"I'm fine," Takagi-San said calmly, swallowing her food and waving her hand.

Seeing her continue eating without concern, Nishikata rubbed the back of his head and looked away, embarrassed.

The group finished their bentos amidst soft laughter and chatter—mostly between Ayumi and Shouko Nishimiya, with the others listening in, and Takagi occasionally nodding along.

Nishikata struggled to join in, only adding a word whenever Takagi agreed.

Meanwhile, Akira quietly enjoyed the bento Shouko had woken up early to prepare for him.

Dong… dong…

"Alright, everyone, go outside and line up."

As the afternoon bell rang, Nobe-sensei, dressed in a neat suit, entered the classroom. After confirming attendance, she wasted no time.

"Let's go, Akira!"

Shouko's voice mingled with the scraping of chairs and the lively noise of students. Akira stood, nodded to her, and moved toward the door.

Shouko seemed to want to wait for him, but Ayumi and Takagi tugged her out first.

"Come on, Miyamura." Nishikata patted his shoulder.

"Yeah."

The gymnasium had been converted into an efficient "health checkup maze," bright lights shining down on the polished wooden floor, with sunlight slipping through the curtains here and there.

The examination flow ran one-way in a loop, from entrance to exit, with classes moving in groups. Students carried small health handbooks as they progressed.

The atmosphere was filled with the low murmur of students, the rustle of papers, the occasional beep of instruments, and the broadcast's constant reminder: Please keep quiet.

"I thought we'd be the first ones here," Nishikata muttered as they waited outside, watching students and white-coated doctors bustle in and out.

Akira estimated silently. "Only one or two classes ahead. Our turn soon."

"Here you go, junior—your health handbook."

A sweet voice called from his right. A female upperclassman with a "Health Committee" armband was distributing the small white booklets.

Behind her, a male upperclassman with the same armband pushed a cart stacked high with handbooks.

"Arigatou, senpai," Akira said respectfully as he accepted his copy. He knew well the weight of senior-junior etiquette in Japanese schools.

The upperclassman girl smiled and moved on, while her partner gave Akira a long, unreadable look before continuing.

Nishikata also accepted his booklet with a polite, "Thank you, senpai."

Akira scanned the committee members stationed around—guiding lines, distributing handbooks, even taping down loose markings on the floor. No doubt they were workhorses of the student council as well.

"Be quiet when you go in," Nobe-sensei called back. "A few checks, then it's over. No fooling around."

With that, their class began moving into the gymnasium.

The first stop: height and weight. A neat row of silver scales gleamed under the lights, anti-slip pedals ready, horizontal bars adjusted overhead.

"I didn't think height and weight would be first!" Nishikata groaned.

"Calm down," Akira replied dryly. "Even if it were later, you wouldn't grow taller in the meantime."

When Akira's turn came, the physical education teacher in charge—Mr. Sakai—stretched out a hand.

"Handbook."

Akira passed it over.

"Name."

"Mr. Sakai, do you still need to ask?"

"Don't be cheeky. I've said so many names today, how could I remember all of them clearly?" Mr. Sakai rapped him lightly on the head with the booklet, then scribbled his name. "Come on."

"Hai, hai." Akira slipped off his shoes and stepped onto the scale.

Sakai adjusted the bar to touch his head. The electronic display beeped, spitting out the numbers.

"Don't move yet," Sakai said, quickly jotting the values. "Good. Both height and weight within range."

"Thanks for the compliment," Akira answered flatly.

"Next!" Sakai handed back the booklet and shooed him off. "Nishikata, you're up!"

Akira slipped back into his shoes and moved on.

The next station was vision. A classic C-chart hung on the wall, and a nurse directed him to stand five meters away.

He covered one eye with the spoon-shaped cover, answered the directions of the symbols loudly, then switched eyes.

"Very good. Vision is healthy—keep it up." The nurse handed back the booklet with a small smile.

Akira nodded politely and walked on.

"Students, please keep quiet," the broadcast reminded again.

Akira ignored it, heading toward the hearing test. The sight of the foam-enclosed booth reminded him for a moment of Shouko, though she was already ahead, moving steadily through her checks.

Inside, the school doctor handed him headphones. He pressed a button each time he heard the faint buzz.

"Normal hearing," the doctor concluded curtly, returning the booklet. "Next."

The process continued—internal medicine, spine and posture checks. Soon, Akira's booklet was filled with stamps and notes.

At the exit, another committee upperclassman waited with a collection box.

"Please hand over your health handbook."

"Here you go, senpai."

Akira handed it in, gave a polite nod, and walked out of the gymnasium.

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