The next morning, I happened to wake up and found it was already ten o'clock.
I tried to get up for the time being, but... yeah, no luck.
Well, if you could cure a cold in a single day, nobody would ever struggle.
Sara-senpai said she’d be coming over this afternoon, so I’d hoped to tidy up a bit beforehand, but... it was impossible. I gave up.
I grabbed some yogurt from the fridge and ate it as a substitute for breakfast.
I was bored, but with my body feeling this sluggish... I figured I'd just spend the time lying down and browsing the web.
"Are those document summaries almost finished?"
"Yes, they're exactly as you previously instructed, Vice President."
"I see. Moving forward, please try to work a bit faster."
"Y-Yes, I'll do my best."
The work wasn't progressing as quickly as I'd hoped.
It felt like efficiency had taken a dive lately...
"Vice President, regarding this request from a student in the Suggestion Box..."
"...Was there some kind of problem?"
"There’s an increasing number of items that I can’t make a judgment on. If you could check them over once..."
"Did you check the Guideline I prepared the other day? You still can’t make a judgment even with that?"
"Ah... no, well, I did read the Guideline, but..."
Based on that reaction, they’d just skimmed it.
Do they even understand why I went to the trouble of preparing and distributing it?
".........What happened to the President?"
"The President is still in the Staff Room."
"Sigh... If you've finished your summaries, help the others out, even if it's just a little bit. Please pass anything that requires a check to me in a bundle. I will confirm everything here. Is that understood? I created the Guideline for situations exactly like this. If you don't understand it, read it again!"
"Yes!"
"Satsukawa-san is amazing... even though I'm older than her."
"No, she's already on a completely different level."
"Hey, let's finish this quickly."
I checked the clock; it was already past eleven.
...If I do not visit Takanashi-san's House soon, lunch will be late.
Poor Takanashi-san must be losing his strength, and he's waiting for me while hungry...
Besides, he's probably been sweating. I should wipe him down and help him change into fresh clothes...
Ah, I still have to go Shopping for ingredients first... At this rate, everything will keep getting delayed.
This is troubling...
"...She seems to be in a bit of a bad mood today."
"...That's because you slacked off on checking the Guideline."
"...She’s probably just trying to figure out how to make us more efficient."
"...Why don't you learn a bit from the Vice President's seriousness? She's always thinking about things for our sake like this."
"...Let's just do it quickly. We'll get scolded again."
The door rattled open.
"Sorry, I'm late."
"President—you're quite late today."
"Sorry, a Teacher caught me for some small talk and forced me to have tea with them..."
"President."
"N-No, Satsukawa-san, I didn't particularly—"
"That’s enough! Get back to work immediately! Takanashi-san's lunch is going to be late!"
"I'm sorry! I'll hurry!"
"...Takanashi-san?"
Ding-dong.
!?
I must have drifted off again.
I dragged my heavy body out of bed and stood up.
When I opened the door, Senpai was standing there holding a large bag.
"Hello, Takanashi-san. How are you feeling?"
"Hello. My condition is... well, about what you'd expect. Here, let me take your bags."
"No, you mustn't. Takanashi-san, please return to bed immediately."
"Yes......"
I couldn't exactly keep arguing with her at the Entrance, so I retreated obediently to my bed, and Senpai followed me inside.
She set her bags down in the Kitchen and approached the bed.
"Have you taken your temperature?"
"Ah—not yet."
Where did I put the thermometer? I used it yesterday...
"Stay still for a moment."
Senpai placed her hand on my forehead.
She did this before too, but can she actually tell that way?
"It's still high. From the feel of it, I do not think it has exceeded thirty-eight degrees, though. Let's measure it again once the thermometer is found."
"Okay..."
"First, just relax and let your body settle. I am sorry for waking you so suddenly."
Saying that, she began stroking my head again.
She stroked slowly and carefully.
......I have a confession to make.
I absolutely love it when Senpai does this... I don't care if it makes me seem like a child; I like what I like, and there's no helping it.
And getting to see that gentle smile of hers makes it even better...
"It has become a bit late, but I will prepare lunch now. Please, Takanashi-san, just keep resting."
With that, Senpai headed toward the Kitchen.
She seemed to be checking what was available, and after a short while, I heard her voice.
"I'll be borrowing your Cooking Utensils."
Then came the rhythmic sound of a knife against a cutting board.
Watching Senpai from behind as she stood in the Kitchen...
What was this...? I felt a strange, inexplicable emotion welling up inside me.