{Satou-san’s Low-Grade Fever}

The Golden Week passed by rather uneventfully in the end.

Perhaps it’s because of the post-holiday blues. Today, after the break, Satou-san is unusually quiet.

Even though it’s lunchtime, she’s slumped over her desk. Normally, she would have taken out her lunchbox and started eating by now. Other students have begun their meals, and some have already finished and dashed out into the hallway.

Yet, Satou-san remains leaning on her desk.

Even before the fourth-period class ended, when I went to the school store and came back to the classroom, she was still in the same position.

I watched her closely while nibbling on the bread I bought.

The fifth period is gym class. Maybe that’s why she seems so worn out.

It seems Satou-san still has a hard time with gym class. Even though today isn’t a running exercice, she apparently isn’t good at other sports either. Her lack of energy might be understandable.

Come to think of it, she seemed off before the break too. At that time, she seemed troubled by something involving a friend. I wonder if that got resolved well. She hasn’t mentioned it, so it’s awkward for me to ask. There’s no obligation for her to report it, so it’s fine.

However, her current subdued state concerns me.

Lunchtime isn’t endless. If she doesn’t eat, she won’t be able to make it through gym class.

I wondered if she might be asleep. She hasn’t moved since the fourth period, but—curious, I put down my bread and got up from my seat.

Standing next to her desk, I peeked at her face.

What I saw was Satou-san’s face, flushed red. Her drooping eyelids quivered slightly, and her labored breathing escaped through the gap in her lips. Sweat was beading on her forehead, and her bangs were sticking to it.

She looked visibly exhausted.

“Satou-san?”

Startled, I called out to her, and her eyelids fluttered.

She opened her eyes and gave me a vacant look.

“Yamaguchi-kun…”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

I asked.

It looked like she had a fever.

“Yeah…”

Satou-san weakly lifted her head.

“I’ve been feeling lightheaded for a while now.”

She said with a hoarse, breathy voice.

“I think you might have a fever.”

“Maybe…”

Finally managing to sit up, she looked quite uncomfortable.

I firmly told her,

“You should go to the infirmary.”

“But…”

For some reason, Satou-san hesitated.

“You should at least get your temperature checked.”

Even with my advice, she was still reluctant.

“I’m aiming for perfect attendance…”

Her eyes, glistening with tears, looked up at me in distress.

“If I leave early, I’ll lose my perfect attendance, right?”

“Who cares about that?”

If the school nurse saw her now, they’d definitely tell her to go home. She looked that unwell.

But what’s the point of perfect attendance? It’s not worth more than her health.

“Let’s go. I’ll go with you.”

I encouraged her.

Still, showing some concern, Satou-san shook her head.

“I—I’m fine on my own.”

“It would be troublesome if you fainted or fell down the stairs. Besides, I have nothing to do.”

“But, Yamaguchi-kun, you’re not even a health committee member…”

Satou-san’s comment made me quickly glance around the classroom.

Fortunately—or rather, unfortunately—Saiki-san from the health committee was not there. Without any committee members present, we needed a substitute.

“It’s fine. I have time, so I’ll accompany you.”

When I repeated my offer, Satou-san reluctantly nodded, looking very apologetic.

“Yeah… I’m sorry, Yamaguchi-kun.”

“Don’t worry about it; we sit next to each other, after all.”

Taking care of Sato-san and accompanying her to the infirmary is only natural.

It’s neither strange nor unusual.

Her steps were unsteady as we made our way to the infirmary on the first floor.

When she wobbled on the stairs, I almost reached out to help, but she managed to cling to the handrail, which was a relief.

However, unfortunately, the infirmary was empty.

The school nurse might have gone out for lunch. The room was filled only with the unfamiliar smell of medicinal supplies, separated by a white curtain.

“The nurse isn’t here.”

I heard Satou-san mumble with a vague tone, and I decided to pull the curtain aside.

Pointing to the empty bed inside, I told her,

“Satou-san, just lie down for now.”

“Is that okay…?”

“It’s fine.”

I nodded at her anxious expression.

Technically, using the bed without permission is not allowed, but this is an emergency, so it can’t be helped. There’s clearly a patient here.

“I’ll stay here until the nurse returns. I’ll explain that you’re not feeling well.”

“But…”

Satou-san’s tendency to try to endure despite feeling unwell was a problem. Struggling through pain doesn’t help anyone.

“Just rest. You’re feeling unwell, right? It’s better not to push yourself.”

Perhaps my tone made her think for a moment before she nodded.

“Okay, I’ll do that… Sorry for everything.”

“It’s fine.”

Feeling that she might start another lengthy round of thanks, I cut the conversation short. I gently pushed her inside the curtain and closed it immediately.

After hearing the sounds of her slippers being removed, the bed creaking slightly, and the rustling of her blanket, the infirmary fell into silence.

The infirmary, located at the edge of the school building, was very quiet.

Through the corridor, I could faintly hear the distant noise of lunchtime. That was all.

With nothing to do, I stood there and looked around.

There was nothing interesting on the shelves filled with medicinal supplies or the steel bookshelves. A poster on the wall showed a smoker’s lungs, which was rather unpleasant to look at.

The smell of medicine made me uneasy. The white walls and curtain reflected the afternoon sunlight, making it uncomfortably bright.

My gaze wandered aimlessly until I sought solace outside the window.

The schoolyard was spread out before me, bathed in spring. The green leaves of the trees rustled gently in the May breeze. Maybe letting in some fresh air would make things better.

I was about to move closer to the window when—

“…Hmm.”

I heard a voice.

It sounded like a moan and startled me.

“Satou-san?”

I called out to her from beyond the curtain.

There was no response.

“Satou…san? Are you feeling worse?”

I should have checked where the washbasin was. I thought about that as I called out again.

There was still no response, only the sound of the bed springs creaking.

Was it sleep talk?

But if she was too unwell to respond, then—no, but. It would be inappropriate to peek at her while she’s sleeping.

However, she was sick, and it would be a real problem if something happened.

In the silent room, I hesitated for a moment.

But since there was no sign of the nurse returning soon, I eventually gathered my resolve and gently opened the curtain.

In the space surrounded by the white curtain, I saw Satou-san’s head. Her hair tied back with a rubber band was visible. The thin blanket rose and fell slowly, indicating she was likely asleep. From here, I couldn’t see her expression or complexion.

“Satou-san…?”

Feeling awkward, I called out her name.

There was still no response.

She must be sleeping. So, that earlier might have been sleep talk. How troublesome.

Feeling a mix of relief and irritation, I prepared to step outside the curtain.

“—I was waiting.”

The sleep talk was disturbingly clear.

It didn’t seem like sleep talk.

I involuntarily stopped and turned around.

Sato-san, only her head visible, continued without sitting up.

“I…”

Her voice was slurred, as if dazed by fever.

“I was waiting… all along…”

The voice, almost pleading, was hoarse.

In the space isolated by the white curtain, she indeed said that.

It was certainly sleep talk.

As proof, she immediately began to breathe deeply and regularly.

She fell asleep without explaining who she was waiting for or what she meant.

I had no idea whom she was calling out to.

The only certainty was that it wasn’t me. I had no idea what she was referring to and had no memory of making her wait.

I wondered who Satou-san was waiting for. Was her fever caused by that person?

Eventually, the school nurse arrived in the infirmary, and I stopped pondering.

Satou-san left school early that day.

It seemed she wouldn’t be receiving the perfect attendance award after all.