The world spins at an incredible speed.
The impact hitting my entire body no longer registers as pain.
Somewhere in the distance, a calm part of me watched Sakasegawa-san groaning in my arms.
Thirty steps on a pedestrian bridge might be fine for climbing normally, but it’s too long for rolling down.
I don’t know if there’s an optimal length for rolling down, but thirty steps was definitely too long.
So when we were violently slammed into the ground, instead of worrying about whether my bones were broken, I was thinking about whether we could legislate a limit on the number of steps in stairs.
If I ever become Prime Minister, I’ll propose that law.
Not that the Prime Minister or the Cabinet has legislative power, but it’s said to have a high chance of passing.
「Ouch…」
I might have screamed if I wasn’t thinking about such trivial things.
I return a weak smile to Sakasegawa-san, who looks at me worriedly and asks, “Are you okay!?” while shaking me.
「I’m fine, I’m fine. Actually, I’ve been practicing to be a stuntman.」
「…Really?」
「It’s a like, though.」
「That’s not good!」
“Please don’t die!” she cries.
Somehow I lost my strength and let out a deep breath from my belly.
My ribs probably aren’t broken, but my side hurts.
「Alright.」
I scold my trembling legs and stand up.
I hold out my hand to Sakasegawa-san, who seems to have rushed over reflexively,
「I’m really fine.」
「Is that another lie?」
「This time it’s true.」
I brush off the dirt from my clothes.
I forgot to mention, but of course I’m not in my uniform either, but in the “decent-looking clothes” I bought for my outing with Yuna.
So it would be troublesome if I couldn’t wear them soon after buying them.
I feel sorry for Sakasegawa-san, who offers her hand worriedly, but since she’s a mud dauber wasp, her legs are naturally thin, and I feel like if I put my weight on her when I can’t even stand properly, they’d break immediately.
So I refuse with just a gesture and straighten my back.
A sharp light ran from my spine to my head.
But it doesn’t feel like a fracture.
「…Um, at least let me accompany you home.」
Or should we go to the hospital first?
Despite her insect face that doesn’t show emotions, she seems more flustered than any human.
「I’m fine, I’m fine.」
「That’s definitely a lie, right?」
「It’s true.」
「But you fell down the stairs. And while holding me.」
「Sakasegawa-san is really light.」
I mean it.
Without any exaggeration.
Her body didn’t have as much mass as it looked.
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It seems that insects naturally have a low specific gravity.
Probably, whether I had fallen alone or with Sakasegawa-san, the result would have been the same.
「──Ahh, geez! Then at least let me lend you my shoulder.」
「…If it’s just that.」
There’s no worry of it breaking.
This time, I gratefully accepted her offer.
Sadly, I’ve gotten used to monsters since becoming a high school student.
Even as I received help from a mud dauber wasp, I didn’t feel much fear.
Even though I knew it was normal for a human to feel it.
「…Adashino-kun.」
「Nn.」
「Thank you.」
She didn’t give a detailed explanation, but I could guess what she wanted to say from the flow of events.
When I glance at her, she embarrassedly trembles her antennae.
A strange temperature is transmitted from Sakasegawa-san’s skin──I hesitated whether to call it skin or exoskeleton──that I felt through her uniform, making it clear she’s not human, but not quite an insect either.
「You’re welcome?」
「Why is that a question?」
「Unn.」
Because I didn’t intend to be chivalrous, but I ended up being so.
My body just moved on its own when I saw her slip.
So even if she thanks me, it doesn’t quite hit the mark.
But objectively speaking, it’s true that I helped Sakasegawa-san, so I should just quietly accept her thanks.
As we walk arm in arm, perhaps causing misunderstandings among passersby, we continue on our way home, receiving warm looks.
She probably doesn’t like being this close to a guy she’s not that familiar with, but she didn’t complain, and even actively asked, “Are you okay?” “Please go to the hospital, okay?” while staying close.
I wish she’d stop because her insect-like cool and pleasant exoskeleton is touching my cheek. For some reason, it might become addictive.
Just as something precious in my heart was about to be destroyed in a terrifying way, I saw the house where I’ve spent just over fifteen years of my life.
Perhaps due to the life-threatening situation I had just been through, and the stress I hadn’t realized I was under, I seemed to be more exhausted than I thought.
All the strength suddenly drains from my body, and Sakasegawa-san, looking flustered, tightens her grip.
「Um, aren’t you actually not okay?」
「I’m okay.」
「You’re definitely not okay.」
Please go to the hospital! Even if you don’t have any symptoms, it’s common for bones to be broken without realizing it! She scolded me, but I nodded as if I were reflecting on my actions, using my well-honed skill of ignoring things.
In the end, she walked me to the front door, even carrying my belongings, and we parted ways.
「Thanks, Sakasegawa-san. I’ll definitely repay you for this.」
「Why am I the one being thanked? It should be the other way around.」
She smiled, still holding her heavy-looking eco-bag filled with blunt weapons in one hand, and waved her arm in the sunset.
「Then, You-kun! See you at school!」
「Yeah, see you.」
As I closed the door behind me, a question suddenly popped into my mind.
「…Did Sakasegawa-san call me by my name?」
Unn.
Well, whatever.