Sakura woke to the incessant ringing of her alarm clock. Still half-asleep, she stuck her hand out and blindly slapped at her bedside table until she hit the button and the blaring noise stopped. After a few moments of blissful silence, she turned over and squinted at the glowing digital numbers of the clock, gasping as she realized what time it was. She threw off the covers and stumbled into the bathroom. How could I have slept though my alarm? she thought helplessly as she pulled on her wrinkled school uniform (she hadn't bothered to hang it up last night). A sudden wave of dizziness forced her to grab onto the counter, and she fought to remain upright.
After a few seconds and deep breaths, the vertigo passed, and Sakura looked up into the bathroom mirror. Her own tired and drawn reflection stared back at her, eyes shadowy and sunken. She had been so busy lately trying to balance schoolwork with helping Nozaki, and the late nights were beginning to take their toll: she was absolutely exhausted. For the past couple of days she had been feeling run down, but ignored it, hoping her symptoms would go away on their own. She was paying for her negligence now, and knew from experience that by tomorrow, she would definitely be down for the count. But she could hold out one more day, couldn't she? Her math test was today, and the teacher never allowed retakes. "I can do this," she told herself, but her hoarse voice was barely above a whisper, and not very convincing. "I have to do this," she tried. She couldn't afford to miss this test. The thought of failing math strengthened her resolve, and ten minutes later she was ready to leave. After deciding to skip breakfast—she didn't feel very hungry—Sakura shoved her books into her school bag, hoisted it onto her shoulder, and walked out the door. She would make it through this day if it killed her.
By midday, Sakura was seriously regretting that bold declaration. She'd managed to get through her math test, but continued to feel worse as the day progressed. Now, in history class, she was absolutely miserable. A steady pounding had taken up residence inside her head, and the painfully bright classroom lights were not helping in the slightest. The room was hot, almost unbearably so; she laid her cheek on the cool surface of the desk and closed her eyes, trying to block everything out.
A few minutes later the lunch bell rang, and the cacophonic grating of twenty-five chairs against floor filled the room. Sakura kept her head down as the other students filed out, chattering and laughing. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, Sakura, aren't you coming to lunch?" It was Seo.
Sakura lifted her head and mustered up a weak smile. "No, I don't think so. I'm not that hungry."
Seo shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her brow furrowing. "Are you okay? You look a little…"
Sakura nodded. "Just tired." That seemed to satisfy Seo; she flashed Sakura a peace sign and a smile, then sauntered out of the room.
Sakura sighed in relief. Seo had never been very observant, and for that, right now, she was grateful. She lowered her head back onto the desk and willed her pounding headache to go away.
After two more grueling classes, the school day was finally over. Sakura stood up slowly, slipping books into her bag with shaking hands. She couldn't seem to hold them steady. Another wave of dizziness hit and she braced herself against the edge of the desk, closing her eyes. She felt strange. Probably a fever, she thought distantly. A sea of people was flooding out of the open classroom doorway; she floated through the crowd out into the hall. As she walked along, keeping one hand on the wall in case of another dizzy spell, she heard a familiar voice. She realized it was calling to her.
"…Sakura, Sakura, wait up!" Kashima's worried face appeared in front of her. "Are you okay? You look like you're about to fall over!"
It took Sakura a minute to register the question. She blinked. "I'm fine." Her voice was hoarse, and she coughed softly into her arm. Everything was hazy.
Kashima did not look convinced. "Are you sure? You're really pale…here, let me take you to the nurse's—"
"Kashima-kun, I'm fine. I just—I just need to go home and get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." Sakura pushed gently past Kashima and continued down the hallway.
"But—Sakura, wait, you can't walk home in this storm, you'll freeze!" Kashima's desperate cries faded into the background, vague and unintelligible. Sakura pushed open the door and stepped out into the heavy rain.