It was quiet to a fault inside the curtained-off area, with only the steady, weak breathing of Shioyaki Lemon from the adjacent bed.
Yanami Anna subconsciously took half a step back, increasing the distance between her and Imaizumi Keita.
She, who had been so righteous just a moment ago, now felt her cheeks and ears burning uncontrollably.
The Infirmary teacher's comment about "considering the consequences if you want to do something" made her mind wander uncontrollably.
She peeked up, stealing a quick glance at Imaizumi Keita.
Imaizumi Keita wasn't paying attention to Yanami at all. He looked at Shioyaki Lemon, who had fallen asleep on the next bed after rehydrating, confirming that her condition was stable for the time being.
Then, he turned his gaze back to Yanami, sitting on the bed and beginning to question her.
"Alright, there are no outsiders here now. There's absolutely no need for you to stay, Yanami..."
Yanami Anna's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
She knew this guy would definitely ask.
If it were her old self facing such a direct question, she probably would have been in total disarray, either incoherent or having to use a louder voice to hide her guilt.
But now, having gone through a series of events, she had vaguely mastered the knack of dealing with Imaizumi Keita's blunt and direct way of communicating.
She tilted her chin up, striking her best Outgoing Person pose.
"Hmph."
Yanami Anna let out a soft huff, avoiding Imaizumi's eyes, and said in a matter-of-fact tone:
"Didn't I already tell the teacher the reason?"
"I just wanted to stay and take care of a patient like you. Does that require your permission?"
"I see."
Imaizumi Keita nodded, accepting her explanation quite naturally. "Fine then."
With that, he turned and lay back on the empty bed, relaxing his entire body onto the soft mattress.
"Since you want to take care of me so much,"
He tilted his head to look at Yanami, who was still standing there. "Then I won't be polite. After staying in that warehouse for so long, I really am a bit tired. I need to sleep for a while."
...
"Eh?"
Yanami Anna was stunned.
She hadn't expected Imaizumi Keita to end the conversation so decisively, and that he would actually just lie down like that.
This left the huge pile of follow-up arguments she had prepared stuck in her throat, neither going up nor down.
"You..."
"What's wrong? Miss Anna."
Imaizumi Keita closed his eyes, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness as if he truly were exhausted. "Is there a problem?"
"N-Nothing!"
Yanami Anna's cheeks flushed red again.
This bastard always said things that made her heart race in such a flat tone.
She stomped her foot in slight annoyance, but still lowered her voice to mutter, "Sleep, then, sleep! Since you're the patient!"
After saying that, she pulled over a nearby chair, placed it quietly by Imaizumi Keita's bed, and sat down.
Outside, there was the faint sound of Teacher Kobatsu occasionally turning a page, but inside the curtain, there was only silence.
Imaizumi Keita seemed to have truly fallen asleep; his breathing became long and even, his chest rising and falling steadily.
Yanami Anna sat quietly by the bed, resting her chin on her hand and watching him without moving.
Having shed all his disguises and calculations, the sleeping Imaizumi Keita looked a bit less distant and controlling than usual, possessing a rare touch of gentleness.
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