"Panda... I'm fine, I just... stayed up a little late yesterday..."
Facing the two of them, Akutagawa Shang tugged at the stiff corners of his mouth and forced out a smile.
"The way you look... you don't look... fine at all..."
Panda and Inumaki sucked in a breath, the corners of their mouths twitching nonstop.
The human and the panda kept sweeping their gazes over the three of them. Akutagawa Shang's utterly weakened state stood in stark contrast to the energetic Maki and Mai beside him.
Oh no, fairies could suck the vitality out of people-
The two immediately leaned close to Akutagawa Shang's ears and began whispering to him in low voices.
"Akutagawa... what exactly did you go through last night?"
Akutagawa Shang said nothing, merely giving Panda a complicated look and leaving him to figure it out himself.
"You can't... Akutagawa... you're going to die if this keeps up..."
Toge Inumaki spoke to Akutagawa Shang, full of concern.
"Don't try to talk me out of it, Inumaki..."
But Akutagawa Shang shook his head gently, his resolve that of a man prepared to face death.
"I've already... steeled myself..."
Seeing his firm gaze brimming with fighting spirit, the two said no more.
They merely patted his shoulders in encouragement, then slowly backed away and gave him an exceedingly solemn salute together.
"Akutagawa-kun... take care-"
"Akutagawa-kun... whatever you do, don't croak-"
With that, neither turned around. They kept watching him as they slowly backed out of the cafeteria, leaving the space to the three of them once again.
Only the three of them remained in the classroom again.
"Come on... open wide... time to eat, Akutagawa..."
Mai brought a spoonful of food to his lips, and Akutagawa Shang obediently opened his mouth, allowing her to put the food inside.
Akutagawa