"...Ugh, this is rough. I feel so sluggish."
I messed up. I thought I’d taken enough precautions after what happened, but clearly, I hadn't.
If Senpai found out I’d caught a cold, the timing would make it obvious that the rainy day was the cause. She’d likely start insisting it was her fault...
Plus, I’d probably get a lecture for not looking after myself properly.
If I stayed home tomorrow, I could just bridge into the weekend to recover. That should work. The problem was Senpai and the others. I’d better send a RAIN message saying I had errands to run and wouldn't be around tomorrow.
If I could avoid her in the morning and at lunch, I might be able to keep her from finding out.
"I'm sorry about tomorrow, but I have some errands to run, so I won't be able to go with you in the morning. I have things to do during lunch too, so please let me take a break from the bento and watering. I'm sorry."
"Understood. That is unfortunate, but I shall prepare it for you again starting next week."
"Yes, thank you. Good night."
"Good night."
That should do it. As long as Senpai didn't come all the way to my classroom, she wouldn't find out...
Or so I thought, once again setting up a massive flag for myself.
In the morning, I stopped by Takanashi-san's classroom just to say hello, but he hadn't arrived yet. He must be busy if he's cutting it this close to the bell.
I wondered if it would be intrusive to drop in unannounced... but since we couldn't meet at lunch either, I wanted to at least see his face and say good morning.
"What’s wrong? You couldn't find Takanashi-kun?"
"No... He messaged me saying he would be busy today."
It felt lonely not being able to make Takanashi-san's bento. It had already become part of my daily routine.
"Even if he’s busy, he should at least have time for a greeting. Why don’t you head over during the lunch break?"
"Yes, that is my intention."
"If you mean Takanashi-kun, he's absent today with a cold. The teacher mentioned it during morning homeroom."
I had come to check on Takanashi-san during the lunch break, but when I couldn't find him, I asked a female student standing nearby. That was the answer I received.
...A cold... He seemed fine until yesterday. Did his condition worsen during the night?
I had to get back to my classroom immediately.
Sara came rushing back with a look of pure grimness on her face. I took it she didn't get to see Takanashi-kun.
Wait, what? Why was she suddenly packing her bags? Hold on—surely she didn't mean to...!
"Sara! Where do you think you're going? School isn't over yet!"
"I was informed that Takanashi-san is absent with a cold. There is a high probability that the rain the other day was the cause. If so, then it is my responsibility. I must go nurse him at once..."
"Hold it! Uh... what are you going to tell the teacher? And Sara, do you even know where Takanashi-kun's house is?"
"Yes, we walked home together recently. I will go explain the situation to the teacher now."
What did she mean, the rain was the cause? And more importantly, since when did she know where he lived? Actually, that wasn't the point. I had no choice; I'd have to use Takanashi-kun as leverage to talk her down.
"Sara, I get how you feel, but if you skip school and go there now, you're just going to trouble Takanashi-kun. He’ll be worried sick thinking he made you cut class because of him."
"Ah... but..."
Yep, as I thought. Mentioning that Takanashi-kun would be troubled was the only way to hold her back.
"I bet Takanashi-kun lied because he knew you'd get like this. That’s why, if you’re going to go, you have to wait until school is actually over. Otherwise, you’ll just be throwing his consideration for you back in his face, right?"
I hadn't actually heard any of this from Takanashi-kun, but assuming he lied to keep Sara from worrying, that was almost certainly the reason.
If I were to cause trouble for Takanashi-san...
I forced myself to suppress the urge to rush to him immediately. Natsumi was right. Takanashi-san was a kind person; he must have lied for my sake.
Coming down with a cold at this exact moment—I couldn't imagine any cause other than that day. Yet he had tried to keep me from realizing it.
If that was the case, then at the very least, I would be failing him if I didn't see the school day through. I would visit him after school ended.
...Of course, I fully intended to lecture him for the lie itself.
"I understand. I shall visit Takanashi-san's house after school. I will, however, be taking a leave from my Student Council duties."
"I'll let Daichi know. Let's head out the second school is over."
Never in my life had I wanted classes to end as much as I did today.