Unique highschool life

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Chapter 76.

Words counted-- 1700

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Aki sat on the edge of his bed, scrolling through the CCTV footage from his room.

It wasn't out of paranoia or perversion; it was simply a precautionary measure.

Sharing his body with Mitsuha, who recently possessed him, came with its own set of challenges. He didn't trust her to resist meddling with his body—or worse, doing something reckless that might impact his daily life.

As the footage rolled, he let out a sigh of relief. "Phew, that girl is surprisingly obedient," he murmured, watching Mitsuha, in his form, simply amble around the confined space, touching books and examining objects with mild curiosity.

Leaning back, Aki stared at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting. "The meteoroid…" he muttered. "It'll appear on the horizon in about a month. That disaster… How do I even begin to explain this to her? The past and the future hah. And what's worse… she doesn't know we're three years apart in time."

Aki eventually stood up and got ready for the day. He showered, dressed, and waited for Kamiya.

The school day passed uneventfully, or so Aki thought. During the last period, he was called to the teacher's office by Hina Tachibana, his homeroom teacher.

He knocked lightly before entering. "Sensei, do you need anything?" he asked. Looking at Hina Tachibana, his cute but strict teacher aki smile.

Hina crossed her arms, her expression stern. "Shijo-kun, do you know what yesterday was?"

Aki tilted his head innocently, although he already had an inkling of where this was going. "Uh… yesterday?"

"Your exam, Aki. The one you conveniently skipped," she scolded, her tone sharp.

Feigning surprise, Aki quickly replied, "Ah, I was sick, Sensei. Really sick."

Hina raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Sick? Then why didn't you call to inform us or apply for leave?"

"Sensei, I was so sick I could barely move. How could I call?" he pouted, trying to sound pitiful.

Hina sighed, rubbing her temples. "Fine. If you couldn't call, why didn't your guardian or parents inform me? This is basic responsibility, Shijo-kun."

Aki's expression darkened slightly. "I live alone, Sensei," he said curtly, trying to end the conversation before his web of lies unraveled further.

The words struck a chord with Hina. Her stern demeanor softened as she gazed at him. "Alone? Are you serious?"

"Yeah, so… sorry about the trouble. It won't happen again," Aki replied hastily, already halfway out the door.

As he left, Hina stared after him, a mix of concern and skepticism in her eyes. "Living alone? Should I visit to confirm? If it's true, I need to talk to his parents. And if he's lying… I need to punish him for making me worry," she muttered to herself.

After school, Aki headed to the hospital, intending to visit Yuki, a young girl he had grown fond of during her stay.

"What? She got discharged? When did that happen?" Aki asked, his voice tinged with surprise and a hint of frustration as he leaned slightly over the desk.

"Sir, it was yesterday," Yuki's personal doctor replied, looking up from his clipboard. "I don't have much information beyond that, but her mother came to pick her up."

Aki let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping as the news sank in. "Yesterday? And no one thought to let me know?" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.

"I apologize if there was any oversight," the doctor said, sensing Aki's disappointment. "But I assure you, she was in good spirits and healthy enough to leave."

"Well, that's good to hear, at least," Aki replied, though his voice betrayed a lingering sense of regret. "I was hoping to see her off… Guess I missed my chance."

The doctor offered a sympathetic smile. "She spoke highly of you during her stay. I'm sure your presence made a difference for her."

Turning on his heel, Aki headed toward the private wards, looking for another familiar face. "Where's Amamiya-sensei?" he asked a passing nurse, referring to Dr. Amamiya, who he knew had reincarnated as Aqua Hoshino in another life.

The nurse smiled politely. "He should be with his patient in private room number 4, Sarina Tendoji."

"Thanks," Aki said, making his way down the corridor.

Knocking lightly, he called out, "Sensei, it's me, Aki Shijo."

A voice responded from inside. "Come in."

As Aki opened the door, he froze. Dr. Amamiya sat beside a frail girl on the hospital bed, Sarina, who was hooked up to various tubes and machines. Her fragile frame seemed to sink into the bed, and her pale skin almost glowed under the fluorescent lights.

Sensei… has her condition gotten serious?" Aki asked hesitantly, his eyes fixed on the frail figure of Sarina lying on the hospital bed.

Dr. Amamiya, who had been jotting notes on a clipboard, sighed heavily. He placed the clipboard on the bedside table and walked over to Aki, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Let's talk outside," he said softly, avoiding the question for the moment.

