21 Chapter 021: New Girl From The Hospital

Sato-San was sitting in homeroom doing nothing since he forgot to charge his phone and so it was dead. Fujisawa-Sensei walked in and stood at the podium.

"Okay class, there's a new student transferring in today. She couldn't be here at the beginning of the year since she's been in the hospital but is still pretty weak, so the school thought it would be best if she had a caretaker. So…Is there anyone here who wants to do it?"

She was talking in her normal dead tone and waited for someone to answer. No one said anything and no one moved.

"Haaaah…I guess I'll just do a drawing."

She took out a small box that had small sheets of paper cut up inside of it. She mixed them around and grabbed one with her hand.

"Sato Higura."

"Huh?! Why me?!"

"I drew your name. No backing out now. You can come in now!"

A girl with long straight brown hair came in with a wheelchair and sat in the front of the class.

"I'm Kitagawa Yui, I hope we can all get along. Even though I just left the hospital, I hope you won't treat me too carefully."

She gave a smile that had a hint of sadness in it.

"Um…Who is my caretaker?"

"Oh right. He's the one with brown hair over there. His name is Sato Higura."

She wheeled over to him and positioned herself next to him.

"Nice to meet you Sato-San. As I've already said I'm Kitagawa-San."

"Y-Yeah…" 'How am I meant to be a dick to her?! She just came out of the hospital so I don't think it's a good idea to just ignore her…The fact that she needs a caretaker also means I probably shouldn't leave her alone….Why is my life getting so complicated?'

Homeroom continued as normal and it was still a few minutes until the next class would start.

"So, uh Kitagawa-San?"

"Yes?"

"Why were in the hospital?"

"I don't think I'm really comfortable saying anything about that."

"That's fine, I don't want to force you to say things that you don't want to talk about."

"Thank you for your understanding."

Sato-San tried to think of a way to keep the conversation going but couldn't think of anything until he thought of something.

"How often will you need a caretaker?"

"Not that often, this is more of a precaution rather than a necessity."

"That's good…"

"Hm?"

"I-I don't think I meant it in the way you thought I was thinking of!"

"I wasn't thinking of anything. I understand that you probably didn't want to do this so I don't want to be a nuisance in any way."

"O-Okay…"

Once again he couldn't think of things to talk about but then the next class started so his conversation was officially ended. Kitagawa-San took a desk and sat in it and the desk was the one that was to Sato-San's right. For one of the periods they had to move to the science room and so Sato-San was stuck wheeling Kitagawa-San to the room.

"I'm sorry if this is troubling you at all."

"It's not so you don't need to worry about anything…"

Sato-San had already built up the persona and reputation of being a delinquent, so him pushing a girl stuck in a wheelchair was a sight fellow students thought they'd never see happen. Of course Kitagawa-San didn't have any idea of his delinquent persona so she was wondering why so many people were looking at them strangely.

'I really hope this doesn't undo everything I've built up…'

They reached the science room and Sakamoto-Sensei stopped Sato-San before he entered the door. She then began to speak in a quiet voice so no one else could hear what she was saying.

"I heard that Kitagawa-San needed a caretaker but I wasn't expecting you to be said caretaker."

"I didn't choose to do this, I was drawn…"

"Well get into class, I'll open a seat next to you so Kitagawa-San can sit next to you."

Sato-San sighed as he walked into the room and sat down at his seat. Kitagawa-San proceeded to sit next to him.

'Just let this day end…This is ruining my image an awful lot…'

Sakamoto-Sensei began her lesson as Sato-San took some notes since he didn't want to be kept after school again if he wasn't paying attention. While taking the notes he felt a tug on his shirt and looked over at Kitagawa-San. He then talked in a quiet voice so they wouldn't be caught talking.

"What?"

"It seemed like I'm being a bother to you so I wanted to know if I could make it up to you."

"I've already said this, you're not being a bother."

"But in the hallway you seemed to be looking rather down."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. It didn't have anything to do with you." 'I can't bring myself to tell her that she may end up ruining my way of life!'

"Then is there anything I can do to help you? I don't want you to be my caretaker for nothing in return."

"It's fine. You don't have to worry about anything."

"Okay, I'll believe you then."

"Thank you."

They went back to paying attention to class and then lunch eventually came around.

"I'm sorry Kitagawa-San but I originally had plans to eat with my friends."

"That's fine."

"…"

"Is there a problem?"

"No…It just feels wrong to leave you alone…Do you want to eat with us? We normally eat in the back of school."

"I don't see why not. Who will be there?"

"Sota-Kun, Hayate-San and Shiratori-San. They're really my only friends. I have other people I know but it just doesn't seem like I can call them friends just yet."

"Is that the case? What would you consider me then?"

"Hm…I guess right now your an acquaintance. Considering that I'm probably going to be with you pretty often I have a feeling that you'll eventually be considered a friend."

"Then after that?"

"H-Huh? What do you mean?"

"It's nothing. Shall we eat?"

"Sure."

He wheeled her to the back of the school where the 3 friends were already waiting and talking among each other.

"Hey! Sorry I'm late!"

Sato-San and Kitagawa-San came over as he officially introduced her to the others. Hayate and Sota quickly ran a decent distance away.

"This is getting out of hand, there's 3 of them now."

"You're right. It seems we'll have to choose carefully."

Sato-San watched as they talked to each other and assumed what they were talking about. They came back after finishing their discussion and they all ate lunch together. After lunch the school day continued as normal and Sato-San went home after a long day of trying to not have his image completely destroyed by being Kitagawa-San's caretaker.

"I guess I have to be more careful when I'm with Kitagawa-San…Why does my life keep getting more difficult? It's as if the universe wants my secret to get out!"