IF Route: Labor Pains

“Clo, you’re walking a bit strangely. Do you have some kind of hidden injury in your leg?” Li Yue walked behind Clo. Li Yue was a girl of few words; most of the time, she followed behind Clo like a shadow.

“Ah... it’s just these new sneakers. They’re a little bit ill-fitting.” Clo offered a shallow smile and slowed her pace, wanting to wait for Li Yue to catch up. However, as she slowed down, she realized Li Yue still hadn't moved closer.

She turned her head and looked at Li Yue, who was watching her from behind. For a moment, she couldn't help but let out a speechless laugh.

“Am I really that scary?” Clo smiled and let out a small sigh.

“No... that’s not it.” Li Yue’s words were a bit stumbled. Her eyes lacked much spirit, as if she couldn't muster interest in anything at all.

Forget it, I didn't plan on... making many friends here anyway. Besides, she’s a young lady from a completely different world... a noble... that’s such an old-fashioned term; they’re called 'families' now.

Still, her hair... is so beautiful.

...

“Hah... hah...” Clo panted softly as she jogged around the sports field. As a pre-class warm-up, she was used to and quite fond of jogging. It wasn't too taxing on her body and gave her enough time to think.

There was a faint, strange smell on the sports field. It seemed the area had been renovated not long ago, but it hadn't been completely cleaned yet. Some debris was left in the corners, looking a bit cluttered. However, the standards were clearly high-tier—the last time Clo had seen such high standards was in a newly built stadium in her previous city.

She glanced back. Li Yue was still following her at a steady pace. Her faint expression of boredom and helplessness made it seem as though everything she did was forced upon her, as if she were drifting without any goals or pursuits.

“A loner? Whatever. It’s not like I won’t be leaving abruptly one day anyway.” Clo’s mind drifted as she squinted her eyes. “I’ve seen plenty of weirdos in my time.”

Li Yue watched Clo in front of her, her thoughts already on what would happen in a few hours. She felt a sense of inner turmoil and had to take several deep breaths to regulate her body, trying to stabilize her manic emotions. She felt like she was a volatile person, though she had never once shown it.

After this class, there would be violin lessons, piano lessons, and then a gathering hosted by the master... If she made a mistake during the performance... Whatever. It was nothing more than a bout of birth pangs. She just had to endure it...

I hate this so much... If I ran away... where would I go... I really just want to find a quiet corner and die... Would Mom and Dad be sad? If I die, everything truly disappears. If everything is gone... that would be for the best. I have nothing anyway.

Death... death... leaving with nothing...

She looked at Clo running ahead. The girl’s long hair was tied up, making her look much sharper and more spirited. For some reason, Li Yue had felt a strange sense of familiarity from the first moment she saw her.

Wait, why is her body swaying like that?

Clo turned her head and tilted her body slightly, seemingly trying to check Li Yue’s position and status. However, she forgot that this movement would break the physical balance she had been maintaining.

Hm?

Clo felt her foot land on something at that exact moment. Her ankle twisted sharply at a severe angle, and a surge of intense pain forcibly pinned her light frame to the spot.

Why... why is there a stone on a synthetic track...

Ugh...

Clo collapsed onto the track. Due to the sharp pain, she instinctively clutched her ankle after falling. Her body sprawled over the ground, her knees and elbows suffering minor abrasions. Because of the heat, she hadn't been wearing any protective sleeves.

Just my luck...

Clo adjusted herself and managed to sit up. She tried to pull down her sock, already imagining that her fair ankle would soon be swollen like a red radish.

“Are you all right?” Li Yue stood beside Clo, her figure blocking a bit of the sunlight. Clo looked up at her; although she was in a bad mood, she wanted to force herself to say she was fine.

“You don’t look like you’re all right. We’re going to the medical room.” Li Yue glanced at the P.E. teacher who was already running over. She briefly explained the situation and then picked Clo up.

“Your ankle is sprained. It looks like it, at least.” Li Yue tried to make her tone sound concerned, but it still came across as somewhat indifferent.

“You’re quite strong.” Clo stopped trying to be stubborn. Li Yue’s princess carry was very stable, though Li Yue’s arms were quite slender, which made the sight a bit unusual.

“It’s because you’re very light, so it’s no problem.”

Clo’s lips pursed slightly. She turned her head away, her mood seemingly improving. Hearing the other girl describe her as light actually gave her a bit of a happy feeling.

She’s actually quite good with words.

...

Clo sat on a bench in the corridor, staring blankly. Beside her, the light green door was tightly shut. She had already taken off her right shoe and sock and set them aside. Her ankle was red and swollen—hot, throbbing, and accompanied by a dull, aching pain. She looked at the floor in boredom.

This really is too much bad luck... The teacher on duty at the medical room didn't seem to be in. Li Yue had told her to wait here and not wander off, but in this state, it wasn't like she could go anywhere anyway. Though, if she hopped... forget it...

She didn't really want to move.

She saw a figure approaching from the end of the corridor, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps. The girl was holding a bag—a light red cloth bag that looked bulging, as if it contained many things.

“Sorry, I was a bit slow. Have you been waiting long?” Li Yue knelt on one knee on the floor and quickly unzipped the bag. Inside were rows upon rows of medicine bottles, each meticulously labeled with neat handwriting indicating its name.

?

Clo frowned, a massive question mark popping up in her mind.

Why would she be carrying... so many medicines for external and internal injuries... and many of those jars clearly looked like they had been used before...