I'm so sorry, Kaoru.
I am not supportive of Ryūen-kun's plan, but they are for the merit of our class. Henceforth, I can't do otherwise but keep quiet that Ryūen-kun intentionally framed Sūdo-kun in your class.
I really hope that doesn't affect our friendship. And I feel so bad for not telling you anything about it. I hope you can forgive me.
I want to apologize to you just in advance about everything. I should go to your class after the lesson ends. Yes, Hiyori, you should do that.
After the lessons ended, I made my way to Class C. Although, I could see many people of my class and the one of others being shocked because of something. Although I am not sure why.
After all, I have only a few telephone number's collected since the beginning of the school: Ryūen-kun's, Ishizaki-kun's, Albert-kun's, Ibuki-san's, Mei-san's, and that of Kaoru's.
But walking further and further to Class C, I could hear many people talking that Kaoru wasn't present. And once I saw Mei-san, I approached her because I was curious whether that was true.
"Mei-san," I exclaimed.
"Shiina-san," she expressed.
"Has Kaoru been present?" I asked in curiosity.
"Kaoru?" she asked. "Ah, you mean Kurushima-kun, right?" she added.
I simply nodded in return.
"You two are using your first name basis? Ah…how romantic," she exclaimed. Although I wasn't able to hear the last part from her.
"Mei-san, I didn't properly understand the last part. Could you please repeat that?"
"Ah, I am sorry for speaking so quiet. I meant how romantic that the two of you are on a first name basis."
"R-Romantic?" I responded in shock.
The first name basis is romantic? Really? We are simply friends who read two times a week.
I would wish that it could be more. Perhaps three or four times a week, but Kaoru's schedule with the student council is really busy.
I am sad because of that, but that doesn't imply necessarily romance, right?
No…I am not sure.
In the first place, I don't know how love feels since I never was in love to begin with even once.
I only have read in books that your heart is supposed to beat faster and that you'll feel happy once that happens. You are nervous around that person and constantly thinking about them.
When I am around Kaoru, I feel happy. Although I haven't felt any instances of my heartbeat increasing or of any of the other aspects.
Perhaps I am simply misinformed about the signs of how you feel when you experience love.
Yesn't, I am not sure.
"Shiina-san?" I heard Mei-san speaking my name.
"Ah, Mei-san, I apologize, I was absent in my thoughts."
"Nothing to worry, Shiina-san. And also I haven't answered your question, right? I am sorry I was just so fascinated that the two of you speak on the first name basis," she said.
"I kind of wish that Hirata-kun would also call me Mei, just like Kurushima-kun calls you by your first name," Mei-san muttered.
"Ah, sorry for speaking about something unrelated again. Regarding your question, Shiina-san, Kurushima-kun is sick. Sensei told us this morning that he has a fever and will stay for this week in his room."
"Kurushima-kun has fever?" I replied in shock. "So that's why people seem to speak about Kaoru the whole day. Thank you for informing me, Mei-san."
"No worries, Shiina-san. Do you plan on visiting him?"
"Yes, if he's sick, he should better rest. I'll try cooking something for him. Although my cooking is really bad, and I don't want to make his condition worse with my cooking…"
I muttered depressingly, knowing that I can't cook something good for one of the few friends I have.
"I'll help you, Shiina-san."
"Huh?"
"I'll help you with cooking. And while I am at it, I'll teach you the fundamental principles of cooking."
"Mei-san, you would do that?" I exclaimed in a happy tone.
"Yes, helping a friend in need is the least thing I can do. Besides, I am sure Kurushima-kun will be really glad if you give him your homemade cooking. I am definitely sure of it."
"Thank you once again, Mei-san. If it really doesn't bother you, I'll be accepting your offer then."
"It doesn't bother me a bit, Shiina-san. Well then, how about we go to the convenience store first and buy what you'll be cooking, Kurushima-kun?"
"Yes, let's do that," I answered.
For the following next three hours, Mei-san intensely explained, showed, and helped me how to cook. And now we have reached a new highway point.
