Back to the area where Fuutarou, Takeda and Maeda were doing their part, the clock was finally beginning to show a time close to the end of the second day. Fuutarou hadn't noticed this until Takeda pointed it out.
Fuutarou:"It's almost time, huh?"
Takeda:"Oh, did you not notice the time flying by with us at your side?"
Takeda's sparkles came back full force with a grin while Maeda simply stood there, dumbfounded.
Maeda:[Would Uesugi think I'm crazy if I asked about those damn sparkles?]
Fuutarou:"Just shut up, Takeda."
Fuutarou turned to both of them.
Fuutarou:"Thank you for helping me."
Maeda:"So you can do it if you try."
Takeda:"Oh, I feel proud."
Fuutarou:"I can take it back if you want."
Takeda:"Nah, It was pretty good."
Maeda:"You could have spent less time with the Drama Club."
Takeda:"We spent quite a bit of time with the Sewing Club as well."
Fuutarou:"They had some extra stuff I needed to attend."
The three continued to talk for a little bit before Takeda stretched.
Takeda:"Well, perhaps we should get some rest."
Fuutarou:"We're not finished. There's plenty of work."
Takeda:"Eh?"
Takeda turned to stone as he heard that.
Fuutarou:"Most of our work right now was on the north end. But there's still the south side."
The Takeda stone had turned to ash by this point. But it reformed with his head on his hands.
Takeda:"We're really not done…? I really thought it was over, you even did the 'Thank you for helping me' line, you say that when it's over!"
Fuutarou:"That's a terrible impression of me."
Maeda:"But equally annoying."
Fuutarou:"Oi. In any case, Yotsuba basically had a bunch of random stuff on her plate, so we'll need to check in to see what to do."
Takeda:I-I don't know if I'll be able to go on..."
Fuutarou:"...Yeah. If you guys need to go, it's fine."
Maeda:"Sure, we're burned out, but we might as well finish."
Fuutarou:"Right." [Will we be able to do this?]
…
Fuutarou:"There's nothing to do?"
"Yeah, one of the sisters came earlier and took up all the work that was left. The student who signed her up isn't here and he had all the names. So I couldn't tell which one she was, sorry."
Fuutarou:"That's fine." [I guess Yotsuba got back up? In any case...I'm glad.]
…
Takeda:"That was a real relief!"
Maeda:"You sure tensed up despite talking a big game."
Takeda:"Even I have my limits. You should always know when you can't go on anymore. I'm directing that at you, Uesugi-san."
Fuutarou:"I know my limits, at least I think I do, but it's not like I had the luxury to stop when I wanted."
Maeda:"It's pretty scary having to break those limits out of necessity."
Fuutarou:"Hm...Oh, were they taken care of?"
Fuutarou pointed to a girl with a microphone with a boy holding a camera. It was Tsubaki of the Broadcast Club. Takeda looked at the list he was given.
Takeda:"Doesn't look like it."
Fuutarou:"I guess that happens when they never really stand in one place."
As the three approached them, Tsubaki turned and greeted them.
Tsubaki:"Takeda-san! Uesugi-san is also here and…Meade!"
Maeda:"Maeda."
Tsubaki:"R-Right. I'm sorry for getting it wrong."
Maeda:"Am I really that forgettable?"
Takeda:"Correct."
Maeda:"You wanna fight, punk?"
Fuutarou went through their check as he signed off on their safety. This was followed by Takeda approaching the camera.
Takeda:"It is simply a crime that the second day is almost done and not once have I been able to show myself to the camera."
Tsubaki:"W-Would you like to give a show for the camera?"
Takeda:"Of course! Just...don't broadcast it, please."
Tsubaki:"Oh, sure."
Takeda showed off his "acting" skills as Fuutarou and Maeda watched on with a very confused look on their faces.
Tsubaki:"Okay, that should be good!"
Takeda went over to see the result of his work.
Takeda:"I look wonderful."
Tsubaki:"Haha." [Those are some interesting movements.]
Takeda:"You're quite good as a reporter, you've really had a lot of practice."
Tsubaki:"Y-Yeah, we've really put our all into it these past two days."
Tsubaki took the camera and went through their work.
