Heartbeats and Illusions

"Can I still leave?"

"I sprained my ankle and can't move. Please carry me, young man!"

"That's a nice thought, Sempai." Natsukawa Kanade rolled his eyes, but when he glanced at the slightly swollen bump on Kasumigaoka's foot, he sighed.

"Only this once."

Providing such a service to a girl who had rejected him before? That was a surefire way to be labeled a bootlicker. But it was his actions that had caused Kasumigaoka's current state. Responsibility couldn't be avoided.

"Hey, Kohai, has anyone ever seen you acting this way before?"

"..."

Kanade remained silent, recognizing Kasumigaoka's skill at stirring emotions and manipulating conversations. If he wasn't cautious, he'd get swept up in her rhythm. The best defense was to ignore her altogether.

"Then let me rephrase. Kohai-kun... how many people have rejected you before?"

"Hiss..." Kanade inhaled sharply, nearly stumbling as he carried Kasumigaoka on his back.

Was she deliberately trying to pick at his wounds? He couldn't believe her audacity to bring up irrelevant, hurtful topics like this.

"Don't get so worked up, Kohai. I'm just asking casually," Kasumigaoka added with a hint of nervousness, though her tone remained teasing.

The gentle, agreeable Kohai she once knew would never abandon her, but this colder, more aloof version... she thought it best not to push too far.

After a long silence, Kanade replied slowly, "Shiina Mahiru, Sawamura Eriri, Yukinoshita Yukino, and Shinomiya Kaguya."

He didn't see any point in hiding the truth. Kasumigaoka already knew him well, and anyone with access to the right gossip circles could have unearthed the same information.

"Four, huh?" Kasumigaoka nodded thoughtfully. "That's not bad. Did you like them a lot, Kohai?"

"I liked those four. Not you." Kanade's tone was firm.

At least those four wouldn't cause him trouble or meddle in his life, unlike Kasumigaoka Utaha, who seemed to thrive on creating chaos and disrupting his attempts at forming new relationships. She was utterly infuriating.

Kanade couldn't help but regret his choices. If only he had pursued someone like Kato first... Then again, why did that seem just as complicated?

"So, what you're saying is that, in your heart, I hold the most special place!" Kasumigaoka sounded triumphant, her face lighting up with an almost mischievous glee.

"I'd say you're just good at self-hypnosis," Kanade shot back, his lips curling in disbelief.

Where did she even get the nerve to make such an outlandish claim?

"How's your foot, Sempai? Let's find somewhere to treat it first. I can't exactly carry you around all day, especially on the train."

"If you don't mind, Kohai..."

"I mind."

"Tsk... Fine. Let's go back to the place we met earlier."

"I'm just going to carry you back? Where exactly were you coming from, Sempai?"

"Just kidding. It's the hotel up ahead. See?" Kasumigaoka gestured to a nearby building.

"Sempai, I should remind you, I'm under 18."

"What's that supposed to mean? The room's for work. My editor, Machida Sonoko, booked it for me. I'm here to collect materials, not to loiter around like you, Kohai."

"...Fine."

Reluctantly, Kanade carried her the rest of the way. Every step felt like a Herculean effort. Was Kasumigaoka secretly made of lead?

"I feel like you're thinking something rude about me, Kohai. Should I help you relax your brain?"

"Please don't. I might 'accidentally' drop you."

"Tsk..." Kasumigaoka pouted and, as if retaliating, poked Kanade's cheek. "You'd better not think bad thoughts about me, or I'll expose your embarrassing moments to everyone!"

Of course, that was a lie. Kasumigaoka had no intention of sharing her Kohai's awkward moments with anyone else. They were her precious memories, ones she wanted to keep all to herself.

In her mind, she'd already won a great victory: she was, as Kanade himself admitted, the most special one to him. Now, all she had to do was peel back his layers, bit by bit, until he was molded into the perfect boyfriend.

Her secret copy of the Boyfriend Adjustment Manual had never been more relevant.

Kanade, blissfully unaware of her inner thoughts, rolled his eyes.

Following Kasumigaoka's directions, Natsukawa Kanade carried her to Room 205. After swiping the key card to enter, he placed her gently on the bed and immediately disappeared into the bathroom. Moments later, he returned with a basin of cold water, setting it down beside the bed with a practiced efficiency.

"Sempai, wash your foot first. Then I'll apply some medicine," he said, his tone calm but firm.

"Huh? Apply medicine?" Kasumigaoka blinked in surprise before realizing the implications. Earlier, when her Kohai had disappeared briefly, he must have gone to buy medicine for her! This realization stirred a feeling of warmth in her chest.

