CHAPTER XVII
-Mission: Infirmary-
The Korobokkuru guided Yuzuki down the dim corridor, their small forms darting ahead and pausing at the entrance to one of the burnt-out classrooms. Through the holes in the battered door, the Korobokkuru hopped inside with ease, slipping through the gaps without needing to open it.
Yuzuki, however, was left facing the stubborn door. She tried to slide it open, her hands straining against the warped frame, but it wouldn’t budge. After several attempts, her strength gave out and she slumped to the ground, defeated. Just as she caught her breath, the door creaked and slid open from the inside. A tower of Korobokkuru stood there, stacked atop one another, their little faces peering out as the darkness of the room stretched behind them.
She scrambled to her feet, and the Korobokkuru parted to make way for her. Morning light filtered in through the broken glass windows, casting fractured beams across the charred remains of desks and the burnt podium. The classroom was a hollow shell, the only color coming from the light glinting off shards of glass.
The Korobokkuru tugged at her feet again, urging her deeper into the room. She followed them past the blackened teacher’s podium toward the brightest patch of sunlight by the window. There, gathered around an object, the Korobokkuru on top hopped off, while others held out drawings, sweets, and shiny trinkets in their tiny paws, as if offering gifts to whatever lay there.
As the Korobokkuru cleared a path, Yuzuki’s breath caught in her throat. Lying on the ground was the little black-haired boy from the other day. His coat was shredded, his hood gone, revealing short, silky black hair and pale skin marred by fresh, bright red scars. His clothes were torn, exposing a knee covered in scratches and a thigh streaked with cuts. He lay curled on his side, breathing heavily, his face flushed with fever.
Yuzuki dropped to her knees and pressed her hand to his forehead. He was burning up. The Korobokkuru watched anxiously, their gifts scattered around the boy as if hoping to comfort him.
Yuzuki’s face tightened with worry as she looked over the feverish boy. The Korobokkuru grew even more anxious, their tiny bodies trembling; tears welled in their eyes and began to fall silently. Confused, Yuzuki glanced around for anything that might help, but the room was barren—just scorched wood and scattered trinkets.
When she turned back, she saw one of the Korobokkuru gently touching the boy, its gesture tender and desperate, as if he had always been their protector. The realization struck her. “Was he your caretaker?” she asked softly.
One of the Korobokkuru nodded, rushing to her with pleading eyes, repeating “I see you” in its own way, trying desperately to communicate, to beg her to save him.
Guilt pricked at Yuzuki for how she’d shouted at the boy before, but now wasn’t the time for regret. She nodded to the Korobokkuru, signaling she understood, and quickly weighed her options. Getting him to the infirmary is my best chance. But if he’s a ghost, no one else will see him… Still, he needs help now.
Knowing her own limits, Yuzuki carefully propped the boy up against the wall beneath the window. She slipped his arms over her shoulders, crouched forward, and with a determined breath, hooked her arms under his knees. With the Korobokkuru anxiously circling, she managed to lift him piggyback, his feverish body slumped against her back but secure.
Moving as fast as she could, Yuzuki hurried out of the burnt classroom, the Korobokkuru trailing behind her, and made her way down to the ground floor—toward the infirmary, hope and desperation pushing her forward.
As Yuzuki hurried down the ground floor corridor, the weight of the feverish boy pressing against her back, she spotted an empty classroom just a short distance from the infirmary. The idea struck her—she could leave him here safely for a moment while she fetched supplies.
She paused at the door, whispering to the Korobokkuru, “Can you open this for me?” The little creatures immediately sprang into action, stacking themselves into a wobbly but determined tower. With a coordinated push, they managed to slide the door open just enough for Yuzuki to slip inside.
Carefully, she carried the boy to the teacher’s podium at the front of the classroom and gently laid him down. His breathing was still ragged, his face flushed with fever. The Korobokkuru gathered around him, their eyes wide with concern.
Yuzuki knelt down, speaking softly to the group, “I need some of you to stay here with him. Watch over him and keep him safe, okay?”
A few of the Korobokkuru nodded, immediately clustering protectively around the boy, their tiny hands patting his arm and forehead.
She turned to the rest. “The rest of you, come with me. I need to get medicine and a cold towel from the infirmary. Stay close and be quiet.”
The chosen Korobokkuru gave a determined salute, lining up behind her, ready for the mission. Yuzuki offered a grateful smile, then slipped out of the classroom, the little creatures padding silently at her heels as she made her way toward the infirmary, her mind racing with worry and hope.
