CH 38

“What’s up, Toma? Do you have any plans for today?”

“No, not really… Is there something you want me to do?”

During their lunch break, Toma and Haru ordered a large portion of katsu curry for 440 yen at the student cafeteria. After pouring free mineral water, they sat down and Haru brought up the topic.

“Well, that’s good then. My sister just contacted me earlier and said that your exclusive nursing student angel is sick and taking a day off from university.”

Without a mischievous smile, Toma said it seriously while eating the curry-covered katsu with a spoon.

“I don’t understand the meaning of ‘exclusive’, but wait… Mio-san is sick?”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard. That’s why my sister asked me to have you visit her today.”

“No, no, no. Why bring me into this? I think it’s better for someone of the same s*x to take care of her because she’s sick, rather than the opposite s*x. If I’m going to nurse her, I have to move around the room and stuff…”

“Because she trusts you, Toma.”

“Hmm, trust?”

After swallowing the curry, Toma spoke with a puzzled expression on his face.

“I’ve been talking to my sister about you, and she’s friends with the Nursing’s Angel, so she probably knows a lot of things… And my sister is my sister, so she might have another reason for asking you. But that’s probably the main reason.”

Although Haru was evasive with his words, he accurately grasped Nanami’s intention to have Toma visit Mio. He wanted to bring Toma and Mio closer together and give them a chance to start dating.

Haru wasn’t informed. Well, it’s not like Nanaumi could have told her.

She couldn’t reveal her true intentions, like saying “We’ve also become concerned about Toma-kun~” even though that was her true feeling, which could be taken as a joke.

“Hey, the reason for going there is important, you know…”

“Don’t be so whiny, Toma. You’re friends with the Nursing’s Angel, right? That’s reason enough to go visit her.”

“…”

“Are you not worried, by any chance? If that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done.”

“I-I’m worried, of course… There’s no way I wouldn’t be.”

Under a direct and clear gaze, Toma involuntarily averted his eyes.

He didn’t think it would be so embarrassing to admit that he was worried about Mio.

“That’s the spirit, Toma! I’ll tell my sister that you’re going to visit her too.”

“Yeah… Thank you.”

And so, it was decided that Toma would visit Mio.

(I hope Mio-san is okay…)

Enduring his embarrassment, Toma finished his curry and started thinking about what kind of gift Mio would like.

***

The sound of a sharp pencil scratching against paper echoes in Mio’s room for about three hours.

The clean and tidy room is unified with white and pale pink, with necessary furniture such as a bookshelf, table, sofa, and bed. Several types of cat plushies are carefully arranged in the room as well.

(Something feels…lonely.)

Mio’s dominant hand stops moving the pencil, and the muttered words break the silence.

(Maybe because it’s the time I usually go to university… Or maybe because I haven’t talked much today…)

Mio gazes from her notebook to the glass window.

The sky outside, barely visible through the curtains, is a gentle and beautiful orange color that she can’t help but stare at for dozens of seconds.

She was studying, driven by her determination to make up for not going to university. Before she knows it, it’s already evening.

(I’m looking forward to Nanami’s reaction when I tell her I was excited for her visit.)

Mio’s expression softens with happiness.

She’s not sick, but she plans to invite Nanami to her room when she comes to visit. It will distract her from the loneliness she feels now.

“But I have to apologize if Nanami comes first… For lying about having a fever.”

Nanami might scold her, saying “Don’t worry me like that!”

But even so, it will make Mio happy.

(I hope she comes soon…)

As she murmurs her wish, the moment passes by in her heart.

“Ring ring”

-Flinch!

Sitting on her bed, Mio’s shoulders shook up and down. She blinked rapidly at the sudden ringing of the intercom.

(Seems like the timing is too good, Nanami…)

The class at Reijo Nursing University ended exactly at this time. Because they had been exchanging emails about her coming to visit, Mio didn’t look at the camera built into the intercom.

Walking down the hallway in her pajamas, Mio reached the front door.

“I’ll open it now.”

She turned the key and slowly opened the front door, and then…

“Wha…?”

-Bam!

Mio slammed the door with all her might, almost breaking it.

“Huh!?”

A familiar and beloved voice could be heard from behind the closed door.

(Th-This… this could mean…?)

Mio’s face instantly turns as red as a ripe strawberry.

The person standing just a few feet away from her outside the front door. Because she only saw his face for a split second, she couldn’t be sure.

(I-It must be my imagination. There’s no way Toma-kun would come to my house… Just because I love Toma-kun doesn’t mean I should be having hallucinations…)

She shakes her head vigorously to dispel the illusion.

“All right…”

She puts all her strength into slowly opening the door as quietly as possible.

(Peek.)

In that instant, her gaze meets with the person who rang the intercom.

“Ah, Mio-“

(Slam!)

She slams the door shut with all her might for the second time.

“Haa… haa…”

Mio is out of breath. She’s in a panic because of this bizarre situation.

“W-What are you doing, Mio-san!?”

“I-I’m not ready yet!”

“N-Not ready?”

Toma’s voice rises at the end of his sentence from behind the door.

(Wh- why… why, why, why is Toma-kun at my house…)

Her thoughts couldn’t keep up. Her heart was pounding fiercely throughout her body.

“Ugh… My hair’s a mess… He saw me…”

Leaning her forehead against the closed front door, she closed her eyes with a forceful sigh.

Regret for not looking at the intercom camera. The embarrassment of being seen by her beloved person in her slovenly state made Mio let out a groan without thinking.