Chapter 41: Eriri ready to confront her own heart.
"Kita-san, could you come with me to the infirmary for a bit?"
Eriri and Kita Ikuyo went to the infirmary together.
Eriri asked the nurse about the necessary medications to treat the bite wound.
After that, under the nurse's somewhat puzzled gaze, Eriri took a large bag of medicine.
She carried the bag and went back to the schoolyard to look for Yukima Azuma.
However, unable to find him in the schoolyard, Eriri headed to the gymnasium where the boys were.
There was no one there either.
Finally, Eriri decided to go to the classroom.
As she approached the classroom door, she looked through the window and saw a familiar figure.
She was preparing to gather all her courage to enter the classroom and start a conversation.
But just then, another figure stood up.
Katou Megumi had just stood up after bending down to search for something in her bag, so Eriri didn't recognize her immediately.
And at that moment...
'Who is she?'
A sudden thought appeared in Eriri's mind.
Because Katou Megumi had such a faint presence, Eriri didn't even recognize this classmate.
Looking at the unfamiliar girl standing next to Yukima Azuma, Eriri's heart tightened.
Not knowing what to do, she saw Yukima Azuma had taken off his jacket.
Eriri:!!!
As a doujinshi artist, she was well-known in the community, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei.
Immediately, hundreds of R18-themed stories featuring school settings flashed through her mind.
Among them, empty classrooms were the prime location for "activities."
With a flood of R18 data rushing in, Eriri's mind temporarily "froze," entering a state of suspended activity.
Beside her, Kita Ikuyo, who had been following her, had also covered her face with her hand, her fair white skin turning bright red between her fingers.
Luckily, the situation didn't unfold like the limited stories they imagined.
It was simply washing the wound, applying medicine, and bandaging it.
However, the location of the wound required her to remove her shirt.
After dispelling those unpleasant thoughts, Eriri only felt a bitter sensation rise from her throat, spreading through her mouth.
What had she even done?
Yukima Azuma had noticed she was trying to appear strong, so he stayed behind on the schoolyard.
When she nearly collapsed from a muscle cramp, he rushed over and supported her.
He even cared about her dignity, taking her to a place where no one could see to treat her.
He didn't mock her after she had been exhausted from physical activity...
And she, not only did she not thank him, but she also bit him.
She didn't even have the courage to stop him.
As a result, the wound she caused had to be treated by other girl.
Eriri couldn't even imagine being in that situation.
Just thinking about it made her heart want to break.
What confused her even more was...
She suddenly realized.
This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
Back in the day, when they were in love.
Things like that were almost routine.
It was nothing surprising...
Nothing surprising that he had left her from the start.
Eriri realized that the person who had loved her deeply, whose heart always longed to be with her, had eventually chosen to leave.
Eriri clenched her fists.
Her nails almost dug into her skin, leaving deep marks on the palm of her hand.
Large drops of tears, as big as raindrops, uncontrollably rolled down and fell to the ground, shattering into shining fragments.
In her blurry vision,
Eriri saw the other girl reach out toward Yukima Azuma.
'Hurry up, Eriri, Azuma is going to be taken away!'
A desperate scream echoed in Eriri's heart.
But at the same time, another voice spoke, full of sarcasm.
'What right do you have to stop him, Eriri? He's been hurt too much by you, you've already broken up, right?'
Both voices were Eriri's.
In the end, Eriri, unable to hesitate any longer, unable to bear the thought of Yukima Azuma being taken away,
She ran to the door of the classroom, slamming into it.
A loud noise rang out.
Then, she turned and ran away.
"Ehh, Sawamura-san!"
Kita Ikuyo hurriedly chased after her.
Her feelings were really complicated right now, as if she had just witnessed an unbelievable love triangle.
In the classroom, Yukima Azuma and Katou Megumi were startled.
Then they heard Kita Ikuyo calling out.
Katou Megumi withdrew her hand.
Her face slowly turned bright red.
Yukima Azuma grabbed the nearby jacket and put it back on.
"Won't you go after her?"
Katou Megumi softly asked.
"If I chase after her now... it feels like I'll just repeat the mistake. It's better to let her think things through on her own."
Yukima Azuma made that decision.
Katou Megumi, upon hearing this, seemed to think for a moment.
....
The physical education test ended.
to the next class, Eriri seat was empty.
Yukima Azuma asked Kirisu Mafuyu.
The answer was that Eriri had asked for sick leave and went home.
.....
At the Sawamura house.
Sawamura Sayuri saw Eriri running home with red eyes and a flushed forehead. Her gaze gradually became dangerous.
Eriri, who wanted to rush upstairs to cry, was stopped in the living room.
Sayuri quickly pulled Eriri into her embrace.
She gently stroked Eriri's hair.
In the past, at this moment, Eriri would have cried loudly out of frustration.
But this time, Eriri's tears slowly stopped, leaving only quiet sobs.
Noticing the change in her daughter, Sayuri asked:
"Eriri, what happened? Tell me, sweetheart."
Eriri choked up, feeling a strong desire to tell her mother everything.
However, after fully calming down, she spoke:
"Mom, I... I've done some things wrong, hurt someone. What should I do to make it right?"
Sayuri was momentarily stunned upon hearing this.
Then, she immediately asked:
"Is it someone really important to you, Eriri?"
Eriri placed her hand on her chest.
She could feel the emotions deep within.
She nodded seriously.
"Someone very important to me, as important as you, Mom."
Sayuri was truly surprised.
She understood her daughter the best.
Sayuri knew well how proud Eriri was.
And now, Eriri was facing her emotions, ready to confront her own heart.