So, while she had been teasing him relentlessly, he'd been quietly thinking about her well-being. Perhaps their connection wasn't as incompatible as he insisted.

"Kohai, help me!" Kasumigaoka's voice brimmed with playful energy. Her earlier exhaustion seemed to have vanished, replaced by a newfound determination to coax her junior into helping her. Originally, she'd planned to tease him with a provocative remark about boys enjoying the act of removing stockings for girls. But now, she only wanted to see how far she could push his limits with a coquettish act.

"I refuse." Kanade's response was immediate, his expression unwavering. He waved his hand dramatically as if the very idea was beneath him.

Kasumigaoka glared but didn't press further. As much as she loved teasing her Kohai, she was still a girl and cared about maintaining a semblance of decorum. With some effort, she removed her stockings and began washing her foot, though her movements were slow and awkward. Once finished, she reclined back on the bed, looking at Kanade expectantly.

Kanade, however, wasn't the least bit moved by her theatrics. Instead, he calmly donned a pair of medical gloves and began treating her injuries with meticulous care.

The first issue to address was the blisters caused by prolonged walking. Using a lighter, he disinfected a needle, carefully punctured the blisters, and then applied iodine to prevent infection. After that, he covered the affected areas with elastic tape. His hands moved with practiced ease as he repeated the process, eliminating any discomfort caused by her long trek. Finally, he focused on her sprained ankle, spraying it with a pain-relieving solution before soaking a towel in cold water to create a makeshift cold compress.

Kasumigaoka watched him work, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Where did you even learn all this?" she asked, genuinely impressed by his skill and composure.

"It's just common sense," Kanade replied matter-of-factly, not looking up from his task. "Shouldn't you know these things too, Sempai?"

"Why would I need to know when I have my Kohai to take care of me?" Kasumigaoka countered, her tone light but with an undercurrent of sincerity.

Kanade rolled his eyes, finishing up with the cold compress.

"You'll need to stay off your foot for a while. Don't even think about walking unless absolutely necessary," he instructed. His tone left no room for argument.

"Then, Kohai, does that mean you'll carry me to school every day?" she teased, a playful grin lighting up her face.

"Not a chance," Kanade deadpanned. "I'm already pushing my luck just helping you tonight."

Kasumigaoka pouted but decided to let the matter drop for now. She had plenty of time to wear him down later. For now, there was the more pressing matter of where they would sleep.

"Kohai, since my foot is in such a state, I'll have to stay here tonight. Maybe it'll miraculously heal by tomorrow!" she announced, feigning nonchalance.

Kanade glanced at her, his expression unreadable.

"If you're lucky, you might be able to move around tomorrow. As for tonight, fine, you can stay here. I'll sleep in the hallway."

"No way!" Kasumigaoka exclaimed, her voice rising in mock outrage. "How can I let my Kohai sleep in the wilderness while I enjoy the luxury of a comfortable bed? I won't allow it!"

Kanade sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Then what do you suggest? Should I sleep on the roof?"

Kasumigaoka's cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked away.

"Just sleep in the same room," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "And don't get any weird ideas, Kohai! This is purely out of necessity."

Kanade's eyes narrowed slightly, as if weighing his options. After a moment, he nodded.

"Fine. I'll grab an extra blanket and sleep on the floor. No need to overcomplicate things."

Kasumigaoka's blush deepened, but she said nothing. She'd expected more resistance, perhaps even a little embarrassment on his part. Instead, Kanade's calm acceptance left her feeling oddly flustered.

When Natsukawa Kanade returned with a quilt and blanket, Kasumigaoka had already changed into her pajamas. She lay on the bed, her cheeks faintly flushed, exuding a mix of shyness and alertness.

Kanade glanced at her briefly, a thought crossing his mind: She's really cautious. But maybe that's for the best—it means she doesn't actually have feelings for me.

With practiced ease, he spread out the carpet on the floor, layering it with the quilt to make a makeshift bed. He lay down without a word, seemingly unaffected by the situation.

Showering was out of the question—not only had he not brought any spare clothes, but Kasumigaoka's watchful presence nearby made the idea entirely impractical.

"Goodnight, Kohai," Kasumigaoka's voice broke the silence, soft yet laced with playful undertones.

"Goodnight, goodnight. Now go to sleep," Kanade replied dryly, rolling over onto his side to face away from her.

For a moment, Kasumigaoka remained silent, her gaze lingering on Kanade's back. A faint smile played on her lips as she whispered to herself, "Goodnight… Kanade."