The Former Swordmaster Who Pretends to Be the Worst, and the School’s Top-Ranked Chairman’s Daughter Who’s Way Too Sweet in Public, It’s a Real Problem
――I could see a field of flowers across the river.
The comrades I once fought alongside were waving at me. It seemed they had lived out their natural lives in peace after saving the world together. They looked at me with such serene expressions.
Perhaps it was time for me, too, to surrender myself to that peace.
Just as I was thinking that, I heard a voice.
“Aragaki Saito peace has not yet come to you.”
I turned at the androgynous voice to find the goddess who had once summoned me to this other world standing there.
In her hand was what appeared to be black rice covered in purple slime. The foul stench made me involuntarily wrinkle my brow, and I desperately fought back the rising nausea. But as the pungent odor grew stronger, I slumped helplessly to the ground and vomited.
The world flickered in and out of existence amid unprecedented agony.
As I lay there, the goddess scooped up a spoonful of what appeared to be the foul-smelling dish. She brought it close to my nose, and just as I thought she was about to smile—
“Ah, ah… Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…!?”
—She forced it into my mouth as if prying it open.
With tears streaming down my face, I had no choice but to endure that ordeal.
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“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!? …Wait, what?”
I let out a cry and jumped up instinctively, only to find myself in an unfamiliar setting.
It wasn’t a hospital room, but it was still a space dominated by white. It seemed I was lying on one of the several beds placed there. As I sat there dazed for a moment, unable to grasp the situation, a man in a familiar white coat approached.
He slowly sat down in the chair next to my bed and said,
“Hey, Aragaki. …How are you feeling?”
“…Nishimiya sensei?”
He—Nishimiya sensei—was glancing over some documents with a wry smile.
I tilted my head, still unable to grasp what was going on, and simply stared at him.
“—Yeah. Your eyes are wide open. I guess that means the treatment is complete.”
“Treatment…?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right.”
Nishimiya nodded and explained.
“You had ingested a significant amount of toxic substances, so we performed a gastric lavage. You were in a coma for a while, but what on earth did you do, Aragaki…?”
“…………”
Hearing that, I finally grasped the situation.
Apparently, after finishing Rika’s home-cooked meal, I had lost consciousness and been brought here. Then, after receiving treatment, I had pulled through the critical situation.
But that left me with one small concern.
“……Wait, but why is Nishimiya sensei at the hospital?”
Given the sequence of events, this should be a hospital.
In response to my question, the doctor said, “Ah,” and continued.
“This isn’t a hospital. It’s the infirmary attached to the Agatsuma residence.”
“Oh… I see?”
Come to think of it, there was a research facility next to the Agatsuma residence.
I’d been carried there and given emergency treatment, ranging from a stomach pump to an IV drip. I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought that my childhood friend’s cooking had required such drastic measures. It had been since I first faced the Demon King that I’d felt such fear.
Even as I thought that, I decided to return to the conversation.
“So, what about you, Professor Nishimiya…?”
“Actually, I’m both a teacher at the academy and a researcher at the facility. When you were brought in, I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes.”
“…I’m sorry to have caused you worry.”
“No, no. As long as you’re feeling better now, don’t worry about it.”
Those words made the situation much clearer.
With my questions answered for the time being, I bowed my head once more to thank him. He laughed awkwardly and glanced at the IV drip.
He checked how much was left, jotted something down on a form, and said,
“Well, the IV is finished. You’re looking much better, so you can go home today. …Just don’t take a bath today, and only drink water, okay?”
“Yes, I understand…”
At his remark, this time I gave a wry smile.
As I got out of bed and changed my clothes, Dr. Nishimiya started making small talk.
“By the way, the Chairman chose you to be Agatsuma’s bodyguard, didn’t he?”
“Ah… you know about that too?”
“Well, sort of. Since I’m a faculty member, after all.”
—I suppose that makes sense.
Since he’s affiliated with the academy and a researcher, it wouldn’t be strange for him to know. But since he seemed a little puzzled, I replied jokingly.
“I wonder what the Chairman is thinking. …I’m just an ordinary student, after all.”
“No, no, I’ve heard the rumors. They say you’ve already saved Agatsuma twice.”
At that, Professor Nishimiya laughed and said that wasn’t true.
He said it would be reasonable if I had that kind of track record. Hearing that, all I could do was scratch my cheek.
But after thinking for a moment—
“Um, Professor Nishimiya? Could I ask you just one thing—”
“Ah! I’m sorry, it looks like I’ve been called!”
—Just as I was about to confirm something, his cell phone rang.
Professor Nishimiya hurriedly pulled it out of his pocket and left the room, bowing repeatedly with an apologetic look. But before he went, he added one last thing:
“Take care of yourself! And from now on, don’t push yourself too hard, okay!?”
He left those words behind with a beaming smile.
His footsteps echoed as he ran off.
Left alone in the room, I caught my breath, feeling as if some of the tension had been released. Then, grabbing a few belongings, I decided to head back to the Agatsuma household.
“…………Huh?”
I was on my way to the exit, relying solely on the facility’s map.
At the edge of my vision—
“…Takanashi? No, that can’t be, can it?”
Once again, I thought I saw the figure of that troublemaker.
It looked like she was wearing a hospital gown, but this time it was truly just a fleeting moment, and I lost sight of her immediately.
“What on earth is going on…?”
It wasn’t just once; I’d had the same experience twice now.
Unnerved by the eerie feeling, I stood there lost in thought for a while. But it didn’t seem like I’d be able to find an answer just yet…
Maiban