Chapter 12 | May 11th (1:00 PM)

(Dormitory Manager’s Room) (The President’s Turn)

So, to cut to the chase.

My cold, as declared, was cured in just one day.

Well, I must say, I’m pretty impressed with myself. Sure, it was a mild cold, and I haven’t completely eradicated the virus—my body still feels heavy here and there, and I’m still lying down under the covers. But the fever has mostly subsided, and the swelling in my throat has almost completely gone down.

Ah, truly, “illness stems from the mind.” I’m endlessly grateful to everyone who nursed me back to health and to those who gave me the willpower to recover.

“Totally. You’ve got one heck of a body there, Akito-kun,”

said the President, who had come to visit me, laughing heartily.

“The doctor said you’d need three to four days of rest. Maybe he was a quack? I thought I picked a reputable one around here.”

“Well, being sturdy is my only redeeming quality.”

“No, no. No matter how sturdy you are, recovering from being completely bedridden in just a day or so isn’t normal. Unless… are you some kind of genius at faking illnesses? Can you just swell your tonsils or raise your temperature at will?”

“I don’t have that kind of skill.”

Only ninjas from Yamada Fūtarō’s novels could pull off something like that.

“Well, anyway, I’m glad. I feel somewhat responsible for this whole thing, so I’m relieved it didn’t turn into something serious.”

“What are you talking about? Like I said before, I collapsed because of my own poor health management. It’s not your fault, President.”

“That’s your perspective, but mine’s different. I’ll settle this matter in my own way soon, so bear with me.”

The President remained firm, refusing to back down.

She’s surprisingly stubborn and single-minded.

“By the way, Himenokōji Akito-kun. How are we settling the verdict?”

“? What verdict?”

“Who among those who nursed you will be the MVP?”

Ah.

Right, that was a thing. I’d completely forgotten.

“It’s not like it’s a competition, but I brought it up to cool down those three who got so heated. Still, it’s good to have closure. They’d feel better with a clear outcome.”

“Well, maybe. But… I’m the one deciding?”

“Who else would?”

“Well, like… you, President?”

“Don’t be stupid. I’m not in a position to make that call. Besides, they’d want you to decide more than anyone.”

“Well, maybe…”

“For them, this is a matter of pride. Be a man and make a clear decision. Your own biased judgment is fine.”

Reluctantly, I started thinking.

Nasuhara-san’s nursing… well, it wasn’t exactly nursing, but her intentions came through clearly. Her usual comedy routine was her clumsy way of showing she cared, and honestly, having her by my side, just being herself, was a huge comfort.

Ginbei’s nursing… it was like a full-course meal. She went all out with every possible nutrient and folk remedy. Whether it worked or not, her care was thorough. I was even surprised when she slept beside me, but it reminded me of the strong bond we share. She contributed to my recovery in every way.

And Akiko’s nursing… in a way, it was the strongest. She understood exactly what I needed, and her care reminded me that we’re family. She even dropped her usual act and embraced me like a bodhisattva or Kannon. It was a full-hearted performance.

All of it was incredibly precious to me.

Ranking them feels presumptuous.

Choosing one would cause friction… but honestly, it’s a tie. A 0-0 score, a draw, is the fairest conclusion. If I had to decide, it’d be like a soccer penalty shootout…

“Alright. I’ll decide.”

“Go ahead.”

“Just one thing. It’s okay if it’s entirely my biased judgment, right?”

“Of course. You’re the sole judge. It’s not like figure skating with a scoring system. You decide based on your own responsibility. That’s fine.”

“Understood. Then here’s my conclusion.”

I wasn’t hesitating, but I took a breath.

And as instructed, I made my biased decision.

“The MVP this time is you, President.”

“…Huh?”

“You, President. Nikaidō Arashi, you’re the champion, the winner of the grand prize. Congratulations.”

“No, no. What are you talking about?”

She looked at me, dumbfounded, then sighed.

