Chapter 80 — Doctor–Patient Boundaries
Tsumiki's laughter gradually faded, and she returned to her usual quiet, reserved demeanor.
"Senpai…" After a brief silence, Tsumiki spoke softly, "lately, I feel like you've been avoiding me on purpose…"
"That's not true!" Ren denied immediately.
"Outside of lessons, you've been spending noticeably less time here."
"Th-that's because the hospital's been under a lot of pressure lately. I've just been… busy."
"And when you talk, you don't really look me in the eyes anymore."
"Huh?" Ren instinctively looked up—only to meet her bright, clear gaze head-on.
His stiff reaction made her let out a soft laugh.
Covering her lips lightly, her expression eased.
"Senpai… are you still bothered by what happened before?"
"Of course not!" Ren answered at once.
"…See? I didn't even say what 'that thing' was," she murmured quietly.
Ren's expression changed instantly.
"…Which means it's still on your mind."
Her voice trembled slightly, tinged with emotion.
"So… it really was my fault."
She spoke gently, almost hesitantly.
"If I hadn't done that… if I had just endured a little longer… then maybe… you wouldn't dislike me, right?"
"That's not true!" Ren said firmly. "I don't dislike you at all, Tsumiki."
He paused, shoulders relaxing slightly, then admitted in a quieter voice,
"I just… feel a bit embarrassed."
"Embarrassed?" Tsumiki blinked, then smiled through the lingering moisture in her eyes.
She brought her hands together and gently held his. The soft, cool touch of her palm made Ren's heart skip.
"But didn't you tell me before," she said softly, "that it was just normal medical care, and that I shouldn't think too much about it?"
"And yet… you're the one acting like this."
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she lowered her gaze.
"When you act like this, senpai… how am I supposed to not think about it?"
"I…" Ren faltered.
Saying something is one thing.
Actually living up to it… is another.
Every time Ren saw Tsumiki's face, his mind would involuntarily drift back to that moment in the bathroom—the heat of her body in his arms, the trembling, the faint sounds that slipped past her lips… even the lingering scent.
To avoid those inappropriate memories—those unsettling feelings—he could only reduce his contact with her as much as possible.
"Senpai…" Tsumiki tightened her grip on his hand slightly. Ren could feel the warmth in her palm gradually rising. "You're… someone very important to me."
She looked straight at him, a gentle smile blooming on her calm, graceful face.
"I don't want this to affect our relationship."
"And I definitely don't want to become someone you'd rather avoid."
Ren nodded repeatedly. "It won't—of course it won't."
"I just… feel a little awkward, that's all."
"Things like this… should pass after some time, right?"
He met her clear, gentle gaze and gave an uneasy smile.
"No." To his surprise, she shook her head. For once, the usually soft and yielding girl was unusually firm.
"'It'll pass with time' just means that, eventually, senpai will forget about me… and what happened between us won't matter anymore. That's all."
"I don't want that."
"So we have to resolve this properly—right now."
"I want you, senpai, to stop avoiding me immediately… and go back to talking and laughing with me like before."
"In the end," she continued in one breath, "why are you acting like this?"
"You're a doctor, and I'm a patient. A doctor helping a patient—isn't that only natural? So why are you embarrassed?"
Her lashes lowered, her voice softening.
"When you act like this… I—I won't even have the face to look at you anymore."
Ren stared at the shy, flustered girl—and suddenly let out a quiet laugh.
"Sorry," he said, taking her hand in return, his tone sincere. "I was being narrow-minded, Tsumiki."
"I promise you—this won't happen again."
"Really?" She looked up, her bright eyes lighting with hope.
"Yeah." This time, Ren held her gaze without looking away.
After a long moment of eye contact, the two of them smiled at the same time.
"That's better," she murmured softly, lowering her head. "As long as we talk it out."
"The way you were acting before… I thought you started to dislike me."
"How could that be? I would never—ever—dislike you, Tsumiki."
"Really?"
"Really."
A beautiful smile bloomed across her face once more.
"…Hm?"
Then suddenly, she froze. Her fair cheeks flushed instantly.
"What's wrong?" Ren noticed the change.
She looked up again. In an instant, her face had turned completely red—almost as if it might drip with color.
"Um… senpai…" she said softly, "could I… trouble you to help me again?"
"…What?" Ren felt as if struck by lightning. He jerked backward, nearly falling off his chair.
Wait—what?!
Isn't this… way too strange?!
I mean, yes, I am technically an intern doctor… and yes, this does count as medical care… but this shouldn't be part of an intern's daily routine, right?!
"I'm sorry, senpai…" Her strained voice was filled with discomfort. "I was too focused on talking with you just now… I didn't notice, and when I came back to my senses… it—it had already gotten like this…"
She bit down on her lip, her body already starting to tremble.
Ren rushed to the bedside and frantically pressed the nurse call button.
But a full minute passed—and no one came.
"I'm definitely reporting this to Shoko-sensei!" Ren shouted angrily, pacing in agitation.
Tears shimmered at the corners of Tsumiki's eyes. Her flushed face twitched slightly as she struggled to endure.
"Um…" she spoke with difficulty, her voice trembling with a hint of tears, "didn't senpai just say… this is normal medical care… and you wouldn't mind?"
"Or… were you lying to me? Senpai… do you actually… dislike me?"
"Of course not!"
Seeing her in such pain and distress, Ren couldn't hesitate any longer. He slipped his arms beneath her, lifted her into his embrace, and rushed toward the bathroom.
Inside the cramped space, the faint, steady sound echoed once more.
He felt again the heat of her body trembling in his arms.
He heard her restrained, barely suppressed breaths.
And through the thin barrier of her back, he could feel the frantic pounding of her heart.
Ren squeezed his eyes shut, his face burning, forcing himself not to look—
not to think.
"…Huh?" In the quiet, Tsumiki's puzzled voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Senpai… what's that?