Just as Shirase was pulled into the Service Club room by Nakano Nino, they immediately spotted Yuigahama Yui hovering anxiously beside Yukinoshita Yukino, who looked visibly pale.
"Come on, listen to me—just go to the infirmary already!" Yuigahama pleaded.
"No need…" Yukino began to refuse, but when she noticed Shirase and Nino standing by the door, she straightened instantly, regaining her usual composure. "Did you two need something?"
Yuigahama turned and brightened. "Oh, perfect timing! Shirase-kun, Nakano-san—help me convince her!"
"Yuigahama, I said I'm fine. Just a bit tired," Yukino cut in firmly.
"A bit tired?" Nino repeated flatly, her skeptical tone matching Shirase's from that morning. She gave Yukino a slow once-over. "You look terrible. Your face is practically radiating exhaustion, and you call that 'a bit tired'?"
Though pale, Yukino's voice remained steady. "I'm aware of my own condition. I'll go home and rest soon."
"Yeah, right," Shirase shot back. "And the second you get home, you'll start studying again."
Yukino fell silent. That had, in fact, been her exact plan.
Nino crossed her arms. "You know, I do think you're impressive. But seeing you push yourself like this, I'm starting to think you were mistaken when you called Shirase a 'foolish monkey.'"
Surprisingly, Yukino smiled faintly, her tone cool but proud. "Are you implying I'm foolish?"
"Yes," Nino said bluntly.
"Interesting. It's the first time someone's ever said that to my face. A new experience, I suppose. But unfortunately, I'm quite certain I'm far from foolish. If anything, I'm very intelligent."
Nino frowned, clearly losing patience. She turned to Shirase with a look that all but screamed: Your turn—go crush her already.
Shirase chuckled under his breath and stepped forward, ready to fire back—but before he could, Yuigahama gasped.
"Yukino!"
Yukinoshita Yukino's knees buckled. Shirase reacted instantly, catching her before she hit the floor.
"Hey—are you okay?" Nino's irritation vanished at once as she rushed over.
Yukino barely heard her voice before everything went dark.
...
When she opened her eyes again, she was greeted by white curtains and a faint antiseptic smell.
The infirmary?
She turned her hand slightly—an IV line was taped to it.
So they brought me here…
Had she really overworked herself to this point?
Yukino sighed quietly, biting her lip in mild self-reproach.
"You're awake?"
That voice.
She turned her head to see Shirase pulling back the curtain from the neighboring bed. "Congratulations, Yukinoshita-san—you're officially a boy now."
Yukino blinked, deadpan. "You don't seriously think that kind of nonsense would fool me, do you?"
"Just trying to lighten the mood," he said easily, pointing at the bedside table. "Hiratsuka-sensei came by earlier and dropped off some fruit. Want some?"
Yukino's eyes flicked to the basket. "...Thank you."
"Hm? Did you say something?" Shirase leaned in slightly, feigning confusion.
Yukino turned her head toward him, unimpressed.
"Your voice is too soft," he teased. "Did you skip lunch? If you want to stay top of the class, you'll have to project more confidence, you know."
Yukino shot him a frosty glare, then closed her eyes. "Thank you—not only you, but Nakano-san and the others too."
"Great, loud and clear this time," Shirase said cheerfully. "Looks like your energy's back."
"If you keep acting foolish, I'll have the strength to scold you properly."
"You're still picking fights in your condition? I respect the spirit. As far as stubbornness goes, I officially crown you Champion Yukinoshita."
"…"
Yukino wisely decided to stop responding.
A minute later, footsteps echoed outside—multiple pairs.
She opened her eyes again to see the curtain parting. In came Nakano Nino, Yuigahama Yui, Miura Yumiko, and Hayama Hayato.
From outside, the faint voices of other soccer club members could be heard: "Hey, don't all rush in! The room's tiny—and she's sick! Keep it down!"
Yukino's emotions twisted in quiet confusion.
It would be a lie to say she wasn't touched.
Once upon a time, if she'd collapsed, only Yuigahama would've shown up. Yet now, all these people had come.
Of course, she knew the reason.
Her gaze slid to Shirase. It must be because of his ridiculous popularity.
Miura Yumiko, Hayama Hayato, even those club members—all here because of him.
"Are you feeling better?" Yuigahama asked gently, holding out a thermos. Her concern was genuine.
"Much better," Yukino said softly.
Nino crossed her arms with a heavy sigh. "I seriously underestimated your stubbornness. When Shirase carried you here, even the nurse said you've been neglecting rest and running a fever. What were you thinking? You think being a genius means you can't get sick?"
"Nakano-san has a point," Yumiko said, folding her arms. "If Shirase hadn't skipped practice and Hayato hadn't checked on him, we wouldn't have known you were here."
Hayama only smiled quietly.
Despite their scolding, Yukino didn't argue. She simply nodded. "You're right. I misjudged this time."
"And you completely ignored your own temperature," Shirase added, peeling an apple with practiced precision.
Seeing that he didn't take a bite, Yukino assumed he'd peeled it for her—until he calmly handed it to Nino instead.
"…"
Crunch.
The crisp sound of Nino biting into the apple echoed in the quiet room.
Yukino shut her eyes again.
If I don't look, maybe I won't get irritated.
---
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