Chapter 83: What Are You Two Doing?!
"Alright, I'll leave the rest to you, student."
The young doctor chuckled softly, slipping off her white coat with practiced ease before grabbing her purse. The movement was smooth, casual—too casual, like she had done this kind of irresponsible thing before. Her perfume lingered faintly in the air, oddly out of place in a room filled with disinfectant.
Before stepping out, she threw Kouya a teasing, mischievous wink.
"Oh, by the way, there's no security camera in here, but people often walk past outside. So, try not to make too much noise. If someone hears, it could get... troublesome."
Hey, what kind of thing is that to say?!
What do you mean 'too much noise'? What the hell do you think I'm gonna do here?!
"Well, just a friendly reminder. After all, for teenage boys, the school infirmary tends to be... a fascinating place, doesn't it?"
She tilted her head with a sly smile that could only be described as evil in teacher form.
You're a teacher! That's not something you should say!
And what's so interesting about a room that reeks of disinfectant and has a human skeleton model staring from the corner?!
"Anyway, take care now." She winked again with a smug, knowing smile that said 'I know exactly what you're thinking', waved with a flourish, and walked out gracefully, her heels clicking against the floor until the sound faded down the hall.
Rikka looked up pitifully at Kouya, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Hero... save me..."
"Can you take off your stockings yourself?" Kouya asked, tone flat but clearly trying to hide how awkward this was.
Rikka shook her head weakly, voice trembling. "My knee hurts... I can't bend down... it really stings..."
Kouya sighed and set the medicine bottle aside before gently lifting Rikka's right leg onto the coffee table. Her breathing hitched slightly at the movement.
She wore black cotton thigh-highs that hugged her skin snugly, just above the knee. The fabric clung to her legs like a second layer of skin. Before cleaning the wound, he had to remove them first—there was no avoiding it.
The moment he grasped her slender leg, two thoughts hit him immediately.
First, how soft it felt—smooth, warm, and with that faint elasticity that made his fingers tense instinctively, afraid to squeeze too hard.
Second, how unbelievably thin it was.
She felt fragile, like the delicate stem of a flower that could break with the slightest force. No wonder she tripped. She really was hopeless when it came to anything physical.
Kouya carefully pinched the edge of her stocking and began to roll it down. Rikka let out a small, trembling sound between a whimper and a sigh.
"Kouya... you're being too rough..."
Who's being rough here?!
It's sticking to the wound! It's gonna hurt no matter what I do!
"You shouldn't pull that hard on... that part... it'll break..."
What are you even saying right now?!
That sounded way too indecent! Not taking them off is what would actually ruin them!
"Ah..." Rikka gasped again, voice soft, trembling. "Kouya... gentler... it's bleeding again..."
Stop making those sounds!
If anyone hears this, they'll think I'm some kind of pervert!
"Shut up!" Kouya barked, face red with frustration.
"O-Okay..." Rikka squeaked, covering her mouth with both hands.
After another moment of silent struggling, Kouya finally managed to slide the stocking past her knee. Her skin looked pale against the light, the scrape red and raw, with faint traces of blood glistening under the fluorescent lamps.
He washed it carefully, the water running cool against her leg. Then he took a cotton ball soaked in alcohol and dabbed gently at the wound.
Rikka trembled with each touch, letting out muffled, breathy sounds as she tried not to flinch.
If someone walked in now, there'd be no explaining this.
When the wound was clean, Kouya applied ointment and covered it with a small bandage, his hands moving with quick, practiced precision.
Rikka exhaled softly in relief, her brows easing. "Thanks, Kouya... you really helped me..." She slowly stood, testing her leg, and a look of pure wonder crossed her face.
"You really are my contracted hero! The pain's almost gone! You must've replenished my magic again!"
Shut up!
Stop saying embarrassing stuff with that serious face!
"Sit down for a bit before you go," Kouya muttered, leaning back against the couch.
Rikka nodded and moved to sit beside him, brushing her hair from her eyes. Just then, the ground beneath them began to shake. The table rattled, the teacups clinking loudly.
"It's an earthquake!" she yelped.
Japan was no stranger to tremors, but this one was strong enough to make the shelves creak. Rikka, with her injured leg, lost her balance immediately. She stumbled—and fell forward, right into Kouya's chest.
The impact knocked the wind out of him. Soft warmth pressed against him, the faint scent of her shampoo filling the air. His hands instinctively went to her shoulders, steadying her as the tremors died down.
The shaking stopped, but Rikka didn't move. She clung tightly to him, trembling, eyes still shut in fear. Her breath was warm against his neck, each exhale sending a ticklish shiver through his skin.
For a fleeting moment, Kouya's heartbeat stuttered.
And then—
"You—you two...!!"
The loud, shocked voice came from the doorway.
Raphiel stood frozen there, eyes wide and sparkling with amusement, disbelief, and that all-too-familiar teasing glint. Her angelic smile looked almost predatory.
From her angle, the coffee table hid just enough that it looked... bad. Very bad. Kouya sat on the sofa with Rikka on his lap, her arms wrapped around him tightly.
"You scumbag! Have you really fallen this far?!" Raphiel gasped dramatically, pressing a hand over her mouth as if witnessing a scandal.
Shut up!
At least confirm what's happening before running your mouth!
"Don't tell me... in the school infirmary of all places... you get excited by being caught, Scumbag-kun?!" Raphiel took a wary step back, half horrified and half entertained.
Enough already!
Why do you always appear at the worst possible time—and assume the dirtiest possible thing?!
"She was scared because of the earthquake!" Kouya snapped, voice taut with irritation.
"That doesn't mean you can take advantage of her fear!" Raphiel scolded, eyes narrowed in mock righteousness.
I didn't take advantage of anyone! She's the one who fell on me!
If anything, I'm the victim here!
"If you don't believe me, check for yourself!"
"No thanks! What if you suddenly lose control, Scumbag-kun?!" Raphiel said, backing away like he might pounce at any moment.
Kouya's jaw clenched.
If I really lost control, you'd be the first one I'd—never mind.
He took a deep breath. "It's fine now. Get down," he told Rikka softly.
Rikka opened her eyes slowly, cheeks glowing pink. "O-Okay..." she murmured and awkwardly began to push herself off his lap.
And just as the tension seemed to fade—
A loud thud echoed through the room.
A bottle of iced tea had rolled off the counter and hit the floor.
Vigne stood frozen in the doorway, eyes huge with shock, her violet hair trembling as if reflecting her disbelief.
"You... what are you two doing?!"
Her voice cracked halfway between anger and horror, her hands trembling slightly as she pointed toward them.
Why... why does this sound exactly like a wife catching her husband cheating?!