Chapter 57: I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [57]
Despite the embarrassing incident of coughing up blood in front of her class, collapsing, and being escorted to the infirmary by her students, Yuuri was still in a cheerful mood.
One reason was the start of the "Seven Stars Sword Art Representative Battle," which gave many students with low stats but great potential a chance to prove themselves. Their achievements would no longer be limited by cold, impersonal data.
Another reason…
"I never thought I'd have company in the infirmary for once. It's so nice not to be the only one lying here! I'm absolutely thrilled."
"You're happy seeing your student bedridden alongside you? Give me back all the worry I just felt for you!"
Though called the infirmary, the academy spared no expense on student welfare; it was actually a whole building, and its medical equipment was more advanced than that of most hospitals.
It made sense, though—Hagun Academy trained Blazers, who were no strangers to injury. So having top-notch medical facilities was essential.
With a full building for an infirmary, individual rooms weren't a problem. However, at Yuuri Oreki's request, two people had been placed together in the same room.
The room, typically spacious, felt somewhat cramped with two hospital beds set up side by side.
"I thought you were exaggerating when you said you were prone to coughing up blood, Okita, but I didn't expect you to actually start bleeding out suddenly like that."
The one speaking was Stella, with Ikki Kurogane beside her. They'd been the closest when Yuuri and Okita started coughing up blood, so they had naturally taken them to the infirmary.
"Sorry if I gave you a scare, Stella."
"You really did, Okita! Oreki-sensei was clearly pale, but you had no warning signs at all."
"But Yuuri-sensei has a chronic condition. Okita, what's your excuse?" Ikki asked, his brows furrowed in concern. "The doctor ran a full examination on you, but the report shows you're perfectly healthy. They couldn't find any condition that would make you cough up blood."
"Well, that's… complicated…" Okita averted her gaze. "Even I'm not sure of the full explanation…"
In life, she had suffered from tuberculosis, a relatively minor illness. But her infamous bouts of coughing up blood had followed her into her Heroic Spirit form, almost like a curse, similar to Achilles' heel.
Apparently, she even had a unique skill called "Weak Constitution," though that didn't make her feel any better.
Stella and Ikki still looked concerned. After all, coughing up blood was serious, regardless of the underlying cause, and the inability to find any clear diagnosis was worrying. But seeing Okita's calm and collected attitude, they reluctantly let it go.
Recalling Okita's earlier comment about having a "major surgery" that had lessened her symptoms, they were somewhat reassured; at least there seemed to be some way to treat it, even if they didn't fully understand it.
As for Yuuri, this was just her normal life.
Rumor had it that she had a constitution that caused her to cough up several liters of blood a day. She was a regular here at the infirmary. In fact, she was so used to it that even Ikki had grown accustomed to her condition.
Not wanting to disturb the two patients, Ikki and Stella soon returned to the dorms.
"I really could just go back now…"
"No, Okita-chan, you have to rest! Even if your test results say you're fine, it's still important to stay under observation. After all, you just had a blood-spitting episode—there's no way you're completely fine already."
Okita knew her own condition best; her issue wasn't a physical illness but a curse etched into her Spirit Origin. Based on her Spirit Origin memories, she had once considered using the Holy Grail—a wish-granting artifact—to rid herself of the curse, though it seemed that plan had failed. No doctor in this world could help her.
Listening to Yuuri from the next bed over, in her "I know what I'm talking about, so trust me" tone, Okita stared blankly for a moment before speaking up.
"Honest answer?"
"I'm finally not the only one who had to be hospitalized after coughing up blood! Okita-chan, if you leave now, I'll be so lonely."
"Thought so!"
Sensei, you're really losing whatever dignity you have as a teacher.
Then again, judging by her entrance and behavior in class, she might not have intended to keep any dignity in the first place.
Right now, Okita Souji felt like a bird caged in her hospital bed, unable to soar freely as she usually did.
And being trapped with her teacher, even one lacking a teacher's dignity, only made it worse.
Only someone who's grown up in a strict system can understand this—no matter where it is, sharing a room with a teacher, whether at home, in class, in an office, in a hospital, or even in the restroom, is always a test of endurance.
Some students might have a relaxed relationship with teachers, but Okita had never been one of them.
Even though she had transmigrated, even though she was now a Heroic Spirit, Okita couldn't help but recall the fear teachers had once instilled in her.
Thankfully, her suffering didn't last too long.
"Um… Is Okita here in this room?"
The door creaked open, and a shy face peeked around the frame.
In an instant, Okita lit up like a cat spotting a fish.
"Senpai Ayatsuji! I'm here!"
Let's ignore the fact that Okita's excitement nearly frightened the timid Ayase Ayatsuji back out the door.
"Ah…~"
On the spotless white bed, Okita opened her mouth as Ayase, cheeks flushed, placed a small orange segment inside.
Okita closed her eyes, savoring the sweetness spreading through her mouth as she chewed.
"Mmm… so sweet. Thank you, Senpai Ayatsuji."
"I… I'm glad you like it, Okita."
The oranges were from Ayase, who had brought an entire basket of fruit when she heard Okita had been taken to the infirmary.
Such a considerate and kind person—why did Okita always end up with the nicest roommates?
Truly, she felt incredibly lucky.
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