pleasant melody as Yuko and Tanabe circled the pond in Rigel Park and made their way to the storage shed out behind it.

“Good morning, Eli!” Yuko announced with a knock before opening the door.

“Hey hey, I’m also here!” Tanabe announced, peeking his head in behind Yuko.

“Mm…?” the pair heard a soft voice followed by a yawn.

Yuko and Tanabe glanced at one another and smiled, finding the freshly waking Eli to be quite a cute sight to behold.

After exchanging some morning hellos and giving Eli a chance to wake up, the three made their way outside for a small picnic breakfast.

“I’m sure after staying cooped up in that shed for so long this morning sunlight feels nice, huh?” Yuko asked with a smile before taking a bite of her meal.

“I guess so… It’s really hot, though…” Eli sighed, trying to fan herself between bites.

“Well, it is summer after all. The temperature’s been picking up again now that the rain’s all gone.” Tanabe noted, glancing up at the blue sky.

“Yeah, you’re right…” Yuko pondered the situation. “This shed doesn’t have any air conditioning or anything, so it must get pretty hot… We should probably find somewhere better for Eli to stay, but…”

Yuko and Tanabe both quietly glanced at Eli, who’d already refused any involvement from the student council, which severely limited what they could each do to help her out of this situation.

“Do you still not remember anything, Eli?” Tanabe asked cautiously.

“Hmm…” Eli brought her finger to her chin and thought while chewing her food. After a moment she swallowed and began to reply.

“Not really.” she answered flatly.

“I see…” Tanabe and Yuko weren’t surprised, but still couldn’t help but sigh.

The trio continued eating in peace, until the food was finally gone. Breakfast was complete, and it was about time for Yuko and Tanabe to start heading to school.

“Here, you can have these for a snack!” Yuko handed Eli a small bag of cookies that she’d purchased on the way back to the dorms the night prior. “If you get hungry before we return this evening, you can eat these!”

“Yay! Thank you!” Eli exclaimed with a bright smile. The sight couldn’t help but warm Yuko and Tanabe’s hearts.

Before long they parted ways. Yuko and Tanabe were making their way back through Rigel Park and headed towards the school.

“She seems fine with it, but we really shouldn’t keep her hiding in that shed for much longer…” Yuko spoke, realizing how the current arrangement wasn’t fully sustainable in the long term.

“You’re right.” Tanabe nodded. “I’ve tried asking around, but nobody knows anything about any missing students…”

“Yeah, I’m really stuck on what we can even do from here…” Yuko sighed.

“There was talk of a few cases of anemia, but… Well, it seems most of those students have returned to class, regardless.” Tanabe pondered.

“Yeah, I’ve heard about that too…” Yuko said, recalling what Chisa had told her. She was happy to hear that those students seemed to have recovered.

The two continued to make small talk while they walked, eventually making their way to the school gates. There, a familiar face was waiting for them.

“Ah, Kanna…!” Yuko spoke on instinct.

Sure enough, the member of the student council watching the front gate this morning was indeed Kanna Kawagoe. Yuko still hadn’t had a chance to speak with her about the current situation, and even debated whether she should due to Eli’s apparent hesitancy regarding the student council.

“Ah, good morning, Yuko Maeda.” Kanna nodded toward Yuko with acknowledgement.

“It’s been a little while since we spoke. Are you doing well?” Yuko asked, trying to make conversation regardless.

“To be honest with you, I am in quite a predicament…” Kanna grimaced.

“Really? What’s wrong?” Yuko asked.

“It must have to do with those anemia cases, I imagine.” Tanabe interjected.

“You are correct, Murakami.” Kanna answered, giving Tanabe a nod of greeting.

“Oh? But didn’t you say all the students got better, Murakami?” Yuko asked, confused.

“Well, I don’t know the details. A girl in my class was one of those who developed the anemia, but she returned to class the other day.” Tanabe spoke.

“Indeed. As stated, the first few victims have healed and returned to class, however…” Kanna spoke with a frown.

“One of our pals is still in the clinic.”

“Hm?” Yuko and Tanabe both turned toward the new voice.

Shizuo Yamamura, ace of the baseball club and student council coordinator, approached, giving his two cents to the discussion.

“Ah, Yamamura… Yes, it is as he said.” Kanna confirms his claim.

“So a member of the student council fell ill as well…? That’s really concerning. Is this a result of some kind of illness going around?” Tanabe asked.

“No. There is no evidence to suggest anything like that.” Kanna attempts to reassure him.

“I see. But still, it’s strange for so many cases to happen in a row, don’t you think?” Tanabe prods the student council members, trying to figure out if there may be more to the situation.

The anemia thing seems like it might’ve been a bigger deal than I thought…

Yuko merely listened to the conversation, trying to get a grasp of the situation herself. After all, the only thing she knew about the whole ordeal was the brief rumor she’d heard from Chisa the other day.

“Sorry bud, but there are still some things we on the council gotta figure out. For now, it’s confidential.” Shizuo placed his hand on Tanabe’s shoulder. As key figures in two different sports clubs, the pair seemed to have an understanding with each other.

“Right. Well, I’ll leave it to you all to handle then.” Tanabe gave an understanding smile. “But if something dangerous is going on, you gotta let us commoners know too, okay?” he followed up with a bit of a sarcastic smirk.

“You betcha. The council’s here for the students after all.” Shizuo gave Tanabe a thumbs up. Tanabe answered with a “Heh” and let the conversation go.

“Anyway, Kanna…” Yuko spoke again, following the prior exchange. “Don’t take on too much by yourself, okay? I’m always around to help if you need anything.”

Yuko couldn’t help but note the irony in her words, when she herself wished to ask for Kanna’s advice, but held herself back for Eli’s sake.

“Of course. Do take care yourself, Yuko Maeda.” Kanna gave a small smile, despite the apparent exhaustion in her demeanor.

With that, Yuko and Tanabe continued on past the gates and finally entered the school building together.

“You seemed pretty interested in that anemia topic, Tanabe.” Yuko noted as they walked inside.

“Well, you know… If there is some kind of sickness going around, I’d be worried about Eli maybe catching it…” Tanabe revealed his thinking.

“Oh wow, you’re right… I didn’t even think about that…” Yuko hung her head, starting to feel she may have been taking Eli’s situation too lightly.

With the busy school day getting started, the pair eventually parted ways, each heading towards their respective classroom. After taking her seat, Yuko glanced outside through the window as another day of classes began to unfold.

I’ve got to do something for Eli… No matter what, I will protect her and help her remember who she is!

That morning, Yuko could finally begin to understand the will of determination kindling within her. That’s right, she had the desire to protect this girl.

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