Chapter 15: A slight burning sensation!?

“Three days until Logan’s birthday everyone. It is on a Sunday, so if you see him in the school grounds, please wish him a happy birthday. Now, moving on to school events!”

It was the beginning of another boring first class. Ms. Mason was organizing the papers in her hands to make it easy for students.

“Hillary, I have a request.” I lean over and talk to Hillary while Ms. Mason was paused.

“What is it young master Logan?”

“I need you to go find out what class Claire has second period and inform me before the end of first period.”

“Yes young master Logan.” Hillary turns and walks out the door of the classroom silently.

Ms. Mason shakes her head as she watches Hillary walk out of the classroom.

“Now!” Ms. Mason starts again, “The festival is coming closer and closer! Those who are willing to help out with the construction of the event will receive discounts depending on how much they helped the businesses! You may not help out your own family’s business as they may lie on the report that they have to file. If any misconduct is seen while helping, for example, intentionally sabotaging a competitor’s area, you will be banned from the festival and may face more punishment from the school depending on the damages caused!” A student raises their hand. “Yes dumb student number one?”

“If we sign up to help and do not show up, what happens?”

“That’s actually a good question for once.” Ms. Mason nods, “The answer is that you will be forced to wear a bracelet indicating that you will pay double the price for every item offered, and for businesses that are offering free items, you will have to pay for the market value of the item.”

The students all start to look at each other with worried expressions.

“If you maggots don’t want to help, then don’t! It isn’t forced labour! Decide for yourselves! Now get out of here!”

““YES MA’AM!”” The students shout together in fear. Ms. Mason’s character is a weird one…

…

“Young master Logan, it appears the young missus has math during the second period and has a test, so she will not be able to skip, even if she wanted to.”

“Perfect. I will be good for this class and chemistry. Can I get you to follow Claire and then inform me of her location?”

“I apologize young master Logan, Claire has already told me not to help you and to make sure you do not skip your second period class.”

“What!?” The entire math class looks at me and the teacher just sighs while shaking their head. “Why can’t I?”

“The young missus told me that it would be cheating if you were allowed to do that and she may never forgive you if you are to do it.”

*Thud*

My head hits the desk. Why is that cheating? Is it not just using the situation to my advantage? Wait… is that cheating? 

No… it shouldn’t be… right?

“May I suggest mapping the places where she could be before you are forced to look for her? It may be best to plan the most efficient route, and also. The young missus has been at this school for longer than you and may know of other places that you do not.”

“Can you get a map for me then? Or is that not allowed too.”

“I was not told anything about a map. So, what will be my reward for helping you?”

“Really?” I look at her with an agitated expression, “You should be grateful that I even talk to you. You are a disgrace as an assigned staff, especially thinking you could ask for a reward.”

The pervert starts to blush.

“Thank you for the reward young master Logan, I shall go find a complete map of the school right away.”

This woman… does she seriously like being talked to like that? It makes me question myself as a human being when I support her. I don’t want to be mean to her… but she likes it more than when I am nice to her… which is odd, but it makes it easy to reward her.

…

So it’s lunch, time to start the hunt!

I have a map in hand that I made during chemistry.

After I explained what I was doing the chemistry teacher responded with ‘Ah, the youths these days are getting more and more crafty! I envy it!’, and then wandered off to teach other students.

I run out of chemistry at top speed, leaving Hillary to deliver my school stuff to my next class.

First stop, student council room.

I open the doors and see that Dominic is already here.

“Have you seen Claire at all Dominic?”

“No I ha-“

“Thanks! Gotta run!”

Like that I leave behind a confused Dominic, but I have no time to explain! I do not know the consequences of failing, so I just can’t fail!

Second stop, the school gate!

While on the way to the school gate, I pass by Claire’s classroom to see if she left already, she did, apparently she left a few minutes early.

Why was she allowed to leave early!? Isn’t that cheating!? Isn’t it!?

I quickly arrive at the school gate almost taking out a couple students while sprinting through the school.

I don’t see her here… come on, someone I know… someone I know….

I don’t need to find someone I know, Claire is the school idol, or was… the people following around her started to leave her alone pretty quickly… oh well, no time to worry about that.

“Hey, have you seen Claire pass by here?” I walk up to a random student and talk to them.

“Nah, she hasn’t passed by here, you looking for her?”

“Yeah, no time to explain, I have to go now!”

“Wait for a second! Do you even know where she could be!?”

“No idea! But I got a map and enough determination not to quit!”

I run away at top speed, my legs are starting to get tired…

So next stop would be…

The dorm building, first stop in there, the terrace, skipping the first floor!

The route I have planned will put me on path to the rock at the side that will give me just enough height to get up, I hope my uniform doesn’t tear.

…

“What!?”

“What is he doing!?”

“Is he insane!?”

Comments like that are being shouted as I quickly climb up the wall. As it is lunch time, some students are already on the terrace eating their lunches.

Claire isn’t here either, on to the next stop, our room!

I jump up the stairs while skipping two steps each time.

My legs are getting quite sore now, but I need to push through the pain! This is for Claire!

I open the door to the room and see that Claire’s assigned staff is cleaning up the room.

“Have you seen Claire?”

