CH 38

Chapter 38: Nursing.

It was morning, ahead of summer vacation. I was changing into my uniform when my smartphone rang on my desk.

I was in the middle of buttoning my shirt, when Sara Fujioka was displayed on the screen, so naturally I stopped everything to read it.

(I’m sorry but I wont see you this morning. I feel like I have a cold, so I’m taking a day off.)

(How is the cold? Do you have a fever or a cough?)

(My fever is 38.6°C(101°F) . I don’t have a cough, but I have a headache. I’m just going to quietly sleep.)

(Okay. Do you have any cold pads, or medicine? Do you have something easy to eat?)

( I don’t have any medicine, but I do have a cup of udon noodles, so that will work.)

(Alright. When I’m done with school, I’ll deliver you supplies, so please contact me if you want something.)

(You sure? It’s bad if I rely on you too much.)

Since the first time we’ve met, this kind of reluctance hasn’t changed. Despite that I insisted, I was a little pushy when it came to Sara.

(You have no right to veto. I’m going)

If I must, I will make you forcibly healthy. If I don’t do this amount she might not be OK.

So I was a little relieved when she surrendered saying (Thank you, I’m rescued)

“And that’s why I need to take a day off from student council work.”

Sara takes precedent over it! I told Yoko the first thing in the morning, and she slowly nodded and said “Okay. . .I’ll tell the president.”

If I’m honest, I’d prefer if I could have taken a day off from school, but I know it isn’t a good enough excuse. Even if there was a mystical door that could take me to her, Sara would be really worried if I showed up during school time.

“What about Sara-chan’s family? Double Income family?”

“Ah, yeah, they both work. Looks like they won’t be home until late.”

“I see, that’s worrisome.”

To prevent crime The fact that Sara is living alone is being kept as a secret.

Normally she is fine, but at times like this living alone would be lonely. Especially when you are only 16 years old.

“Don’t take advantage of a weak child.”

“I told you before, it’s not like that.”

As usual, Yoko seems to think I’m in love with Sara. Since the student council president incident, the sexual harassment remarks have decreased a little, and I feel that the number of times we talk about my and Sara’s relationship has increased. Or rather, it’s definitely increased.

No matter how many times I deny it, it feels like she just says Yeah, yeah, and it’s always being swept away. It’s a little irritating.

“As a friend I’m simply worried.”

“Eh, well. So then if I was all alone and confined to my bed, would Shiori go through the trouble of making sure I’m okay?”

“I’ll never go.”

“Ahaha, See!”

Don’t See! It’s not like that.

For Sara it’s a good idea. She lives alone, is cute, is younger, and is my favorite character!

I don’t love or anything like that!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ice pads, cooling sheets, cold medicine, sports drinks. Also canned mandarin oranges, canned peaches, pudding, jelly, along with eggs and green onions for making porridge. The meal could be kept in the fridge so she should be able to eat it whenever.

I rang the intercom from the first floor, I hope it’d be okay if she could do this much. After a little lazy voice answered, the auto lock door was opened for me.

I was wondering what to do if she was asleep, but I got lucky.

“Hello, Sara. . .Still sick?”

The one who greeted me at the entrance was Sara, with a red face and weak looks. I’m sorry, I may have forced her to overdo it.

“I’m sorry, you can go to sleep again. But first, I brought medicine and cold pads, so please use it immediately.”

“Thank you. . .”

I escorted Sara to her futon and placed a chill pad on her forehead. The ice pad I bought was already cold, so I can use it right away. It’d be too cold to put it on her directly, so I made sure to wrap it in a towel first before resting it on her head. Seeing her expression softened made it obvious it worked.

“For medicine. When was the last time you ate?”

“. . . About 11:30.”

“Well, then you should eat something light first. Do you want pudding, jelly, peach cans, or mandarin oranges?”

“. . .I want to eat peaches.”

I didn’t think she’d want to eat. It’s good, apparently she has an appetite. Giving her a “Wait a minute. So I borrowed her kitchen.” leaving her in bed.

