Chapter 13
Miyuki stepped into the hospital, which couldn't be called large, and chatted amiably with the nurse while writing something on the registration form.
Then she handed it to me as I approached.
“Matsuda-kun, you have to fill out the rest. Or do you want to tell me and have me write it for you?”
“Forget it. It's not like my fingers are broken...”
I listlessly took the registration form, and when I saw the guardian field Miyuki had filled out, I barely managed to hold back a laugh.
[Guardian : Hanazawa Miyuki]
[Contact : 080 – XXXX – XXXX]
I really liked the word ‘guardian.’
And I especially liked that Miyuki had written her own name without hesitation.
As I gripped the pen and filled in my information, Miyuki stared intently at the registration form, so I said bluntly,
“What are you looking at?”
“Nothing... It's just that your handwriting is even worse than I imagined...”
“.... Would taking calligraphy lessons fix it?”
“If you're going to take lessons, shouldn't you go to a handwriting-improvement school...? But handwriting improves a lot if you practice writing neatly... so I don't think you need one.”
“You're so serious about everything... It's exhausting.”
“Do I seem like an exhausting person?”
“Very.”
I answered indifferently, finished filling out the registration form, and handed it to the nurse.
She had been clucking her tongue at the injuries on my face, but after examining the form closely, she pointed to a corner.
“Please wait over there.”
“Yes.”
We sat side by side in a corner and chatted while waiting for our names to be called.
“Matsuda-kun, did you see how the nurse was looking at you earlier?”
“I did.”
“Didn't it make you angry?”
“Not really.”
“Why?”
“If I worried about things like that, it'd just become a hassle.”
Apparently pleased with my answer, the corners of Miyuki's lips curled upward.
“If you'd been the Matsuda-kun you used to be, you'd have complained about why she was looking at you like that...”
“You know me surprisingly well. Have you been interested in me since back then?”
“W-what kind of ridiculous thing is that...!”
Miyuki yelped, raising her voice.
Thanks to her, she drew the attention of the patients waiting.
I shook my head and said,
“People are staring, so lower your voice.”
“Ah...”
Realizing her mistake, Miyuki awkwardly bowed toward the people around her.
Then she frowned and glared at me.
“This happened because you were playing weird pranks, Matsuda-kun...!”
“Or were you overreacting? Don't try to dodge responsibility. And I'm a little hurt.”
“Why are you suddenly hurt...?”
“If you weren't interested, you could've just ignored me. There was no need to get that angry, was there?”
“W-what are you talking about...!? I was dumbfounded because you said something that wasn't even funny...”
Did she really think it wasn't funny? Of course not.
She had started to see me as a man, at least a little.
I still had more negative impressions than positive ones, though.
“Mr. Ken Matsuda, we'll take your CT scan first.”
The nurse's bright voice rang out.
When I stood up, Miyuki said,
“I'll wait here. Call me when your examination is over and you're about to go into the consultation room.”
“Got it.”
**
After talking with an elderly doctor, I was diagnosed with a mild concussion and contusions.
The concussion only required plenty of rest, and as for the contusions... my sturdy body would recover soon enough.
It was also a relief that there was nothing wrong with my aching ribs.
Then, just as our conversation was going smoothly, an incident occurred.
“I'll prescribe you some painkillers, so take them if you develop a headache. Are you living with your girlfriend?”
The doctor had mistaken Miyuki for my girlfriend.
I figured Miyuki would react far more strongly than she had while waiting.
But—
“No. We live separately. He lives alone, too.”
Miyuki answered the doctor's question with a calm expression.
Faced with an answer I couldn't even have imagined, I could only sit there dumbfounded.
Miyuki looked down at me and snorted softly before continuing her conversation with the doctor.
“Is that so? Then you should keep a close eye on him whenever you see him over the next few days. It could become dangerous if he starts keeling over or complains of dizziness.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
“And you, kid, stop getting into fights. Did you want to show off in front of such a pretty girlfriend? Are you trying to die before me?”
I snapped out of it at the doctor's meddlesome scolding and said,
“Huh? Ah, it wasn't showing off or anything... But, Doctor, why do you speak so gently to her while talking to me like you're threatening me?”
“Because you're pathetic, you punk.”
So now he's one of those eccentric old doctors in battle or sports stories who scold the protagonist for abusing his body? And a foul-tempered old doctor at that?
Let's not provoke him.
“Haah... Fine, just write me the prescription.”
“You rude brat... Avoid sex for a few days and get plenty of rest. Light daily activities are fine.”
At the doctor's offhand remark, Miyuki's face turned red in an instant.
Because she realized he was talking about sex.
My opinion of the doctor changed drastically.
So he was actually a likable supporting character who helped the protagonist.
He wasn't a mean old man but a high-ranking angel among the benevolent ones.
We left after getting the prescription, went to the pharmacy next door without saying a word, and came back out with painkillers and ointment.
It was gradually getting dark, and the breeze was cool.
Miyuki must have felt the same way, because she stretched, feeling refreshed.
Then she abruptly turned her head and looked up at me.
“Matsuda-kun, you know you would've been in big trouble if not for me, right?”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you hadn't realized you had a concussion, you might've gotten into another accident while out having fun. So you should be grateful to me.”
“Yeah... good for you. But what is it?”
“What is?”
“Earlier, when we were sitting down, you went ballistic when I asked if you were interested, but why did you let it slide when the doctor...”
“The doctor.”
“.... Right, why did you let the doctor's misunderstanding slide?”
“I didn't think there was any need to correct him. It seemed like the conversation outside the examination would drag on.”
