When I Started a Volunteer Nursing Service, All the Beautiful Girls in My Class Suddenly Became Gloomy - Chapter 6-7

Chapter 6: The Second Sick Person

When I walked into the classroom, Ichinose was staring out the window like she always did.

Because she sat all the way in the back, the whole thing looked like a scene from a movie.

Her black hair caught the morning light and swayed gently. Her pale side profile was still so pretty it felt hard to approach.

Nobody greeted Ichinose.

I had never even seen her talk to anyone first. Plus, yesterday was Sunday, so no one knew she had caught a cold.

I thought that was kind of lonely, but I slowly sat down at my own desk.

Taking care of her was mostly for my own satisfaction.

I wasn’t looking for anything in return, and I definitely wasn’t hoping it would lead to something with her.

Until homeroom started, I checked the class board on my phone.

◇

Yu (June 3, 20XX, 11:43):
If anyone’s feeling sick, I’ll take care of you.

If you’re stuck, I can help with shopping or making food or whatever.

Living alone makes colds way harder than you think.

Of course I don’t want anything back.

Reply if you need it.

yuki (June 5, 20XX, 8:13):
I caught a cold…

I’m feeling really alone…

Um, could you take care of me…?

yuki (June 5, 20XX, 11:22 PM):
Thank you ♡

I’m all better thanks to you ♡

◇

Seeing the new comment made my cheeks almost relax into a smile.

It felt really good knowing my actions helped someone.

The class board was super noisy today.

‘Wait, is it true Mizuse Minase caught a cold?’

‘It’s true! Kozue-chan didn’t come to school today, so maybe I’ll go visit her later.’

‘Nice, girls get to do that. I wanna go to Mizuse’s house too.’

‘Shut up, boys! Your dirty motives are gross.’

The conversation was all about the popular girl in class—Mizuse Kozue.

She had fluffy light brown hair that reached her shoulders and big eyes that changed expression all the time. When she smiled, you could see her little fangs, and her smile made everyone around her feel happy too.

She wore her uniform in a cute, natural way, with her ribbon a bit loose. Her skirt was right at the edge of the rules, but somehow it didn’t look bad.

She was always in the middle of the class, friends with both boys and girls.

“Hey Kozue-chan, did you see the video I sent yesterday?”

“I saw it! It was so funny!”

She was like that every morning, chatting happily with someone.

If Ichinose was a quiet flower on a high peak, Mizuse was like the sun that everyone loved.

She was actually really popular with the guys too.

Bright, friendly, always laughing, and just plain cute.

And now that same Mizuse had apparently caught a cold and stayed home.

‘I wonder if Kozue-chan is okay~’

‘Should someone buy her sports drink?’

‘So nice~!’

The board had turned into full get-well-soon mode.

While reading all that, I thought for a second.

If she didn’t live alone, she’d probably be fine. Mizuse had tons of friends and lots of people worrying about her.

So I just hoped she got better soon and waited for homeroom to start.

It was a little past 8 PM.

My phone buzzed with a notification.

I quickly opened the school social app and saw more replies to my post.

◇

Kozue (June 6, 20XX, 8:05 PM):
I’m starving!

Make me food!

◇

From the timing and the name, it had to be Mizuse.

Even the way it was written felt exactly like her.

The energy in her words didn’t sound like someone with a fever.

“…Wait, but…”

I stared at my phone, a little unsure.

It didn’t feel like Ichinose yesterday, who really needed help.

She actually sounded pretty lively.

Plus, the line ‘Make me food!’ came across super energetic.

But ignoring it felt wrong too.

She really did seem to have a cold, and sometimes fevers make people act weird.

After thinking it over, I typed a reply.

◇

Yu (June 6, 20XX, 8:11 PM):
You okay?

If you can eat, I’ll make something.

Kozue (June 6, 20XX, 8:12 PM):
Yay!

Then omelette rice!

And I want pudding too!

Yu (June 6, 20XX, 8:13 PM):
You’re sick but you still have a huge appetite…

Kozue (June 6, 20XX, 8:13 PM):
Because I’m hungry!

And being alone is lonely!

◇

The second I read that.

I remembered how I felt back in April.

A room by myself.

Quiet space.

Head fuzzy from the fever.

Time just slipping away without talking to anyone.

That lonely feeling was exactly what Mizuse meant by ‘lonely.’

“…Guess I’ll go.”

I muttered it softly and stood up.

I checked the fridge, grabbed my wallet, and headed to the door. Since the thing with Ichinose happened, I should bring food just in case.

Anything missing, I could buy at the supermarket.

Right as I was changing shoes to leave the house.

My phone buzzed again.

I looked at the screen. Another notification from ‘Kozue.’

◇

Kozue (June 6, 20XX, 8:18 PM):
Oh, by the way I’m in pajamas right now!

The thin kind!

◇

“…………”

I silently turned my phone face down.

What is with this girl?

—

Chapter 7: Second Round of Nursing

I got to Mizuse’s place a little after nine thirty.

