CHAPTER XVIII
-Operation Clean Sweep-
Once the thermometer beeped, Yuzuki checked the reading—his fever was dangerously high. She quickly found the fever medicine, checked the dosage instructions, and measured out a careful amount. Supporting his head, she coaxed him to swallow the medicine, her voice low and soothing: “It’s okay now, baby boy. You’re safe now. Just a little more and you’ll recover in no time!”
She used a damp towel to wipe the sweat from his brow and cheeks, then gently cleaned the cuts and scrapes on his knee and thigh with antiseptic wipes. The boy flinched at the sting, but Yuzuki worked as gently as she could, murmuring apologies and encouragement. She applied bandages to the worst of the wounds, making sure not to press too hard.
With the Korobokkuru’s help, she tucked the blanket around him and propped his head up with the small pillow they’d brought. She poured a little water into a cup and helped him take a few sips, careful not to overwhelm him.
All the while, the Korobokkuru hovered nearby, some gently patting the boy’s arm, others eagerly holding out more supplies—bandages, cough drops, even a stethoscope—waiting for Yuzuki’s next request. She glanced up at their anxious, hopeful faces, her heart swelling with gratitude.
“Awee… thank you!” she whispered, managing a tired but genuine smile. “But he doesn’t need that right now. But he soon will. I’m really thankful to all of you for cooperating so well with me! We really make such a good team, don’t we?”
The Korobokkuru immediately popped and hopped in delight, nodding enthusiastically, their tiny faces beaming with pride. Some spun in happy circles, others did little jumps, and a few even high-fived each other with their tiny paws. Their joy was infectious, and for a brief moment, Yuzuki felt a wave of warmth and camaraderie.
She sat back, watching the boy’s breathing begin to steady, the fever medicine starting to take effect. The classroom was quiet except for the soft rustle of the Korobokkuru and the gentle sound of the boy’s breathing. Yuzuki let out a long, relieved sigh, her heart still pounding but finally a little lighter.
But then—the sharp, metallic clang of the school bell rang out, echoing through the empty corridors.
Yuzuki’s heart jumped into her throat. Oh no! she thought, panic flooding her chest. The period’s over—students will be coming back any second!
She scrambled to her feet, eyes wide, frantically looking around the room. “Quick! We have to hide him and all this stuff!” she whispered urgently to the Korobokkuru, her mind racing as the sound of footsteps began to echo closer and closer down the hallway.
Yuzuki’s mind raced—Where could she possibly hide him? The boy was too big to fit behind a desk, and the Korobokkuru were darting around in a frenzy, shoving supplies into every nook and cranny they could find: behind curtains, inside desk drawers, under the podium, even stuffing things behind the blackboard. The chaos only made Yuzuki more anxious, her own panic rising as the classroom filled with the sound of scurrying feet and rustling supplies.
Suddenly, the door slid open—then shut again, quickly and quietly.
Yuzuki froze, eyes wide. She was certain she’d seen a large hand pull the door closed from the outside. The Korobokkuru jolted, crowding around her, their panic mirroring her own. Heart pounding, Yuzuki crept to the door and pressed her ear against it, the Korobokkuru lining up beside her, tiny ears pressed to the wood.
Through the door, she heard muffled voices:
“Ah! I’m so, so sorry, Mr. Tanaka, but your class is next on my schedule to clean. I’m very, very sorry for the disturbance and interruption. But you’ll have to take your students to the music room for the time being.”
Mr. Tanaka’s voice, sharp and frustrated, replied, “What do you mean, Janitor? How can you clean during class hours? That’s strictly prohibited!”
“I apologize, but these were the orders from the Headmistress. I’m ought to follow her instructions. See!”
There was a rustle of paper, and the janitor continued, “The Headmistress of the Primary section signed this herself.”
Mr. Tanaka sounded skeptical. “Why did she order something like that?”
“Because management from other schools will be visiting today. This classroom is closest to her office, so they’ll surely stop by. She requested you go to the music room for the time being. I’ll be very quick,” the janitor explained.
Yuzuki could almost hear Mr. Tanaka’s sigh. The excited whispers of little students filtered through the door, eager for a rare visit to the music room. Finally, Mr. Tanaka relented, “Alright, fine. But hurry up.”
Footsteps shuffled away, and the corridor fell quiet.
The door slid open again. Yuzuki straightened, startled. The janitor stood there, met her gaze, and gave her a knowing smile and a wink before quietly shutting the door once more.
HUH? Yuzuki thought, stunned, her mind reeling at the unexpected rescue and the mysterious wink from the janitor.
