"Are you okay? Your cold hasn't relapsed, has it?"
"Before you head home, why don't you stop by the infirmary and borrow a thermometer..."
"I am monitoring Takanashi-san's health condition myself, so there is no need for concern."
The girls jumped. When had she...?
Senpai approached, wearing a smile that was unnaturally radiant. Her gaze was locked onto my forehead with pinpoint accuracy. Surely she wouldn't... No, wait—Senpai, there are still plenty of people in the classroom!
"Takanashi-san, please let me check your fever, alright?"
Faced with that request, I didn't have the strength to resist. She checked my forehead and then my neck, taking even longer than she had during the lunch break for some reason—and she did it right in front of everyone.
All conversation died in the classroom. Even the two girls talking to me had frozen like statues.
"I don't feel any change compared to noon. You should be fine," she said.
Despite her words, Senpai continued to peer into my face.
"However, do you feel a bit tired? I get the impression that you are."
"Ah, yes... I suppose I am a little worn out."
"...I see. Very well."
Senpai seemed to fall into thought for a moment. Then, she turned her attention to the other two.
"Thank you for worrying about Takanashi-san. Please rest assured; 'I' will be looking after him from here on."
Her response was incredibly polite, yet I couldn't help but feel an underlying pressure...
"Y-Yes, of course. We'll leave him in your hands then, Satsukawa-senpai."
"Well, we'll be going now."
"Now then, Takanashi-san, shall we?"
"Y-Yes."
I didn't even ask where we were going. For now, I just wanted to make an emergency exit from this classroom. My hand was firmly caught—no, held—by Senpai as she led me out. A moment after we stepped into the hallway, a commotion erupted behind us.
"What the hell was that!?"
"What did she mean, 'looking after him'!?"
"Are they really just friends!?"
"Gwaaaah! Satsukawa-senpai...!"
I could have sworn I heard something akin to screams echoing from the room. Senpai continued to lead the way, her grip on my hand never faltering. We were drawing an incredible amount of attention. I had originally intended to just go home, but...
"Um... Sara-senpai, don't you have a Student Council meeting now? I'm only a little tired, so I can make it home on my own..."
"Please do not worry about the Student Council; I have a plan for that. I will provide a place where you can properly rest, so I must apologize, but I would like you to wait for me until I am finished."
I had a really bad feeling about this. This was the first time Senpai had ever been this forceful.
"I cannot leave Takanashi-san alone when you are even making your classmates worry," she added.
Wait... was she actually a little angry?
"S-Sara-senpai, I really am fine going home by myself..."
"No! I will be accompanying you. I absolutely will not let you go home alone!"
"Yes! I'm sorry!"
I’d gone and troubled her again. But Sara-senpai was the only one who would accept me like this.
"Sara-senpai, I'm truly sorry for being such a burden..."
"Takanashi-san, I..."
"But you're the only person who has ever worried about me this much, accepted me, and taken such good care of me. It made me so happy that I ended up acting spoiled..."
"……Takanashi-san."
"Y-Yes?"
"Am I the only one?"
"Huh?"
"Am I the only one for you? Is it only with me that you allow yourself to be spoiled?"
In reality, there wasn't another person alive who was this kind to me, who helped me, and who took the lead in looking after me. My mother didn't really count in this context.
"Erm... well, besides you, Sara-senpai, there's no one else who has taken care of me like that or whom I've ever relied on so much."
Ugh, saying that out loud felt incredibly pathetic and embarrassing.
"Only me... Only me... Fufu... Is that so?"
Suddenly, Senpai’s face lit up with a dazzling, sparkling smile.
"Takanashi-san, I will look after you whenever you are in trouble, okay? And if you ever feel like being spoiled, just tell me. It's perfectly fine, anytime."
"Y-Yes, thank you?"
"Fufu... Now then, let us proceed."
Did her mood just... do a total 180?
When we reached the Student Council Room, Senpai started to lead me inside. So I really was going in there too!?
The door slid open with a rattle.
"Good work, everyone."
"Good wooork!" came the synchronized chorus from inside.
"Satsukawa-san, good wor—k...?"
The Student Council President trailed off, looking at me in sheer bewilderment. It made sense; even I didn't know why I was here.
"I apologize, but I have a matter I wish to consult with you about regarding Takanashi-san."
"Ah... what's wrong, Takanashi-kun?" the President asked, addressing me directly.
"Takanashi-san!?" the rest of the room gasped in unison.
Whoa! They startled me. What? Did I do something wrong?
"Takanashi-san is still recovering from an illness, and I am concerned about his current condition," Senpai explained. "Since I wish to accompany him home, please allow him to use the break room until the Student Council meeting is adjourned."
"Eeeeeh!?"
Was being perfectly synchronized a requirement for joining the Student Council or something?