As Yuzuki rushed through the corridor toward the infirmary, relief flickered through her—she was lucky that one of the classrooms was empty probably because the class had PE, giving her a rare window of privacy to help the boy. But she knew she was racing against the clock; the period would end in less than twenty minutes, and soon students would be returning. Worse, she knew her absence couldn’t have gone unnoticed. She could only imagine Yakumo-sensei already sending someone to look for her, given how strict he was about attendance and punctuality.
Her footsteps quickened, the Korobokkuru trailing behind her, as she mentally rehearsed what supplies she needed and how quickly she’d have to move before anyone discovered what she was up to.
Yuzuki paused at the infirmary door, peering in to see the nurse busy tending to a few students. The nurse hadn’t noticed her yet. Yuzuki quickly turned back, crouched down to the Korobokkuru, and explained her plan in a hushed but urgent voice:
“Okay, here’s what we’ll do: I’ll scream and pretend I’ve fallen down. The nurse will rush out to check on me. As soon as she’s gone, you all slip inside and grab these things—cold packs, a thermometer, fever medicine, bandages, and a clean towel. Don’t forget a water bottle if you see one. Then, instead of coming back the way we came, run in the opposite direction and hide behind that corridor. The nurse will notice things are missing, and if you’re seen, not only will she disappear, but the supplies will too—and we can’t risk that. I can only keep her distracted for about three minutes, so you have to be as quick as possible. Got it?”
The Korobokkuru nodded, clenching their tiny paws in determination. Yuzuki motioned for them to line up near the doorframe on the opposite side from her. Once they were in position, she gave them a thumbs-up, signaling she was ready.
She sat down on the floor, legs stretched out in front of her, and with all the dramatic flair she could muster, began wailing loudly, “AHHHHHHHH!”
Yuzuki drew in a shaky breath, then let out a piercing, drawn-out wail that echoed down the corridor: “AHHHHHHHHHHH!” Her voice cracked with convincing distress, and she squeezed her eyes shut, letting fat tears roll down her cheeks. The pain in her voice was so convincing that even a few students passing by stopped to glance her way, startled.
Within seconds, the nurse burst out of the infirmary, her face pale with concern. “What happened? What’s wrong, dear?” she asked, dropping to her knees beside Yuzuki.
Yuzuki clutched her ankle, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed, “It—It hurts! My leg—ahhh, it hurts so much!” Her voice trembled, and she gasped between cries, as if the pain was overwhelming her. She sniffled loudly, her face scrunched up, and let her tears spill freely, her hands trembling as she pointed feebly at her ankle.
The nurse leaned in, her voice gentle but urgent. “Where does it hurt, sweetheart? Show me.”
Yuzuki pointed to a spot just above her ankle, her crying intensifying. “Here! I think—I think I twisted it! It hurts—ahhh, it really hurts!” She let her head fall forward, her hair hiding her face as she sobbed harder, her breath coming in ragged hiccups.
“Oh, you poor thing, you must have twisted your ankle,” the nurse said, concern deepening in her voice. “Can you stand? Let me help you.” She reached out, trying to support Yuzuki under the arms.
Yuzuki, glancing sideways and catching a glimpse of the Korobokkuru slipping into the infirmary, knew she had to keep the nurse outside. She made a show of trying to stand, her knees wobbling, but then she collapsed back to the floor, clutching the nurse’s hand with both of hers. “I can’t! I can’t stand! It hurts too much!” she wailed, her voice breaking, tears streaming down her face.
The nurse tried to gently free her hand. “It’s okay, I’ll go get help, and—”
“No! Please, don’t leave me!” Yuzuki cried even louder, her grip tightening desperately. “Please, stay! It hurts so much, I can’t—please don’t go!” Her words tumbled out between sobs, her voice growing hoarse. She buried her face in the nurse’s sleeve, her body trembling with the effort of her performance.
The nurse, flustered and anxious, looked around for help, but the corridor was completely empty. Students inside the infirmary, hearing the commotion, came out to see what was happening, crowding the doorway and blocking Yuzuki’s view of the Korobokkuru. Oh no, I can’t see if they’re done! Why are they all in the way? she thought, panic rising beneath her act.
The nurse tried to soothe her, patting her back awkwardly. “Shh, shh, it’s okay, I’m right here. Just breathe, sweetheart. We’ll get you inside and—”
But Yuzuki wouldn’t let up. She clung to the nurse’s hand, her cries growing more desperate, her body shaking with “pain.” “I can’t walk! Please, please don’t leave me alone! It hurts, it hurts so much!”