Tsubaki:"We really had a lot of fun. We went around asking a bunch of people about their experiences, and it was cool to see their reactions. Here was the Drama Club giving it their all to make an impression, here was the Band Club giving us a performance. Oh, these are from the first day. Here was the magic stall, this old guy really surprised us with his magic trick! Oh, this one was pretty scary. There was this really scary looking guy with a suit standing near the entrance!"
Fuutarou:[That sounds familiar, but that's probably just a coincidence.]
Tsubaki:"He was way too scary! He had these squinted eyes that pierced into your soul!"
Fuutarou:[There are plenty of people like that. Hell, I've been told I'm one of them.]
Tsubaki:"He did say he wanted to go inside...Oh, he gave me his business card! I believe he was a doctor…?"
Fuutarou:[Coincidences sure are crazy.]
Tsubaki:"It was in my wallet...Let's see, Doctor...Nakano!?"
Fuutarou:[It was him!]
Tsubaki:"I didn't even notice it was Ichika-san's dad, haha!"
Fuutarou:"Honestly…"
Maeda:"It's getting late. I should be going now, see ya."
Fuutarou:"Bye. As odd as that was, I should go to the nurse to make sure Yotsuba is out."
As Maeda and Fuutarou went their separate ways, they said goodbye to Takeda.
Takeda:"...I'm quite impressed you got his card. I hear Doctor Nakano is tough to talk to."
Tsubaki:"Hehe, I'm proud of my ability to wring the truth out! That's a skill I need as a future reporter!"
Takeda:"The truth, huh...Say, Tsubaki-chan."
Tsubaki:"Yes?"
Takeda:"I may need your skills for something…"
…
Itsuki and Miku were on their way to the nurse's office.
Itsuki:[I wonder if I should send Shimoda-san an apology text…] "Yotsuba! You're awake?"
Yotsuba:"Y-Yeah…"
Itsuki and Miku saw Yotsuba leave her room, having just woken up.
Yotsuba:"...I really went and passed out, huh?"
Miku:"Yeah. You overworked yourself hard, but I'm glad you're back up. Itsuki came to visit. I haven't told the others...I didn't want to worry Nino in her current state, and Ichika never came…"
Yotsuba:"I see. I'm sorry I made you worry. I'll get back now. I still have a lot of things to do."
Miku:"Wait."
Yotsuba:"There's still so much I need to do."
Itsuki:"Yotsuba, it's already night time."
Yotsuba:"Eh…?"
Miku:"The second day is over."
Yotsuba:"No...But…"
Miku:"I can tell what you're thinking...But don't worry. Look."
Miku gave Yotsuba a checklist, showing all of the tasks on the south side completed.
Yotsuba:"What is…?"
Miku:"I heard Fuutarou took the ones on the north side."
Yotsuba:"You really…? But aren't you…?"
Miku:"Come on, I'm stronger than I was before. It wasn't all bad, you know?"
As Miku smiled, Yotsuba saw how clearly exhausted Miku was. Yotsuba wanted to say something, but she bit her lips and picked Miku up.
Miku:"W-What?"
Yotsuba carried her to the nurse's office and laid her on the bed.
Yotsuba:"You worked really hard, didn't you!? Even with your stall work, didn't you!?"
Miku:"I guess so?"
Yotsuba:"Then stay here and rest! We'll come back once I check in. Don't leave no matter what, you got it!?"
Miku:"But…"
Yotsuba:"No matter what!"
Yotsuba then took the headphones that were left at the side of the bed and left Miku alone there.
Yotsuba:"I'll take care of these in the meantime. Don't want any thieves while you sleep! Come on, Itsuki."
Itsuki:"Eh? Um…"
Itsuki was then dragged out of the room.
Miku:[Haha, it's rare to see her like that.]
…
After a couple of minutes.
Miku:"I really should get up, but Yotsuba shouldn't take too long…"
With no delay, the door suddenly opened.
Miku:[That was a little too quick…]
She soon noticed that it wasn't Yotsuba. Rather, it was a man, that man being Irigaku.
Miku:[Oh, it's our teacher.]
Before she could get up, she noticed he had a very serious expression.
Irigaku:"Looks like whoever is there is asleep."
Miku:[Ok, now it would be weird if I got up.]
Irigaku took out some keys and opened the nurse's private cabinet and began to flip through the medical files.
Irigaku:"I doubt there might be some evidence here, but I have to check."
Miku:"Evidence…?"
End of Chapter 73