"Finished," I exclaimed happily, looking at the four layered food I have cooked for Kurushima-kun.
"Mei-san, thank you, I appreciate your help."
I made a respectful bow in front of her, causing her to startle.
"Shiina-san, please raise your head. There's no need to do a bow," she exclaimed nervously.
"Okay," I replied, slowly returning to my original posture back.
"Well, I guess I should go now. I still have some homework's left to do."
"Ah, okay. Sorry for keeping you here so long, Mei-san. I'll definitely make it up to you one day."
"Okay," she responded with a smile, leaving my disastrous room.
Well then, I should go visit Kaoru before the food gets cold. I can clean up my room later.
Without further ado, I left my room and headed with the elevator to the seventh floor, two floors under my floor to room 402, Kaoru's room.
I ringed at the doorbell, waiting for Kaoru to open the door. With each second passing, I thought whether he would be sleeping and if I am potentially disturbing him currently.
But my worries were unnecessarily, it seemed. The door opened thirty seconds later.
"Ah, Hiyori," he began to say my name in a quiet tone. "Come in," he added.
"Please excuse me," I answered, taking my shoes off, entering his room.
The last time when I was here was when we were watching the movie Shutter Island. We also wanted to watch "The Great Gatsby" but it seems like the school doesn't sell them here.
Perhaps I am mistaken, but neither of us has found anything until now.
But there was something else bothering me. It was Kaoru's expression that I could see for one small moment when he opened the door. His expression in that moment showed pain and sadness but instantly had gone away.
Perhaps I am also simply interpreting more than necessarily, but I am not sure. Anyway, I shouldn't concentrate myself on that aspect anymore.
"I have brought you something," I said, causing him to look at the small bag I had with me where the homemade food from me and the thermos flask was.
"You didn't have to," he answered, slightly flushing, I think.
I'm not sure, though, if that's true. But that's probably me exaggerating and interpreting everything more than necessarily again, right?
Yeah…
Why should he even flush because of me?
"Thank you, Hiyori, I appreciate it," he responded, a small smile forming his face, causing me to suddenly turn to the left.
Why am I even turning around? And why are my cheeks feeling so hot?
"No worries, I did it because I wanted to. Are you feeling alright, Kaoru?" I exclaimed.
"Not really. I couldn't sleep since yesterday anymore," he responded. "Lately there have been too many things on my mind troubling me. But aside from that, I am just feeling hot and sweat because of the fever."
"I see. Have you already eaten something?" I asked worryingly.
"No, not really," he answered.
"Would you like to eat now? If not, the food might get cold and you would need to heat it up if you want to eat it hot."
"I guess I could. But does it not bother you, Hiyori? I have a fever, so I might possibly infect you?" he asked, in a worried tone.
"Well, don't worry," I reassured Kaoru. "I'm not too worried about that," I exclaimed.
I could see him simply looking astonishing at me. "Are you really sure? I really don't want to infect you, though," he said.
Kaoru is really considerate. But honestly, I don't think I will be infected so easily. Although I might have bad stamina, my immune system is pretty good.
I am only one or two times a year sick, so I have a bit of confidence in not getting sick in general.
"I am quite confident in my immune system, Kaoru. So don't worry," I said in a tone with excessive motivation.
"Ah….sure," he answered, slightly bewildered upon my motivated response.
Is he freaked out because of my motivated response?
Ah…that's so embarrassing.
And why am I to begin with so motivated?
"Could I please use your toilet?" I asked, wanting to steer the awkward mood between us away, knowing the one who created it was me.
"Sure, but you don't need to ask for my permission, Hiyori," Kaoru said, slightly smiling, causing me again to get my cheeks red, I believe.
"O-okay," I answered, leaving the room, entering the toilet.
I looked at myself for a small moment in the reflection and could see how red my cheeks have become.
And I couldn't hold myself but to remember that I have previously showered here even one time due to the unique circumstances that arrived at that time.
Ah…why am I now becoming so embarrassed about the fact that I have showered here, when at that time I didn't even have any ounce of embarrassment.