Wait. Isn’t he the 3rd Floor’s Janitor?Yuzuki thought, her mind flashing back to the time he’d quietly helped her slip away during the investigation. DAMN. Old men really do come in handy, she mused, a relieved smile spreading across her face.
Turning to the Korobokkuru, who were bouncing around in obvious delight, Yuzuki grinned and whispered, “Looks like we’ve finally got a little more time on our watch, thanks to our secret ally!” The Korobokkuru nodded enthusiastically, their little faces shining with shared relief and excitement as they regrouped, ready to make the most of their unexpected reprieve.
“Alright!” Yuzuki declared, carefully settling the little boy onto the floor of the burnt classroom in the Left Wing of the 3rd Floor. She slid a pillow beneath his head and tucked the small blanket under his upper body, doing her best to make him comfortable amid the charred remains.
“Now then!” she continued, glancing around at the lingering haze and dust. “The air in here isn’t fresh at all because of all this burnt dust! So here’s what I need you to do: head to the Soujiin—the cleaning closet—on the fifth corridor from the boys’ restroom. Go discreetly, and bring back cleaning equipment. I want you to move all the burnt things from this room into another classroom and sweep this place thoroughly with the broom. I’ll come back during break to check on him, alright?”
The Korobokkuru nodded in unison, their faces determined. Without hesitation, they rushed off, eager to tackle their new mission and make the space safer for the boy and for Yuzuki’s next visit.
As Yuzuki hurried down the hallway, almost at her classroom door, a sudden realization hit her like a bolt of lightning—Today is Monday… and we have two consecutive English periods with Yakumo Toma-sensei!
Her pace faltered for a split second, dread pooling in her stomach. She could already imagine the stern look on her homeroom teacher’s face.
The door to Class 3-B slid open. Yuzuki took a steadying breath and called out, “Sensei, may I enter?”
Every head in the classroom turned, including Mr. Yakumo Toma’s. His eyes narrowed behind his glasses.
“MIKAZUKI-SAN!” Yakumo Toma-sensei thundered, his voice echoing through the room. “You are late—again! Not only did you leave during my lesson, but you also took far longer than necessary to return. This is highly disrespectful, both to me and your classmates! Do you have any idea how disruptive this is? I even sent two girls to look for you—one after the other—and you were nowhere to be seen! If you have a valid reason, I expect you to explain yourself. Otherwise, you will remain after class for additional assignments. Understood?”
The class was silent, every eye fixed on Yuzuki as she stood in the doorway, heart pounding.
She bowed deeply and spoke, her voice steady, “Apologies, Sensei. But I was locked in the bathroom by a group of girls. When I tried jumping over the bathroom stalls, I injured myself really bad. It was lucky a kind girl from our neighboring class lent me a hand to the infirmary and the nurse treated me. See?” She lifted her right foot forward to show the proof—her ankle was wrapped in a fresh white bandage.
Yakumo-sensei’s stern expression faltered for a moment as he took in the bandage. He hesitated, then cleared his throat, his tone still strict but less harsh. “I see. That is unfortunate, Mikazuki-san. Go back to your seat—and be more careful next time. If anything like this happens again, report it to me or another teacher immediately. Understood?”
“Yes, Sensei. Thank you,” Yuzuki replied, bowing once more before hurrying to her seat, the eyes of her classmates following her every move.
Yuzuki limped to her seat, dragging her leg convincingly, every step exaggerated just enough to sell the injury. She let out a silent, shaky exhale as she finally sat down. Phew. Good thing I accidentally stuffed that bandage roll into my pocket when I was leaving the primary classroom with the boy on my back. If I hadn’t, I’d have been caught for sure. Relief washed over her, the weight of the morning’s chaos finally lifting.
Just as she settled in, she noticed Kaito staring at her from across the aisle. His gaze was sharp, unreadable. Yuzuki shot him a slightly annoyed, almost disgusted look, not in the mood for another round of silent judgment.
But Kaito, unfazed, slipped his phone out from beneath his desk and subtly pointed at it, mouthing, “Open it.”
Yuzuki slipped her phone from her bag, keeping it hidden beneath her desk as she unlocked the screen. Immediately, a flurry of messages popped up—at the top was Reina, her classmate, who was already typing furiously.
Get well soon, Yuzuki! Please take care of your ankle! If you need anything, just tell me!
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVPFX7mloi
Yuzuki glanced across the room and caught Reina’s worried face peeking over her own phone, fingers flying over the keyboard, concern etched in every line of her expression.
But Yuzuki didn’t open Reina’s chat, her attention shifting to the message just below—Kaito’s. She tapped it open.
Meet me after school today. 7 PM. School grounds.
