As Tsukishima Rin quickened her pace toward Natsume Chikage, she realized he had already gone ahead.
Her cheeks puffed out slightly, her lips unconsciously forming a pout.
Had he really not noticed her, or was he pretending not to see her?
She lightly jogged a few steps, moved around in front of him, and quickly broke into a sweet smile.
"Good morning, Natsume."
Natsume Chikage paused, then nodded back with slight surprise.
"Good morning, Tsukishima-senpai."
Tsukishima Rin had actually been quietly keeping track of Natsume Chikage.
Naturally, she also knew that he had taken leave yesterday.
Rumors had spread around school that he had been absent due to illness, and she had worried about him all day.
She had even gone through several people to get his contact information. The number on her phone screen had been opened and closed over and over again.
Yet she never dared press the call button.
It just felt too abrupt.
She was always afraid that such presumptuous concern would upset him.
After all, getting someone's contact information without permission and then pestering them with questions would bother anyone, wouldn't it?
That hesitation had lingered in her heart all day.
In the end, she still could not work up the courage to call him. She had planned to ask about it today instead.
But she had also worried that he might take another day off.
Thankfully, he had not taken leave again and had returned to school.
Otherwise, Tsukishima Rin thought she definitely would not have been able to stop herself from calling him today.
Now that they were standing face-to-face, she could no longer suppress her concern. She gently asked,
"Natsume, I heard you took leave yesterday... Are you feeling all right?"
"Have you seen a doctor?"
Natsume Chikage tilted his head slightly,