Catching the Weight [Lunch / Main Stairwell]

Two students were arguing on the upper floor.

A bag strap slipped over the railing.

One student leaned down.

The other yanked the bag.

His body tipped over the rail.

(Koharu) : “Ah!”

Hara moved before he could think.

He vaulted the railing and dropped to the landing below.

He caught the falling student against his chest and twisted his body.

Thud!

Hara’s shoulder hit the floor first.

The student’s head stopped inches from the edge of the stairs.

(Student) : “Did I... fall?”

(Hara) : “Don’t move. Wait for a teacher.”

The student responsible ran.

Hara could have followed.

He could hear where he was going.

But he didn’t.

He stayed with the person in front of him.

Koharu called emergency services and a teacher.

A little later, she noticed Hara’s right arm trembling.

(Koharu) : “You’re hurt too.”

(Hara) : “This is nothing.”

(Koharu) : “There you go again.”

Hara fell silent.

Koharu remembered the way he had cleared the railing.

(Koharu) : “How did you even do that?”

(Hara) : “I don’t know. Everything happened so fast.”

She wanted to ask more.

But when the injured student was taken away in the ambulance, she swallowed the question.

Hara watched the ambulance until it disappeared.

It felt completely different from knocking someone down.

His chest felt hot.

But this time it wasn’t frightening.

He hadn’t known saving someone could feel this good.