Chapter 15: Don’t Ruin My Moment

With the patient, Suzuki Hikaru, now awake, Kojima Megumi, as the school nurse, naturally prioritizes her work. To avoid any awkwardness, Shangguan He waits outside the infirmary.

“Re-examination complete.” Megumi puts away her stethoscope, noticing Hikaru’s distracted demeanor. She gently prompts, “Suzuki-san? Are you listening?”

“Ah, ah, yes, I’m here, I’m listening, please go on.” Snapping back, Hikaru responds hurriedly, her tone oddly appeasing. Her thick bangs cover her eyes, hiding her evasive gaze.

What a strange girl. Looking at the gloomy student, Megumi can’t help but think. But she doesn’t act on it. As a school nurse, she handles bumps and bruises diligently. Serious injuries? She can manage initial treatment. Mental health issues? That’s beyond her pay grade. Her salary at Yingcheng High isn’t high enough to make her eager to tackle those.

“Based on the re-examination, Suzuki-san, you’re physically fine for now.” Megumi chooses her words carefully. “But it’s possible our limited equipment missed something. My preliminary conclusion is you can return to class. If you’re concerned, discuss with your parents and get a full check-up at a proper hospital…”

“Ah, okay.” Hikaru nods dazedly, her eyes scanning the report Megumi hands her.

“Suzuki-san, if you’re okay, sign here. This is the infirmary’s diagnosis report—three copies: one for our records, one for the school meeting, and one for you.” Megumi hands over a pen and paper, then calls outside, “Shangguan-san, you can come in.”

“Coming, coming.” Shangguan He pushes the door open. The earlier events have left him mentally drained.

The moment he enters, Hikaru’s attention shifts to him. Oddly, though he can’t see her eyes through her bangs, he feels their gazes collide the instant he steps in.

“You need to sign this too.” Megumi hands him a pen.

“Huh? I’m not injured.”

“But you’re the one who bumped into Suzuki-san, right?” She gives him an exasperated glance. “We still need to follow procedure. Sign here, don’t mess it up.”

As he takes the pen, Megumi lightly pinches his hand. He glances at Hikaru, who’s focused on signing, then at Megumi, whose eyes crinkle with a smile. Damn, mature women really know how to play… He feels like if he stays ten minutes longer, he’ll be devoured whole.

“Uh, um, I’m done signing.” Hikaru’s stuttering voice breaks the charged atmosphere.

“Good, hand the report to Shangguan-san.” Megumi nods, checking the signatures. “Suzuki-san, you can return to class.”

Shangguan He’s heart skips. Is she blatantly sending away the third wheel? What a move! Could it be? Is Teacher Kojima going for round two?

“Um, Teacher…” Hikaru suddenly speaks. “I, uh, I’m in the same class as Shangguan-san. We can go back together. There’s, uh, the exam today, and…”

Her words are a fragmented mess, a textbook case of incoherence. But for Hikaru, it’s already a heroic effort to express herself.

“…” Megumi’s elegant brows furrow. After a few seconds, she nods. “Fair point, the exam’s important. Shangguan-san, sign the report and head back with Suzuki-san.”

“Ah, okay, thank you, Teacher.” Hikaru bows hurriedly, gratitude unclear.

Shangguan He’s face falls. Damn it, Suzuki, don’t ruin my moment!

Grumbling inwardly, he leans over and signs the report with quick strokes. The moment Hikaru turns away, Megumi casually slips a business card into his other hand with lightning speed.

“Huh?”

“Once you’re done signing, you can go. I have work to do. I’ll call your homeroom teacher about the infirmary matter.” Megumi’s expression is neutral as she holds the report. “The bell hasn’t rung yet—you’ll make it for the exam.”

Shangguan He half-thinks the card was his imagination. But the firm, warm card in his palm confirms reality. This is a “call me sometime” hint, right?

“Got it, Teacher. We’re off.” He bids a polite farewell, with Hikaru quietly echoing him.

Leaving the infirmary, they walk down the dimly lit hallway, one behind the other. This building is used for club activities, with the infirmary placed here to treat injured sports club members quickly. It’s the break between the second and third periods, and with students in classrooms prepping for the placement exam, the building is empty except for them.

Leading the way, Shangguan He casually slips his hands into his pockets, tucking the card away. Hikaru, trailing behind, stays silent. He expects the quiet to last until they reach the classroom, but surprisingly, the reserved Hikaru speaks up.

“Sorry.”

He’s utterly baffled. Who starts a conversation with “sorry”?! He’s the one who bumped into her—he should be apologizing.

“Huh? Suzuki-san? What’s up? Why the sudden apology?” He slows his pace, falling into step beside her.

“Um, well, uh, in the infirmary, I, uh, actually woke up pretty early.”

His left eye twitches. So, she saw everything? What the hell? He nearly performed a live adult scene in front of a romanceable heroine? He’s sweating buckets.

“Huh? What do you mean?” He tries to play dumb.

“I, uh, didn’t want to make a sound, didn’t want to… interrupt you, but I accidentally…” Hikaru lowers her head, her fingers fidgeting nervously. “Sorry, um, it’s my fault…”

“Whoa, hold on, Suzuki-san.” He puts on a righteous air. “You’ve got it all wrong! Total misunderstanding!”

“Huh?” Hikaru pauses, her hands stilling.

“Teacher Kojima was just doing a palpation—a totally normal medical procedure. You definitely misunderstood!” He speaks with conviction, like a martyr diving into the muck for truth.

“Palpation?” Hikaru tilts her head, then nods slowly. “Oh, I see. Sorry, I… I got it wrong. My brain’s not great, sorry…”

He’s dumbfounded. His excuse was about as convincing as a stepmom in certain Western films claiming she’s “stuck in the washing machine.”

“Wait, you just believed that?”

“Yeah, because Shangguan-san’s a good person, so I trust you.”