I put the supplies in the fridge, opened the canned peaches, poured the peaches out onto a glass bowl, making sure not to give to much so it’d be a comfortable portion. I put them on a tray along with medicine and water. Then I carried it to the bedroom.

“Sorry for the wait. Can you please stand up?”

“Yeah. . .”

She can’t eat lying down, so I supported her back as she slowly raised her body. The back I touched was hot and moist from her sweat.

I sat down to her level as I presented the bowl of peaches, though she just vacantly looked at it. I wonder if it’s be awkward to feed it to her. I stab a peach onto the fork and brought it to her mouth, she simply opened her mouth and ate it.

“. . .Delicious.”

“—————–!!”

This is nursing! I’m nursing!

She smiled a little after saying it was delicious, that shot through me. 

My senses like always are scattered from her cuteness. The destructive power is outstanding, and I have no counter play.

(Don’t take advantage of a weak child.)

I think that happens in a “Nursing Event” in a game, but of course I won’t do that.

Before the nursing event I thought. “Why would you do that to a sick person? In the first place, I don’t feel like that for her.” I realize now why Yoko meant..

The destructive power of her cuteness has increased greatly.

I understand. Yes I understand.

She trusts me, moistened eyes, cheeks that are red, a burning body, so weak it makes me want to protect her. It’s no wonder my love has greatly increased.

Well, I don’t think I’ll do anything because I don’t have any romantic feelings!

I’m really excited, but this is because my heart is trembling as my favorite character is being precious ! !

Sara finished eating the peaches and took the medicine. I hope this will make things a little easier.

I put the tray on her side table and encouraged Sara to lie down, though before that could happen she grabbed my shirt at my waist.

“. . .Is Shiori-san going home?”

She asked in a lonely voice, her head tilting onto my shoulder, I couldn’t keep up with her.

Perhaps she doesn’t have the physical strength to cling, but her hands are turned to an extent where she is leaning against me.

Her body got hot. The heat from a weeping Sara, and her scent of sweat softly rose, my head went dizzy as she nestled against me.

I unconsciously swallowed.

“I’ll be here.”

She gave a slight faint reply, muttering “I’m glad.” onto my shoulder, I put her head to my neck to spoil in a small embrace. Through her shirt, I felt a shallow sigh. It’s hot and sweet, and something. . .Was bursting.

I grabbed her shoulder, making her leave my embrace, lying her down slowly.

She was comfortable as a cat. I put my hand on Sara’s cheek as she buried her head into the pillow, I looked down from above, but she didn’t seem to know what appearance I had.

With her eyes closed, she rubbed my hand against her cheek. Comfortably muttering “Cold. . .”

Finally, her head was chilled. I understood what I was doing, and my body began to have a cold sweat.’

“G-Good night. . .”

I escaped from the bedroom. The door closed and I immediately hugged myself and collapsed onto the floor.

What did I just do? What on earth did I try to do to that child, to Sara!?

I couldn’t believe it, I don’t want to believe it. No way, I would want that. It was the first time the desire to ignore reason came. Even in my previous life and present life. At that time, when I pushed her down, my face was dyed with desire. I’m glad her eyes were closed!

(Don’t take advantage of a weak child.)

Yoko’s joke can’t be laughed at. 

I was just about to reach out to her. To try and touch a weakened Sara without consent.

I always said it wasn’t love, but the main excuse was because I didn’t want to touch her. But I can’t make that excuse anymore. I realized I couldn’t.

–   –  Is this love?!

The other person is more important than anything else, I want to be by her side, I love her. This feeling of greed and ferocity is enough to ask for all of her. Something like that, could I tame?

It’s a one sided love. Though this isn’t the love I knew. I thought love was more fun, and sparkling. What is this!

“I didn’t want to know. . .”

If I didn’t notice it, we would have been happy together.

Harboring these nuances, while being guilty of wanting those things. From now on, I wonder how I should act by her side? In the first place, is it okay for me to be by her side?

This despair was a bottomless chasm. I couldn’t move for a while.