“Were you even listening? I said to pick whoever nursed you the best.”

“Yes. That’s why I picked you.”

“…No, listen. The ones who nursed you were the blonde, the silver-haired, and the black-haired girls, right? I didn’t give you any medicine or food. I didn’t even put a wet towel on your forehead or take your temperature. Sure, I picked the doctor and brought him here, but…”

“Doing nothing is also a form of nursing.”

I explained with a smile.

“Sure, it was my fault for collapsing out of nowhere. But it was just a cold, right? The doctor said so, and it’s mostly gone in a day. Having three people fussing over me like I’m some kind of prince was a bit much.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“And this might sound harsh, but while I’m grateful for their concern and care—it felt a bit excessive for just a cold.”

There’s a term called “praising to death,” but maybe there should be one called “nursing to death.”

Even if they told me to ask for anything, I couldn’t act like a king. Their care was genuinely appreciated, but for something that would’ve healed on its own, it felt like using a katana to cut paper.

“You thought the same, right, President? That’s why you deliberately did nothing. You avoided creating a situation where all four of you would crowd around me, right?”

“Well… yeah.”

“At the very least, you were the most considerate of me from the start. You were the most level-headed in judging the situation. So—while I’m grateful for Nasuhara-san, Ginbei, and Akiko’s care—separately, you were the shadow MVP. That’s undeniable.”

I smiled at the red-haired trickster.

“So please accept this honor. Nikaidō Arashi-san, you’re the winner this time. Congratulations.”

“…Good grief.”

Rubbing her chin with a bitter expression, the President sighed.

“Having a perceptive subordinate is a double-edged sword. There’s a saying, ‘ignorance is bliss,’ you know.”

“Well, sorry about that.”

“Fine. Officially, let’s call it a no-contest draw. If they complain, you handle it. Deal?”

“Understood.”

As expected of the President, she knows how to smooth things over. She understands how to give her subordinates the spotlight—a crucial skill for a leader.

“…Hey, Himenokōji Akito-kun.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“What’s with that grin? It’s creeping me out. What’s so funny?”

“Oh, nothing. I just thought your face when you realized your secret was out was kinda cute.”

“Don’t get cocky. I’ll eat you alive, even if you’re still recovering.”

After bluffing, she waved her hands as if to say, “This topic is over.” Her slightly red face wasn’t from a fever or cold. She’s surprisingly weak in these situations.

“Well, I don’t consider this debt repaid.”

As I basked in my rare upper hand, the President suddenly said that.

“Debt? What do you mean?”

“My responsibility for neglecting your health. I can’t just let this slide.”

“No, no. What are you talking about?”

Half-dumbfounded, I replied,

“I caught a cold because of my own actions, no one else’s. Sure, I’ve been swamped with work lately, but that’s no excuse. You don’t need to feel responsible.”

“That’s your personal matter. As your superior, I have a duty to fulfill.”

The President, with her unexpectedly strong sense of responsibility, insisted.

“To prevent this from happening again, I need to review the student council and dormitory management. That’s how I’ll settle this.”

“Well, if that’s the case, fine… but how will you do that?”

“By adding more people.”

Her answer was simple and clear.

“Specifically, as we’ve discussed before, we’ll bring in a new dorm manager. This incident happened because I ended up dumping too much work on you. The quickest solution is to follow through with our plan to hire a new dorm manager and have them share your workload. That’s how I’ll settle this.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

A new dorm manager was exactly what I needed, given how busy I’d been lately.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already got someone amazing in mind. Negotiations might be tough, but… no worries. I’ll bring in the most capable manager, on my honor as Nikaidō Arashi.”

Her thumbs-up was more convincing than any contract. For me, still not fully recovered, her promise was incredibly reassuring.

◆

…And so,

the incident of me falling ill for the first time in years came to a close like this.

As expected, the participants of the nursing battle protested fiercely about the lack of a clear winner, and calming them down was another ordeal—but that’s a story for another time.