"Kita-san… can you come with me to the infirmary for a bit?"
Kita Ikuyo nodded without hesitation, sensing something heavy in Eriri's voice.
At the infirmary, Eriri asked the nurse about disinfecting and treating bite wounds. Though clearly confused by the question, the nurse handed her a bag full of antiseptics, gauze, and ointment.
Eriri took it silently.
Clutching the bag tightly, she made her way back toward the sports field—searching.
But Yukima Azuma wasn't there.
She headed for the gymnasium next. Empty.
With no other ideas left, she finally turned toward the classroom.
As she reached the hallway, she slowed down and peeked through the window in the door.
And then—
She saw him.
Sitting there.
And beside him, a girl stood up after bending down to reach into her bag.
Eriri froze.
Who…?
The girl had such a quiet, faint presence that Eriri didn't recognize her at first.
Is she… a classmate?
That's when her heart gave a painful tug.
The girl's hand reached out. Yukima Azuma had taken off his jacket.
Eriri's eyes widened.
!!!
As a seasoned doujinshi artist—renowned under the name Kashiwagi Eri-sensei—her mind instantly flooded with over a hundred R18 scenarios involving school settings.
And of those, empty classrooms were practically a gold standard for "certain" scenes.
Her brain blue-screened.
Meanwhile, Kita Ikuyo peeked in beside her.
Her cheeks flushed deep red, and she instinctively covered her face with one hand.
Luckily—
Things didn't unfold as dramatically as the scenes in Eriri's mind.
There was no scandal. No kiss. No embrace.
Just Yukima Azuma getting a wound cleaned and bandaged.
But even so…
That wound was hers to treat.
And now someone else was tending to it.
The bitter taste rose in her mouth like bile.
What had she done?
He had stayed behind on the sports field—just to watch over her.
When her leg cramped, he rushed over without hesitation.
He carried her with care, shielded her dignity, and found a quiet place to help her.
He didn't laugh at her, even though she was exhausted and nearly collapsed.
And what did she do?
She bit him.
Then let him walk away.
No apology.
No thank you.
She hadn't even had the courage to stop him.
And now… another girl was caring for the wound she had caused.
Eriri clenched her fists. Her nails dug into her palms, leaving sharp, crescent-shaped marks.
Tears fell.
Large, heavy drops that shattered like glass on the floor beneath her.
She didn't care anymore.
In that blurry vision, she saw the girl's hand reaching toward him again.
Do something, Eriri! He's slipping away again!
The voice screamed in her mind.
But then another voice responded—quiet, cruel, cold.
What right do you have, Eriri? You hurt him. He left you for a reason. You broke up, remember?
Both voices belonged to her.
And in the end—
Before she could collapse under the weight of hesitation, she acted.
She threw the classroom door open, a loud bang ringing out—
Then she ran.
Ran without looking back.
"Ah—Sawamura-san!"
Kita Ikuyo hurried after her, utterly confused but worried.
Inside the classroom, Yukima Azuma and Kato Megumi stood frozen, startled by the sound.
Then—
"Kita-san?" Yukima murmured, glancing at the open door.
Megumi quickly withdrew her hand, her cheeks now bright crimson.
Yukima reached for his jacket and put it back on.
"…Won't you go after her?" Megumi asked softly.
Yukima was quiet for a moment.
"…If I go after her now, I'll just be repeating the past. Let her think it through first."
Megumi stared at him thoughtfully.
—
PE class ended.
The next class began.
Eriri's seat was empty.
Yukima Azuma turned to Kirisu Mafuyu and quietly asked.
"She took sick leave," Mafuyu replied, her gaze slightly sharp. "Went home early."
—
Sawamura residence.
Sayuri Sawamura blinked as she watched her daughter burst through the front door.
Red-eyed. Flushed. Barely able to breathe.
"Eriri…?"
Before she could flee to her room, Sayuri caught her in the living room and pulled her into a warm embrace.
Eriri didn't struggle.
Sayuri stroked her hair gently, as she always had when Eriri was small.
In the past, Eriri would've bawled like a child.
But this time, she simply trembled—her tears flowing silently, her sobs quiet and shaky.
Sayuri noticed the change instantly.
She didn't say anything at first.
Then, gently:
"Eriri, what happened? Sweetheart, talk to me."
Eriri opened her mouth.
At first, nothing came out.
But once she calmed down, her voice finally returned.
"Mom… I messed up. I hurt someone."
Her voice cracked.
"I don't know what to do to make it right."
Sayuri paused, caught off guard.
Then, in a softer tone, she asked:
"…Is this person important to you?"
Eriri didn't hesitate.
She placed a hand over her heart.
She could feel it.
That ache. That warmth. That regret.
That hope.
"…Yes. Just as important as you, Mom."
Sayuri's eyes widened in surprise.
She had known her daughter's pride. Her stubbornness.
But this…
This was the first time she had ever seen Eriri ready.
Ready to stop running.
Ready to face her feelings.
Ready to confront her own heart.