Harem of Side Characters [Rewrite]

Ryoko Nishikawa - Nobody is There

As I enter the cafe, I notice Nishikawa sitting at her usual table. When she spots me, instead of calling out like she usually does, she instead hides her face and tries to blend in to the background. I wait for a moment, before finally deciding to approach the girl.

"Nishikawa?"

"O-oh, A-Ayanokouji... Is that you? How are you this morning?" She replies, still looking away from me.

"I'm fine. How about you?"

"I'm...good." Obviously, that isn't the case. If she were really fine, she wouldn't be facing away from me right now. Which reminds me...

"How was your doctor's appointment? I never got the chance to ask you about it."

"It was...fine."

"...Nishikawa, would you mind looking at me?" I finally decide to ask her.

"...About that...I kind of would mind...I don't look so great today..."

"So what? I'm not here to judge how you look."

"...It's still a bit weird. I don't want you to worry about me and start thinking something is going on. If you want a drink, just order and I'll pay-"

"Nishikawa. Look at me."

"..." She stays silent for a moment.

"...If you run away, I'll be really hurt." She finally says.

"I won't run." I promised. Nishikawa pauses for a moment, before slowly turning to face me.

"...Good afternoon..."

"..." I was speechless for a moment. Nishikawa wasn't kidding when she said she didn't look good today.

She looks like she hasn't had a good night's sleep in weeks. She's drenched in her own sweat, and her eyes are puffy and swollen, as if she'd been crying for hours.

"Good afternoon, Nishikawa."

"...How bad is it?"

"...You've had better days."

"...I feel so gross...I haven't showered in like a week." She looks downwards, letting most of her hair cover her face.

"Are...you really sure you should be coming to school like that?"

"...If I don't, our class will lose points. Besides, just showing up is fine. I can handle that." She moves a bit of her hair so she can look at me.

"If...you could forget you ever saw me like this, it would be nice."

"I'm not sure if that's possible. Are you really fine?"

"...Even if I said yes, you wouldn't believe me, would you?"

"..." We both sit in silence for an uncomfortable amount of time. I finally decide to speak up.

"You should really go back to your room. Whatever you ordered, I'll pay for and bring to you."

"Mm...I know you're worried, but you really don't have to go that far. I've been through much worse. I'll be okay, I promise. I just need a few minutes to-"

"Stop telling me you're going to be okay." Nishikawa jumps in surprise at my interruption.

"I'm not going to pretend I know what's going on. However I know that being in public isn't going to help you. Go back to your room, lay down, and try to get some rest. When was the last time you slept."

"Um...three days ago? Maybe four?...Or a week?"

"Why? Is there something keeping you awake?" Nishikawa slightly bites her lip.

"That's...not easy to answer. I don't really want to talk about it either so...If you could maybe...give me a little more space or something..."

"Will that help you?"

"...It won't...not help...?" A sudden rush of footsteps distracts me from our conversation.

"What are you doing here, Ryoko? I told you to go to the dorms." Yamamura approaches our table, placing her hand on Nishikawa's shoulder.

"H-huh? I-I told you its fine! I just wanted to get a drink..."

"If you wanted a drink, you could have just told me and I would buy you one. I'm pretty sure your friend there would do the same for you." Yamamura turns to look at me. I nod in affirmation.

"See? Now go back to your room. I'll pay for whatever you order."

"But...Ngh!" Nishikawa clenches her teeth, frustrated by how weak she is.

No...weak isn't the right word. There is no word to describe what she's feeling right now. I know that all too well.

"Sorry, Miki...Sorry, Ayanokouji..." Nishikawa mumbles before quickly grabbing her bag and running out of the cafe, leaving only me and Yamamura.

"...You're planning to check on her, aren't you." Surprisingly unlike the first time we met, Yamamura doesn't leave immediately.

"...Maybe."

"You don't know what's going on with her, do you?"

"I have a few guesses. The only thing I know for certain is that she has thoughts about things she shouldn't." Although after seeing what her state is in, I do have a pretty good idea on what is happening.

"...She talks about you a lot, you know. Ever since you met her here, she's always excited to go to the cafe after school. I've never seen her act that way before."

"...I had no idea." I utter. Yamamura pauses for a moment, before continuing.

"This may sound a bit weird, but when you check on her, could you let me know?"

"I understand, you're just worried about her. Are you really okay with me checking on her though? You don't seem to like me that much." I ask as I hand her my phone so she can input her contact in it.

"When she gets like this, the worst thing you can do is make her think nobody is there. I can't always be with her, so I'm forced to accept your help." She hands me my phone back. Yamamura included Nishikawa's phone number just in case something bad were to happen.

"Does this happen often?"

"I can't say anything about her life before she came to this school, but it has happened a few times before. She usually gets better in a few days, or even a few hours. It doesn't stop me from worrying, though."

"I see..." We both wait in silence for a while, until an employee comes in to bring the drink Nishikawa ordered. Yamamura takes it and pays for it, before facing me.

"...I'm going to go back to the dorms to give this to Ryoko. Remember to tell me when you come to check on her." Yamamura says, before walking away. She didn't even give me a chance to reply to her.

I leave the cafe without buying anything.