Episode 32 – Peeling Off

“I was just wondering.”

“Yes.”

“Are you not feeling well?”

Yua looked puzzled. The expression on her face gradually became distorted. As if to hide it, she turned her head down and crouched at the same time.

“A-are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“….Legs.”

“Hm?”

“My leg hurts.”

“Where?”

“Toes…..”

That means the shoes probably rubbed her toes.

“Let’s sit down for now.”

I help her up and we move to a bench.

“Right foot?”

“Left……”

“I’m going to take off your shoes, okay?”

Yua nodded. I kneeled down in front of her and removed her loafer.

“……!”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice. The toes of her white socks were stained with bright red blood.

I took off her sock as well. The skin on the side of her little toe was peeling.

I had to patch it up. Would I need a bandage and some disinfectant? No, I had heard that disinfectant would slow down the healing of the wound. Clean, then protect.

“I’ll have some.”

I borrowed some paper cups from Yua’s tote bag and went to the water fountain to get some water. Then I washed the wound.

“Ugh !”

Whether it hurts or cold, Yua twitched.

“I’m sorry. But please be patient.”

“Okay……”

I wiped the water off with a tissue, put a paper napkin over it, and put a sock on top of it.

“I’ll just do the first aid measure for the time being. I’m going to look for a convenience store or drugstore.”

“……”

Yua looked like she wanted to say something, then nodded her head.

“Okay……”

“–I quit.”

“Eh?”

Yua looked at me with a puzzled look on her face.

“Let’s go home. I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”

I turned my back and crouched down.

“B-but…”

“Don’t be shy.”

“I’m heavy.”

“You don’t look heavy. –See.”

I beckoned with my back.

“…….”

After thinking for a moment.

“Thank you……”

Yua mumbled and leaned her weight on my back. I put my hands under her thighs and stood up.

Yeah, I’m fine. I can walk to the nearby bus stop without any problem. The soft feeling on my back and in my hands is more of a problem. It seems to be draining my mental strength more than my physical strength.

I try not to be aware of the feeling as much as possible, and aim for the exit of the park without thinking about it.

Yua, who had remained silent until now, opened her mouth.

“How…..?”

“Hm, eh? W-what?”

“How did you know?”

“About what?”

“That I’m hurt.”

“No, I didn’t notice that you were hurt.”

It’s not like she was walking strangely.

Yua asked a question again.

“Besides, you also said [I quit.] when you were looking for a convenience store.”

Both answers are the same.

[I just felt like saying that.]

I’ve always watched Yua’s face very carefully, who’s always clumsy. I’ve often felt that even though she hides it well with a smile, she’s really holding back with something she wants to say inside her heart. While doing so, I have come to be able to guess what Yua was hoping for. That’s it.

That’s why I somehow knew that Yua was holding something back, and when I tried to leave, she couldn’t really say that she was lonely.

…..I came up with one thing. The reason I was looking at Yua’s face was not only because I was trying so hard to read her feelings. I was just looking because I wanted to. More to say, I just found myself staring at her. This is the actual reason.

Anyway, I’m an expert at Yua’s expression, if I do say so myself. I’m a man who knows the difference.

“It’s just a hunch.”

But I was too embarrassed to say that I had always been watching her, so I just covered it.

“Do you know everything about me?”

“Not that much.”

“I guess so. If you know everything, then you know my–“

She squeezed her last word and I couldn’t hear them.

“What’d you say?”

“Not telling. You’ll have to think for yourself. You have good instincts, don’t you?”

She chuckled.

I don’t really understand, buts he doesn’t seem to be depressed anymore.

“By the way.”

Yua whispered in my ear.

“The key point in neat and clean fashion is extreme underwear. I’ll use it as a reference.”

Then she breathed into my ear [Fuu.]

The sound of her mysterious voice and her warm, ear-tickling breath sent shivers down my spine.

She seemed to have regained her usual good mood. The innocent Yua was also attractive, but she was no match for the usual Yua.

–But….

Why did she want to look like this all of a sudden? Did she get a taste for cosplay at the school festival? Or–

If it was just for fun, that’s fine. But the fact that she changed her look many times in the past made me feel a little uneasy.