128. I Would Never Do Something Like That!

"Eiriri, are you… okay?" Kanade Natsukawa asked with concern.

It felt like something was off with Eiriri today. Earlier, he had chalked it up to her fear of being disliked, which he had reassured her about. But now? Even after he made it clear that he didn't mind her quirks, she was still acting strangely—reserved, almost uncharacteristically shy.

Kanade didn't know how to define her behavior but sensed that this wasn't her usual self. After some thought, he came to a possible conclusion: Maybe she's not feeling well?

He wasn't making baseless guesses. Living in what was essentially an anime world, he'd seen enough unusual situations to know that characters sometimes acted out of sorts for peculiar reasons—like getting drunk or catching a cold and suddenly revealing an entirely new side of themselves.

For instance, Kaguya Shinomiya. On a normal day, she exuded an air of aristocratic grace, but when she was sick, she transformed into a sweet, cuddly kitten. Kanade had witnessed this firsthand and found it both adorable and unsettling.

As for Eiriri… he wasn't sure what was going on, but checking on her well-being seemed prudent.

"Do you feel unwell? Didn't get a good night's sleep, maybe?" Kanade asked.

He knew from personal experience that sleeping in an unfamiliar place could be challenging. Although he was used to running on minimal sleep, he understood how disorienting it could be for others.

"Could it be… a fever?" Kanade reached out to feel her forehead.

Her skin felt warm, but not alarmingly so—just within the range of normal body temperature.

"How do you feel? Any dizziness?" he pressed.

Eiriri's tsundere nature was one of her charms, but it also meant she was frustratingly stubborn. Unlike others, who might readily admit when they weren't feeling well, Eiriri tended to bottle it up and power through until she collapsed.

"N-no, I'm fine," Eiriri replied, her cheeks flushing pink. "It's just… it's just a bit warm today, that's all!"

This was a blatant lie. She did feel like she might pass out, but not because of a fever or sickness. It was because—

He's too close! Kanade's face is way too close!

Her mind raced. And we're still holding hands?!

W-what does he want?! Is he… going to kiss me?! But Yukino-san is sitting right there!

Kanade, oblivious to Eiriri's internal meltdown, remained focused on the possibility that she might be hiding her symptoms. He grew more serious.

"This won't do. You need to go to the infirmary," he said firmly. "Your health isn't something to take lightly."

Kanade's unwavering attitude stemmed from a past incident. Back when he was still pursuing Eiriri, she had once overworked herself on a deadline, pulling several all-nighters for her illustrations. She eventually collapsed with a high fever, leaving her bedridden for days. During that time, Kanade had visited her daily, brought her class notes, and even stayed up late copying them out so she wouldn't fall behind for exams.

From then on, he had promised to help her manage her deadlines and avoid pushing herself too hard. Even though she had later rejected his confession, he had continued to keep that promise, always ready to help when needed.

"You're not… secretly working on one of those again, are you?" Kanade asked, lowering his voice and glancing around before leaning closer.

"Those?" Eiriri tilted her head, momentarily confused. Then it clicked. She realized what Kanade was referring to, and her face turned a deep shade of red.

"You—you idiot! What kind of perverted things are you talking about?!" she yelled, flustered.

"I-I would never do something like that!"

In her embarrassment, Eiriri activated her signature move: Twin Tail Whip. She swung her twin tails at Kanade, smacking him repeatedly in a flurry of indignation.

But instead of being annoyed, Kanade grinned, nodding approvingly.

"Now this is the Eiriri I know," he said. "Fiery and full of life. That gloomy, overly delicate version of you earlier? That's not you at all."

His cheerful tone made it clear that he wasn't being sarcastic. It was a genuine relief to see her back to her usual self.

Eiriri froze mid-swing, her heart skipping a beat. She wasn't sure if she should feel happy or insulted.

Kanade, however, felt reassured. Her physical health seemed fine, though something might still be weighing on her mind.

Before he could inquire further, a calm, frosty voice interrupted them.

"Could you two perhaps end this public display of affection?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked, her tone laced with a tinge of exasperation. "Your antics have turned this area into a spectacle."

Kanade and Eiriri looked around and realized Yukino was right. They had drawn the attention of several other students, some of whom were whispering and pointing.

"Oops..." Kanade muttered, scratching the back of his head.

Meanwhile, Eiriri felt her face heat up even more. "We're not doing anything like that!" she protested, though the truth was painfully obvious.

Kanade sighed. This is why tsunderes are so much work…