"Doesn't she look a lot like Yukino-senpai?"
Leaning closer to Hachiman, Isshiki once again flashed her cheeky smile.
"You're too close!"
Hachiman tried to put some distance between himself and Isshiki while keeping his eyes on the photo of the girl in the file.
To be honest.
The girl named Horikita Suzune did bear some resemblance to Yukinoshita.
Both had long, straight black hair.
Their eyes seemed sharp and intimidating.
In terms of aura, they both gave off the vibe of an unattainable flower, something you could admire from afar but never touch.
However.
It was just a photo.
In reality.
It was hard to say.
You'd have to actually interact with her to get a sense of what she was really like.
"Hehe, who do you think has more charm, her or Yukino-senpai?" Isshiki asked shamelessly.
"You're more charming."
Hachiman glanced at Isshiki indifferently.
"Huh? Ah!"
Isshiki, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly looked flustered:
"Se-Senpai! Are you flirting with me? Ugh, you're not actually interested in me, are you? No, no, I..."
"I already have someone I like, so I'm sorry, Senpai~" Hachiman mimicked Isshiki's tone.
"??"
Isshiki stared at Hachiman in shock:
"Why are you stealing my lines?"
Hachiman ignored her and neatly tucked the file into his bag:
"I'll take a closer look later. If there's nothing else, I'm heading to the Service Club now."
"My dear Senpai, you... you have to help me deal with that Horikita Suzune! Help me vent my frustration! Please, Senpai~~"
Faced with Isshiki's pleading, Hachiman simply waved her off.
"Sigh."
Seeing Hachiman walk away without looking back, Isshiki sighed and prepared to leave for the student council.
But...
Before that.
Isshiki vigorously shook her head.
Then she patted her cheeks.
Trying her best to stay alert.
However.
Even so.
Isshiki hadn't taken more than a few steps when—
Thud.
She suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground.
"Isshiki!"
At that moment, Hachiman, who had been about to leave, rushed over to Isshiki and picked her up.
"Huh? Senpai, what's...?" Isshiki looked up at Hachiman dazedly.
"You're burning up! Do you have a fever?"
Hachiman touched Isshiki's forehead, his expression changing.
Actually.
He had noticed earlier that Isshiki didn't look well.
But since she had been so lively, he hadn't thought much of it.
Even so.
Hachiman had been keeping an eye on her.
And now it seemed.
Isshiki's condition was worse than he thought.
"Ugh, a fever?"
"Let me take you to the infirmary."
Hachiman picked up the girl and headed straight for the school infirmary.
"Huh? Senpai, I... I'm fine. Put me down! A princess carry is so embarrassing~!" Isshiki, being carried like this for the first time, squirmed slightly and patted Hachiman.
"School's already over. There's no one around."
Hachiman naturally ignored her protests.
"But, but... ugh!"
Blushing, Isshiki buried her face in Hachiman's chest:
"You're such a bad Senpai! There are still people around! If rumors spread that the student council president and a third-year senpai are having an affair, I... I'll never forgive you!"
"It's not that big a deal. I'm just carrying you," Hachiman said, exasperated.
"Senpai, you... ugh!"
Still hiding her face in Hachiman's chest, Isshiki continued to protest. After all, she was usually the one teasing Hachiman. Being on the receiving end felt incredibly frustrating.
Hachiman ignored her.
He quickly made his way to the infirmary.
A moment later.
The two arrived at the infirmary.
However.
While the door was open, the doctor was nowhere to be seen.
"Did the doctor go out for dinner?"
Hachiman frowned.
Then.
He tried to place Isshiki on the bed.
But.
Isshiki clung tightly to him, refusing to let go.
"You can let go now."
"Ugh, Se-Senpai, are we there yet?"
"We're here."
"Senpai, don't lie to me."
"We're really here."
Hachiman pushed the girl away with some effort.
Wow.
She's surprisingly strong.
Indeed.
A girl's strength is truly a mystery.
"Ugh, Senpai, don't be so rough..." Isshiki pouted at Hachiman after they separated.
"You..."
Hachiman sighed, then said:
"Just lie down and rest."
"Okay..."
Isshiki obediently lay down.
Hachiman sat down beside her.
Seeing this, Isshiki asked in surprise:
"Huh? Senpai, what are you...?"
"The doctor isn't here yet, so I'll stay with you for now."
"Huh? Stay... with me?!"
A strange look crossed Isshiki's face, and she couldn't help but ask:
"Senpai, are you...?"
"Don't get the wrong idea."
Hachiman cut her off before she could finish:
"It's just a senpai looking out for his kouhai."
After all, Isshiki had become the student council president and had been working herself to the bone. He felt somewhat responsible for that.
So.
Leaving her alone didn't sit right with him.
"Tch..."
Isshiki couldn't help but pout, though her eyes kept sneaking glances at Hachiman.
Recalling the scent of the boy earlier, her expression became subtly complicated.
A few more minutes passed.
The doctor still hadn't returned.
Hachiman sighed and decided to check the medicine cabinet himself.
A fever shouldn't be left untreated.
Otherwise, it could damage her brain.
Judging from Isshiki's body temperature earlier, Hachiman felt she needed to take medicine as soon as possible.
Opening the medicine cabinet.
Hachiman rummaged through it and soon spotted a box of fast-acting fever reducers.
"This is... cough?!"
After hesitating for a few seconds.
Hachiman brought the box of suppositories over to Isshiki.
"Do you know how to use these? They work faster than regular fever medicine."
"Huh? What?!"
After just a quick glance, Isshiki's expression changed dramatically:
"No, no, no! This... this thing is a no-go! I... I've never used anything like this before! I can't handle it!"
As she spoke, her body trembled slightly.
"It's actually very simple, and it works really well. You just need to..."
"No, no, no!"
Isshiki shook her head vigorously, a strange glint flashing in her eyes:
"I don't know how to use it. Unless... Senpai, you do it for me!"
"Huh??"
Hachiman frowned slightly, glancing at Isshiki and then back at the special fever medicine:
"Are you serious?"
"??"
Seeing the conflicted look on Hachiman's face, Isshiki's heart skipped a beat. Her cheeks flushed as she nervously asked:
"Senpai, y-you look so serious. Are you... are you actually considering it?"
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