Chapter 54 - New Semester and First Year War [6] (1/2)

Chapter 54. New Semester and First Year War [6]

After finishing the semi-finals, Rose and I headed to the infirmary to treat the wounds that we sustained during the match.

Rose walked unsteadily.

I was walking slowly next to her, matching her pace.

And then,

「……」

Rose suddenly staggered and leaned onto me.

「Are you all right?」

I supported her body in a hurry.

「I’m alright… However, because I used Winter Sakura beyond the duration… This is the drawback…」

Rose said so and began to walk slowly again.

It seems that she pushed herself too hard in the fight just now.

「I see… Then let’s walk a little more slowly.」

「Un, thank you …」

After a little while.

As we were silently walking down the hall,

「… It’s frustrating. I couldn’t win, again… 」

Rose grumbled.

「…The outcome might be different if we went at it again, you know?」

I happened to win this time, but the outcome might be different the next time we fight.

「… Allen is really kind. But… I clearly understood the difference in power between us. It’s frustrating, but I still can’t win…」

While saying so, she quietly shook her head.

「But I’m going to train more and more – I’ll beat you someday. So… Will you fight me again next time?」

「Aa, of course. It’s a promise.」

「Well, thank you…」

Rose smiled gently.

「A-Aa…」

Different from her usual dignified self – it was a soft and warm smile.

Perhaps because I caught a glimpse of such a rare smile, my heart started beating a little faster.

■

When we reached the infirmary, I knocked on the door, and

「-Come in.」

The voice of the young woman returned, and I opened the door saying,「Excuse me」.

「Welcome. Did you two get hurt at the First-Year War?」

The teacher in the infirmary scanned us from top to bottom.

「Yes, please.」

「Fuu, today is a busy day…」

She shrugged her shoulders and stopped working on paperwork and stood up.

「I’ll be fine taking my turn later… so please check Rose first.」

「Yes, I understand. Well then, Rose-san. Sorry, but could you come this way? 」

「Yes… Allen, thank you.」

「Don’t worry about it.」

After that, Rose followed the teacher to the back of the infirmary – towards the direction of the bed.

「You wait over there. Don’t enter even by mistake.」

The teacher said briefly, and closed the white partition curtains.

「Well… I’ll disinfect the wounds first, so take off your clothes.」

「Yes.」

I heard their voices from behind the curtain.

And then,

「……」

Perhaps due to the angle of light, Rose’s silhouette was clearly visible through the curtain.

I turned my back reflexively and put my hand on my heart which was beating rapidly.

(C-Calm down… S-She hadn’t stripped yet, so it’s safe…)

After that, I heard the sound of clothes rustling and dropping on the floor.

As I restlessly passed the time,

「……」

I heard a sharp, short sigh.

「It’ll sting a little, but please endure it. If we don’t take proper measures, you’ll heal slower.」

Then a little later – the curtain opened, and the teacher returned to the front.

Rose, bandaged around her hands and feet, sat on the bed, with her upper body upright.

At first glance, there seems to be no problem.

「Teacher, how is Rose’s condition?」

「I saw a lot of lacerations, but… None of them are deep, so there are no major problems. Observing the fatigue of the body… Did she use her soul dress in an unreasonable manner? I think she’ll get better soon if she rests.」

「I see, thank you.」

As I sighed a breath of relief, the teacher clapped her hands together.

「Well, you’re next. I’ll disinfect your wounds first, so take off your clothes.」

As she said that, she began to prepare a brown bottle labelled『Antiseptic』and cotton fabric.

「Yes.」

I took off my uniform as told,

「…Eh?」

I finally noticed the unusual thing that had happened to my body.

On my body – there was not a single wound that should have been there.

(Which reminds me… The dull pain that I was feeling at the end of the match has already faded…)

When I was searching my body for injuries, the teacher tilted her head curiously.

「Oh…? Weren’t you supposed to be injured?」

「Y-Yes… I was supposed to be, but…」

I should have suffered a lot of injuries in the battle with Rose.

But in reality, there was not a single laceration left on my body.