Aki swallowed hard and nodded. Without another word, he followed Shinomiya out of the room, glancing one last time at Sarina, whose chest rose and fell rhythmically, though each breath seemed to require a tremendous effort.

As they walked down the corridor, the air seemed heavier, the sterile white walls of the hospital amplifying the tension. Amamiya led Aki to the hospital cafeteria—a clean, minimalistic space that smelled faintly of brewed coffee and disinfectant.

The cafeteria wasn't crowded, just a few patients and staff quietly eating. The counters were lined with food options that catered to health-conscious diets: low-calorie meals, oil-free snacks, minimal-sugar desserts, and juices made from organic fruits and vegetables.

"Here," Shinomiya said, handing Aki a chilled can of juice from a vending machine before sitting down at one of the metal tables.

Seating down Shinomiya began,"Sarina's condition has taken a turn for the worse," his voice heavy. "She has, at most, three to four months left."

The words hit Aki like a punch to the gut. "But… didn't you say she might have two years minimum?"

"She's developed glioblastoma—grade IV," Shinomiya explained, his tone laced with regret. "It's the most aggressive form of brain tumor. At this stage, her prognosis isn't good. Even with the best treatments available, she has, at most, three to four months left."

"Grade IV?" Aki muttered, a confused look crossing his face. He had some knowledge about tumors—AA was a grade III astrocytoma, already classified as a high-grade malignant tumor. He knew that anaplastic astrocytomas often progressed to glioblastoma (GBM), which was grade IV. GBM was notorious for being the most aggressive and deadliest primary brain tumor in adults.

He began piecing together the implications of such a diagnosis.

"Median survival for AA can range from 22% to 50% over five years, depending on factors like the patient's age, tumor location, and genetics," Aki recited, thinking aloud. "And the treatments for recurrent AA are limited. But GBM… average survival time is only 12–18 months. Five years? Only 6.9% of patients survive that long, even with advanced technology."

Aki shook his head, frustration evident in his voice as he continued, "Isn't that way too short?"

Shinomiya nodded solemnly. "It is. Her physique and weak immune system don't help. That's why we're monitoring her so closely—for tumor recurrence and progression. We've recommended additional therapies, but the outlook… well, you know how it is."

Both of them sat in silence for a while, letting the grim reality sink in.

Eventually, Aki spoke up, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "Sensei, have you ever heard of a girl named Sakura Yamauchi?"

Shinomiya tilted his head, trying to recall. "Hmm… I don't remember any patient with that name. Can you give me more details?"

"Well, I'm not sure if she's admitted to this hospital," Aki started, thinking back to that particular encounter. "But she should be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She's around my age. Slim build, medium height. Her condition should be pretty advanced by now."

At that, Shinomiya seemed to connect the dots. "Ah, I think I've heard about her. One of my colleagues mentioned a patient with pancreatic cancer. Poor girl… Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates among all cancers—worse than even AA."

Aki leaned back in his chair, letting out a dry laugh. "Haaah… Does this hospital specialize in tragedy or something? One sad story after another."

Shinomiya chuckled along, albeit lightly. "You know, Shijo-kun, you have a strange way of lightening the mood."

"Hmm, what can I say?" Aki shrugged. "I guess I'm just gifted like that."

Their brief laughter faded into another moment of quiet reflection. After some thought, Shinomiya suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Shijo-kun, weren't you interested in medical science at one point?"

"Yeah, I still am," Aki replied, glancing up at him.

"You've got a big heart for it," Shinomiya said with an approving smile as he stood up from the table, surprising Aki.

"Oi, oi! Don't give me a cliffhanger like that!" Aki protested, standing up as well. "And what's with the random compliment? Are you trying to embarrass me or something?"

Ignoring Aki's complaints, Shinomiya turned to leave.

"Sensei!" Aki called out after him.

"Hmm?" Shinomiya looked back over his shoulder.

"Make sure that girl—recovers her strength, even if it's just a little. Tell her she needs to work hard. If she wish -this summer… I'm taking her wherever she wants to go. To play, visit places, whatever she feels like. So, she needs to hang in there, okay?" Aki said, his tone matter-of-fact but earnest.

Shinomiya stood there for a moment, watching as Aki walked off, leaving him behind in the cafeteria. With a faint smile, he murmured to himself, "Shijo-kun really is a kind kid. I'll be sure to let her know. But… who's supposed to be the girl? The pancreas girl, or Sarina?"