I’ll tell you everything.
I promise.
Yuzuki squinted at the screen, suspicion flickering in her eyes. She looked up and caught Kaito watching her intently. The moment their eyes met, he turned away, feigning indifference.
Yuzuki typed a quick, curt “K” in reply, her gaze lingering on Kaito, a wary, questioning look still shadowing her face as she slipped her phone back into her bag, mind already racing back to the lesson being taught in class.
As soon as the bell rang for break, Yuzuki bent beside her bag to pull out her bento box. Before she could even open it, Sayaka’s face popped up right in front of hers, startling her.
“HIIII~ Mikazuki-san!!!” Sayaka chirped, grinning. “You see! I’m kinda hungry…”
Yuzuki rolled her eyes, already knowing where this was going. “Of course you are. How can’t you be when you finish your lunch even before the break begins, no?”
“Exactly~ So gimme your lunch box,” Sayaka pleaded, inching closer. “Otherwise~” she sing-songed, looming over Yuzuki, “I’ll tell—”
“REINA-CHAN!” Yuzuki called out, cutting Sayaka off mid-threat. She straightened up, catching Reina’s attention from across the room. Instantly, Reina’s fans and several classmates turned to look at Yuzuki, curiosity piqued.
“Reina-chan! Sayaka-san said she tried out the new viral cream after she saw your mother use it in her latest video, and now she’s yapping about its benefits to me. She wishes to share her experience with you, but since you’re busy with your friends, she feels too shy to come over herself,” Yuzuki announced, her voice carrying across the classroom.
Reina’s fans erupted in excitement, some rushing over while others buzzed from their seats. “WE WERE LEGIT TALKING ABOUT THAT NEW CREAM!!” someone squealed.
Even Yuzuki’s classmates joined in, chatting about the cream and its supposed wonders. Reina’s fans quickly surrounded Sayaka, exclaiming, “OH MY! Is that why your skin’s been shining all day today?”
Sayaka, suddenly basking in unexpected attention, puffed up with pride and began blabbering about the cream she’d never even heard of, let alone tried. With Sayaka thoroughly distracted, Yuzuki seized her chance, slipped her bentos out of her bag, and darted out of the classroom—free at last.
As Yuzuki dashed down the corridor, weaving through the rush of students, a memory from earlier that morning surfaced—her mom’s cheerful blabbering as she packed Yuzuki’s bag. “Take two bentos today!” her mother had insisted. “I cooked something very special, and if anyone smells it, they’ll come running after your food. I don’t want my child coming home starving, so I packed an extra—one for you, and one for any intruders drawn in by the aroma!”
Yuzuki grinned to herself, realizing just how lucky she was. Not only had her mother’s foresight saved her from Sayaka’s ambush, but now she had enough to feed the little boy and help him recover. It really felt like luck was truly on her side.
As Yuzuki discreetly slipped into the Left Wing, her heart still pounding from the hectic morning, she noticed that the burnt room’s door was still slightly ajar. Peeking inside, relief washed over her as she spotted the little Korobokkuru gathered around the boy.
“Korobokkuru, I’m back!” she whispered warmly, stepping inside quietly to check on them and the boy’s condition.
To her astonishment, the classroom was spotless. Every trace of soot and ash was gone. Not a single burnt desk, chair, or scrap remained; the room was now completely empty and impeccably clean. The Korobokkuru—small, spirited beings from Ainu folklore, known for their agility and skill—had clearly outdone themselves.
Yuzuki knelt beside the boy, setting down her two bento boxes. She gently removed the cold pack from his forehead, only to find it was nearly frozen to the touch. “You really did your job,” she murmured, then glanced at the Korobokkuru. “Can one of you bring me the thermometer?”
A Korobokkuru darted over, presenting the thermometer with both hands. Yuzuki checked the boy’s temperature—it had dropped to a safe range. Relief flooded her and she let out a happy sigh.
With almost forty minutes left before break ended, Yuzuki opened one of the bentos. Instantly, the rich aroma filled the entire room. The Korobokkuru perked up, their noses twitching, eyes wide with anticipation. They crowded around, peering into the box, their excitement palpable.
Inside was her mother’s special: thick, golden tamagoyaki, perfectly seasoned rice balls, crispy karaage chicken, and sautéed vegetables, all arranged with care. The Korobokkuru’s faces lit up with awe and delight, their tiny hands reaching out as if to ask, “Can we try too?”
Yuzuki smiled, breaking off a piece of tamagoyaki and offering it to the nearest Korobokkuru. “Yes! Of course! Let’s eat together! You all really deserve it.”
To be Continued...
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