IF Route: The Rift

“The sprain isn't too severe, but you need to rest. If possible, try to keep your ankle elevated above your heart.” Li Yue held a spray bottle, releasing a white mist. Clo felt a sudden chill, followed by a rapid decrease in pain.

Anesthetics? These... they almost look like prescription drugs...

“The school doesn't have any ice packs. If possible, we can see if we can buy some.” Li Yue thought for a moment. She took out several medicine containers from her bag that appeared to have been opened already. They looked like anti-inflammatory pills; a blister pack meant for eight pills now only had four, as if half of them had already been consumed.

“Next, we’ll deal with the abrasions. They’re all minor, so there's no need for stitches...” Li Yue pulled out hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and saline...

“I'll clean the wounds first. Using disinfectant directly would irritate the wound and slow down the recovery.” Li Yue gently cleaned the injuries. Bits of stinging pain pricked at Clo’s nerves, forcing her to focus all her attention on Li Yue, despite her best efforts to distract herself.

“Are you afraid of pain?” Li Yue softened her movements. For some reason, seeing the other girl tremble slightly from the pain of her actions gave her a strange sense of joy. Was it because she was helping her?

Li Yue didn't quite understand this emotion. She swapped the hydrogen peroxide for iodine. The former was too irritating and painful; iodine was better.

“The location of the injury is a bit awkward, so we should apply some antibiotics. If we don't, it might get inflamed.”

“Mhm...” Clo watched as the other girl finished bandaging her. She looked at the white gauze and frowned slightly. She leaned back against the wall, a trace of heaviness appearing on her face as if she were lost in thought.

“Does Li Yue want to be a doctor in the future?” Clo offered a shallow smile. It was a bit forced, as her limbs were still throbbing with pain.

“I haven't thought about that... My future... perhaps... I’ll have to be a pianist, or a violinist.” Li Yue shrugged. “But I do love music... it’s my everything...”

“I see...” Clo raised an eyebrow, trying to keep her expression natural. She pursed her lips, seemingly having her own plan. “I want to go back to the classroom. The next class should be starting soon. Why don't you... give me a hand?”

“No problem. Don't use your injured foot; don't move it for now.”

Li Yue reached out her hand, intending to pull her up. Clo gripped Li Yue’s hand in return, but instead of using it for leverage to stand, she slid her hand upward. She caught Li Yue’s wrist and pushed the long sleeve all the way up to the elbow.

The fair arm was wrapped in a thin layer of bandages. In the gaps, the pale skin showed patches of blue and purple, looking like the remains of bruises.

This familiar bandaging technique was identical to the way the abrasions on Clo’s own body had been treated. With just a glance, Clo knew that Li Yue had done this herself. The wounds on her arm had likely been treated by her own hand, and she must have done it one-handed.

This was simply too practiced...

Clo drew in a sharp breath. Inexplicably, she felt as though she had opened Pandora's box. In verifying her suspicion, she had offended the other girl. She instinctively pressed herself closer to the wall.

Li Yue violently flung her hand away and hurriedly pulled down her sleeve, looking panicked. She clutched the area of her wound and stared at the floor. A flash of hysteria crossed her eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by her reason.

“Are those... wounds you inflicted on yourself?” Clo raised an eyebrow. She withdrew her hand and leaned against the wall behind her. Looking at Li Yue’s gloomy face, she felt a slight sense of fear.

“That... has nothing to do with you...” Li Yue’s face lost some of its usual composure and tranquility. A strange emotion flickered there; while it wasn't anger, it was certainly a feeling of distress. It was hard to describe, but she even felt a tiny bit of relief.

“I just... I'm sorry...” Clo felt her tense muscles relax. She let out a sigh. Although she wanted to say something, she couldn't find a topic.

The school bell rang, breaking the atmosphere filled with awkwardness and strange emotions. Clo felt as though she had discovered Li Yue’s confusion, and the mist between them had thinned. However, the rift between them seemed to have grown, and Clo felt a twinge of regret.

“Let’s go back. Don't move, I’ll carry you.” Li Yue gently picked Clo up. Her mood wasn't too bad, though the wound on her arm was aching a bit now.

“Let me adjust. You’re pressing against my wound.” Li Yue slightly shifted her arm and repositioned Clo’s body. The dark, fierce expression she’d worn moments ago vanished as if nothing had happened, and she suddenly seemed much more at ease.

“I... okay.” Clo thought for a moment. She had been waiting for an opportunity, but it seemed like this was the moment; time wouldn't allow her to hesitate any longer. “The wounds on your arm...”

“It was all... because of my own stupidity. Getting hurt like this is exactly what I deserve...” Li Yue didn't say any more, and Clo found it hard to press further. They remained in that silence, neither willing to be the first to break it.