As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"Tea... Teacher Kato! Help!" 

Himari had just walked past Class 3-5 when an urgent voice calling for her. She immediately turned around, looking at two boys running at her. Both of them looked worried.

"You guys... What's wrong?" She asked on an impulse.

Himari taught English for Class 3-5 as well so she was familiar with these two boys. 

"Teacher, Akko... Akko is sick!" One of the boys said anxiously. He grabbed one of Himari's hands, pulling her with him, "She's vomiting! Teacher! Help!"

Himari didn't dare to delay as she heard the situation. She ran inside Class 3-5.

This time period was a self-study session thus, the academic building would be left alone to the students. It was just another hour before school ended. Himari was here because she forgot to take her book when she had a lesson with the students of Class 3-3 this morning.

"Akko! Are you okay? What happens?"

Himari was surprised to see the girl named Akko crouching on the floor with both of her hands pressing her stomach. Her little face was twisted in pain. Beads of cold sweat dotted on her round forehead. 

There were a few hazy puddles on the floor, coming from the girl's mouth. One of the other girls was rubbing Akko's back while the others wore the same expressions as the two boys. 

"Hurts... It hurts... Teacher, am I dying?"

Akko cried while she continued vomiting. Even when she was in a dire situation, she kept holding tightly to one of Himari's shirt sleeves. 

"Hush... Don't worry. You'll be fine," Himari tried her best to soothe the girl. She looked at Akko's friend, "Since when Akko's in pain?"

"Just a moment ago..." The girl answered in a shaky voice, "Akko vomits... until now and she said her stomach hurts..."

This situation was an urgent one. Without delaying, Himari called the sick bay, trying to reach the school doctor. She also gave orders to the boys to go and get their homeroom teacher. Within ten minutes, the school doctor and Teacher Maekawa came running.

"Teacher Kato! What's happening?"

Himari let the school doctor assessed Akko. The little girl was still writhing in pain even after a long time. In the end, the school doctor advised them to immediately bring Akko to the hospital.

"We should go now," The school doctor urged Teacher Maekawa, "Let's use my car."

"Yes!" 

Teacher Maekawa carefully lifted up Akko in his arms. The girl's feeble body sank as the male teacher brought her up from the floor. But, before he could walk away, Teacher Maekawa sensed resistance coming from the little girl.

When his eyes caught what was happening, he saw Himari's helpless look.

Akko was still holding to Himari's sleeve. In a painful and quiet voice, she pleaded, "Teacher Kato... Follow us?"

Himari stared at the small hand that was gripping her sleeve. Her mind was troubled as she thought her presence would just hinder the school doctor and Teacher Maekawa from bringing the little girl to the hospital.

"Yes, Teacher Kato. Both of us are males. It's better if you come along," Teacher Maekawa immediately agreed with his student.

"...Okay, I'll come along."

Himari went along without thinking anymore. She pushed the useless thoughts away.

She would just waste their time if she didn't agree. Akko needed emergency treatment. 

Thus, the four of them rushed to the hospital in the school doctor's car. Akko sat in the backseat with Himari. The girl continued whimpering. She had stopped vomiting but her face was still deathly pale. Himari gently tried to calm Akko as the little girl cried nonstop.

"Teacher... Sorry... Your shirt got dirty... Sobs..."

Some of her vomit earlier stained the English teacher's shirt. Akko felt both distressed and embarrassed at the same time because, even though she felt that, she didn't want Teacher Kato to leave her alone with Teacher Maekawa and the school doctor.

Having a female teacher helped to reassure her. 

"It's alright. How are you feeling now? Are you still as sick as before? Do you only feel pain in your stomach?"

Akko was usually a bright and bubbly child. Whenever there was an opportunity, this girl would participate in question-answer sessions in class. But, right now, she appeared so pale and weak.

"Hurst... It hurts so much..."

Soon, the car arrived at the hospital. The school doctor and Teacher Maekawa rushed Akko inside while Himari followed from behind. While waiting for Akko to be examined, Teacher Maekawa called her parents. It was necessary to inform the student's guardians regarding this urgent matter.

"Teacher Kato, you should go wash your shirt a bit," said Teacher Maekawa after making the call, "I don't think they would be finished soon."

He glanced at the partition where the school doctor accompanied Akko. The attending doctor was his friend thus, smoothening the process.

Both Himari and Teacher Maekawa didn't wait near them because the school doctor asked them not to. It was better to leave everything regarding treatment to him.