Is what Mei-san said perhaps really true?
I mean it's more or less about two and a half months already, but only now I am experiencing that whole embarrassment, that I couldn't feel during these two and a half months whenever I was around Kaoru.
We could read easily together and talk, but now, it's a bit harder. I can still talk normally, but I also feel plenty of embarrassment whenever I say something wrong.
And…
I even think that he's abnormally cute.
That's not how normal friends are supposed to be, right?
Perhaps there really is more, and I am simply denying my emotions out of the fear that once I admit them to Kaoru he might distance himself from me, because he might not be able to return my feelings that I have for him.
Hiyori…
You are simply overthinking everything again.
And if not…
Well…
I am not sure…
I should go perhaps back. I have been for more than three minutes in the toilet already.
But as I wanted to move away, I could see a large crack on the edge of the mirror. It was a crack as large as a hairline fracture or even larger, visible to everyone who looked at it.
But…
There are plenty of other cracks here. I did not see them. Are they also new?
It seems like Kaoru is pretty careless, huh?
Nevermind…
It's nothing important.
Unlocking the door, I went back to the room already, seeing Kaoru gracefully eating the homemade food I prepared, alongside drinking the soup.
"I'm back," I exclaimed, him shortly nodding at me.
"Is it delicious?" I asked, wanting to know his perspective about my cooking.
"Yes, it's very delicious," he stated, continuing to eat the food further with a slight little smile.
After a few minutes, he stopped. "I'm sorry, that's as much as I can eat."
"No worries, you are sick, so you can't naturally eat all of that," I responded.
"I'll be right back," he said, walking to the toilet.
In the meanwhile, I looked at the food I cooked curiously. I didn't taste it, but I want to know now if it really is delicious.
Although Mei-san was teaching me the principles of cooking, I restrained from her help as much as I could.
So…
Perhaps I should taste it.
I slowly took with the chopsticks I had in my bag, a small portion of the food I had cooked for him.
And at the moment, I had it in my mouth and chewed it…
I couldn't help but spit the food out because it tasted so bad…
I was perplexed.
How could this happen? I followed the recipe accordingly, and Mei-san was the whole time looking over me.
I don't know where I failed, but I can't believe I presented him with such horrible tasting food. Especially when he's sick.
Oh…
What have I done…
I really am bad at cooking…
I should take a cooking course for five thousand Private Points, learn the fundamental principles, and cook him then again something.
Yeah…
But while I was bothered in my thoughts about my cooking, I could hear him several times coughing in the bath.
Hopefully, that isn't because of the food I cooked…
Two minutes later, he came out, looking a bit more pale than before.
"Are you okay?" I asked worryingly because he was really pale right now.
"Yeah…I think I'll be going sleeping," he said. "That is, if I even can sleep today…"
I heard him muttering in a depraving tone, looking really exhausted right now.
Was he trying to act tough in front of me? It seems like his condition is even worse than I initially thought…
I should help him somehow…But how? Neither my cooking is good, nor can I bring him some antibiotics since he already has them in his room.
I am simply bothering him right now…
Ah…
I think I might have an idea.
"Kaoru, how about you use my lap as a pillow?" I asked, completely embarrassed of what I was just saying right now.
"Come again?" he asked, confused.
"Ahm…how about you use my lap as a pillow? My food isn't particularly good, and if I can help you sleeping in any way, I would gladly help you."
"In these books I was reading lately, it was said that this would help and relax yourself," I explained.
"Is it no good?" I asked sadly, knowing that I can't even help my friend one bit. I was looking at the ground sadly, not knowing what else to do to ease his troubles.
"No, no, I was just surprised, nothing more. If it doesn't bother you, I'll be using your lap as a pillow."
"I am glad," I replied, a small little smile forming my face.
I decided to go on his bed, sitting with my back against the wall, while he embarrassingly decided to lay on my lap.
I was a bit embarrassed but also determined helping Kaoru.
"I'll be sleeping, okay? If you want, you can still stop now. It doesn't really bother me," he began to say this, though it couldn't stop me.
