CH 48

“Hmm…It’s a common cold. Perhaps your immune system has been weakened by the extreme tension you have been under. Take some cold medicine and rest for a day or two and you should be fine.:

“Thank you.”

I watched in a daze as Nagi and the others conversed.

I had a headache and a feeling of tiredness. My temperature was 38 degrees.

Apparently the doctor was Nagi’s……Shinonome family’s doctor. She’s a kind woman in her sixties. I heard that she was the one who took care of me when I collapsed at Shinonome’s house.

“Then, take care of yourself.”

“Thank you very much.”

The doctor left without saying much. After Nagi saw her off, she came back to the room.

“Thank you, Nagi. …….And I’m sorry. You’re already late for school.”

“No. I’m the one who caused it. …..And also.”

Nagi sat on the edge of the bed. She took my hand and it felt a little cool and comfortable.

“I’ve decided to take today off from school.”

“……For me?”

“Yes. I’ll take care of you today.”

Nagi smiled at me and said so……but I shook my head.

“I can’t bother Nagi any more.”

“If it’s for family, it’s not a nuisance, it’s because I’m worried. …..I don’t think it’s a nuisance in the slightest, so please don’t say that.”

Nagi’s hand gently rubbed the back of my hand. She continued to speak.

“I heard from Mama that it’s hard to live alone while catching a cold. ……Also.”

Nagi’s hand gently stroked my forehead. It’s cold and comfortable, and I can’t help but close my eyes.

“It’s a rule of thumb, though. If I’m not feeling well, I get lonely. I want someone to be by my side. I want someone to hold my hand.”

Her cool hand slipped. The back of her hand was placed on her cheek.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Nagi’s graceful face right beside me.

“……Cold, it’s contagious”

“Fufu. ……You kissed me so many times yesterday, and now you’re saying that?”

I chuckled at Nagi’s words.

“You’re right.”

‘”Yes. ……It’s possible that I may have caught it without realizing it and it may have infected Souta kun.”

Nagi squeezed my hand once as if to wrap it around hers and then stood up.

“Souta kun, do you think you have an appetite? A single bite is fine.”

“……If it’s just a little bit.”

“I understand. I just asked Suzaka san to bring apples, I’m going to peel them. Wait a minute―”

Nagi was about to walk――she stopped.

“……Fufu.”

She smiled and turned her soft gaze toward me.

At the same time, she squeezed my hand back.

I realized. I was reaching out my hand and holding Nagi’s hand.

–As if. It seemed like I didn’t want her to go because I was lonely.

No, it’s wrong to say “as if”. Because I have thought so….at least a little bit.

“It’s okay, Souta kun. I’ll be right back.

“……Please.”

Apparently, I’ve become weaker than I imagined.

Nagi smiled at me. [Yes !] she nodded cheerfully.

◆◆◆

The room was filled with the sound of a clear, soothing ‘shari, shari, shari, shari’

“Yes, it’s done. Souta kun, here, ahhh.”

Nagi picked up an apple on a plate with her fingers and handed it to me.

I wondered whether I should sit down or not…….my vision was still a little wobbly, so I turned on my side and opened my mouth.

I bit into the apple and the refreshing sweetness filled my mouth. This coldness feels good, too.

“Is it good?”

“Yeah. It’s sweet and delicious.”

Nagi repeatedly brought it to my mouth as it was. I was a little embarrassed….but I was more than happy.

“……Fufu. I’m glad.”

Nagi smiled and brought the apple to my mouth again and again.

It would take a lot of time and effort to do that every time. She also peeled the apple.

I felt sorry for that, but…..Nagi was looking at me happily. I couldn’t help but stare back at her.

“……? Ah, I’m sorry. I know it’s inappropriate, but…..um.”

Nagi smiled shyly and spun soft tones from her mouth. 

“I’ve always been spoiled by you. It’s a little refreshing to be able to take care of Souta kun like this…..I’m happy.”

“…..I feel like I’m usually quite spoiled.”

“But you’re still a little hesitant, aren’t you?”

“That’s…..”

It certainly is. Rather than being hesitant, I still feel embarrassed.

“It’s okay.”

The apple was placed against my lips.

“I will take care of you a lot today. Souta kun, I want to spoil you a lot ! Please ask me anything !”

“…..Thanks.”

Saying that, I took another bite of the apple. The sweet and sour taste spread in my mouth.

“Yes ! You’re welcome!”

Hearing Nagi’s words and smile naturally made me feel better.