Himari looked down at her shirt. A few faint stains of Akko's vomit blemished the fabric. She nodded quietly, "Then, I'd go to the restroom first."

Seeing that Akko indeed won't come out in the nearest time, Himari left the waiting area. Her feet brought her to the restroom on the same floor. 

There was no one inside. Himari walked to the farthest sink and began to wash the stains away. 

"Hurm, I just bring my phone along," Himari murmured quietly as she looked at her phone that was placed on the countertop.

Her bag and other things were still left at the teachers' office. She only had her phone with her.

Himari shook her head. She grabbed a few tissues from the wall and began to dap on the wet patches of her shirt.

This happened too suddenly. Although they still didn't know what make Akko so sick like that, Himari heard the school doctor suspecting the girl suffered from gastroenteritis.

It was fortunate because Akko wasn't alone by herself when she got sick. If not, the situation might worsen. 

LINE~

Himari's ears perked up. She dried her hands properly before taking back the phone. The corners of her lips raised up slightly.

[Kazuya: Wanna go home together?]

[Kazuya: I could pick you up along with the children]

Himari glanced at the time. In another thirty minutes, the school hours would end. Kazuya must be so free right now that he was able to pick the siblings up from school right on time.

[Himari: I'm not at school]

[Himari: At the hospital now. A student got sick]

While Himari walked out of the restroom, a piece of music rang melodiously in the air, telling her that she received a call. Without a doubt, it was Kazuya.

"At the hospital? Which one? Do you want me to pick you up there?" Kazuya immediately asked.

"I'm at East City Hospital. About that, I'm still waiting for the student's parents to come..."

"The East City Hospital?"

Himari blinked. She unconsciously nodded, "En. Why?"

It might just be her imagination but, Himari thought Kazuya sounded off when he repeated the hospital name after her.

"En, nothing. Are you alone there?"

"No. I'm with..."

Himari returned to where Teacher Maekawa was waiting after ending the call. The school doctor stood next to the language teacher at Akko's bedside. Both of them shifted their attention to Himari who was approaching them with her phone at hand.

"How's Akko?" Her eyes drifted to the partition where Akko was treated. 

On the hospital bed, Akko was sleeping. Her face was still pale but, she looked better than before. Himari's heart was relieved to see the girl's current state. 

"She's given a drip," answered the school doctor, "It's gastroenteritis. The student has to be monitored at home for 48 hours."

"That's good. She really to rest well," responded Himari with a smile.

"Teacher Kato, you should go home now. Akko's parents are on their way here. We shouldn't delay you," Teacher Maekawa's eyes fell on the wristwatch, "It's already past the school hour."

Since Akko was from his class, Teacher Maekawa was responsible to meet the parents. Teacher Kato was only here because Akko didn't want to separate from her earlier. He shouldn't ask her to stay and meet the parents as well.

"Is everything alright if I left? Akko's still sleeping," Himari frowned even though she understood Teacher Maekawa's meaning.

The male teacher smiled then replied in a reassuring tone, "All is fine. We're just wasting your time if you continue being here. You should attend to your already planned schedule if there's any."

Himari thought for a while then nodded, "If that's really okay, I'd leave now."

"Yes. You may. Ah, but you didn't bring your bag with you, right? You can use my money to book a cab. I had my wallet with me."

Teacher Maekawa and the school doctor had to stay until Akko's parents came. Himari also didn't want to disturb them by sending her back to school.

"It's okay. I have money in my digital wallet," Himari smiled while waving her phone.

After seeing that Akko was indeed fine, Himari left the two men and walked out to the hallway. She sent a text to Kazuya, asking if he could still pick her up.

Earlier, the man said if she wanted, he could wait until her matters at the hospital finished. 

[Kazuya: Wait in the lobby. Will call you once I arrive]

Himari sent an OK sticker. She turned to the intersection at the right, wanting to go down to the lobby.

"...!"

"I'm sorry!"

In the next second, Himari bumped into someone who was rushing from the other side. A leather bag fell from that someone, spilling its contents on the floor.

"Ah! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"

"It's okay... Don't worry."

Himari crouched down and began to help to gather the items. 

A small leather-bound book, a pen, lipstick, hand mirror...

These were all a woman's belongings.

Himari lifted up her eyes, finally looking directly at the woman she bumped earlier.

Right at the moment that she came face to face with the woman, her eyes gradually widened as a sense of familiarity struck her.

"...Madam?"

Her mouth gaped open.