Don't Make Us Worry Like That
"El?"
"U-uh...?"
The atmosphere in the room had turned every bit as cold as Celian's frigid expression. Her unfocused eyes were downright terrifying.
"El, what exactly do you think your own life is worth?"
"Huh? What do you mean...?"
"If your life is in danger, you can just run away!"
Ahh, so that was it. Celian was worried about me right now—and she was getting angry for my sake. I felt bad for making her fret, but at the time there really hadn't been any other choice.
"But Boss Presia was using magic. I couldn't get away."
"You were the one in danger! If one of you was going to end up at risk either way, you should have just run—!"
Of course, if I had abandoned Presia and fled, there was a chance I might have escaped with my life. But she wasn't some stranger. How could I possibly leave her behind and run? Even if I went back to the past, I would make the exact same choice.
"No. You're the kind of person who wouldn't."
Celian let out a long, deep sigh. Focus returned to her eyes. Okay... crisis averted for now, right?
"Haa... Fine. If you can't do that, then you'll just have to get strong enough that you never have to. I was being naive. Once you're fully recovered, you're doing special training with me. Understood?"
I was already training with Celian. We sparred often enough to polish my swordsmanship. Her skill was still a cut above mine, so she went easy on me a little, but I didn't think the gap was something I could never close.
"But... I think my body's already fully healed..."
"Absolutely not! Even if the wounds have closed, you're still a patient, so you stay right there in bed!"
Celian pushed me flat again and stood over me, staring down. Then she started fidgeting—furrowing her brow like she was wrestling with something, glancing toward the door, standing up and sitting back down. She couldn't seem to stay still for even a second.
"Celi? What's wrong?"
"Huu... It's nothing. The others were worried sick too, so I can't just be selfish. Wait here a moment."
At my question she rose again and vanished out of the room. Come to think of it, being a private room made the place pretty luxurious. A flicker of money-worry crossed my mind, but this was the academy infirmary, and I'd gotten hurt on academy business. They wouldn't make me pay. And if they did... well, I'd just have to pray that our boss squeezed even more money out of someone.
Boss Presia, fighting!
I'd barely finished that useless thought when visitors arrived again.
Familiar faces, of course—Celian, Ann, and Yuri. Apparently Celian had gone to fetch Ann and Yuri after they'd stepped out earlier. I immediately sat up and welcomed them.
"Ah, come on in."
I said it as casually as if this were my own room, but while I was using it, it basically was, so no harm done.
Yuri came in carrying a fruit basket. What, you even brought that?
"Are you really okay?"
Ann asked if I was all right—except the question was aimed at Celian, not me.
"Yes. I've already checked everything thoroughly. No need to worry."
"That so?"
What on earth had they been talking about? Hearing Celian's answer, Ann strode over with her small frame and planted herself right beside me. I looked at her and gave a light smile—
Pinch.
"A-Ann?"
Both of Ann's hands clamped onto my cheeks and squeezed.
"Awn? Whad're you doin'? Id hurds! Id really hurds!"
I grabbed her hands and tried to protest that it hurt, but she showed zero sign of letting go. The fingers that had started with a light pinch gradually put more force into it, and just when it was starting to genuinely hurt, Ann finally released me.
"Ann?"
I was about to rub my stinging cheeks and complain while tears pricked at the corners of my eyes—until I saw the tears streaming from Ann's own eyes and shut my mouth.
"You idiot! Do you have any idea how worried we were?!"
She was yelling, but there was no anger in her voice—only worry. It hadn't just been Presia and Celian fretting over me. Ann and Yuri had been far more worried than I'd realized.
"Ann..."
"I really... wanted to yell at you more, but... when you look at me like that, I can't even get mad."
Ann was still sniffling. I reached out and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes as I spoke.
"Why are you the one crying? The Ann I know would be laughing and teasing me right about now."
"Sh-shut up... What kind of nonsense is this idiot spouting..."
"Hm? Looking at the midterm scores, the real idiot is—"
A sharp glare from Ann made me swallow the rest. The point had already landed. No need to open my mouth further and invite a beating.
