Episode 34: I Still Can’t Just Leave Her
A few days after the trade show.
I noticed something off with Hanamori.
She’d seemed strange since arriving at work that morning. Normally Hanamori breezes to her desk with a cheerful “Mooorning~♡,” perfectly put-together. But today she sank into her chair, sluggish, heavy.
Come to think of it, she had a mask on today.
By the time noon approached, her movements had slowed even further.
Occasionally pressing her temples. Her cheeks looked faintly flushed. Her eyes had gone hazy.
A small, dry cough. Kohn, kohn.
Ah. This is definitely someone who feels sick.
The unfamiliar business trip and the run of overtime lately had taken a toll.
At last week’s trade show, she’d been running herself ragged handling things late into the night, day after day. She’d probably been running on nerves the whole time.
Now that it’s over, maybe the thread just snapped all at once, and her body’s giving out.
Lately, I’ve been unconsciously tracking Hanamori with my eyes constantly.
During work, I glance up, there’s Hanamori.
I go to make coffee, there’s Hanamori.
This is, at this point, completely, unmistakably being aware of her. I have to admit it now.
Which is exactly why I noticed right away that something was off with her today.
“Hanamori-san.”
I stood up and approached her desk.
“…What.”
Her voice was lower than usual, thick and nasal. Not taking her eyes off the screen, the same icy treatment as always toward me.
Another small cough.
“Your face is red. Do you have a fever?”
“…Just your imagination.”
“Don’t lie. You’re feeling sick, aren’t you?”
“I’m not, actually.”
“No, you definitely have a fever.”
“I don’t. I’m fine.”
A complete standoff.
I let out a sigh without meaning to.
“Come on, just go home. Don’t push yourself.”
“I’m fine. I need to finish this document today…”
Just as Hanamori started to say that, she coughed again. This time longer, more labored.
“Tomorrow’s fine. Okay?”
“But…”
Hanamori finally looked up. Her eyes were a little glossy.
Right at that moment, Tamura-san, passing by nearby, called out.
“Hanamori-san, you okay? You look pale.”
“Ah, Tamura-san… I’m fine.”
“Don’t push yourself. You should head home for today.”
At Tamura-san’s kind voice, Hanamori’s expression loosened slightly, and she gave an easy “Got it.”
My chest gave a sharp sting.
This woman. I know exactly how this goes every single time, and it still irritates me.
(…Why do you listen so obediently when it’s Tamura-san.)
Hanamori started tidying her desk, gathering her things.
And as Hanamori stood, swaying unsteadily, Tamura-san spoke up, concerned.
“Hanamori-san, want me to drive you home?”
“Eh…”
At that instant, Hanamori’s gaze flicked, briefly, toward me.
…I think.
No, I definitely saw it just now. Our eyes met.
“Tamura-san, is that okay~? Then… please~♡”
Hanamori narrowed her eyes slightly, forming a sweet, nasal voice.
My heart gave a hard jolt.
“…Feel better, Hanamori-san.”
I forced myself to sound calm, desperately.
Hanamori looked my way and gave a small bow.
Good for her. Getting a ride from Tamura-san.
This is how it should be, this is fine, this’ll close the distance between the two of them…
I desperately told myself that.
Just as the two of them started heading toward the elevator hall.
My legs moved on their own.
On reflex, almost unconsciously, I’d grabbed Hanamori’s wrist.
My body had reacted before my reason could.
“Tamura-san, sorry.”
Tamura-san and Hanamori both turned around.
“I’ll take Hanamori-san home after all.”
Hanamori’s eyes went wide with surprise.
“Ah, really? Then, if you don’t mind.”
“Yes, we’re off.”
I supported Hanamori’s shoulder lightly and got into the elevator. I heard Tamura-san call out “Feel better” behind us.
In the sales car, after a brief silence.
“Why’d you get in the way?”
Hanamori, in the passenger seat, said it, glancing sideways at me.
Well, I figured she’d say something like that.
I gave a wry laugh and let out a small sigh.
“I wasn’t getting in the way…”
“Tamura-san actually offered, for once.”
Hanamori slowly turned her eyes to the window.
“Haaah, and I thought, this might finally close the distance between us in one shot…”
She looked at me, giving a damp, pointed look.
The way she sighed and dragged out her words was unnervingly deliberate.
“But Tamura-san looked busy.”
“Aren’t you totally booked today too, Asami-san?”
I got stuck on my words.
“I was just… worried, that’s all.”
“Worried?”
Hanamori slowly turned to face me.
“Hmph. I figured you probably had some kind of agenda.”
“Eh!? Agenda!? I don’t! I’m purely worried about your health, that’s all.”
Her mouth was hidden, but her eyes had narrowed. Maybe she was laughing.
Hanamori coughed lightly. A restrained little kohn, kohn.
“But your face is bright red.”
“So is yours, Hanamori-san!?”
“I have a fever. It’s different from yours.”
…Grr. This woman really is unfair.
Looking out the window, I bit my lip.
“…But.”
“What?”
She cleared her throat lightly, and said it, eyes downcast.
“I was happy. Just a little.”
Maybe it was the sickness, but she was being unusually honest today.
That small, reserved voice made my heart jolt again.
“…It’s nothing. I’m your senior, just doing the obvious thing.”
I answered, still facing forward.
My own face, reflected in the rearview mirror, was bright red.
On the way, we stopped at a convenience store and picked up whatever seemed necessary.
Following Hanamori’s directions, we arrived at her apartment, and I pulled the car up alongside it.
Looking at Hanamori in the passenger seat, her eyes were unfocused, her face bright red. Breathing hard, leaning back against the seat.
Her fever had clearly gone up since earlier; she looked rough.
“Hanamori-san, we’re here. Can you make it inside?”
I spoke to her, and Hanamori slowly opened her eyes.
“…Yes, I’ll be fine from here.”
She said that and tried to get out of the car, but the moment her hand touched the door, her body swayed unsteadily.
No, no, absolutely not fine.
I hurriedly got out of the car and came around to her side.
…Normally, I should head home here.
Whatever happens, if I go up to her apartment, she’s definitely going to tease me, “Why are you coming up? Got an agenda?” “Planning to jump me?” Infuriating.
And besides, honestly, I’m not sure I could handle it myself.
I’ll admit it, I did, a little, no, actually quite a bit, imagine some weird things.
My heart was pounding hard.
Hanamori, putting on a brave face, tried to walk on her own, but stumbled after three steps. Stumbled again after five.
No sign she’d make it home like this.
…Ugh, fine.
Watching her back, I made up my mind.
I’ll walk her inside. And then I’ll definitely go home. That’s it.
I pulled a spare mask out of my bag, one I’d bought at the convenience store earlier, and put it on.
Good. Full defense. No way I’m catching her cold.
I went after Hanamori.
“Just the stairs left. I’m fine from here.”
In front of the apartment stairs, Hanamori raised a hand to stop me. That hand was trembling slightly too.
Half-forcibly, I supported Hanamori’s shoulder and climbed the stairs. Her unsteady body leaned into me easily.
“…Give me your keys.”
Hanamori, resigned, or rather, seemingly without the strength left to resist, held out her keys.
We opened the door and stepped into Hanamori’s apartment together.