Chapter 14

I can't believe this is happening. Izumi sat in the nurse's office on the bed, continuing to put pressure on her nose as the nurse wrapped her swollen ankle.

"That must've been one heck of a fall," the nurse said as she stood. "Let me see." She took a look at Izumi's nose, lightly cleaning the blood off her. "Looks like the bleeding has stopped. Let me get you an ice pack for it." She went to grab it from her mini-freezer.

"Thank you." So much for being different from middle school. She swallowed hard, holding back more tears, and thought back to the fall. Did someone just bump into me, or was I pushed? There was no apology, and only Shiori checked on me right away. Why do these things always happen to me?

The nurse placed the ice pack on Izumi's nose, and she hissed as pain from the cold hit and her eyes watered, though she was sure some of them were real tears.

"I know it's uncomfortable, but please hold it there for 10 minutes."

I know... Izumi nodded.

"How's she doing? Can we see her yet?" Shiori asked from the other side of the curtain, her voice cracking.

"Do you want to see them yet?" the nurse whispered to Izumi.

I'm not sure I want them to see me like this.

"We don't care what you look like all bandaged up or whatever; we're anxious waiting out here." Shiori glanced at Kuruma, who was pacing around the room, driving her crazy.

Izumi tried to wipe her tears and nodded.

The nurse opened the curtain. "Her nose is not broken, but it's going to hurt for a long while, and her ankle is twisted. I'll call your house, and hopefully someone can come to pick you up." She left them to talk.

Kuruma bit his lip as he peeked over Shiori at her.

Shiori dropped Izumi's bag beside her on the bed. "So, what actually happened? I was drawing in your notebook, and the next thing I knew, your arms were flailing as you fell over. Sorry I couldn't stop your fall, by the way."

"It's not your fault. Thanks for trying and for bringing my bag. And thank you, Kuruma, for carrying me here." Izumi would've bowed, but didn't want to move the ice pack.

Shiori's eyes narrowed. "Quit thanking us and tell us what happened."

"I don't know. Someone bumped me during the cheer, and I fell over."

"Bump you or pushed you?" Shiori snarled, wishing she were paying attention to who was nearby. Last she knew, the groupies were on the other side of the bleachers, but as the crowd filled in, they positions could've changed.

Izumi shuddered. "I don't know. I didn't even see who did it."

"Wait, why would someone push you?" Kuruma frowned. "You haven't done anything wrong, and you don't even know anyone around here other than us yet."

"Seriously?" Shiori crossed her arms, glaring up at him. "Are you as oblivious as Yanagi?"

"What... are you talking about?"

No, don't tell him about that. What if he blames Yanagi for it?

"The fangirls, duh. Izumi and Yanagi have gotten close fast, and they obviously don't like it. I wouldn't put it past one of those idiots to pull a stunt like this."

"Isn't that going too far? And what's it to them if they're close? If they wanted to be friends with him, then how about they talk to him like a human instead of idolizing him?"

"Are you saying one of the girls cheering for us did this?!" Yanagi asked, breathing heavily after running there.

They all froze.

Oh no...

Shiori held up her hand. "Hold your horses, star player. We don't know for certain, but we're looking at the options, and they're definitely top of the suspect list right now."

"But... you're saying someone pushed her on purpose?" He put his hands on his hips and took one more deep breath as he remembered all the girls he saw earlier. "Should I give them a warning? How about I ask who did it?"

"Accusing them without evidence will make it worse."

"Then what do we do?" Yanagi finally saw Izumi, and his eyes widened. "Damn... It's worse than I thought."

"Ugh, don't tell me how bad I look right now." Izumi turned away from them.

"Oh, another one joined." The nurse came back in, holding her phone. "Your mother said she can take a bus and walk you home, or you can wait for your father to get off."

Mom hates buses... and it might be a while until he's off work. The timer the nurse set for the ice pack went off, so she pulled it away, cringing. Still hurts.

"No need for either. I'll get her home." Yanagi slid his backpack to the front and knelt down in front of Izumi. "Hop on."

A piggyback home?! I can't do that.

"Uh... I'm not sure—"

"I know Mrs. Hashito," Yanagi cut the nurse off. "Tell her Yanagi will carry her home, and it should be fine."

The nurse held the phone back up. "You heard him? It's okay. If you say so." She hung up and slipped her phone into her lab coat pocket. "I guess you're good to go, and it looks like the swelling went down a bit. Make sure to ice it again later and try to stay off your feet as much as possible. If it worsens, please go to your doctor." She pulled out a notepad. "And no P.E. class for two weeks."

Izumi's eyes widened. "But we're still doing testing!"

"Your ankle takes priority; they'll have to test you after you get better, got it?" She handed her the note.

"Yes..." Her shoulders slouched. There was still an endurance run to do.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Hop on."

"Maybe they have crutches I can use? Or maybe it's not that bad." She winced as she stood and was flanked by Kuruma and Shiori.

"Don't make this harder than it needs to be," Shiori said, crossing her arms.

"Just take the piggyback ride home." Kuruma took her hand and guided it to Yanagi's shoulder.

Guess they're not going to let me go any other way... It's great having friends. Warmth spread in her chest. She climbed onto Yanagi's back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Geez, he's warm.

"Up we go." Yanagi stood, his arms around her legs.

"I've got your backpack." Kuruma held it up.

"Thanks," Izumi mumbled, hiding her burning face by leaning her head against his shoulder.

"Make sure she gets home safe." Shiori turned to leave.

"Not coming with us?" Yanagi asked.

"No, I have a few girls to scare for information." She cracked her knuckles as she left.

Oh no, what is she planning?! Izumi wiggled around. "Should we stop her?"

Yanagi tightened his grip and chuckled. "There's no stopping Shi when she's determined."

"Be careful on your way," the nurse said.

"We will be."