In his weakened state, Kanade was like a baby, unwilling to do anything for himself—not even eating porridge. Instead, Mahiru had to feed him. Strangely, this filled her with a profound sense of satisfaction.
Only after she finished feeding him did Mahiru realize how enjoyable it could be to play the role of "caregiver." No wonder Kanade had been so persistent the other day when their roles had been reversed. At the time, she'd been overwhelmed, yet he wouldn't stop teasing her.
"Would you like a little more?" Mahiru asked softly.
Though Kanade still looked lethargic, his appetite seemed unaffected. He'd already finished the entire bowl of porridge she'd prepared.
Perhaps it was the umeboshi she'd added? She'd chosen it for its mildness and how it eased digestion, making it suitable for someone sick, rather than for enhancing flavor. But if he liked it, she didn't mind.
"Mm, I want more…" Kanade murmured, nodding faintly. His voice was no longer as hoarse as before, a sign that he was starting to recover.
"Alright, leave it to me." Pleased to see her efforts paying off, Mahiru nodded with a smile.
She turned around to refill the bowl, carefully stirring the porridge with a spoon and blowing on it to cool it down faster.
Kanade tilted his head slightly, watching her gentle movements. Her meticulous care as she stirred the porridge, broke apart the umeboshi, and picked out the pits left him quietly mesmerized. The red fruit flesh blended seamlessly with the rice grains as Mahiru worked.
"Here, this should be cool enough now," Mahiru said, holding up a spoonful of porridge. Kanade obediently opened his mouth, swallowing the food she fed him.
This process repeated until he'd emptied another bowl. Feeling a hint of fullness, Kanade finally said, "I'm full…"
"Alright then. I'll take these to the kitchen. Wait here for me, okay?" Mahiru smiled and picked up the tray with the empty bowls, leaving the room with a brisk but graceful step.
"…" Kanade stared after her retreating figure, lost in thought.
When Mahiru returned, she had a thermometer in hand and once again sat by his bedside.
Kanade assumed she would hand it to him, but to his surprise, she leaned forward and started unbuttoning his shirt without hesitation.
"…"
While he vaguely remembered her dressing him earlier, the current situation still left him a little flustered.
"What's wrong?" Mahiru asked, blinking at him curiously.
"…Nothing." Kanade muttered, averting his gaze and deciding it was best to just close his eyes.
It seemed Mahiru didn't realize how suggestive their positions were. Granted, she was the one undoing his buttons, which made the dynamic different from most situations, but wasn't this still something to feel self-conscious about?
However, with his head still foggy and his energy drained, Kanade lacked the strength to dwell on such thoughts.
Mahiru, on the other hand, continued her task. Kanade noticed her face was tinged with a faint blush, and her hands trembled ever so slightly. Despite trying to act composed, her twitching ears betrayed her nervousness. She was clearly embarrassed but forced herself to remain steady for his sake.
"…"
The thought hit Kanade out of nowhere, but it was undeniable—Mahiru was a beautiful girl. Not just cute in a way that made one think, Oh, she's nice, but strikingly lovely, almost like a piece of crafted art.
Her beauty wasn't just a result of her angelic features; it was her bashful expression that added a layer of charm, making her appear more human. This vulnerability made her endearing in a way that felt magical.
And so, Kanade murmured without thinking, "You're really cute, Mahiru…"
"Ugh…" Mahiru froze at his words. Her whole body trembled slightly, and she hurriedly finished placing the thermometer under his arm. She quickly leaned back, her face flushed. "W-What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?"
"…" Kanade didn't reply. His mouth had simply acted on its own.
Mahiru's cheeks remained rosy, but this time the blush didn't fade. She lowered her head slightly, fidgeting with her hands, unsure of where to direct her gaze.
The room fell into an awkward silence.
After a while, Mahiru glanced at the clock and estimated that the thermometer should be ready. She cautiously leaned closer to remove it but hesitated, as if debating whether to say something.
"This time," she warned, her voice carrying a mix of embarrassment and determination, "don't say anything weird! No teasing me!"
"…" Kanade said nothing, waiting until she retrieved the thermometer before asking, "What's the temperature?"
"38.1°C… still a bit high," Mahiru said, her brows knitting with worry. Clearly, cold compresses weren't enough; he'd need medicine to bring the fever down.
She leaned closer again, clasping his hand gently as if to reassure him. "But it's better than before. Take some medicine and rest; you should feel much better after sleeping it off."
"Over-the-counter medicine only treats the symptoms, though. It won't eliminate the virus entirely," she added with a serious tone. "So you have to rest properly to let your immune system do its job, alright? Tomorrow, no running around! If you need anything, just ask me—or message me if I'm not here. Promise me you won't push yourself!"
"…" Kanade nodded silently.
Though her tone was a bit harsh, he found the concern behind it warming. Mahiru's worry for him filled his heart with a comforting sense of care.
After helping him take his medicine, she gently eased him back onto the bed.
"Alright, go to sleep now. I'll check on you again tomorrow," Mahiru said, her tone soft and warm. Smiling, she reached out to brush her fingers lightly across his forehead, stroking his hair a few times as though soothing a small puppy.
