"Hayakawa, are you thanking me?" Shirakawa Sawahei finally pulled his gaze away from his phone.
"What do you want? Should I dedicate my life to you?"
Hayakawa Kashi retorted lightly, and Shirakawa Sawahei didn’t mind, just remarked with some emotion, "Coming to school while sick isn’t something I would expect from you, Hayakawa."
Shirakawa Sawahei thought for a moment, "I think you’re the type who calculates benefits. Attending exams while sick isn’t very advantageous for you."
"Oh? So, in Shirakawa’s mind, I’m that kind of cold-blooded woman?" Hayakawa Kashi raised an eyebrow.
"Not exactly cold-blooded, just with a hint of danger from time to time."
"Are you implying you’re afraid of me, Shirakawa?"
"Why does it sound like we’re arch-enemies?"
"If we’re not arch-enemies, then why would you find someone dangerous?"
Shirakawa Sawahei sighed helplessly, "Miss Hayakawa, has anyone ever told you your personality is quite troublesome?"
"Thanks for the concern, but no."
"Oh, well, now you’ve got one."
Hayakawa Kashi raised her delicate face, her lips slightly pursing into a small smile, as if she admired this man’s courage to speak so bluntly in front of her.
"Feeling any better now?"
"This troublesome woman wants another glass of water now."
Upon hearing Miss Kaori’s order, Shirakawa Sawahei stood up, took the cup, and leisurely went to the health room’s water dispenser to pour a cup of water.
As if thinking cold water isn’t good for a patient, he poured out the water halfway and replaced it with hot water.
Luckily, this was the health room; otherwise, it would really be hard to find hot water in Neon.
Hayakawa Kashi watched Shirakawa Sawahei pour water expressionlessly. When he came closer, she pointed to the cup in his hand and asked.
"I know, I poured it specially."
Miss Kaori gazed at him with a deep look, which made him feel a little unsure, and he explained, "You need to drink more hot water if you have a cold."
No matter what, this is the last stubbornness of a straight man.
The Little Arrogant Study Girl sighed softly, "Just leave it here."
"Not drinking it now?"
"Not thirsty anymore."
Women really are fickle creatures.
Shirakawa Sawahei once again confirmed this in his heart before he could ask about Hayakawa Kashi’s current condition, the infirmary door burst open again.
Hayakawa Kashi’s homeroom teacher, Takagi Shinling, rushed in at the forefront, "Hayakawa, are you okay? Are you really alright? Do you need to go to the hospital for a check?"
Shirakawa Sawahei’s middle-aged male homeroom teacher got squeezed out at the door; he couldn’t rush in first. Even though he was slow, his voice was not.
"Shirakawa, are you alright?!"
Shirakawa Sawahei detected the note of concern for his student (and his bonus) in Uehara Shigeo’s voice, so he stood up and replied, "I’m fine."
Takagi Shinling rushed in, grabbed Hayakawa Kashi’s little hand, and lamented, "Hayakawa, really, you had already taken sick leave yesterday, and you still came to the exam today. If you wear yourself out, how much would the teachers feel pained!"
"You could have applied for a make-up exam. Why insist..."
"Thank you for your concern, Teacher Takagi, I rested for a bit, and I feel much better now."
"Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital? Shouldn’t we contact your parents..."
"That won’t be necessary," Hayakawa Kashi said lightly.
"Ah... Do you want to eat something? You look like you didn’t have much breakfast..."
Takagi Shinling tended to Hayakawa Kashi on the sickbed with meticulous care, making Shirakawa Sawahei and Uehara Shigeo awkward.
Because just moments ago, they had completed their conversation.
Shirakawa, are you alright?
In comparison, Uehara Shigeo seemed like a rather inadequate homeroom teacher, making it hard for him to swallow. He coughed twice and pretended to ask, "Shirakawa, are you cold?"
"Teacher, it’s summer now."
Seeing this middle-aged man was about to force a conversation, Shirakawa Sawahei hastily cut him off, "Teacher Uehara, what’s the matter?"
Uehara Shigeo remembered his purpose, "It’s about your exams, Shirakawa. I talked with the school, but they still can’t arrange a retake for you..."
His tone suddenly became a bit downcast, unsure whether it was because of the lost teacher’s bonus or pitying Shirakawa Sawahei for losing his standing as first in the year.
"I’m sorry, Shirakawa... I really am useless as a teacher, unable to protect my student..."
Shirakawa Sawahei waved his hand, "It’s okay. I handed in my paper early, granting a retake wouldn’t be fair to other examinees."
"There are still a few exams left, if I do well, there’s still a chance."
Uehara Shigeo seemed to think Shirakawa Sawahei was comforting him, forcing a smile, "That’s right, it’s not over until the end, we can’t give up."
As a homeroom teacher, he should properly guide his students at times , helping them understand what’s truly valuable!
Meanwhile, Takagi Shinling seemed to have brought up something about the exam with Hayakawa Kashi, patting her shoulder and gently assuring, "Don’t worry, Hayakawa, I’ve applied for a make-up exam for you, the school agreed, considering your special circumstances, the invigilators also explained..."
Why can Hayakawa, also in the top three, do a retake, but my student can’t!
How am I supposed to get by in front of the students!
I get it! It’s cash power, she used cash power! (in the tone of the cooking show narrator)
Uehara Shigeo was full of despair and was about to tell his student a tale about not underestimating the young to comfort himself when Little Arrogant intervened lightly, "There’s no need, since I attended the exam, failing to complete it was my problem."
"I’ll do my best in the remaining exams."
Hearing this, Uehara Shigeo was delighted, while Takagi Shinling became anxious, "Hayakawa, it’s not your fault. It’s an uncontrollable circumstance! You don’t need to pay for this!"
"Everyone will understand!"
"I’ve already decided."
"Please reconsider, Hayakawa!"
"Eh~ Teacher Takagi, what are you saying? Since Hayakawa has expressed her wishes, as teachers, we should respect that. Look at me, I respect Shirakawa’s opinion... Mutual understanding and tolerance are most important between teachers and students..."
Takagi Shinling turned back to glare at Uehara Shigeo angrily, exclaiming furiously, "You gloating chubby! I’ve tolerated you for a long time! Is it fun pretending in front of me? When I led Hayakawa to dominate Akihisa, you didn’t even know where you were playing in the mud!"
"Nani! How dare you call me chubby! Is that my fault? It’s the middle-aged crisis! I was a graceful young man before... Oh... hey, what are you doing, stop that... We’re teachers, we can’t fight in front of students!"