Chapter 20
After school that day, while Ryosaku was walking from the west entrance of the school building to the school gate, he was stopped by several girls who were Mieko's friends.
It seemed like the girls had been waiting for Ryosaku to come out of the school building.
"Takada-san, our homeroom teacher, Suzuki, is calling. She's waiting for you in the first grade classroom."
When Ryosaku put his shoes back on and entered the first grade classroom, Teacher Suzuki, who had a mysterious expression on her face, turned her gaze to Ryosaku.
"Hey, Takada-kun. What happened...?"
Suddenly, Ryosaku was asked a question.
"Today, Mieko Minegishi came to school for the first time in a week. She handed out pencils to everyone one by one. And she said to her classmates, 'Thank you all for your help until now.' "
" Eh!? "
Ryosaku instantly sensed that Suzuki teacher's story was unusual.
"I think it was the day after the school play...she threw up in the classroom as soon as she got to school that day.So I said, "Minegishi-san, if you're not feeling well, please go home right away.'' ' I said to her, but she wouldn't leave.She tried to go to class, but she wasn't feeling very well. So I decided to let her rest in the nurse's office and let her calm down before I could take her home. "
Ryosaku listened silently to Suzuki Teacher's words.
"Well, just before mid-term break, I got worried and went to the nurse's office to check on her. Then, she got up from the bed, dizzy, and headed towards the east entrance. When I rushed to bring her back, she started crying. And she said, "Because Ryosaku-kun is waiting..." and she doesn't listen to me.When I grabbed her by the arm and tried to bring her back, she glared at me with a terrifying look.With her bright red eyes.Without thinking, I let go of her hand and let her go. "
Having heard this far, Ryosaku understood why her eyes were red that day.
She was so eager to meet Ryosaku that she went to the horizontal bar play equipment and waited for him with tears in her eyes.
That is not all.
Just like Ryosaku, she forced herself to go to school despite her poor health!
Moreover, she was much sicker than Ryosaku, to the point where she threw up as soon as she entered the classroom.
"In the end, she fell asleep in bed after midterm break until before lunch break, but at lunch break she headed for the east entrance more groggily than before.I couldn't stop her anymore.When she returned to the nurse's office after her lunch break, she burst into tears.But, the way she cries is different from before mid-term break.It was a very sad way of crying that cut into my heart... "
