Chapter 57: Nagisa Akatsuki

Kojou Akatsuki's younger sister—Nagisa Akatsuki—was staying in the same place as Aiba Asagi's mother.

They were both at the MAR Research Institute.

Kojou's mother worked here as a head researcher in MAR's medical division and was also a clinical sorcery physician, which was why Nagisa could receive treatment in this location.

When they arrived at the MAR Research Institute, it was Kojou's turn to lead the way.

Surprisingly, the security at the gate did not stop them this time—not even Yaze, though aside from Kojou, they all technically should have been questioned. But Kojou himself wasn't paying enough attention to notice that detail, and he wasn't the type to get hung up over it.

Shichen and Aiba Asagi walked at the back. Lowering his voice, he leaned toward her ear and asked quietly, "Asagi, are you coming along as well? Not going to see your mother?"

"Mmm…" Asagi looked straight ahead, her face reddening slightly. The warm breath tickling her ear made her heart skip a beat, but she couldn't show it.

"My mom's already fine. I'll accompany you all first to see that classmate's sister."

"I see—you're quite considerate, aren't you? You'll make a good wife in the future." Shichen teased with a laugh.

"W-wife?!" Asagi stammered, suddenly flustered.

"Uh, do you mean you like gentle girls, Sensei…?"

"Well…" After a moment's thought, Shichen replied, "I do like gentle girls, but I'm even more drawn to those who shine with brightness."

"Shine with brightness?" Asagi repeated, looking puzzled.

"Yes, energetic and upbeat, lively girls who radiate a certain spark," he explained.

"I…see." Asagi's voice grew smaller, and her shoulders slumped a bit.

She was currently wearing her black-framed glasses and a subdued expression—completely the opposite of what he'd described.

Still, she didn't feel discouraged. After all, she'd dressed this way on purpose.

Radiant, huh…?

"Shichen-sensei, we're here," Kojou spoke up after they walked some distance, stopping in front of a certain hospital room door.

This place was quite a distance from Aiba Asagi's mother's ward—more out on the perimeter—but that was normal. Even if Kojou's mother was talented, she was probably not on the same level as Asagi's father. Regardless, the medical care was the same quality.

Kojou didn't hesitate; he simply pushed the door open.

"Ah! Kojou, finally you're here! You don't know how bored I've been this past day—can't eat what I want, can only lie in bed, it's so dull! I want to go to school. I don't want to stay here. I'm really fine already! Oh yeah, why did it take you so long to…huh? Who are they?"

As soon as the door opened, the cheerful voice of a teenage girl came at them like a machine gun, firing off a string of sentences.

Shichen already knew Nagisa Akatsuki was a chatterbox. But facing her in person, he realized he'd underestimated her loquaciousness.

Looking past Kojou, he saw the girl sitting upright on the bed in a duck-legged position. She looked youthful, even more so than he recalled, but still similar to his mental image of her.

She had her hair down, wore a blue-and-white hospital gown, her figure was somewhat petite, and her complexion was rosy—she didn't look like someone who was ill at all.

But at that moment, the girl stared blankly at them, appearing half-upset, half-embarrassed.

"I'm here, Nagisa," Kojou walked in first.

Shichen and the others followed inside, and the hospital room—which had initially felt spacious—suddenly seemed a bit crowded.

"Kojou, who are these people?" Nagisa asked in a softer tone, now that these were strangers.

"Nagisa, let me introduce them," Kojou said, relieved to see his sister doing well. He gave a big smile and began:

"This is Motoki Yaze—the classmate I mentioned, the one who started hanging around me out of nowhere."

"Hi there, Yaze-senpai," Nagisa responded.

"Hey—Kojou—what do you mean out of nowhere? I was just being kind 'cause you were a transfer student without friends," Yaze shot back, then grinned and greeted Nagisa. "Hi there, Nagisa-chan~!"

"Don't get all cozy with her!"

"What a sis-con!"

"I'm not!"

"Heh, sure."

"Alright, enough… Nagisa, this is Yaze's childhood friend, Aiba Asagi."

"Hi, Nagisa-chan," Asagi said with a slight nod.

"Oh~, hi, Aiba-oneechan. Are you wearing those glasses on purpose?" Nagisa asked in fascination.

"Ah…um…" Asagi froze.

"I can tell Aiba-oneechan is really pretty. So you don't want the guys in your class to pester you, right?"

"Err… yeah, basically." Asagi admitted, feeling embarrassed, her gaze flicking briefly toward Shichen.

"Huh?" Nagisa noticed that minor gesture and blinked, curious, then directed her gaze to the tall man.

"And that super-handsome oniisan there is…?"

"'Super-handsome oniisan'…?" Kojou's expression froze up, but he still made introductions: "He's our P.E. teacher."

"P.E. teacher?" Nagisa repeated, sounding even more excited.

"Hello, Nagisa-chan," Shichen greeted with a smile.

"H-hello." Nagisa felt a bit shy now.

"Kojou, your teacher is so handsome," she added delightedly.

"… …" Kojou's face darkened further.

"Haha, still claiming you're not a sis-con? You're getting jealous," Yaze teased, mercilessly poking fun.

"Shut up!" Kojou glared. "I'm not jealous!"

"Sure, sure."

"Be quiet, you…! Nagisa, stand properly, you're not better yet." Kojou tried to change the subject, worried about his sister's health.

"Kojou, what are you talking about? Do I look sick to you?" Nagisa pounded her chest. "See? Totally fine, not the least bit sick."

"But—"

"Trust me, I'm really not…ngh!"

Suddenly, Nagisa's face changed. Her whole body stiffened, then she collapsed backward like a puppet with severed strings, lying limply on the bed.

"Nagisa!" Kojou exclaimed, panicked, and hurried to her bedside.

"What's wrong? Don't scare me! Nagisa!" But no matter how he called out, she didn't respond.

"Someone get the doctor!" Yaze yelled urgently.

"R-right, the doctor…" Kojou stumbled to his feet, about to dash from the room.

"Wait." Shichen reached out and stopped him.

"Sensei…?" Kojou looked at him blankly.

"Let me take a look first," Shichen said, a stern expression on his face, moving toward Nagisa's bedside.

"But Sensei, what are you…?"

"Don't disturb him!" Asagi cut in sharply.

"Uh…?"

"Just trust Sensei. He might be able to save your sister."

"Are…are you serious?" Kojou asked, breathless with hope, looking at Shichen.

"I said don't distract him. Trust him," Asagi repeated.

"O-okay…" Kojou fell silent, stepping aside with anxious anticipation.

Meanwhile, Yaze Motoki raised an eyebrow in confusion. This childhood friend of his was acting strangely.

Asagi ignored him, focusing all her attention on Shichen.

~~~

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