Asking for Sick Leave (And Asking for Recommendation Votes)

Around nine o'clock, the diagnosis concluded. Kamijima Chusei, the head of the medical department at Konoha Hospital, cordially and enthusiastically grabbed the hand of Shennong, who had been working hard all night, and insisted on taking him out for a late-night snack.

Shennong could not refuse and had no choice but to go.

Several other doctors from the medical department went along as well. Keiko, being an ordinary medical staff member, did not accompany them, so Hanfu could only watch helplessly as Shennong left with his backpack.

But Hanfu was not in a hurry.

Shennong had come to Konoha this time to both popularize medical techniques and donate herbal formulas, acting like a generous benefactor. If he were to just leave like this, Hanfu wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death.

"Feng-chan, you should head home."

Keiko checked the time and urged Hanfu to hurry back. "Be careful on your way home, and don't get distracted playing on the road, you hear?"

Hanfu nodded. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something, turned around, and asked, "Mom, where is Doctor Shennong staying?"

Keiko was taken aback and asked curiously, "Why are you asking about that?"

"I want to go find him and get an autograph!" Hanfu pretended to be a fanboy. "Doctor Shennong is just so cool! I admire him so much!"

Keiko laughed. "Doctor Shennong is staying at Shencao Izakaya in the 4th block of Furuta District, north of the hospital."

"An izakaya?" Hanfu was a bit confused. "Why would he stay at an izakaya?"

Hanfu had been to the Gekko Izakaya run by his own clan. While the environment was decent, it was a place for eating and drinking, which was quite noisy. Although they did offer lodging, given Shennong's 'status in the world' and the attitude Kamijima Chusei had just shown, there was no way Shennong should have been arranged to stay at an izakaya.

Keiko smiled. "Doctor Shennong chose it himself. It's said that he really likes the wine at that izakaya."

He likes the wine there?

Hmph, that kind of excuse could only fool a six-year-old kid like his little brother!

A sharp glint flashed in Hanfu's eyes. At this moment, he could already smell the thick scent of a conspiracy!

With so many inns in Konoha to choose from, he specifically picked this Shencao Izakaya—there must be something fishy going on!

Hanfu really wanted to go to Shencao Izakaya to investigate immediately, but looking at the time, he had to wait until tomorrow.

It was nearly ten o'clock by the time he returned home from Konoha Hospital. The living room was pitch black, and there was no sound of wooden stakes being struck coming from the backyard. Hanfu was a bit surprised; was his little brother not secretly practicing swordsmanship?

Hanfu turned on the lights and saw the notebook on the living room table, containing the five-hundred-word reflection his little brother had written.

Hanfu checked it over, and it was decent enough.

He then went to the backyard, but he didn't find his little brother there either.

Had he already gone to sleep?

Hanfu returned to his bedroom and gently pushed open the sliding door. Sure enough, he saw his little brother lying on the tatami mat, fast asleep.

Looking at his sleeping face, Hanfu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

It seems my anti-addiction measures worked!

Now, it was time to consider tomorrow's plan. Hanfu lay on the tatami mat, staring at the ceiling above, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

The next morning, the two brothers got up and washed. But just as they were about to head out, Hanfu suddenly started coughing. He couldn't stop, coughing so hard it felt like he was going to cough his lungs out!

"Brother, Brother, what's wrong?" His little brother was terrified, at a loss for what to do, tears welling up in his large eyes.

While coughing, Hanfu secretly wondered when his acting skills had become so good.

Cough, cough!

Hanfu coughed twice more, then said painfully, "Hayate, I think I've caught a cold. I... I need to go to the hospital."

"Brother, I'll take you!" Hayate said loudly.

"No, you have to go to school! I can't let you fall behind!"

Hanfu spoke weakly, "And please ask for leave on my behalf."

"But, Brother..." Hayate was very worried.

