Chapter 55 The Wobbly Most Hated

The Wobbly Most Hated

“Cough, cough”

I step through the school gate, coughing.

After staying over at Irara’s house and taking a day off, it’s already Monday.

Just the fact that it’s Monday makes my body feel heavy—but today, there’s an even bigger reason for it.

That reason is…

—C-Can I call you… Arata…!!!

“…!!!”

Just remembering it makes my whole body heat up.

It’s like I have a fever—this warmth is trapped inside me.

Yes, after that incident, Irara and I had officially leveled up to calling each other by our given names.

In that moment, I was so happy that joy completely overpowered my embarrassment… but now, I’m absolutely mortified.

An overwhelming sense of shame is washing over me.

Taking a day off in between made it worse.

Because of that, I spent all of yesterday replaying the moment in my head, imagining different ways of calling Irara by her given name—only to get embarrassed every single time.

And now… ugh, the hurdle of saying “Akari” has skyrocketed.

“…Haa.”

I’ve been like this all morning—sluggish, overheated, completely out of it.

I can’t believe I’m getting this worked up over something so simple… It’s just a name. And yet, it’s terrifying.

And the fact that I’m seventeen and still struggling with this? That’s the most embarrassing part.

I really should have started building social skills as a kid…

Lost in thought, I arrive at the shoe lockers and head toward my section.

Passing by two, three lockers, I finally spot mine—just then.

““…Ah.””

Our eyes meet. A girl who shines brighter than anyone else.

Irara, who was just putting away her shoes while basking in the affectionate gazes of those around her, freezes the second she sees me.

Then, flustered, her face turns bright red.

“G-Good morning! Ehehe… Mornings sure make me feel kinda out of it!”

“Y-Yeah, I guess so.”

Avoiding her gaze, I line up beside Irara and put my shoes away.

Gently closing her locker, she looks at me and speaks.

“…Um, how about you, Arata-kun? How’s your studying for the test going since then?”

“…!!”

She just called me by my given name.

With that, the possibility that I imagined the whole thing completely vanished.

There was no escaping it now.

…Ugh. Enough already. Just face it, me!

Letting out a small breath, I toss my slippers onto the floor and reply.

“W-Well, I guess I’m managing. And… how about you, Akari?”

“…!!! I-I guess… I’m managing too.”

“I-I see.”

A stiff, awkward atmosphere wraps around us, like something is holding me back.

But when I steal a glance at I—no, Akari—her expression looks… happy.

“Ehehe, let’s do our best today too, Arata-kun!”

Flashing me an extra-bright smile meant only for me, Akari cheerfully skips down the hallway.

I find myself completely captivated.

“…What the hell was that? She’s way too cute.”

My body feels unbearably hot.

But after seeing that expression, my desire to call her by her given name outweighs my embarrassment.

I mean, come on.

If I call her by her given name, Akari will be happy.

If that’s the case, I’ll call her as many times as it takes.

Eventually, I’ll get used to it.

“…Phew, it’s so hot… cough, cough.”

But my body feels so overheated that my head is getting hazy.

“…What are you doing?”

“Whoa!”

A voice calls out from behind, and I turn around in a panic.

There stands Kiriha, as grumpy-looking as ever.

She narrows her eyes at me suspiciously.

“Your face is red. And you’re kind of grinning… Let me guess, you were just talking to Irara, weren’t you?”

“Gulp.”

“…Gross.”

“D-Don’t say that! I was just talking to Akari, that’s all! There was nothing weird about it—!”

“…Akari?”

“…!!! N-Never mind!”

Desperately escaping, I shove my slippers on and head for the classroom.

Seriously, Kiriha was right.

I am gross.

Just calling each other by our given names has me this worked up.

“…It’s so damn hot.”

Pressing a hand against my burning forehead, I hurry down the hallway.

After finishing fifth period, I only have one more class to get through before I can go home.

“Haa, haa, haa…”

I find myself leaning against the hallway wall.

My breathing is clearly off.

My body feels unbearably hot, and my head throbs.

Up until now, I thought these symptoms were just from the embarrassment of calling Akari by her given name.

But there’s no way…

“I definitely have a fever…”

My body feels heavy.

My vision blurs.

“Ah…”

As I try to take a step, my legs give out, and I collapse to my knees.

My breathing is ragged. My body burns. My head pounds…

“What the hell is happening to me…?”

Just a moment ago, I was able to walk. But now, I can’t even stand.

Students passing by in the hallway glance at me with curiosity.

“Hey, isn’t that Kyogoku?”

“What’s he doing there?”

“Hey, don’t make eye contact with him.”

“Let’s just go.”

“His face still looks scary as hell…”

They hurry past me.

No one realizes I’m too sick to stand.

Worse yet, no one even tries to approach me.

Of course. That’s how it always is.

“Damn it…”

Only lucky people get saved by someone.

I’ve always been alone.

So this time, too…

“Tch…”

My legs tremble.

My mind feels foggy.

This fever must be really bad…

I have to get up soon.

If I can just make it through sixth period, I can go home.

…But.

“…What are you doing?”

A voice calls out, and I turn my head.

Standing there is Kiriha, sipping orange juice through a straw.

Just like this morning, she looks at me with a mix of suspicion and irritation.

Yuya’s PoV

It was the second day of my hospitalization.

Since it was a weekday, word about my hospitalization had probably spread around school by now.

That, of course, meant Akari had heard about it too…

“Fufu, I can’t wait.”

She’d probably come visit me after school today.

I was also looking forward to seeing who else might come. The wait was almost unbearable.

“Ahaha…”

Even this boring hospital stay might turn out to be a little fun.