Despite his initial plan to drop Yukino off at her dormitory and entrust her care to her roommates, Kanade hesitated. Knowing her personality, she would likely refuse help and force herself to manage alone. That would only worsen her injury, rendering all his efforts futile.
So instead, Kanade carried her to the infirmary, a familiar location thanks to a previous visit with Kaguya.
The infirmary was unstaffed as usual. After carefully placing Yukino on one of the beds, Kanade went about gathering supplies to treat her injury. His knowledge of first aid was solid, both from his studies and hands-on experience helping others—particularly the accident-prone Utaha.
Meanwhile, Yukino sat quietly on the bed, her gaze fixed on the panda charm Kanade had found. She seemed lost in thought, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the tiny plush.
Kanade noticed her distraction but decided not to comment. Everyone had their quirks, and he was here to help her, not analyze her habits.
"Take off your sock," Kanade instructed as he approached with the medical supplies.
"...What?" Yukino snapped out of her reverie and stared at him, her face tinged with suspicion. "What are you trying to do?"
"What do you think? I'm treating your injury," Kanade replied matter-of-factly.
"..." Yukino's cheeks flushed slightly. Realizing her overreaction, she quickly tried to cover it up. "I'll do it myself."
"Of course. I wasn't planning to do it for you," Kanade replied with a slight frown, folding his arms.
Yukino opened her mouth to retort but stopped. His casual tone and impatient stance made her feel oddly conflicted. How can he be so indifferent about this?
A mix of embarrassment and irritation rose in her chest as she slowly removed her sock, revealing her swollen ankle. She placed the sock behind her, her movements deliberate yet hesitant.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kanade crouched down in front of her, his expression calm and focused. To him, this was nothing unusual—he'd dealt with similar injuries multiple times. But Yukino felt her heart flutter as he gently examined her ankle.
The sensation of his hands on her skin was clinical, careful, and completely devoid of the romantic undertones she had foolishly imagined.
Kanade applied a cooling spray, then carefully wrapped a cold, damp towel around the swollen area to reduce inflammation. His touch was efficient and steady, giving Yukino no reason to protest further.
"This should ease the pain for now," Kanade said, straightening up. "But you'll need to take proper care of it over the next few days."
He handed her the bottle of pain relief spray. "Keep this with you. If it hurts too much, use it. And no excuses—you're not as tough as you think."
Yukino frowned slightly but took the bottle without complaint.
Kanade continued, his tone firm but kind. "I've already decided: you're taking the next two days off. Stay in your dorm and rest. If the swelling hasn't gone down by tomorrow, use a warm compress before applying any ointment. Got it?"
Yukino nodded reluctantly.
"These are the other supplies you'll need." He placed a small kit of bandages and ointments beside her. "I'll handle the paperwork to ensure you're excused from classes. You don't need to worry about anything except resting."
His meticulous care left Yukino feeling both touched and annoyed. It was as if he thought she couldn't manage on her own.
"You're overreacting," she muttered. "I know how to take care of myself."
Kanade shot her a sharp look. "If you knew how to take care of yourself, you wouldn't have pushed your injury this far."
Yukino opened her mouth to retort but found herself at a loss for words. She could only avert her gaze, frustration and embarrassment swirling inside her.
Kanade softened his tone slightly. "I know you don't like relying on others, but sometimes it's necessary. You can't do everything alone, Yukino. Let someone help you for once."
His words struck a chord, and Yukino fell silent.
Kanade's straightforwardness often irritated her, but this time, it felt different. The genuine concern in his voice and the way he carefully tended to her injury made her heart feel uncharacteristically light.
"Thank you," she said quietly, her voice barely audible.
Kanade glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her tone. "Of course. That's what friends are for."
The word friends stung slightly, though Yukino couldn't understand why.
As Kanade packed up the unused supplies, Yukino looked down at the panda charm in her hands, her thoughts swirling. Maybe being cared for isn't so bad after all.
Her lips curved into a faint smile, though she quickly hid it before Kanade could notice.