Sending Yukinoshita back to her dormitory and entrusting her care to her roommate seemed like a logical choice, but Natsukawa Kanade had his doubts. Given her personality, he wasn't entirely convinced she'd get along with just any ordinary roommate. If she stubbornly pushed herself too hard to avoid causing trouble, it would render his efforts pointless. So, rather than taking chances, he made the straightforward decision to carry her directly to the infirmary.
Having been there before with Kaguya, Kanade knew the way well and found it without much effort. However, just like earlier, the infirmary was completely empty—no teacher on duty, no supervising nurse.
"Tch, unreliable as ever," he muttered under his breath before carefully settling Yukinoshita down onto the hospital bed. Without wasting any time, he went to find the necessary medical supplies.
Luckily, treating foot injuries wasn't unfamiliar territory for him. Whether it was due to his extensive theoretical knowledge or his many experiences treating Kaguya and others, he had more than enough confidence in his skills. Swiftly, he gathered the antiseptic, bandages, pain-relief spray, and an ice pack, his movements efficient and practiced.
Throughout all this, Yukinoshita remained silent. Her gaze never wavered from the small panda doll pendant she held in her hands, her expression unreadable.
Kanade took note of it but refrained from commenting. Everyone had their own ways of dealing with things, and if clutching a panda doll brought her some kind of comfort, who was he to judge?
"Take off your socks," he instructed, his voice calm yet firm.
"Huh?" Yukinoshita finally reacted, snapping out of her trance as her sharp eyes locked onto him warily. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
Kanade raised an eyebrow at her overly defensive reaction. "What do you think? Obviously, I'm treating your injury."
"Ah…" She hesitated for a moment before quickly regaining her composure, though a faint flush briefly dusted her cheeks. "I-I'll do it myself."
"Of course you will. It's not like I was planning on doing it for you." Kanade crossed his arms and let out a small huff, his expression laced with mild impatience. "Hurry up, don't dawdle."
Yukinoshita stared at him, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something. However, whatever thought crossed her mind remained unspoken. There was something strangely indifferent about the way he handled the situation—it was almost too natural, as if this interaction meant absolutely nothing to him.
That unfamiliar feeling gnawed at her, leaving her somewhat unsettled.
With a small sigh, she finally removed her socks and placed them beside her. She usually preferred stockings, but knowing there might be physical activity today, she had opted for breathable ankle socks instead. Once done, she lowered her gaze and muttered, "…Thank you."
Now that she had made up her mind, there was no point in hesitating or regretting. After all, he had been the one to insist, so she wanted to see for herself whether he truly was as indifferent as he seemed.
Kanade, however, didn't seem to notice—or perhaps, he simply didn't care. His eyes quickly scanned her foot, confirming that there were no visible open wounds, just swelling and bruising from overexertion. Without missing a beat, he reached for the pain-relieving spray.
Unlike Kaguya's injury from earlier, Yukinoshita's was clearly more severe. But fortunately, since it had only happened recently, applying proper first aid would help her recover quickly. He sprayed the affected area before placing a cold compress against it, ensuring that the swelling wouldn't worsen.
Yukinoshita remained quiet as she observed him work. His actions were methodical, precise—devoid of hesitation, yet completely impersonal. For some reason, that realization irked her more than she cared to admit.
"Take this pain-relieving spray with you," Kanade said, handing her the bottle. When she hesitated, her expression showing clear reluctance, his patience wore thin. He let out a sigh before taking on a more commanding tone. "I know you like to act tough, but this isn't the time for that. I won't be around at the dorm to make sure you're not pushing yourself too hard, so just take it. No arguments."
And with that, he unceremoniously shoved the bottle into her hands.
Yukinoshita stared at it for a long moment before tightening her grip around the bottle. Kanade's words lingered in her mind. Even though he had phrased it bluntly, there was a certain level of consideration hidden beneath his directness.
"…Fine," she murmured.
Kanade gave a satisfied nod before standing up. "Good. Now, don't do anything reckless."
The unspoken implication was clear—he knew that if her roommates weren't particularly welcoming, she'd likely try to endure things on her own again. And in that case, the pain-relieving spray would be all the more necessary.
Just as Natsukawa Kanade had predicted, if Yukinoshita's roommates weren't particularly fond of her, she would likely try to manage everything on her own again. In that case, the pain-relieving spray and medicine would definitely come in handy.
"But seriously, you should just lie down and rest properly," Kanade sighed, his tone carrying a mix of exasperation and concern. "Cold compresses alone won't be enough. You also need to apply the medicine regularly. If the swelling and pain don't subside by tomorrow, use a hot towel before applying the medicine—it'll help speed up your recovery."
Without waiting for her response, he pushed a small bag of medicine into her hands. "Here. Take all of these with you. Don't worry about the school—I'll report it to the teacher. Just return them when you're done." He crossed his arms, still feeling uneasy. "Actually, I think I'll go ahead and request two days of leave for you. That way, you can rest without worrying about classes."
His brows furrowed slightly as another thought crossed his mind. If necessary, he'd even investigate her roommates and use his authority as Student Council President to subtly "remind" them to take better care of her. He wouldn't go as far as outright intimidation, but a little pressure wouldn't hurt, right?
"You're exaggerating," Yukinoshita muttered, a hint of annoyance flickering in her cool blue eyes. "I already know all of this."
Kanade, however, wasn't about to let her stubbornness slide. "If you really knew everything, you wouldn't have ended up in this situation in the first place," he countered bluntly, his expression unwavering.
He locked eyes with her, radiating the firm determination of someone who wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. Right now, it wasn't about whether she acknowledged him as a friend—it was about showing her that, despite her icy demeanor, he wasn't going to back off. If she was like an Ice Queen, then he was going to be the persistent warmth that slowly melted her defenses.
Yukinoshita fell silent, staring at the medicine in her hands.
Her first instinct was to be annoyed—who did he think he was, treating her like a child? Yet, an unfamiliar warmth flickered in her chest, something almost… comforting. It was strange, really. Being fussed over like this should have irritated her, and yet—
—her mood, which had been dull and unpleasant all evening, felt just a little lighter.