Stealing Spree

As we traversed the short distance of the Club Building to the Administration Building, Hina perfectly acted as someone sick.

She even looked pale that when we ran into someone from our class who went back to get something she forgot in the classroom, the girl was convinced that Hina was really sick.

The girl even offered her help to bring Hina to the infirmary.

Naturally, there’s no reason to refuse. That’s why at the moment, we’re now traversing the last ten steps of the stairs up to the 2nd floor of the Administration Building.

When we reached the front of the infirmary, I turned to the girl and thanked her.

“What are you saying Onoda-kun? We’re classmates, it’s only right for me to help. Will you be looking after her?” The girl humbly received my thanks before asking.

“Yes. I already asked someone from the class to tell Eguchi-sensei the situation. Thank you again, Urabe-san. Hina will probably say the same if she can talk now.”

Alternating her gaze between Hina and me, the girl wryly smiled and nodded. “I see. I will also tell them the situation. But get an Excuse Form from the Nurse in case Eguchi-sensei looks for it.”

“Un. I will.”

After that reminder, Urabe-san left us as she hurried back to the Gymnasium.

As for us, I whispered to the girl who’s acting unconscious, “I am now convinced. You also have great acting skills. No wonder you made me believe some things about you.”

“Shut up, Ruki. Go in now. My arm is about to get sore.”

“Ah. Right, right.”

Opening the door to the infirmary, we were immediately greeted by the neat and tidy atmosphere it was exuding. The faint smell of disinfectant was also pervading our noses, giving this place a somewhat cozy feeling.

Surprisingly or not, the mysterious school nurse was currently in.

“Ara? You again, huh? What’s wrong with her?” Dropping the file she was reading on her table, Hayashi Makiko, the mysterious school nurse, pulled out a thermometer from her lab coat pocket and approached us.

This was the third time I was seeing her and she still looked the same. Her kinda thick makeup and that purple lipstick of hers that accentuated her mature figure were aligned with how I remembered her during the two instances I was here.

She seemed to have recognized me, however, she still instantly moved onto her real job.

As soon as she reached us, Hayashi-sensei put her hand on Hina’s forehead to take her temperature.

Right, she didn’t use the thermometer she pulled out but her own hand. Well, there’s no use asking her why she brought it out and didn’t use it.

“What is this? Another weakened student? Hmm Onoda-kun, do you really have a curse?”

And she remembered my name.

I guess the two instances where I brought someone here really made a mark on her memory.

“Uhh… If you put it like that, maybe I am. Can she use a bed, sensei?”

“You’re not denying it, huh? Alright go on and put her down so I can check what’s wrong with her. You know what to do, right?”

“... Get a drink for her?”

I answered after putting Hina down at the same bed where I put Sakuma and Rae before.

“Bingo.”

“Sensei, don’t tell me you’ll be gone again when I return.”

Since this was a rare chance, I couldn’t help but voice out the suspicion I had about her.

From the two instances I was here, she was always gone when I returned.

“Don’t ask any unnecessary questions. Go.” While smirking as if she’s admitting to my question, Hayashi-sensei waved her hand to shoo me away.

Before leaving the room, I glanced at Hina who was probably trying hard not to giggle from what she was witnessing.

Ah. In any case, it will really be better if she’s gone by the time I return from getting Hina’s drink. That way, we’ll have more time for ourselves.

As my foot sent me to the nearest vending machine, I ran into Shio who was going back from her the School Building.

Upon seeing me, my beautiful teacher instantly had her scrunched-up face look bright. However, perhaps remembering the schedule of our class, her eyebrows soon furrowed as her expression turned to the commanding side of her.

“What are you doing here? Are you slacking off?”

Before answering her, I looked around us first to make sure that no one would be able to make another crazy rumor if I used this chance to greet my Shio.

“Uhm. Not slacking but I escorted someone to the infirmary. As you can see, I’m buying an energy drink.”

I raised the can in my hand and her eyes shifted to it for a bit before returning to me. “Ruru, is it a girl?”

Her question was straightforward, huh?

There’s no reason to lie to her though So I simply nodded my head and that earned a sigh from Shio.

“You… You better be careful.”

As if she didn’t know if she would reprimand me or not, Shio ended up sighing again as she reminded me.

Following that, she resumed her steps towards the nearby Administration Building.

Before she completely left my vicinity, I answered.

“I will. Don’t worry. I’ll see you later, Shio.”

When she heard my last sentence, she immediately turned her head to me and sent me a glare before whispering, ‘See you, idiot Ruru.’

Well, what I meant by seeing her later was for when I arrive home later and see her there at the dinner table.

She refrained from coming yesterday and I needed to show my presence to the old landlady again. My promise to sleep at her apartment would be done next week.

Although I could say that I would be busy, Shio was also somewhat busy tying up loose ends on her divorce with that Nobuo. Most of her things were still in that house. The things in her hobby room were left behind there and she’s eagerly waiting for the divorce certificate to arrive before she goes ahead and moves those to her apartment.

After getting another drink for myself, I returned to the infirmary and as if she was irked by what I asked earlier, Hayashi-sensei was still in the room.

“There, I’m still here. What can you say now, Onoda-kun?”

“Uhh… I apologize for my earlier question, sensei. I was just curious.”

“I know. I’m aware of that rumor about me. But you see, I’m doing my job diligent--”

BEEP!

She was trying to lecture me that I have misconceptions about her. However, before she could even finish her words, a beeping noise instantly filled the room and that was coming from one of her lab coat pockets. Hayashi-sensei’s serious expression froze as it gradually turned apologetic. “… Err… There seems to be an immediate matter I have to attend to. I apologize. Listen, this is not me leaving my post! I will be back soon!”

After leaving those words, the mysterious school nurse picked up the file she put down on the table and hurriedly left the infirmary.

However, a few seconds later, she came back with only her head sticking from the door, “Onoda-kun, if I’m not back by the time Mori-chan’s state gets better, lock the infirmary door for me, alright. And come back here one of these days to see me doing my job properly!”

And that’s the last words she left as she once again disappeared from this... empty room.

I shook my head and stopped myself from speculating where she would go or why she would even try to explain it to me.

When I reached Hina’s bed, the girl finally couldn’t stop her hearty giggles.

Her expression was now brighter than earlier, I guess that conversation between me and Hayashi-sensei managed to expel the leftover downcast mood of this girl.

“Is it that funny?” I asked but instead of answering me, Hina just continued giggling on her bed.

When she perhaps got her fill of laughter, she stretched her arms and pulled me down with her.

In less than a few seconds, Hina’s arms and legs coiled around me before she pulled open the blanket on the side to cover both of us. “I am fine now, Ruki. Thank you for bringing me here.”

With a beautiful smile on her lips, Hina then pulled herself up to reach my lips. Without waiting for me to answer her, Hina covered my lips with hers.