"Boohoo, Sasuke, boohoo..."
Karin was streaming tears and snot, completely unconcerned about her appearance. At least she still knew to wipe them away with a handkerchief instead of rubbing them straight onto Sasuke's bedsheets.
The Head Nurse beside her looked down at the patient report in her hands. It was perfectly clear that he wasn't critically ill. Did she really need to cry as though this were their final farewell?
He must have been someone rather important, since that lady at the top had specifically assigned her, the Head Nurse, to look after him personally...
And besides...
The nurse gave Sasuke a suspicious look as he lay in bed.
His eyes were closed, but his eyelids were visibly twitching.
Judging by her years of experience, this young man was already awake.
He was simply ignoring the crying girl.
Having already imagined a whole saga of love, hatred, and heartbreak, the Head Nurse let out a long sigh. She had intended to warn Karin not to disturb the patient's rest, but seeing her cry so bitterly stirred a little sympathy in her. Since the patient himself hadn't said anything either, she could only let it be.
"I never expected something this serious to happen right after I got back. I really am a failure as a teacher."
After spending ages flipping through Icha Icha Paradise without finding a chapter he could use as a reference for comforting Karin, Kakashi could only cough and bring up a topic.
"Boohoo, Sasuke..."
"..."
Clearly, however, neither Sasuke nor Karin intended to respond.
Seeing this, Kakashi could only get up and walk toward the window.
Then he opened it, and a crow took flight from the windowsill with a flutter of wings.
"...If you want to see him, just come back and see him yourself."