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She jumps up as I scared her, I shouted almost as soon as I entered the room, so she probably didn’t expect me.

“N-No… she ordered me to clean up the room during second period today so I haven’t seen her since then.”

Dammit! No luck here either!

Next stop, the roofs!

…

Dammit! I’m running out of time! Lunch isn’t short, but the school is large and I only have so much stamina. I am a human! 

I feel pain, and I feel it now!

I practically crawl up the last few stairs to the roof.

All that stops me is a single door.

It has a number lock!

What’s the number!

I quickly pull out my phone and call Dominic, praying that he picks up.

“Logan! Claire is in the back corner of the main school grounds!” Is what is yelled into my ear as soon as the line connects.

“Thanks, but my legs are shot! I’m on the roof of the main building, I need the code for the door!”

“I’m so sorry Logan! A teacher only gave me an equation I haven’t been able to solve for it!”

What a troll of a teacher!

“Give it to me! It makes the difference between life and death!”

…

After the equation that would have made a calculator explode was given to me I work my hardest to solve it.

Okay… so the one carries over and then I need to square root the exponent of x…

Now then, I need to solve for v, then use that to find y…

I’ve got it!

12345…

Really!? That’s it!

Those trolls of teachers!

I put it in, and lo and behold, it works.

“God dammit! This was a huge waste of time!” I shout at no one in particular. I would rather have walked to where 

Dominic said Claire was, but my legs hurt too much.

I crawl to the corner of the roof and use the fence to support me as I stand up painfully.

I see Claire in the corner of the main school grounds, just like Dominic said.

I pull out my phone and text Claire, ‘I found you, look on the main building’s roof.’

My phone starts to ring, and I quickly pick it up.

“That is cheating, I will not allow it. Come here on foot.”

“I would if I could, I ran around the entire school looking for you at top speed, this was a last ditch attempt to get some higher ground. My legs are shot and I have to use the fence up here just to stand you know. I ran at top speed the entire time. My legs are basically the fleshy equivalent of jelly.”

“L-Logan… did you really go to that length just for me?”

“I would do a whole lot more than just that you know. Running a small marathon at top speed is nothing compared to the thought of possibly losing the first thing I can hold on to. If I have to come down there I will. My legs might collapse at some point! But that will not stop me!”

I gather all my willpower and hang up the phone.

Just one last push my legs! We have got this!

…

We have not got this!

“UUUGGGGHHHH!!!” after making it out of the school my right leg cramps.

It hurts so much!

This is almost as painful as breaking a leg!

Only much more immediate!

“AAAAHHH!!!”

I grab my leg and use all the knowledge I can to help stop the pain.

I have to get to Claire! A cramp will not stop me! I try to stand up.

Apparently it will!

I am completely unable to stand on my right leg. You’re going to do this to me body!? I accept your challenge!

I stand up using only my left leg and start to hop towards the main school grounds.

I make it to the grass before my leg completely collapses… ah, I am so out of shape. Only a few minutes left in the lunch time.

I roll onto my back and pull out my phone again and call Claire. As soon as it connects I start speaking.

“Ah… it seems… I failed… please… forgive me…”

I try to control my breathing to stop the pain in my right leg, and after a few seconds it stops.

I hear Claire’s voice beside me and the call disconnect.

“I’m sorry Logan! I didn’t know you would go so far as to injure yourself for me!”

“No, no. This is the least I could do to show you that I care about you. I have ignored you too much. What could a little physical pain compare to the emotional pain you have gone through? I was too ignorant. Pushing myself too far is but a small price to pay.”

“I don’t want you to hurt yourself though!” Claire lays down next to me and lays her head on my chest, not caring about the gathering crowd. “I only wanted you to look for me a little… I wasn’t expecting you to run around so frantically. I’m really sorry Logan… it might ruin your birthday…”

“Ruin my birthday? Impossible. As long as I see you for half a second it will be better than any previous birthday I have ever had. I love you Claire. I want you to know how much I love you. If you had not shown up when you did, I may have started to use my arms to crawl to you. I am that devoted.”

“Do you really not care how others see you?”

To answer her question I look at the crowd and give a wide smile.

“When have you known me to care what people other than you think of me?” I use my arms to move Claire’s head.

I kiss her and don’t hold back at all.

“I love you Claire.”

“I love you too Logan. I’m sorry for putting you through this… I never meant it to be li-“

I kiss her again to get her to stop talking.

“I don’t blame you at all. The only person I could blame would be myself for not noticing how you felt. Now… how about we get someone to come and get me to somewhere other than the middle of the grass. My legs feel like they have been lit on fire.”

“Do not fret my acquaintance I shall cover you, so I declare!” Saunderson comes from nowhere!

Dude, you are amazing on so many different levels!

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Hi guys, Proofreader-Kun here... again.

This is becoming a regular thing... I don't like it.

Anyways, Author-Sama was unavailable to post yesterday and today, so here is today's chapter.

He does sincerely apologize for this but there have been unforeseen circumstances that prevent his writing.

Also, this one wasn't proofread, I don't have the time either, too busy filling out every job application form in the city.

Hopefully we can get back to normal soon. And hopefully the chapter is formatted right, if not, sorry.

Anyways, as always, have a great day/night!