It was a five-minute walk through a neighborhood full of houses.

I found an apartment building that looked pretty new, meant for people living alone.

The outside walls were cream-colored and the shared hallway still looked clean.

It was two stories tall, with mailboxes lined up under the stairs.

“…This is totally the opposite of Ichinose’s place.”

The thought just slipped out.

Ichinose’s room felt quiet, like it had that strong sense of someone living all by themselves.

But this apartment was different.

It felt bright, like you could really tell people actually lived there.

I checked my phone and headed for her room number.

On the way,

Yu-kun, you there yet?

A message popped up.

“She’s really close by, huh, Mizuse…”

I couldn’t help but smile a little.

Yesterday Ichinose was weak but kept holding back and being polite.

Mizuse is the total opposite.

Lonely, hungry, wants to see me—she just says whatever she’s thinking.

Even with the same cold, people react so differently.

Thinking about that, I stopped in front of room 201.

I adjusted the plastic bag in my hand and pressed the doorbell.

A few seconds later,

thump thump thump, hurried footsteps came closer—

“Coming!”

The door flew open with a lot of energy.

“…You came.”

Standing there was definitely Mizuse.

She wore loose light-pink pajamas.

Her cheeks were red from the fever, but her big smile looked just as cheerful as always.

Right after that smile, though,

“…Mm.”

Her body swayed.

“Whoa!?”

I quickly grabbed her shoulder, and she leaned her whole weight on me.

“Hehe… I might actually be pretty dizzy…”

“Hey, this isn’t the time to be laughing!?”

After giggling, Mizuse peeked up at my face.

“Hm? Amamiya-kun, why are you standing in front of my house?”

“Why? …Because you called me over.”

I held up my phone screen to show her.

“Oh yeah! Yu-kun is Amamiya-kun!”

She called me without even knowing…

Her face lit up, then she burst out laughing.

…The fever must be messing with her mood.

“Come inside already! I think I’m at my limit!”

“People at their limit don’t talk that energetically.”

“I get lonely if I don’t talk~”

While saying that, Mizuse pulled my arm.

She stood really close.

Actually, way too close.

If Ichinose is the quiet type who gently acts spoiled, Mizuse is the type who closes the distance with all her energy.

A bit overwhelmed, I stepped into the room.

“Excuse me…”

The second I passed the entrance, a sweet smell floated over.

Unlike Ichinose’s room, Mizuse’s place felt really lively.

Magazines and makeup sat on the low table, and the sofa had cushions and stuffed animals on it.

A big TV stood against the wall.

Next to it was even a game console.

“…This really feels like a girl’s room.”

“Eh? What’s that supposed to mean~”

Mizuse giggled and flopped onto the sofa.

But the next moment,

“…Ugh.”

She buried her face in a cushion and let out a small groan.

“A-are you okay?”

“…I might feel a bit rough.”

Her voice, which sounded fine a second ago, suddenly got weak.

The gap surprised me a little.

She must have been forcing herself to act cheerful.

“Did you check your temperature?”

“I did, but checking the number got annoying so I stopped…”

“You should really look at it…”

“Once it goes over 38, doesn’t it all feel the same?”

“It doesn’t.”

When I said that, still a bit fed up, Mizuse laughed while lying on the sofa.

“Amamiya-kun, you sound like a mom~”

“Whose fault is that…”

I answered and set the plastic bag on the table.

Sports drink, jelly, pudding, cooling sheets.

Pretty much the same stuff I brought for Ichinose.

The second she saw it,

“Wow…”

Mizuse’s eyes went a bit wide.

“You really bought pudding for me!”

“I promised.”

“Yay~… hehe.”

Mizuse smiled happily on the sofa.

She really looked like a kid.

“First, make sure you drink plenty of fluids.”

I handed her the sports drink and she took it with both hands and started gulping it down.

“Ahh… I’m alive again…”

“That’s a bit much.”

“No, I was seriously close to dying~”

“You looked pretty energetic when you opened the door.”

“That’s because Yu-kun came!”

Hearing my first name all of a sudden made my heart jump.

And she didn’t seem embarrassed at all.

She must be used to this kind of closeness.

For someone like me, it’s pretty strong stimulation.

“By the way, Yu-kun, are you good at cooking?”

“I think I’m average.”

“Eh, no way, you’re totally good. You can make porridge for sick people, right?”

“…How do you know about the porridge?”

“I just saw it on the message board!”

She laughed with a grin.

…She’s definitely making that up.

“Anyway, sick people should stay quiet.”

“Okaaay.”

At least her reply was honest.

But right after,

“Hey, Yu-kun.”

“Yeah?”

“Write my name on the omelette rice with ketchup.”

“Why?”

“It’ll make me happy!”

That’s not something I expect from someone with a fever.

But it does feel like something Mizuse would say.

In Ichinose’s room, time passed quietly.

Around Mizuse, even with a fever, things stay lively.

The same nursing job, but the whole feeling is completely different.

I let out a long breath, then started cooking with the ingredients I brought from home.sigh