Watching a girl emerge from Kawashima Toya's apartment so early in the morning sent Katsura Kotonoha's thoughts into a tailspin.
A hypocrite?
She recalled her mother's frequent warnings: "Stay away from men who appear overly kind or gentlemanly. Never trust their honeyed words."
Believing it was for the best, she decided to hurry away before she was spotted.
"Katsura-san?"
Kawashima Toya had just stepped into the hallway and caught a glimpse of her hasty retreat.
What was she doing at my apartment?
He didn't dwell on it. If she was leaving, it likely wasn't an emergency. He wasn't particularly concerned with whatever misunderstanding she might have formed.
.....
Sakano Academy Infirmary
Toya arrived at the infirmary and swapped his jacket for the standard-issue white lab coat. He collapsed onto one of the patient beds with a weary sigh.
Being a school nurse in a world like this definitely has its perks.
With minimal paperwork and hours of quiet, he could essentially spend his day lounging in the office.
He hadn't been resting for long when a soft, hesitant voice called out to him. Opening his eyes, he found Kotonoha looking down at him with a troubled expression.
"Katsura-san, is something wrong?"
Under normal circumstances, he might have been annoyed at having his nap interrupted, but he made an exception for her.
Since transferring to Sakano Academy, Kotonoha had become a frequent target for bullying, leaving her emotionally fragile. A cold dismissal might push her toward something drastic.
Her face flushed a deep crimson, and she avoided his gaze. "Kawashima-sensei... this period is PE. The class asked me to come find you."
"PE?" Toya remembered he was still covering for the regular teacher who was out on medical leave. "Hold on, let me check the schedule."
He was fairly certain he didn't have a class assigned for this time. Kotonoha spoke up softly, noticing his confusion.
"Actually, this was supposed to be the Dean's period. But... since he suddenly fell ill, the class was left without supervision."
"Right, I see," Toya said, the realization clicking. The Dean's "illness" from the shock last night. "In that case, let's head over to Class 1-4."
"Yes, Sensei," she replied quietly, leading the way.
When Toya stepped into the classroom, the students erupted in a chorus of cheers.
How nostalgic.
He remembered having the same reaction back in his own school days whenever a lecture was traded for physical activity.
"Everyone, gather at the athletic field," Toya's calm voice cut through the excitement.
"We'll do exactly what I did with the other class yesterday. Finish your laps, and then you're free to do as you please."
He headed straight for the track. Within five minutes, the students had changed into their gym clothes and assembled. Toya scanned the group and gave a slight nod. "You can begin."
As the students of Class 1-4 started their run, Toya found a spot in the shade to monitor them. He wanted to ensure no one overexerted themselves. If an accident did happen, he was prepared to move.
Ah, youth, Toya mused, watching them laugh and jostle each other as they ran. I can appreciate the nostalgia, but there's no way I'd ever want to be a student again.
Just then, Kotonoha, who had been maintaining a steady pace, suddenly lost her footing. Her balance gave way, and she collapsed onto the track.
And there goes my peaceful afternoon, Toya sighed inwardly, immediately sprinting toward her.
By the time he arrived, Kato Otome and her three companions—the school's local delinquents—had already reached her. Surprisingly, they were actually helping her up.
"Katsura-san, are you alright?" Toya asked, his voice firm but concerned. "How bad is it? Do we need to call for help?"
"Thank you, Sensei, but I'm okay," Kotonoha said, her face burning with embarrassment. "I just tripped. I'll be fine after a little rest."
"I'll be the judge of that. I need to see the injury before I decide it's minor."
Toya turned to the other girls. "Kato-san, I'll need your help for a moment."
Kato Otome nodded obediently. Ever since Toya's "forceful discipline" session, the four of them had become remarkably well-behaved.
Toya watched as they gently lowered Kotonoha to a seated position. As Otome eased the black over-the-knee sock down, she revealed a knee that was already swelling and bruised.
Kotonoha looked like she wanted to melt into the pavement. Having a man look at her leg—even if he was a teacher—was nearly more distressing than the scrape itself.
"Sensei? What should we do?"
Toya shook his head. "Kato-san, please help Katsura-san to the infirmary. I'll go ahead and grab the supplies. I'll need you four to assist with the treatment."
.....
Infirmary
Otome and her group carefully guided Kotonoha into the office. Toya laid out several bottles of disinfectant and a tube of ointment on the desk.
"I'll leave the rest to you," he told the four girls.
"Wait, Sensei, you want us to do it?" Otome asked, looking at the supplies with uncertainty.
"We aren't exactly known for being gentle. We'll probably mess it up. You're the health teacher. Shouldn't you be the one handling this? What if we hurt her and she kicks us?"
"I wouldn't..." Kotonoha whispered.
Otome rolled her eyes. "I don't believe you. Some people have that knee-jerk reflex. I'm not risking a bruise."
Seeing that the four were genuinely hesitant, Toya let out a sigh and stepped in.
"Fine, I'll handle it. Katsura-san, Kato-san is worried about that reflex of yours. Try to stay still. I'm completely defenseless here."
Toya made a light joke to ease her tension as he began cleaning the wound.
He focused intently on the task—not because it was complex, but to avoid making her any more uncomfortable. Once the bandages were secured, Toya offered a small, teasing smile.
"It looks like my luck held out. No injuries for me today."
"I... I would never," Kotonoha stammered. She was practically steaming from her ears and refused to look up.
Toya began tidying the medical kit. "Alright, you're all set. Kato-san, if you want to head back for the rest of the period, you're free to go. Otherwise, you're welcome to rest here for a bit."
"We're out of here! Back to the field!" Otome shouted, her three subordinates following her as they bolted out of the room.
The infirmary fell into a quiet stillness. Kotonoha looked at her lap, her voice barely a whisper. "Kawashima-sensei... is it alright if I stay here for a while?"
"Of course. Make yourself comfortable."
The infirmary was for the students, after all. He saw no reason to turn her away.