Good morning, mom.

Oh, you're up early. Busy morning I'm guessing?

Yes, I have some committee business to attend to.

Ah, I see...

Your peers seem to value you very much, but remember that it's perfectly okay to tell a teacher that you don't want to do something. I'd really rather have you focus on your studies.

Yes, I know...

I'll try asking them about adjusting my workload.

Anyway, I need to get going.

Also, I'll probably be home a little late tonight because of cram school.

Oh, that's right. Today's your first day of that new class.

I'll also be running late tonight due to some neighborhood association business. I'm sorry but you'll have to prepare your own dinner.

Okay, I understand.

Would you like me to make some for you and leave it in the refrigerator for when you get back...?

Hehe. Thank you.

I appreciate the thought, but I suspect that we'll be going to dinner afterwards so that won't be necessary.

Your father won't be home for some time as well, so please try to make do on your own for tonight.

Okay. Have a nice day, mom.

I'll be going now...

Stay safe.

If I have even an hour, I should be able to handle everything I need to before our morning assembly...

(I didn't have time to yesterday, so after school, I need to read up on what's going to be covered at cram school today...)

(Then I need to provide the teachers a practice schedule for the archery club's first years... Oh, I have a student council meeting and club activities too...)

Another busy day...

Ugh, my head...

Thank you very much, Asahina.

It's so kind of you to help me carry these things after asking you to handle that committee business.

I'm happy to help... This would be far too much for one person to carry, even a teacher.

Again, thank you. You really are so kind. I sort of don't know what else to say.

Hehe. I'm sure anyone else would do the same.

(That took longer than I was hoping...)

(I don't have time to study this morning, so that'll have to wait until the latter part of lunch. Maybe during the break too...)

Mafuyu, this first-year girl who says she's in the archery club is here to see you.

Oh, okay. I'll be right there.

Is something the matter...?

A-Asahina!

I was taking inventory of all our equipment just now and discovered that we're missing a bow...!

One's missing? That can't be right. Did you make sure to check elsewhere...?

I did! I even counted several times just to make sure, but I kept falling short by one...

I see...

Someone may have taken it home to practice with and simply forgot to bring it back.

I'll check the gym later to see if it's lost in storage somewhere. Would you mind telling the teachers in the meantime?

Yes, of course! Thank you so much!

...

There goes my lunch break...

Finally, club activities are done...

(Next is... Cram school.

I scrounged up some time during break to read up on today's subject...)

*Sigh*

(And I think my headache is starting to get worse...)

(I'm running late for cram school...

But this bench... I could rest here for a...)

Huh...?

Everything's going blurry...

...!

(Dad seemed like he was doing pretty well today.)

(Maybe I'll bring some of his favorite snacks and have them with him next time since the doctor said that we could.)

Hm...?

That person lying down on that bench...

Oh no...! M-Mafuyu!

Mafuyu, what happened?!

Are you okay...?!

*Groan*

Wait, that's right.

You caught a cold and...!

Mafuyu, can you hear me?

Ka... Nade...?

Your forehead's on fire...

Mafuyu, can you tell me where you live? We need to let your parents know so that they can come and pick you up.

My mom...

She isn't... Home...

I see...

(What do I do...?)

(There's no way she can give me directions in her current state... And I can't just leave her here...)

...

(Wait, my house is much closer...!)

Mafuyu, can you stand?

Here, sling your arm over my shoulder and try to hang on.