âRemember this part well, because Iâm going to put it on the next test. Andââ\n\n
World history class. The young teacher continued to explain in an unhurried manner.\n
It was past ten in the morning. Because the guy sitting behind me made an early lunch, there was a faint smell of food in the air. I think it was pork cutlet, as far as I could catch a quick glimpse.\n\n
âThe important thing about the humiliation of Canossa is that the Pope was that powerful, far more powerful than the Holy Roman Emperor. Thatâs how it happened in the first placeââ\n\n
Even as I scribbled down the words carefully written on the board in my notebook, I couldnât concentrate much on the lesson.\n
The reason was simple.\n
The seat at the back of the class. There was no one there with a unique presence.\n
Shiroyama-sensei informed the class that Enami-san was absent. When asked to elaborate, it seemed that she had caught a cold. I think she caught it from Mother Enami.\n
I felt like it had been a long time since I had been in a classroom without Enami-san.\n
Since that day when she became serious, she hadnât been late or absent even once. She never dozed off in class and became a model student.\n
The number of students who talked to Enami-san increased little by little. Since there was no change in her true nature, they were eventually treated coldly, but her attitude had softened compared to before.\n\n
âSo, just as Mother Enami was not recovering from her illness, it was also becoming easier for Enami-san to catch a cold.\n\n
A feeling of worry began to grow inside me.\n\n
As I finished my lunch, Nishikawa spoke to me.\n\n
âHey, Naocchi. About Risa-chanâŠâ.\n\n
I checked behind me, but Saito was out of his seat. There was a little distance between me and Shindo, so if I whispered, he wouldnât hear me.\n\n
âA common cold, huhâ\n
âI was so surprised!â\n\n
Nishikawa may have been trying to keep her voice down, but the volume of her voice was so loud that the students nearby could hear her. I didnât want to be overheard, so I put my index finger over my mouth. That was all Nishikawa needed to know.\n\n
âHave you heard any news from Enami-san, Nishikawa?ăAt least I havenât received any.â\n
âI havenât gotten any either. Risa-chan is not the type of person who is always in touch with people.â\n
âThatâs true.â\n\n
What I was wondering about was how to clean the Enami house. I didnât even know when Enami-san would return to the class.\n\n
âWhat are you going to do?â\n
âHmmm. As for me, Iâm going to Risa-chanâs house again todayâŠâ\n
âVisiting the sick?â\n
â Well, the cleaning routine is there, and Iâm worried about Risa-chan as well. What about Naocchi?â\n
âIf thatâs the case, Iâll go with you.â\n\n
I donât think it would be great for her to be sick alone with her mother. No one can take care of her, and it might be difficult for her to even rest.\n\n
âAh, youâre so kind, Naocchi.â\n
âItâs normal, isnât it? Naturally.â\n
âThen, letâs go together after school.â\n
âNishikawa, whatâs your club activity?â\n
âNo, itâs okay. Iâm not very strong in it and Iâm not very dedicated either. What about you, Naocchi?â\n
âSame.â\n\n
And thatâs how we decided to go visit her.\n\n
The apartment building where Enami-san lived was not auto-locked, so we were able to get inside easily.\n
We reached the fifth floor and pressed the intercom in front of the Enami familyâs apartment.\n
In our hands, we had sports drinks and snacks that we bought at the convenience store. There was no answer, but after a minute or so, we finally heard a voice.\n\n
ââŠWho is it?â\n\n
The voice was faint, but I recognized it immediately. There was no camera, so she didnât realize who it was.\n\n
âYaho~, Risa-chan!ăIâm here to visit you.â\n
â⊠Hold on a second.â\n\n
I heard footsteps, followed by the sound of a lock opening. Enami-san peeked out from behind the door. She seemed to have checked the door scope and confirmed my presence, and didnât seem surprised when she saw me.\n
It seemed true that she had caught a cold.\n
Her eyes were glazed over and she was breathing hard even through the mask. She was wearing a fever sheet on her forehead, just like Mother Enami had done yesterday, and she didnât even try to hide her unusually messy hair.\n\n
â⊠Looks like itâs more serious than we thought.â\n\n
Enami-san sighed at my words.\n\n
âIt sucks. Iâm probably in worse shape than my mom. I mean, you shouldnât even get too close to me.â\n\n
Apparently, she wasnât going to let us into her house. But there was no way we were going to turn back now.\n\n
âWell, well, Risa-chan. We bought a lot of things, and Naocchi said he was worried about Risa-chan, soâŠâ\n
âWhat?â\n\n
Although Iâm worried, itâs not like I couldnât help visiting or anything. Enami-san is also giving me a suspicious look.\n\n
âIâm fine, just go home.â\n
âYou know what, Risa-chan?â\n\n
Nishikawa exaggeratedly shook her head.\n\n
â Seriously. Risa-chan, you canât do anything by yourself. Thatâs the way it is. Donât you think you should just be honest and let yourself be indulged here?â\n
âI can do it. I bought some food at the convenience store and took some medicine that we have at home.â\n
âAre you sure?ăBesides, this kind of thing is a matter of feelings, isnât it? Weâve come all this way, so please be considerate of our feelings.â\n
â⊠sycophants.â\n\n
Thatâs all Enami-san said and opened the door wide. I was relieved that she had agreed to accept the persuasion. Considering her personality, it was quite possible that we would be turned away.\n
Nishikawa and I went straight into Enami-sanâs house.\n\n