The Infirmary Visit (3)
"It seems the Student Council President has come down with a cold."
It was late morning, with noon just a step away. I had woken up late, sandwiched between two sisters in their pajamas, and that was the message I found on my phone. My head started to ache the moment I read it.
I didn't care about a simple cold—it was a common enough ailment. But the "Student Council President" mentioned at the beginning could only be Baek Seoyeon. What bothered me was that the name had come out of Han Su-a’s mouth, of all people. Of course, I knew Han Su-a wasn't doing this on purpose. She had no idea who Baek Seoyeon really was; she was just genuinely worried. Therefore, my irritation was directed straight at Yozora.
She was the only one who could have orchestrated this, pulling strings to get everyone tangled up together. No wonder she’d been so quiet and inconspicuous lately.
"Haa..."
I could have brushed off Baek Seoyeon getting sick at such an opportune moment as a coincidence, but I couldn't help but loathe Yozora’s petty schemes. I knew her well enough to know she’d hold a grudge over the smallest things and seek revenge. Maybe she was aiming to keep popping up in my field of vision, using Han Su-a and Baek Seoyeon as excuses. Maybe she was enjoying the fact that I was sitting here, racking my brain and getting annoyed. Maybe she was doing this because she wanted to be raped again as a result of that annoyance.
Maybe, just maybe... As I continued to spiral, I let out a light sigh into the empty air and replied to Han Su-a. I told her I could spare a moment, so she should decide where to meet Baek Seoyeon. Regardless of Yozora’s schemes, granting Han Su-a’s request would help build a positive image for me. There was no reason to refuse, other than the fact that it felt like shit to dance to Yozora’s tune.
As I stared at the clock on my phone, debating whether it was better to wake the two of them up, a reply came back: come to Yozora’s place. She quickly added that she was the one guiding the way, and that Baek Seoyeon’s house happened to be nearby—perhaps she’d belatedly remembered that she had broken up with her.
"..."
As expected, I didn't like it. Rubbing my eyes irritably, I carefully pushed aside Lee Hayoon, who was sprawled over me like she was hibernating.
"Nngh..."
"Ugh..."
This morning. I made sure she would be sleeping in the spot where she first fell asleep. In her sister's bed. Right next to her sister. So she could sleep, looking for something to hold onto instead of me.
I’d sent a text to Hayoon saying I’d be back as soon as possible, so there shouldn't be any major issues. I followed Yozora, whose gait was so light it was annoying, keeping a moderate distance behind her, and walked along, bumping the back of my hand against Han Su-a’s.
Had it been about ten minutes since we joined up with the others? I had expected as much since the time Baek Seoyeon was affiliated with Most Wanted. Yozora, who had been leading the way, stopped in front of an expensive-looking building in a wealthy neighborhood.
Most Wanted bastards certainly knew how to rake in the cash. It was true ten years ago, and it would remain true long after. Their reputation as a bunch of unhinged lunatics with no future was always consistent.
When I faced Baek Seoyeon, who was dressed in pajamas, I stepped into the entryway with the idle thought, *'Even so, shouldn't a villain alliance be a bit more low-profile?'* The entryway, which had only held a pair of sky-blue slippers that seemed to be hers, began to fill up with our shoes.
"What is this? The place is clean today? Last time, it was basically a pigsty..."
"...Don't say weird things. It was never like that."
"E-excuse me..."
"..."
Yozora chuckled playfully, and Han Su-a stepped into the house, looking nervous. I followed them in, closed the door, and scanned the interior. Contrary to Yozora’s remark, the place was incredibly clean. I don't mean it was well-tidied. It was minimalism, I suppose. There were simply no items to clutter it up in the first place.
One cushion on a beige three-seater sofa. A snow-white coffee table that matched the sofa. A single black remote control tossed carelessly on top of it. A mysterious potted plant on a shelf in the corner of the living room. It was hard to call this place cluttered, especially when it looked like she hadn't even moved in a week. Unless she had empty liquor bottles and sex toys strewn about like Yozora, it was certainly tidy.
Even though she must have been living here for about two years, the state of the place suggested she didn't particularly prefer things to be bustling. Perhaps even Yozora, who was chattering away beside me, found it quite bothersome.
I stared at the two of them, then spoke, my voice pressing down on Yozora’s still-noisy chatter. I wanted to resolve this annoying business quickly and go back to rolling around with the three of them.
"I heard you came down with a cold."
At that, Baek Seoyeon, who hadn't met my eyes until now, glanced at me. Literally, a glance. It was a far cry from the confident, yet sometimes clumsy, demeanor I had seen at the Academy.
"What are your symptoms?"
"...A mild fever."
"Anything else?"
"...A slight sneeze..."
Why is she acting like that? Is she nervous? That was the first thought that came to mind, but I wasn't sure. Why would she be nervous around me? We both held weapons capable of mutually assured destruction, so I wouldn't be the one to make a dangerous remark first. Or is she just embarrassed to be in her pajamas? It might be embarrassing with me and Han Su-a, who aren't particularly close to her, watching, but... is it really worth worrying about? Besides, if she’s that embarrassed, she could just ask for a moment and go change. No one would blame her for that.
While I was questioning Baek Seoyeon’s strange reaction, I heard a light grunt of effort.
"Eh. This isn't a mild fever."
"...Hey. Don't touch me..."
It was Yozora, who had reached out to touch Baek Seoyeon’s forehead. I naturally frowned at her actions because I disliked the person herself, but now was the time to separate personal feelings from business. I reminded myself several times that Han Su-a, who knew nothing, was watching right beside us, and then I stepped toward the two of them.
"...Let me see."
"Ah, wait..."
