A Hybrid of Life and Gasoline | 命とガソリンのハイブリッド

Part 21 | Consequences

On Wednesday at 5 PM, the students who were the closest friends of Ryoji were riding the Kantetsu Green Bus on Route 125 heading towards Kasumigaura Medical Center, after receiving news that Ryoji was now safe and would be staying the night at the hospital.

"It must've been the stress, huh." One of the students commented while talking with his friend.

"A student such as Ryoji with the pressure to do well, I can imagine that..."

Ippei was overhearing that conversation from a few seats away, obviously he's sat there with Sachiko by his side, and Akira not far away. In his mind, nothing was clear, there was no sign Ryoji would be in any sort of health trouble. Even with Akira's observation that he was likely depressed, it didn't make much sense.

The bus stopped not far from the hospital entrance, less than a kilometer away, so the group of nearly 10 students just walked to it. After finding the right building, some more extroverted students inquired with the reception and got the information they needed.

The group then followed that information to the room Ryoji was staying in, and realized they were at the right place when they noticed Yamada-sensei and Tanigawa-sensei standing right outside.

For some reason, once Ippei saw both the teachers, he got quite anxious. Something was indeed very wrong. He could feel that from the expression and the general unease of both, which other students seemed to not notice.

"Ah, this many, huh." Isao said as soon as he saw the group of students.

"Good evening, Tanigawa-sensei, Yamada-sensei." The students greeted them simultaneously.

Ippei was observing, and the teachers were obviously trying to hide their concern, but it wasn't something he could call them out for.

The group then gradually walked into the patient's room where Ryoji was staying. It did seem that he was in much better condition than he was.

"You make all of us worried, Ryoji!" Akira, who's probably Ryoji's closest friend, quickly rushed to tell him.

"Sorry, all of you." Ryoji said, with a slight smile of gratitude.

The general feeling was that whatever it was that caused this, it subsided. So the students were happy that their friend was healing. Except for Ippei, who was standing with Sachiko and didn't say anything much because he was just... thinking. Wondering what exactly happened.

"Haaaah, you have to bring your girlfriend here huh. It's making me hurt just by looking." Ryoji suddenly mocked Ippei and Sachiko.

This made Sachiko blush, of course, but Ippei wasn't really listening so it didn't get to him at all. He was still frowning with worry and didn't respond, which was odd in his friend's opinion.

Iori and Isao then stepped out of the room to let the students be with their friend alone, and they walked pretty far from the door with something on their mind.

"Tanigawa-san," Iori spoke quietly, nearly whispering, "I know I'm your senior and all, but I'm at a loss."

"Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to bear this alone." Isao replied.

"Do you reckon Yumi-san would keep it to herself, or would she report it to the principal?"

"I... don't know. I would expect you to be the one who knows."

Iori just shrugged.

The drug test from the hair sample would be done tomorrow, and there was indeed a chance the detection from the blood sample was inaccurate. Until then there's nothing they can do.