Ah Spring, finally summer uniforms are coming into place. Shorter sleeves and more mobility, perfect. As I entered the classroom I was greeted by the normal people before heading to my desk. Looking up I noticed Emiria with a cardigan on. “You know today is the first day of spring uniforms?” I asked placing my bag onto the hook.

Emiria looked up at me from her book. “Oh, yeah,” She replied. “But I was still feeling a chill. Guess I'm not used to Japan’s weather yet.”

Her laugh was obviously fake as she went back to her book, trying to disengage from the conversation. As the class continued as normal, my eyes wandered over on occasion seeing Emiria fan herself with her book ever now and then. 10 billion percent sure, heat stroke is going to occur if she carries on. By fanning herself, she's moving her body more, causing more heat. Silly girl, what is she doing? Once class finished, she almost looked short of breath. She knew the weather would be warm, logically she’s hiding something underneath that cardigan. “You should really take that off,” I mentioned. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“Me?” She pointed to herself. “I’m fine really. Say, we should head to the lab in a bit, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah,” I murmured, getting an idea. We have gym today, Yuzuriha’s class is joining us today. I’ll ask her to see if she notices anything unusual about Emiria. “You better not collapse during today’s experiments. It’ll be too messy to clean up.”

“Got it Mr President,” She laughed again. That laugh, it’s so fake. I can’t stand it.

During lunch, she hid herself pretty well in the lab coat, changing swiftly from the cardigan to the coat without any of us noticing. Her cheeks still flushed throughout however due to the heat of the burners. I thought she was smarter than this. Am I wrong?

Gym came and went, Yuzuriha running over to me during break. “Senku,” She greeted me. She looked left and right, making sure no one else was about. “She didn’t participate.”

My eyes widened. “What?” I exclaimed. “How did she manage to get away with that?”

“Actually, it was the teacher who suggested it,” Yuzuriha sighed, holding onto her arm. “She saw how Emiria looked and made her go to the nurse.” Stupid girl, even the teacher has realised how she is. “I think she’s still at the nurse’s office, most likely cooling down.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Logic dictates I should leave her to it and allow her to rest, my illogical part of me, my gut, is telling me to go look out for her. Stupid illogical part of my body. “Tell the big oaf I’ll be going to the nurse’s office,” I said. “I’m going to make sure she’s okay.”

“Give her my best okay?” I nodded, walking off to the direction of the nurse’s office. My eyes perked up as I could hear something. Singing? Sounds like a lullaby.

‘A twinkle in the night sky, far far away, a gold star I gaze upon in my dream. On a sleepless evening I sing alone, tomorrow I’ll sing with you. On the wings of a dream.”

An English song? Right, English father. I didn’t bother to announce myself as I walked in only to stop seeing her stood at the bed, mid-change. We just stared at each other for a moment, her face going bright red and my eyes scanned her body, is that a mark. My thoughts came to an end as I felt something make impact with my head causing me to fly backwards. “You freaking pervert!” She screamed. “Learn to knock you stupid mad scientist!”

She turned around, finishing placing the shirt on, which corresponds with the spring uniform. There must have been spares here, never knew that was a thing. I jumped up, seeing she was about to place the cardigan back on. “You idiot!” I screamed grabbing her wrist. “Don’t put it back on, you’ll get heat stroke.”

“D-don’t look,” She started to whimper trying to cover her arm. I ignored her pulling her arm closer for inspection. It looked like a hand print and nail marks dug into her skin. What in the world? “Please let me go, Senku.”

She looked up, eyes pleading with me. I knew I shouldn’t have come. It’s clear she doesn’t want to tell me what’s happened so I sighed, letting her go and grabbing the nurse’s kit. Some antibiotic wipes and bandages. “Sit, holding your arm out,” She stared at me for a minute, anger in her eyes, mad that someone had seen her like this. After a minute her face gave up, she slumped on the bed holding her arm out. I sat next to her, using the wipes to clean the area and getting a better look while I could. The hand mark seems small, nothing a man would make. “I won’t tell anyone if you don’t want me to.” I assured her as I started to wrap her arm up. “We’ll just say you fell up the stairs. With how clumsy your ass is, it’s a believable story.”

Her head shot up, about to protest and then her face said it all. Just two days into the science club, she broke two beakers, accidently set her coat on fire week two and spilt acid just last week. I laughed, finishing up the bandage. “Thanks,” She muttered placing her bow around her neck and handing me the cardigan. “Sorry to have been a bother.”

I shrugged, “The only logical thing for me to do was to make sure you were alright. It meant I wouldn’t suffer any grief from the class and I wouldn’t be a member down in the science club. We just got more bodies and I don’t want to lose anyone helpful.”

“That sounds like a Senku thing to do,” She laughed lightly. “I feel bad for making Yuzuriha worry too.”

“Let’s head back to class,” She nodded, getting the rest of her belongings before we headed back to class. “Sorry we’re late,” I said as we made it back just before class started. Phew, no teacher in sight.

“Senku, Ria,” Taiju cried running over to us. Emiria jumped, hiding behind me a little bit. She’s shy now? Wait a minute, Ria? “We were worried you guys ran off.”

“Nope,” I said flicking the big oaf’s head. “I was just grabbing this idiot from the nurse’s office. Anyway, where did Ria come from?” 

“It was a name Yuzuriha came up with,” Taiju announced happily. “The name ‘Emiria’ is too long to say so we call her Ria as we have like two other Emis in school already.”

I looked back; a blush was on her face. I smirked; she’s embarrassed by the nickname. I’m so using this to my advantage. “Ah, Ria, maybe I should have that put onto your lab coat, kuku kuku.”

“Eh, please be quiet!”