Chapter 112: Sakura Airi Confirms Her Feelings

On the quiet pathway, Hikaru steadied his grip on the back of Sakura's legs, walking toward the school infirmary with measured steps.

After the initial excitement of seeing her stock price rise, his focus inevitably shifted back to the girl on his back.

Her body was undeniably soft, warm, and—frankly—difficult to ignore for a teenage boy.

Sakura, on the other hand, seemed to have fully adjusted to their closeness. Her fair arms remained tightly wrapped around his neck, pressing herself snugly against him without the slightest gap between them.

And given that it was summer, neither of them wore thick clothing, making the sensation all the more noticeable.

Yet Sakura didn't seem the least bit concerned. Instead, she buried her face into his back, soaking in his warmth, secretly wishing that this walk would last just a little longer.

The faint, sweet scent lingering near his nose made it difficult for Hikaru to think straight.

I need to focus on something else.

Right—last night's study material!

Uh… What was the name of the person who drafted that legislation? Four characters, if I remember correctly…

Forcing himself to recall details from his language textbook, he managed to shift his thoughts away from his increasingly dangerous distractions.

After about ten minutes of walking, the infirmary's sign finally came into view, and he let out a silent sigh of relief.

"Sakura-san, we're here. Get ready."

"Mm… I understand."

Staring at the red cross symbol ahead, Sakura nodded slightly. She knew this meant their closeness had come to an end.

As soon as Hikaru carried her into the infirmary, a female doctor in a white coat approached them.

"What's the situation here?"

"She accidentally fell and injured her ankle," Hikaru explained calmly. "She's in pain, so we suspect it might be a sprain. Could you take a look?"

"Alright, then set her down over here."

Observing the handsome young man and the girl on his back, the doctor quickly formed her own assumptions. She motioned for him to place Sakura onto the infirmary bed.

"Take off your stockings so I can examine the injury."

The doctor's voice was gentle but firm.

Hearing this, Hikaru immediately walked behind a curtain, giving her space.

It would be inappropriate to stay and watch—especially considering how shy Sakura could be.

"...Mm."

As soon as he was out of sight, Sakura let out a barely audible sound before slowly rolling down her now dirt-streaked black stockings, revealing her fair, delicate feet.

Once she had removed them completely, the doctor began carefully inspecting her ankle, pressing lightly along different areas.

"Does it hurt here?" The doctor asked, moving her hand slightly higher. "Or is it here?"

The moment she touched a particular spot on Sakura's lower leg, the girl let out an involuntary whimper.

"Hiss…!"

Hearing the sound from behind the curtain, Hikaru immediately called out, "Sakura-san, are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine! No need to worry, Hikaru-kun."

"...Alright."

The doctor, noting her reaction, pressed gently around the same area again. As Sakura's brows furrowed in discomfort, the doctor gave a small nod of understanding.

"I've finished the examination."

Smiling, she reassured her patient, "It's not a sprained ankle—just a minor bruise on your lower leg from the fall. It's nothing serious."

"A day or two of rest should be enough. When you get back to your dorm, ice it in the morning and evening. Also, avoid any intense physical activity for now."

Hearing this, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you! I'll be careful."

"Alright, then. Go ahead and put your stockings back on."

The doctor glanced toward the curtain and added with a knowing smile, "By the way… is that boy your boyfriend?"

"Eh—?! N-No, he's not!"

Seeing the amused look in the doctor's eyes, Sakura's face turned crimson.

"Hikaru-kun and I… we're just friends!"

"Oh? I see."

The doctor chuckled, clearly unconvinced but choosing not to press further.

After years of working here, she had seen more than her fair share of young couples. It was obvious to her what was really going on.

"Well then, tell your friend to help you back to your dorm. Remember to rest properly, alright?"

"Y-Yes… I understand."

Sakura carefully flexed her ankle and gently touched her lower leg. It wasn't as bad as she had feared—at least she wouldn't be limping for too long.

"Hikaru-kun, I'm ready."

"Got it."

Stepping back from behind the curtain, Hikaru quickly examined her expression.

"It's not too serious, right? I heard the doctor say you just need a couple of days to recover."

"Mm."

"Good."

Nodding, Hikaru then looked her over and asked, "Do you think you can walk? If not, I can carry you back."

"I… I'll try walking first."

Sakura hesitated for a moment. She actually wanted him to carry her again… but with the doctor still present, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Alright."

Hikaru reached out to support her as she gingerly stepped onto the floor.

"It still hurts a little, but I can walk."

"Good. I'll help you get back to your dorm. Luckily, it's not too far, or this would be quite the hassle."

With a light chuckle, Hikaru adjusted his grip to better support her weight.

As he guided her to the dormitory elevator, he pressed the button for the 11th floor and reassured her, "I'll make sure you get to your room safely. Then I'll head back."

"Okay… Thank you, Hikaru-kun."

Sakura didn't resist in the slightest.

After today's events, her reliance on him had grown stronger than ever.

Once they reached her dorm, Hikaru helped her to her bed before checking the small refrigerator.

"The doctor mentioned icing the bruise. Do you want to try it now?"

Since he had been to her dorm multiple times, he was already familiar with its layout.

"Yes… please."

"Alright, just wait here. I'll grab some ice."

As he turned away to prepare the ice pack, Sakura stared at his back, her heart stirring with emotions stronger than ever before.

But unlike before, this wasn't just embarrassment.

It was something deeper.

What… do I really feel about Hikaru-kun?

Sakura pressed a hand to her chest, recalling what the doctor had said earlier—"Is he your boyfriend?"

Boy… boyfriend?!

The mere thought sent a jolt through her, making her pulse race.

In her mind, she suddenly imagined a reality where Hikaru truly was her boyfriend.

They could always be together.

They could take photos, study side by side…

…And do even more than that.

As an online model and blogger, Sakura was no stranger to certain kinds of knowledge.

Even though she had never dated before, she wasn't completely ignorant.

But once the thought of Hikaru as her boyfriend entered her mind, she couldn't shake it away.

Her heart pounded louder, her face burning as though she were feverish.

"Eh? Sakura-san, are you okay?"

Turning back with the prepared ice pack, Hikaru noticed her flustered expression.

"N-Nothing! I'm fine!"

Startled, Sakura shook herself out of her thoughts, quickly averting her gaze.

"…Alright then."

Hikaru crouched down beside her. "I looked up how to ice it properly—watch what I do so you can repeat it later tonight."

"Okay… Thank you, Hikaru-kun."

"Didn't I say before? You don't need to thank me. We're friends, right?"

With a gentle smile, Hikaru carefully placed the ice pack against her leg, his touch light and precise.

Sakura stared at him, her heart trembling once more.

This time, there was no doubt in her mind.

I really…

I really like Hikaru-kun.

~~~

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