"Nope, don't worry, I am not worried. Please just try to sleep…"
"And…if it doesn't bother you…can I touch and play with your hair?" I asked embarrassingly, causing his pupils to suddenly look at me in shock.
But a few seconds later, he closed his eyes and became a bit more relaxed
"Okay, if that's what you want. After all, I am using your lap for a few hours, and it's the least I can do for you," he exclaimed, looking at me with his red eyes softly.
"It reminds me a bit of my mother," he said. "She also used to play with my hair," he added.
"Your mother? And used to play?" I asked, in a curious tone.
"Ah, since I have gotten a bit older, that doesn't happen anymore. I miss it quite a lot," he laughed, a warm smile forming his face.
"I see. I also loved it when I was younger." I responded with a smile, causing him also to smile slightly.
"Is that so? We have quite the things in common," he said.
"Seems to be the case, Kaoru. But anyways, you should concentrate yourself on sleeping. You have a fever, Kaoru."
"Okay," he simply responded, beginning to keep quiet.
After forty minutes were over, I wanted to see if he was sleeping or not, and called his name out. "Kaoru? Are you sleeping?" I asked.
No reply came, so he must be sleeping. I am glad that I was able to help him sleep. Especially when he said already that he was having lately sleeping problems.
I couldn't help but admire his defenseless, beautiful, and cute face. With each second, I began to inspect his face and caress with his hair, I couldn't help but slightly flush and get embarrassed.
I felt comfortable despite him laying for more than forty minutes at my lap. I did not know why, but I feel like I had now even a more definitive answer than previously.
Although it was more of an intuitive answer, I could more or less say that I might like this boy, who currently is laying at my lap really much. And whenever I am expressing these thoughts since today, I feel always embarrassed.
I was a bit more certain that this might be love of what I am experiencing. While I was playing with his hair, I decided to check his forehead and could feel the warmness of him.
I decided to lay his head against a pillow while soaking one of the towels in his bath with water since I did not find a damp washcloth here. Or perhaps I am simply inattentive and did not notice it anywhere.
Anyways, I clenched the small towel until every ounce of water was dropping, then folded it several times so it would be perfectly suit on his forehead. I walked again to his bed, lifting his head and placing him under my lap.
I really don't know why I was continuing it at this point…
It wasn't necessarily anymore…
But…
I liked the feeling of his head laying at my lap while I was able to caress his smooth, lengthy, and beautiful hair with my fingers. It was something I liked really much.
As such, I continued to touch his hair while occasionally having my eyes closed, staying in the room for at least two more hours, until I saw from the clock the current time.
It was already soon to be thirty before eight pm. I did not really mind the time, but I knew that I needed to do something before leaving his room.
And that is…
To cook him another meal…
I emphasize, a good meal…
One that would not make you feel like spitting it out. So I began with my task of cooking him another meal that would be good.
As such, I did the contents of my best ability, presenting at the table two sandwiches, an omelet, having the description 'Bon appetite', one fried egg, salad and tomatoes, and foremost a delicious chicken soup.
Once I was finished cooking, I put everything on the table, including the small note I had written for Kaoru.
I apologized in the note for my previous cooking and hoped these dishes could potentially compensate it and give him some energy.
Before leaving, I looked at him once again, with a small throb of a heartbeat arriving at that precise time.
"I think…"
"I might like you, Kaoru…"
I muttered, leaving the room, closing the door softly, with a small smile forming my face.
.
.
.
A/N: A Short Story about Hiyori visiting Kurushima when he was "sick".
I tried my best writing in the perspective about Hiyori and can safely say, it´s quite the nice Chapter. And with this, Volume 1 is finished.
Volume 2 will be about the two special exams. I think it´ll be pretty amusing, since I made some notes on what the Island Exam is going to be around estimatingly.
Also, as mentioned one or two Chapter´s ago, I would love to hear your opinion regarding this Short Story of Hiyori that I have written.
It would be highly appreciated.
Please leave a comment and have a great day.