I had only just gotten close, but I could feel a fair amount of heat. It was the same when I tried to lift Baek Seoyeon’s bangs slightly with my fingertips. It was too severe to be a mild fever. Finally, when I lightly pressed my fingertips and palm to her forehead, I knew for sure.
"...Are you sure this is a mild fever?"
"..."
It was a high fever, easily over 38 degrees Celsius, no matter how conservatively I measured it. Only after I said that did Baek Seoyeon’s arms, which had been wiggling as if to push my hand away, fall to her chest.
"Do you have a thermometer at home? ...How is this a mild fever?"
"...I don't..."
"Have you ever caught a cold before? Is this your first time in your life?"
"..."
It was a significant fever, even among the cold patients I’d seen while working as the infirmary teacher recently. At this point, she must have been struggling just to stand still. It wasn't because I had some profound medical knowledge, but because that had been my experience. So, rather than treating her right away, I thought it would be better to lay her down somewhere. She would recover quickly if I treated her by massaging her neck area as usual, but looking at her condition, she seemed to be having a hard time just standing and waiting.
"I’m asking because I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but is it alright if I go into the bedroom with you? You know, in case there’s something you shouldn't show others."
"......"
"...? Excuse me?"
"......"
But Baek Seoyeon’s reaction was a bit strange. If she didn't want to, she could say so; if she was okay with it, she could say that; if it was too hard to speak, she could just move her head to express her intent. ...But she just stayed still. Letting me measure her fever, just staying still. Repeating the cycle of breathing in and out.
"Senior."
"...? ......Ah..."
Had she fallen asleep while standing because her condition was so bad? After taking my hand off her burning forehead and calling her "Senior" after some deliberation, her blue eyes, visible between half-opened eyelids, slowly turned toward my face.
"Is it alright if we go into the bedroom together?"
"...Be, bedroom...? Together...?"
"Yes. It should take about a minute if we're fast, or three minutes if we're slow, but with a fever like this, I don't think you can handle standing still."
"......"
Again, no voice came. But it wasn't as if there was no reaction at all. Baek Seoyeon, who was tidying her slightly messy bangs with her fingertips, was...
"......"
Nodding. Slowly. She was nodding her head.
*****
...Something is strange.
"Touching the neck is the most comfortable method by my standards, is that alright?"
"..."
The heat. It hadn't been this severe before. At first, it was a mild fever that I could only feel by pressing the back of my hand to her forehead. Even after waking up from sleeping with the blanket pulled up to my chin... it was true that the fever had gotten worse, but it hadn't been this high.
Why is it that when I press my forehead against this man’s hand, I feel... more... my mind is getting hazy. And the fever is getting worse.
"It might be a little cold. The neck is usually a warm area because of good blood circulation, and you have a fever right now, too."
"..."
"I’ll try to bring it close as slowly as possible, but you have to tell me if anything feels strange, okay? Do you understand?"
"..."
Seo Woojin, who had brought a chair from in front of the vanity, sat down beside me. As I stared blankly at his face and nodded, his hard fingers touched my neck one by one.
"...Ugh..."
...It’s cold. If it were unbearably cold, like shoving ice inside, I might not be able to stand it, but it was just cold enough that I could feel it slowly warming up with my own body temperature. But even so, to tell Seo Woojin that something felt strange... ...it was a little lacking. At this level, I could just warm it up with my own body temperature.
".... ......"
Seo Woojin’s thumb touched my neck. He moved it meticulously, as if he could feel my very thoughts on where it would be best to place his hand, and finally, he settled on a spot and lightly gripped my neck...
...It’s chilling. I don't know why, but it feels like I’m doing something bad that I shouldn't be doing. If you look at it piece by piece, it’s nothing. At most, I’ve let a man into my room, closed the bedroom door, and am lying on the bed, just... having my neck held. There’s nothing strange about it at all.
"...Hick... ......"
And yet, because of that chill, while my fingers were wiggling and fighting each other inside the blanket, a mysterious, warm sensation spread quietly from around my neck and shoulders and began to circulate through my body. It felt exactly like what I had felt when I was treated for a cut on my finger last time.
...So this is what it feels like to have Seo Woojin fill me up.
As I breathed quietly, twitching the hand I had placed on my navel, my throat, which had been parched, was completely healed.
"..."
The fever reduction was the same. The chills, of course, and the mild headache and the muscle pain I had felt around my lower abdomen all disappeared one after another.
...Is it okay for a body that was hurting so much to get better this easily? To the point where I have such thoughts. Is this natural because he’s a healer? To the point where I have such thoughts. Quickly. Quickly.
"Whew. I think this should be enough."
"..."
"How is your body feeling now?"
"..."
But strangely. Unlike Seo Woojin’s words that it should be enough, my body... was still running a fever. It was as if he had only cleared away the *Fire Demon* that had spread hotly to the surroundings, but hadn't extinguished the spark that was the cause. Of course, my head, which had been blank as if broken just a moment ago, felt fine in an instant. My body, which had been hard to move because of the chills, was completely fine. The sore throat that had shown mild symptoms was the same.
But this mysterious heat felt from deep inside my body... and... something... something still feels a little uncomfortable...
"..."
...I don't even know exactly what it is. And Seo Woojin thinks he’s finished the treatment. If I make him go through any more trouble... I’d feel sorry.
"...I’m fine."
Pretending to be fine. Pretending that I didn't have a fever anymore. I spat out a lie.
"That’s a relief. It was just a mild cold, but the fever was so high that I was worried there might be a problem..."
"..."
"Maybe something just got tangled up in your body. I’m not entirely sure, though."
"..."
The cause of the fever that had been burning in my head wasn't some sudden flu, but merely a light cold. Because I had received an answer I couldn't understand from Seo Woojin, who had treated me.
In my heart. I floated a large question mark. One.