"…" Kanade felt like he was being treated like a pet, but in his current state, he lacked the energy to protest.
After a few more strokes, Mahiru seemed satisfied. She stood up, taking her leave. At the door, she paused and reminded him one last time, "Don't push yourself, okay?"
"…" Kanade closed his eyes slowly, letting her words echo in his mind.
A new day had arrived.
"Kanade, wake up…"
A soft and tender voice called out to him.
The gentle tone, intimate like a whisper, stirred Kanade from his comfortable slumber. He let out a faint murmur, "Mm," before raising his heavy eyelids.
Perhaps due to lingering drowsiness, his vision was slightly blurry. But through the haze, he could make out the weak sunlight filtering through the window and the figure of a charming girl standing by his bedside. Her face gradually came into focus as she leaned closer, her expression adorably clear.
She was kneeling with one knee on the bed, her body slightly bent forward. Her proximity made her flaxen hair sway naturally like a curtain of vines, some strands teasingly brushing against Kanade's face.
"…Mahiru?" Kanade muttered, still groggy, instinctively confirming her presence.
"Good morning," Mahiru greeted him with a smile, pleased to see he was regaining some of his energy.
"Good morning…" Kanade responded, his mind a little muddled as he tried to make sense of why she was here so early in the morning. "Why… are you here, Mahiru?"
"Eh? Don't you remember what I said yesterday?" she asked gently.
"…" Kanade tried hard to recall but couldn't pinpoint what he'd agreed to. Instead, a faint headache from a dream last night distracted him, and he instinctively rubbed his temples.
Seeing his discomfort, Mahiru quickly explained, "I told you yesterday before leaving—'I'll check on you again tomorrow.'"
"…" Kanade didn't know what to say. Hadn't she meant after school?
Noticing the drawn curtains and the sunlight streaming through the window, Kanade had a sinking feeling. "Don't tell me… you didn't go to school?"
"Mm." Mahiru nodded honestly, her tone resolute. To her, no school lesson could possibly outweigh Kanade's well-being.
Yesterday, she had considered staying the night—whether on the couch or even in his room—just to be closer to him. But she'd hesitated, worried it might cause him unnecessary trouble. So, instead, she had left early this morning to buy supplies and ingredients, preparing a light and nourishing meal for him.
"...Is that really okay?" Kanade asked hesitantly. To his knowledge, Mahiru had never skipped school before. She didn't seem like someone who would take such liberties.
"Of course, it's fine," Mahiru replied with a shake of her head. She no longer felt the need to push herself to be a perfect "good girl." She knew there was someone who cared for her regardless.
"How's your body? Feeling any better?" she asked, concern evident in her tone.
Kanade sat up slowly, testing his strength with a few careful movements.
"…Not bad," he said after a moment. The lingering weakness was noticeable but nowhere near as debilitating as last night when his body had felt completely disconnected from his awareness.
He yawned several times, shook his head, and then began unbuttoning his shirt.
"Yah!" A startled and flustered yelp broke the silence.
Kanade, still half-asleep, barely registered the sound and continued undressing. Once the shirt was off and tossed aside, he noticed Mahiru's reaction—her eyes were tightly shut, her body trembling slightly. Her flushed cheeks gave her an almost doll-like appearance, innocent and… cute.
"W-why are you suddenly taking off your shirt…?" Mahiru stammered, covering her face with both hands. Her fingers parted slightly, allowing her to sneak a peek before immediately shutting her eyes again. "It was understandable yesterday, but why today as well…?"
"Uh…" Kanade let his hands fall onto the blanket, looking puzzled. "Because… I need to change clothes? So I have to take it off first, right?"
"…"
"And… I mean, I'm a guy. It's not like it's a big deal if someone sees me, right?" Kanade added with a casual shrug.
After all, for boys, it wasn't much different from being at the pool. As long as they weren't completely undressed, there wasn't really an issue.
"But… it's a problem for me…" Mahiru admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Uh…" Kanade was momentarily speechless.
Thanks to her reaction, his grogginess began to fade, and he felt a little more awake.
"Well, even if that's the case, isn't it something you'll have to get used to eventually? Summer's coming soon. If you're this sensitive, won't it be impossible for you to go to the pool?" Kanade pointed out.
He wondered how Mahiru managed summers if she was this uncomfortable around men's semi-nudity. Perhaps she'd never gone to a pool or beach for fun? In school, swimming lessons at Shuchiin's high school division were segregated by gender, and he assumed it was the same in middle school.
Still, summer and pools went hand in hand. Kanade found himself looking forward to the idea of visiting one. Sharing that experience with Mahiru would undoubtedly make it even better. But if she was this self-conscious around shirtless men, he couldn't imagine how she'd handle a pool environment. He might even have to consider renting out a private pool just for her comfort.
"Ugh… pool… um… I-I'll try my best…" Mahiru stammered, looking flustered.
The thought hadn't crossed her mind that Kanade might already be planning to invite her to a pool during summer. And now, seeing her current embarrassing state, she worried she wouldn't be able to make him happy.
That's it! she resolved internally. Before summer arrived, she would ask Kanade to help her "train" and build up her tolerance.
With a determined glint in her eye, Mahiru steeled herself, her mind already set.