◆◆◆

“……uta kun, Souta kun.”

I took the medicine and fell asleep again. I was woken up by Nagi.

“……Nagi? What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, I woke you up. But you were sweating a lot in the night, and I thought that if I continued like this, your body would become cold again.”

Nagi told me to get up and…..ah. I’m really sweating a lot. I’m sweating all over my back.

“Just in case, it was a good idea to put a towel on the ground. ……And I also brought a towel and hot water, because you must feel uncomfortable from sweating. How are you feeling?”

“A whole lot better than I was earlier…..Not as good as I was mainly, though. Thanks, Nagi.”

I sat down. Nagi also sat next to me. ….Um.

“Nagi?”

“Please take off your clothes.”

“……Yes?”

Nagi’s words didn’t catch my ear well. No, I could hear her, but my brain couldn’t catch up. I asked back.

I must have misheard her.

However, my thoughts are――

“Or would you prefer that I undress you?”

With those words, my thoughts were denied.

A silence fell over the place. Then, Nagi let out a voice, [Ah] and her face became redder.

“N-no. I don’t mean………anything strange, okay?”

“I’m curious about the pause.”

“…….I was a little curious. Um. Because Souta kun has quite a strong body.”

Nagi said honestly. I couldn’t help but smile. Nagi looked at me and continued to explain in a panic.

“B-beside. I don’t expect you to take off all of your clothes. It would be difficult to wipe the back and so on. A sick person should rest.”

“Y-yeah. I’m also embarrassed to be completely naked.:

It’s embarrassing to take off just the top, but……well, I don’t feel disgusted or anything.

“Then can I ask you to do it for me?”

“Yes ! Of course !”

I felt a little uncomfortable sweating, even for me. I felt a little dizzy, but Nagi supported me as I took off my pajamas. I was so close to Nagi that I could smell her sweet fragrance even though it was such a time.

At the same time, I also……started to feel a little embarrassed.

“I’m sorry. If I smell.”

“No. I don’t mind if it’s Souta kun’s. Really. It’s not that I hate it, I rather like–“

Nagi brings her face closer. I let out a sound and shook my head.

“N-no ! That’s not what I meant ! T-that…it’s different !”

“Y-yeah. Don’t worry, I understand.”

“Ugh…….”

Nagi blushed and hid her face. Her blue eyes peeked through the gap between her fingers.

“……Souta kun is.”

A small murmur. The room is so quiet, however, I can hear it clearly.

“S-Souta kun. Even if I’m a dirty girl and a…..p-pervert. You wouldn’t hate me?”

My field of vision shook…I leaned against the towel folded on my back.

“S-Souta kun !?”

“Nagi. I’m sorry, but I don’t want you to say things that are likely to raise my fever. ……Because it makes my heart pound.”

“I-I’m sorry……?”

I accidentally said that to Nagi. I sat back down.

“……And. I won’t hate you, Nagi.”

“Y-yes ! Me too ! I’m going to wipe your body then.”

“Please.”

Nagi squeezed the towel soaked in hot water, and I turned my back to Nagi.

A hot, but not too hot towel was pressed against my back.

My back is gently rubbed as it is.

“How do you like it….? Would you like it harder?”

“Yeah, a little more…..that’s about it. Thank you.”

My back is rubbed with a good amount of force. It feels very good.

When the towel gets cold, Nagi soaks it in hot water again, squeezes it, and wipes it.

“… When I touch it like this. Souta kun’s back is big.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. ……I’d like to lean here if Souta kun recovers.”

“Whenever I get well. Anytime is fine.”

Then, Nagi took my arm this time as I got her to wipe it while we talked.

“Let’s wipe your hands too. It’s a place that’s surprisingly hard to wipe off.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Nagi wiped my arm from shoulder to arm, and then my hand. 

“……Souta kun. You’re quite muscular, aren’t you?”

Nagi wipes happily. Carefully and gently. Her hand goes all the way between my fingers. A little ticklish.

Then, Nagi suddenly put her palms together.

“……It’s big.”

I guess she’s a little curious. Oh, Nagi let out that voice.

She intertwined her fingers and squeezed them together.

“……This. I can feel Souta-kun’s strength and I like it.”

My vision was distorted again.

Nagi’s smile and each of her gestures is too heartbreaking.

“I-I’m sorry !?”

“…Yeah. Nagi, please understand that you’re cute.”

Nagi wiped my hands even though there was such a happening.

She finished wiping my front and bottom while Nagi brought me a change of clothes, and I felt refreshed.