Chapter 83: Ch 83: Staying in the Medical Wing

"Doctor Riku, are you in there? I am afraid I will have to inconvenience you today. Can you help me out with them?"

There was something hilarious about seeing their delicate new professor dangling rough-looking espers as if they were paper, and Riku let out an almost curse before he headed toward their new professor and students to check on them.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at the blue-haired professor with suspicion.

"These kids...what did you do with them? Did you use your ability? If so, then what kind?"

Noah felt curious to know about their new professor’s abilities, but the blue-haired delicate man just laughed awkwardly.

He looked almost reluctant to say anything, but then his eyes met Noah’s and he stared a little too long before realizing what he was doing, and he let out a small laugh.

"W-Well, I just used my fists to knock them out? That counts as an ability as well, right? I did not expect these kids to be so delicate. Most of them collapsed as soon as I hit them twice..."

The professor tried to make light of the situation, but Riku’s lips were pressed in a line, showing that he did not find this situation funny.

One of his hands was healing the kid he was gripping while the other felt for the broken bones under the skin.

Sigh

"It seems like your fist is an ability in itself. Most of these kids have broken bones. But I think I already know how we arrived at this situation. I guess I better get to work now."

Noah did not envy the kids who were being healed by the professor. But he did look away as soon as those bloody screams started.

Seeing Noah look away made their new professor walk toward him, and he positioned himself in a way where he stood in front of Noah.

"Are you afraid of me after what I did? I did not mean to knock these kids out, but I did this reflexively because they were trying to come on too strong. You understand, right?"

Noah did understand what their new professor was saying. But the tone he was saying it in...didn’t it sound like he was begging Noah to understand and not hold it against him?

Were professors allowed to be like this? Did this man not have any dignity of his own? And why did it feel like he was trying too hard to make Noah understand and take his side?

Still, there was something about this delicate esper standing in front of Noah that felt familiar.

He knew that he had never seen him before coming to the academy, but his instincts recognized this man...no, rather, this creature and even told Noah that it was nice to see him again.

’I am sure that I know this professor. But I cannot recall where or when I met him. But he is too remarkable to not know-’

"Noah, are you alright? Your face looks a little pale. Are you developing a fever-"

The professor reached out to check Noah’s temperature with his hand, and Noah’s usual instinct was to flinch away. But somehow, he did not feel like doing that.

Instead, he felt like he should lean his head forward toward that hand and nuzzle into it.

Noah did not nuzzle into that hand, but he did lean forward and rest it on that cool hand, which felt amazing. He wanted to stay like this for a long time and-

cough

"I am done taking care of those injured espers. Unfortunately, they will have to spend the night as a precaution. That being said, I don’t feel comfortable leaving them in the same space as Noah. What should we do?"

Riku did not sound happy with the fact that he had to accommodate those kids in his medical quarters as well. But the rules were rules, and he did not want to be punished for not following them.

He looked at Noah with a sorry expression for this awkward situation, but he had nothing to worry about. Noah understood where he was coming from, and he did not hold it against him.

"I will be fine. There is no need to worry about me. Please do what you need to, professor."

Noah assured Riku, who nodded and relaxed a bit. However, his new professor had a weird look on his face. Erin made a thinking face for a few more seconds before he nodded to himself and turned to look at Noah.

"If it is too uncomfortable for you, then how about you stay in my room tonight? It will be much more comfortable than staying in the medical wing tonight, right?"

The offer was unexpected, and Noah had to blink a few times to ensure he had heard right.

"Absolutely not! Professor Erin, while I do trust you as a person, I cannot trust you with my patient. If anything, Noah should spend a night in my quarters. I hardly ever use them either, so he would be much safer there."

Riku quickly interjected, denying Erin’s request, which was...a little surprising. Noah had not expected such a swift response from the medical esper. He had also not expected him to offer to host Noah in his quarters.

Noah felt a little flattered but not worried. If Riku wanted to make a move on him, then he would have done so already.

However, Professor Erin did not look satisfied with this answer. A frown marred his beautiful features, showing that he was not happy with this outcome.

"I still think it will be better if Noah comes with me tonight. As you said, he’s a patient and someone who needs looking after in case something happens. But you will be too busy with the medical wing to be able to know if there is an emergency. In that case, it would be for the best if I take him."

Was it a coincidence, or did Erin actually look like he was a little possessive of Noah when he said that? Even his eyes were glancing in a way that told Noah they had things to talk about.