Even so, given Miyuki's personality, if she hadn't had the slightest interest in me, she would've denied it immediately.
She had reacted sensitively when I asked if she was interested, yet smoothly let the doctor's misunderstanding pass.
All things considered, today's haul was a solid one, bonus included.
Was this the right time to tease her?
“Yeah...?”
I let my voice trail off and put on a mischievous smile.
Miyuki's eyes darted around uneasily.
“Oh, why are you making that face...?”
“Because it's a shame.”
“What's a shame...?”
“The doctor said it, didn't he? That we shouldn't have sex for the next few days.”
“M-Matsuda-kun!!”
Miyuki shouted furiously, her face turning bright red just as before.
She glared at me as I stood there snickering, then eventually shook her head as if she couldn't handle me.
“Haah... I think Matsuda-kun teases me even more because I keep reacting.”
“That's right. When the person being teased gives an entertaining reaction, it's only natural to want to tease them more.”
At that, Miyuki let out a little laugh.
“I'll agree with that. Sometimes I want to tease Matsuda-kun, too.”
“I guess I'm pretty satisfying to hit, too. That's why I got beaten up this badly.”
When I said that self-deprecatingly while pointing at my swollen face, Miyuki let out an incredulous laugh.
“You're incredibly positive.”
“Thanks. So, are you studying tomorrow?”
“Hmm...”
After thinking about something for a moment, Miyuki said,
“The doctor said we should keep a close eye on you for a few days, so we should, right? Still, studying uses your brain, so let's see how you're doing first.”
“Go ahead.”
“I should head home now.”
I rummaged through my pocket and found three crumpled bills.
Three thousand yen. I unfolded the bills and held them out to Miyuki.
“Take a taxi home.”
“What...? No, it's fine. I'm not in a hurry, so I can take the bus.”
“Just take it and get a taxi. I can't stand being indebted to you.”
“I told you, it's fine. Besides, a taxi from here to my house won't even cost a thousand yen. It's expensive, too...”
“Let's do this. I have to take a taxi, and it just so happens you're going home too? Being the kindhearted person I am, I've decided to give you a ride. We'll stop by my house first, then tell the driver to take us to your house. I'll pay. Why? Because I was going to take a taxi anyway.”
Dumbfounded by the clumsy scenario I'd improvised, Miyuki's mouth fell slightly open.
I grinned and quickly set off, saying,
“Let's go.”
“M-Matsuda-kun...! You shouldn't walk so fast...!”
She hurried after me and grabbed one of my arms.
No matter how I looked at it, Miyuki was far too kind.
I want to start flirting with her already...
So let's hurry up and make a plan for the next event.
It's a few days away, but the more time I have to plan, the better.
@@
Beep-! Whirrrrr-!
The fan started spinning rapidly the moment Miyuki pressed the switch.
After finishing her shower, Miyuki plopped down in front of the fan to cool off.
Even after taking a cold shower, she was still hot.
It would be nice if the house had air conditioning, but unfortunately, it didn't.
With her eyes closed as she felt the breeze, Miyuki suddenly wanted to go to Matsuda's house.
‘Matsuda-kun's house is cool...’
Unlike her own house or Tetsuya's, it had air conditioning, and its traditional-house-style layout allowed for good ventilation.
Sitting on the tatami and eating watermelon or melon was the perfect summer retreat.
They said it would be even hotter tomorrow, so it might be better to leave early and avoid at least some of the heat.
Thinking that, Miyuki took out her phone and opened the chat app.
[Matsuda-kun, did you get in the taxi safely?]
Even though she'd sent a message as soon as she arrived, Matsuda still hadn't replied by the time she'd finished showering.
Just as Miyuki, worried that something might have happened to him, was about to send another message,
[Yeah.]
Matsuda's reply arrived.
Such an arrogant answer. Even through the text, she could feel him making a big deal of having done her a favor.
Miyuki let out a light laugh and moved her fingers.
[Can I come early tomorrow?]
[What time.]
[Around eight? I want to get there quickly, before it gets really hot.]
[Do you miss me that much? Then you can come early.]
Even when he agrees, he always has to tack on some strange extra remark.
Shaking her head, Miyuki replied,
[Can I take that as a yes?]
[Do whatever.]
[Could you answer a little more kindly?]
[This is just how I talk. What can I do?]
[It's your tone that's like that, not your hands.]
[Are you nagging me even here? At this rate, you'll show up in my dreams.]
Miyuki giggled to herself when she saw the message.
Whenever she lectured him, Matsuda would cover his ears and writhe in agony.
Imagining him like that made her laugh.
[Then I'll be there by eight, okay?]
[Do whatever.]
[Matsuda-kun.]
[Please stop. I can hear your low voice in my ears.]
Talking with Matsuda was somehow fun.
Maybe it was because she got such a satisfying reaction out of him, just as Matsuda himself had said earlier.
That might have been why she wanted to tease him more and keep the conversation going.
Still, let's stop the teasing here for today.
If she kept going, Matsuda might genuinely get annoyed.
[Okay, I'll stop. Get plenty of rest and see you tomorrow, Matsuda-kun.]
[Do whatever.]
That just made her want to tease him again.
Miyuki barely managed to suppress the urge, clenched her fist, and ended her conversation with Matsuda by sending an angry emoticon.
‘Oh, right.’
Come to think of it, she'd completely forgotten to contact Tetsuya.
She'd said she would contact him, then hadn't for a long time... She felt terribly sorry.
Feeling an unnecessary pang of guilt, Miyuki immediately began sending Tetsuya a message.