"Seriously... I'm only going easy because you're a patient. So just endure that pinch earlier! We suffered way worse than that."
I glanced at Celian and Yuri; both of them were nodding.
I had zero allies in this hospital room.
"Celi and Ann, you two are something else... Ah! We brought fruit—want some?"
Once the conversation with Ann wound down, Yuri lifted the fruit basket she'd been holding. Considering the state of my body, the assortment looked almost too luxurious to accept.
"Sure. Maybe it's because I just woke up, but I was starting to feel a little hungry. Perfect timing."
At my words, my friends each claimed a seat. Yuri sat closest to me and pulled an apple from the basket.
"I'll peel it real quick, so just wait a second."
"Yeah, thanks."
Yuri took a fruit knife and skillfully peeled the apple, slicing it into neat pieces and arranging them one by one on a tray. Ann stabbed a finished slice with a fork and handed one each to Celian and herself first, but both of them ate only a single piece before setting their forks down.
Then a fork with an apple slice came toward me as well. I reached out to take it—
Whoosh.
?
The moment I stretched my hand, Yuri's hand holding the fork pulled back just as far. I tried again, but her hand only retreated farther.
"Here. You're a patient, so just relax. I'll feed you."
When I looked at her in confusion, Yuri smoothly held the forked apple out in front of my mouth.
It was a little embarrassing, but when else was I going to get the luxury of being nursed by a beauty like this? I obediently opened my mouth and accepted the apple.
Nom nom nom.
Three careful bites finished the slice. True to how expensive it had looked, the apple was remarkably sweet. While I was savoring the full sweetness filling my mouth—
Swoosh.
Another apple slice was held out.
There was still some left in my mouth, but I couldn't refuse Yuri's kindness, so I hastily swallowed what remained and accepted the next piece.
Nom nom nom.
Again, three bites. Once more I was enjoying the sweetness when—
Swoosh.
?
"Um, Yuri? There's still apple in my mou—mph—"
Push.
The second I tried to speak, Yuri took advantage of my briefly open mouth and shoved another piece in.
"Yuri? That's enou—"
I had no choice but to bite down and try to say I was fine now. But—
Swoosh.
The apple slice was still held out in front of my lips.
For some reason my internal danger sensor was blaring a warning. I sneaked a glance at Celian and Ann; both of them had pointedly turned their heads away, pretending not to notice.
When I looked back at Yuri, she simply smiled sweetly at me.
She... was smiling, yes, but...
Push. Push.
When I kept my mouth shut, she started pressing the apple against my closed lips. Under the silent pressure I hurriedly finished swallowing and crunched into the next piece.
Only then did Yuri reclaim the fork, spear a fresh slice, and bring it toward me again...
Push.
The apple slice touched my lips. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
I could tell that saying anything right now would do me no favors. Fine. I'd just eat until I died. One apple wouldn't make me choke even if I ate it a little fast.
Crunch crunch crunch crunch.
So every time a slice was offered, I accepted it promptly and chewed and swallowed as fast as I could without lagging behind.
Crunch crunch.
And finally—the last apple slice. I'd been eating so quickly I hadn't even properly tasted it, so since this was the final piece I chewed slowly, taking my time to savor it.
Swoosh.
And once again an apple slice appeared in front of my mouth.
?
I checked the tray. At some point it had been neatly refilled with freshly cut apple slices, arranged as prettily as before.
That was definitely the last piece...?
I looked at Yuri with a questioning face, but she only gave me that same sweet smile and offered no answer. Celian and Ann didn't look like they'd been the ones cutting them either. Then when on earth...?
Push.
The slightest delay and Yuri was already pressing the apple against my lips again.
Crunch crunch.
If this kept up something truly terrible was going to happen, so I accepted it at once. While my mouth worked hard at chewing and swallowing, I sneaked a look at the fruit basket.
True to how expensive it had looked, the basket was still piled high with fruit like a mountain.
Haha, there's no way she's going to make me eat all of that right here, right? Right, Yuri?
I rolled my eyes hard, glancing back and forth between the fruit basket and Yuri, but she simply kept smiling silently at me while holding out another apple slice.
......Right?