The canteen was bustling with people coming and going—a scene of complete chaos.
Dubian Che made his way toward the meal queue where he overheard most people discussing the Bonfire Party with great enthusiasm.
As he queued up, Akiko happened to be right in front of him.
"Good evening, Teacher Akiko."
Akiko turned around, glanced over, "Oh, it’s Dubian, good evening."
"What’s wrong, Teacher? Where’s Mr. Xiaoquan?" asked Dubian Che.
"She caught a cold and has been resting in her room. I’m buying her something to eat."
"She got it while taking care of a sick student. She ended up getting infected too," Akiko explained.
The front of the line moved, and they stepped forward with the queue.
"I thought she was on her period?" Dubian Che didn’t mean to pry, but he had a good memory.
"The period was another person. Last night, another girl caught a cold playing in the snow. Aonai watched her all night, and this morning, she was the one who ended up sick."
"She’s fine, took medicine and slept all day. She’s getting better."
"That’s good," Dubian Che nodded. "Are you going to take the food back to her?"
"Can I come with you? I’d like to see Mr. Xiaoquan."
"You’re a good kid for caring," Akiko patted his sturdy shoulder.
Then her expression suddenly changed.
"Wait, this is just your trick to pick up girls, isn’t it? Trying to swoop in on my housemate Aonai? Let me tell you, you won’t get past me and Miyuki!"
After buying a fried chicken meal, Dubian Che walked with Akiko towards their room.
The snow underfoot, fluffy like bread, was compressed and crunched with every step.
Akiko used her keycard to open the door: "Aonai, I brought your favorite."
"...Favorite," Dubian Che repeated the word with nothing more to say.
"Do you have a problem with what I said?" Akiko challenged.
"No, it’s just that the term feels dated. Akiko, you’re not from the Showa era, are you?"
"I’m only 25 years old!"
Talking, they arrived by the bed.
Xiaoquan Aonai was propping herself up from under the covers. Seeing Dubian Che, she showed a weak but soft and tender smile.
Akiko put one hand on Xiaoquan Aonai’s smooth forehead, the other on her own.
"The fever has come down a lot. Eat, and I’ll put on another fever-reducing patch. You’ll probably be all better by tomorrow morning."
"Mhm," Aonai responded softly.
"The teachers have such a good relationship," Dubian Che couldn’t help but remark as he watched the scene.
"It wasn’t always this good," Akiko said as she opened the food box, gave Aonai some chopsticks, and began eating her share.
Dubian Che also moved to sit on the sofa.
One lay on the bed, two surrounded it, all eating their take-out dinner.
"Weren’t you close from the start? I thought you grew up together," Dubian Che said, sipping his soup.
"We did grow up together," Akiko said as she plucked the biggest piece of fried chicken from Dubian Che’s box, "but our relationship only got better around the second year of high school. Right? I don’t really remember the exact time."
"Mhm, it was sophomore year," Aonai confirmed softly.
"This kind of thing happens often," Akiko chewed her chicken, "like being in the same class for three years in middle school with hardly any interaction, then suddenly becoming close in high school."
"Human relationships are really mysterious. The closest can drift apart, while those who initially couldn’t stand each other might open up to one another one day," said Dubian Che.
"It’s the same point, so why does it sound nicer when you say it? Those capable of two-timing really have a way with words."
"It has nothing to do with two-timing. I just read a bit more than you."
"Aonai, your student is looking down on me. He’s saying I don’t read enough!" Akiko complained like a child.
Aonai took a bite of her food, then tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling gently: "Akiko, don’t keep bringing up the two-timing thing. Dubian might feel bad."
"Now, you’re ganging up on me too!" Akiko’s voice feigned a cry. "I was just joking, and you’re teaming up on me, favoring love over friendship, boo-hoo."
"I’m sorry, Teacher. My mistake." Dubian Che picked up a piece of chicken. "Here, let me feed you."
"...Are you treating me like a child?"
"You said you were only 25, and that’s not old."
"Yeah, you’re right! I’m still a baby! Give me all the fried chicken!"
"There’s no need for that, you can keep crying," Dubian Che, halfway through the offer, popped the chicken into his own mouth.
"At least give me the piece you promised! You’re truly a scumbag, breaking your word, playing with a girl’s heart, deceiving women’s feelings!"
While she spoke, Akiko suddenly stretched out her chopsticks, aiming straight for Dubian Che’s food box.
Dubian Che lifted his box out of reach with a fluid motion as if he anticipated it, and also snatched a fried pork cutlet from Akiko’s box.
Aonai watched, laughing as the two of them bickered.
After finishing the meal, Dubian Che said goodbye and left, urging Aonai to rest well.
Back in his room, Saito Keisuke and the others were discussing the Bonfire Party.
"Who are you dancing with?"
"What does that mean?"
"I’ll see which girls are left later, then pick."
"Pick? Wow, you sound pretty confident. Do you think you’re ’everyone’s Mr. Dubian?’"
Dubian Che didn’t have time to engage with their teasing, grabbing clothes and heading to the shower.
When he came out, the four were already impatiently waiting.
"Dubian, hurry up, it’s about to start!"
"That’s the trouble with having a girlfriend, you have to shower before going out!"