The nurse, now visibly sweating, tried to gently pry her hand away. “I need to get help, okay? Just—just let me go for a second—”
“No! Please!” Yuzuki wailed, her voice echoing down the hall, drawing even more attention. Her tears were streaming now, her face blotchy and red, her breathing ragged and uneven.
Suddenly, from behind a student’s leg, a Korobokkuru popped up, waving at her with a tiny paw, signaling their success. Relief flooded Yuzuki, and she immediately loosened her grip, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “Oh! My ankle feels fine now!” she exclaimed, her voice still quivering with leftover emotion. “Maybe it got better because you held my hand, thank you, nurse!”
The nurse stared at her, utterly bewildered. “Huh? Really? Just like that?”
Yuzuki nodded, sniffling, and stood up, testing her weight on her foot. “Yes! Thank you so much. I think your touch healed me.” She bowed deeply, her cheeks still streaked with tears, and added, “Oh, your patients are all out here, by the way.”
The nurse, still in shock, turned to see her patients crowding the hallway. “Everyone, back inside! Quickly!” she called, ushering them in. She threw one last confused look at Yuzuki, then slid the infirmary door closed, her hands trembling.
Yuzuki seized the moment, brightening as she caught sight of the Korobokkuru peeking from their hiding spot, arms full of supplies. She waved at them, signaling the coast was clear, and they scampered out, vanishing down the corridor.
Just then, a teacher she didn’t recognize rounded the corner, catching sight of Yuzuki. “Hey, student! What are you doing here?”
Yuzuki, cheeks still pink from her dramatic performance, blurted, “Oh, I just came from the infirmary! Bye!” and dashed off, urgency in her step. The teacher, blinking in confusion, caught a glimpse of floating infirmary supplies trailing behind her. She rubbed her eyes, muttering, “I must be seeing things… I really need more sleep,” before wandering off, dazed and bewildered by the surreal scene.
PHEW! Yuzuki exhaled, stumbling into the empty classroom and leaning heavily against the door, wiping sweat from her brow. Her heart was still pounding from the chaos of her performance and the mad dash through the corridors. She glanced at the clock—only ten minutes left in the period. Just enough time to catch her breath.
She looked down, expecting to see the Korobokkuru carrying a few medical supplies. Instead, a parade of little creatures waddled in, each one lugging something different: ice packs, thermometers, fever medicine, bandages, towels, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, adhesive tape, scissors, gloves, even a small pillow, a blanket, a hot water bottle, and—was that a box of sanitary napkins? Another was dragging a nearly full packet of cough drops, while two more struggled to carry a large bottle of hand sanitizer between them. One particularly ambitious Korobokkuru had a stethoscope wrapped around its shoulders, and another was proudly balancing a clipboard and a pen atop its head.
Yuzuki’s jaw dropped. “WAIT!” she cried, her voice echoing in the empty room. The Korobokkuru froze, blinking up at her innocently, their arms and paws overflowing with supplies.
She stepped closer, eyes wide, and surveyed the growing pile. “No way…” she breathed, crouching down to look at the assortment. “DID YOU GUYS JUST ROB THE ENTIRE INFIRMARY??????” Her voice shot up in disbelief.
The Korobokkuru looked at each other, then back at her, some nodding shyly, others grinning with pride. One held up a thermometer like a trophy; another offered her a bandage with both hands, as if seeking approval.
Yuzuki gaped at the mountain of supplies—far more than she’d ever asked for. “I said cold packs, medicine, and a towel! Not the whole room!” she whispered, torn between exasperation and awe.
One Korobokkuru, still clutching a pack of disposable gloves, gave her a sheepish look and shrugged, as if to say, You never know what you might need.
She couldn’t help it—despite the stress, a laugh bubbled up in her throat. “You guys…” she muttered, shaking her head, “are seriously unbelievable.”
Yuzuki wasted no time. She stood beside the little boy, her hands moving quickly as she sorted through the mountain of supplies the Korobokkuru had brought. First, she grabbed a clean towel and a cold pack, carefully pressing the cold pack to his burning forehead. His skin was hot to the touch, and his breaths came in shallow, ragged bursts.
She unwrapped a thermometer and gently placed it under his arm, murmuring soft reassurances as she worked. The Korobokkuru gathered in a worried circle around them, some holding up bandages and medicine, others simply watching with wide, anxious eyes.
To be Continued...
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