"Say no more, Hayate, go on. I'll be fine!" Hanfu patted his little brother's shoulder and said, "I'm in Class 8, Year 2. The homeroom teacher is Kashima Isamu. Don't forget."

"I know, Brother."

After Hayate agreed, he walked outside, looking back every few steps.

"Wait a second!"

Hanfu reached out.

"Brother!"

Hayate immediately ran back.

"That... cough, cough, I'm out of pocket money. It costs money to buy medicine at the hospital." Hanfu felt a bit awkward.

His own allowance had already been spent on Anko for the picnic, so he had to ask for an emergency loan.

Hayate didn't say a word and pulled out his own pocket money.

The muscles at the corner of Hanfu's mouth twitched slightly. This kid from someone else's family actually had twice as much pocket money as him.

Then, Hanfu took half of it.

Once the little brother left, Hanfu immediately stopped coughing and headed straight for Shencao Izakaya in the 4th block of Furuta District.

Faking illness was naturally to make it easier to move around. Besides, this world lacked mobile phones and telephones, making communication very inconvenient. With his mother busy working day and night, Hanfu wasn't worried about being exposed.

After Gekko Hayate arrived at the school, he immediately ran toward Class 8 of the second year.

However, Kashima Isamu had not arrived for work yet, so Gekko Hayate had to wait at the door. Before long, someone recognized him.

"You are... Hanfu's younger brother?"

When Iruka entered the classroom and saw this little boy, he felt a vague sense of familiarity. After thinking carefully, wasn't this the younger brother of Hanfu he had met at the start of the school year?

"Hello, senior. I am Gekko Hayate, my brother's younger brother."

Seeing that someone recognized him, Gekko Hayate was very polite. "Um, my brother caught a cold and went to the hospital, so he asked me to help him ask for leave."

"Caught a cold?"

Iruka was stunned. Was it real or fake?

There was a theory exam this morning; could he be faking an illness on purpose?

But since he had already agreed to "pass information" for him, Hanfu shouldn't have any reason to fake an illness.

Iruka looked at Gekko Hayate and, seeing the worried expression on his face, felt that Hanfu must really be sick.

"I understand. I will help Hanfu ask for leave. Gekko Hayate, you should head back to your classroom too," Iruka said earnestly.

"Thank you, senior!"

Gekko Hayate bowed very seriously, then turned and left.

Half an hour later, the bell rang, and Kashima Isamu walked in carrying a stack of test papers.

"Prepare to start the exam!"

Kashima Isamu got straight to the point.

At this moment, Iruka stood up, intending to ask for leave on Hanfu's behalf, but...

"Teacher, Tanaka asked me to ask for leave for him; he is sick!"

"Teacher, Ah Ren has a cold and a fever, he's taking a half-day sick leave!"

"Teacher, Ichiro is also sick."

"Teacher, and also..."

Kashima Isamu's expression grew increasingly unsightly. He scanned the room, his gaze finally landing on Iruka, who was standing in the back row and had yet to speak.

Kashima Isamu asked in an unfriendly tone, "Iruka, who are you asking for leave for this time?"

"Um, well..."

Iruka broke into a cold sweat, saying awkwardly, "Gekko Hayate has a cold."

Kashima—mentally exhausted—Isamu no longer had the energy to retort. He waved his hand to signal Iruka to sit down and said, "All students who have requested leave will automatically fail this theory exam. Once they recover from their 'illness,' I will administer a make-up theory exam for them! Ito, come distribute the test papers."

"Yes!"

Ito Nipan marched up to the podium with his chest puffed out, looking like a warrior who had just defeated a dragon and saved a milk tea princess.

Gekko Hayate is faking illness; it must be because he's afraid of being crushed by me. Ha, I, Ito Nipan... I, I, Ito Nipan will never forgive him!

Bastard!!

PS: Did you think I was actually taking sick leave?

Naive o(^｀)o

Thanks to book friend 20190212183155890 for the tip and support!