I Was Reincarnated as a Mob, and After I Kept Listening to the Losing Childhood-Friend Heroine’s Complaints, I Somehow Maxed Out Her Affection Rating - 33

Chapter 33: Kaede Goes to Yuuta’s House to Nurse Him

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Early in the morning, when I got up from bed, my body felt as heavy as lead. My back was cold, but my face was burning.

Yeah, I definitely have a cold, right?

Thinking that, I tucked the thermometer under my arm.

—Beep-beep.

“…Just under 38 degrees? That was basically a failing grade…”

I murmured as I collapsed back into the futon. It seemed the punishment for running around soaking wet yesterday had come back at me like a fast pitch. My HP was now probably lower than a slime’s.

“For now… I’ll just contact… Hiiragi-san…”

My hand shook as I held my phone. Moving like one of those early-game village NPCs in an RPG, I opened LINE and sent a message.

“I’m staying home today… Probably a cold…”

The moment I hit send, a wave of regret washed over me.

Wait… If this gets to Shouma… He’s absolutely going to hit me with the ‘What were you doing last night?’ barrage… right?

That thought gave me more chills than the fever. It would make him wonder why Kaede knew about my condition…Wouldn’t it? Maybe I should’ve just contacted the school directly.

As I trembled from that anxiety, Kaede replied immediately.

『Ok. I’ll tell the teacher! And I’ll tell them secretly!』

“Phew… Okay, that’s one less thing to be worried about…”

I dragged myself toward the refrigerator. Of course, my goal was that.

“…Energy drink… You’re the only one I’ve got…”

I returned to bed and placed the energy drink can by my pillow.

“…No, normally it’d be Pocari or something… Why do I never have anything medical in this house when I need it…?”

Grumbling, I crawled back under the futon. My head felt fuzzy and my vision blurred.

For now… If I sleep it off… I’m sure it would probably work out somehow…

☆☆☆☆

Kaede’s POV

“…Yuuta-kun isn’t here today…”

The moment I sat down at my seat, the world’s saturation dropped by about two tones. Normally, there would be someone I could go up to and say “Hey, listen to what happened yesterday—” to. But today, that person wasn’t there to answer.

“…No complaining… No fun stories… nothing…”

As I lay slumped over my desk…

“Kaede-chan?”

“…Mm?”

Mio-chan was standing there. She was smiling like usual, but her eyes were searching for something.

“Is Fujiwara-kun absent today?”

“—Y-Yeah, looks like it.”

“I see… Hmm…”

Mio-chan lowered her brows just a tiny bit in disappointment. That “tiny bit” bothered me more than it should have. She gave a small bow and returned to her seat. But…

I found myself glaring at her back without even realizing it.

“…What?”

My cheeks grew hot. A weird muddiness churned in my chest, and my mouth moved on its own.

“I’m not letting you…Lay a single finger on Yuuta-kun…”

I slammed my hand lightly on the edge of my desk and muttered in a low voice. The moment I said it, I startled myself.

“…Huh?”

My eyebrows shot up.

Wait, what did I… What did I just say…?

Suddenly a wave of embarrassment washed over me. Even though nobody heard it, my face turned bright red. Why… Why would I say something that sounded like I was claiming ownership over him…?

“W-Wait, no way. Am I… Am I getting attached to Yuuta-kun…?”

My fingertips trembled.

“No…I mean, because… Yesterday too… I hugged him because of the lightning… That was reflex—no, maybe not…? And now he’s just absent and I’m like this…?”

The moment I realized it, a chill ran down my spine.

“…What is even happening to me…?”

With my head pressed against the desk, I asked myself that over and over. But no matter how many times I questioned it, the only face that came to mind was Yuuta-kun’s. Kind, exasperated, slightly embarrassed.

“…Idiot…”

But deep in my chest, there was a faint warmth.

“Is this… Attachment…… Or is it…”

I swallowed the rest of the words and sank into my desk, letting out a tiny sigh no one could hear. During homeroom after school, once the teacher finished handing out the printouts, he mumbled.

“Uh… Since Fujiwara is absent today, is anyone willing to deliver his printouts to his house?”

The classroom stirred for a moment, but quickly fell silent.

“Where does Fujiwara even live?”

“No idea.”

“Never talked to him.”

Everyone tilted their heads in perfect sync. …Yeah, that made sense.

Heh… I’m the only one who knows.

My lips loosened into a grin. I could tell I was smiling widely. I mean, being the only one who knew… It felt a little satisfying. After the homeroom ended, I quietly headed to the staff room.

“E-Excuse me… I know where Fujiwara-kun lives. I can deliver these.”

“Ooh! Thank you! You’re a lifesaver!”

The teacher handed me the stack of printouts with a big smile.

“Thanks, Hiiragi-san. Be careful, okay?”

“Yes.”

I bowed slightly and left the staff room, heading straight for the station, then boarding the train.

“…I should buy stuff for rice porridge, right?”

The words slipped out without thinking. The face reflected in the train window looked unusually serious.

“No, why am I going this far… Well, but he has a fever… But no, what am I even—”

My brain was noisy with debate. But the moment I stepped out of the station, my body was already moving toward the supermarket.

“Okay… First, I need to get cooling gel sheets. Then Pocari. And something gentle on the stomach… The rice porridge set!”

The moment I arrived, I rapidly tossed items into my basket one after another. It felt like a supply run mission. Then suddenly, I snapped back to myself.

“…This is what a girlfriend would do, right?”

The second I said it, my face heated up like an explosion had occurred.

“No no no no!! That’s wrong! Totally wrong! This is just…! Well, taking care of a sick friend!”

I desperately denied it in my mind. But the fact that Yuuta-kun had become someone important to me didn’t change.

“Am I… Really getting kind of attached to him…?”

I muttered softly. Just this morning, when Mio-chan asked about Yuuta-kun, I felt a weird flash of irritation.

‘I’m not letting anyone lay a finger on Yuuta.’

Thinking back to that moment made my heart tighten.

“…What is wrong with me…”

The items in my basket rattled softly. Seeing that, I took a deep breath.

“Anyway. I need to get to Yuuta-kun’s house.”

I told myself that and headed to the register. Even though…The answer was probably already there… I just kept pretending I hadn’t noticed it yet.

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