[Seeing you wake up, she picked up the water cup beside her. As you tried to get up to take the water, she gently pushed you back onto the bed.]
A memory scene appeared.
Ibuki Yuko's small hand, through the quilt, pressed on Minami Yuuki's chest. Usually, such a slender arm could never push down Minami Yuuki's firm chest, but now, weakened by a high fever, Minami Yuuki was easily pushed back onto the bed with a gentle nudge from Ibuki Yuko.
He looked at the girl with puzzled eyes.
If she didn't let him get up, how was he supposed to drink water?
Ibuki Yuko brought the cup to her face, took out a spoon, scooped some water, and placed it at Minami Yuuki's lips.
The water was just the right temperature, neither cold nor hot. Minami Yuuki's eyes glanced at the thermos by the bed, clearly showing that the girl had been mixing hot water from the thermos to get the right temperature, waiting for him to wake up.
"Thank you, I feel much better," Minami Yuuki said after drinking half of the water.
"I know," the girl said calmly.
"How do you know?" Minami Yuuki asked, surprised.
"I took your temperature, it's 37.2 degrees, you're almost better."
The girl reached into her pocket and took out an electronic thermometer.
Minami Yuuki didn't realize something was off at first. It was only after she put the thermometer away that he noticed something unusual.
"...If I'm not mistaken, this is just a thermometer, not a forehead or ear thermometer," he asked.
"Mm." Ibuki Yuko touched his forehead, wondering why he was asking such a question, as a thermometer didn't look anything like a temperature gun.
"Since it's not a forehead or ear thermometer that gives a quick reading, how did you measure my temperature?" Minami Yuuki asked the real question.
The girl thought for a moment, decided that it was difficult to explain just with words, and chose to reenact the process.
She warmed her hands inside her collar, then placed the thermometer in her palm, and reached into Minami Yuuki's quilt.
Minami Yuuki felt two small hands touch his waist, move up his chest, and place the thermometer under his armpit.
"Like this," Ibuki Yuko said, withdrawing her hands.
"…"
If it had been Asano Nao doing this, she would have been blushing and too embarrassed to face him.
But Ibuki Yuko's expression remained unchanged, as if she had just done something very ordinary.
She climbed onto the bed, crossing over Minami Yuuki without hesitation, and moved to the other side of the bed.
The girl knelt beside him, holding down his arm with the thermometer to ensure an accurate reading.
Minami Yuuki turned his head to look at her. If Asano Nao made him feel the heat and excitement of love, Ibuki Yuko made him feel the warmth and tranquility of love.
Even after marriage, Asano Nao would still be like a shy girl, whereas Ibuki Yuko, even before their relationship was established, behaved like a long-time wife.
Perhaps "love" wasn't the right word, and "maternal love" would be more appropriate?
Although that word didn't quite fit her petite figure.
Minami Yuuki's eyes swept over Ibuki Yuko's upper body, and he shook his head regretfully.
"Hmm?" Ibuki Yuko noticed his gaze.
"It's okay, Japanese dolls are also flat and short!" Minami Yuuki comforted her.
Ibuki Yuko didn't understand his words, decided it wasn't important, and ignored it.
The electronic thermometer only needed half a minute to measure. She warmed her hands on her stomach, reached into Minami Yuuki's collar, and took out the thermometer.
"37.0 degrees. Hungry? I made porridge."
Minami Yuuki nodded, and Ibuki Yuko again crossed over his body, scooped some porridge from the rice cooker, and placed it by the bed, helping him sit up.
"By the way, how did you get in?" Minami Yuuki remembered another question.
"I got a spare key from the administrator."
The young girl used the edge of the porcelain spoon to skim the surface of the white porridge, scooping a shallow spoonful. Lowering her rosy, delicate lips, she lightly sipped from the spoon. The porridge was slightly hot, just the right temperature. She brought the spoon to Minami Yuuki's mouth.
After taking a couple of spoonfuls, Minami Yuuki continued to ask, "How did the administrator give you the key?"
"I told her you had a fever and I couldn't reach you. I said I was your mother and needed to take care of you. She laughed for a long time and then opened the door for me," Ibuki Yuko replied.
What kind of administrator is this? How could she believe it so easily? But looking at Ibuki Yuko's doll-like face, Minami Yuuki suddenly wasn't surprised anymore. The girl's innocent and harmless appearance made it hard for anyone to be suspicious.
"I have something to ask you," Ibuki Yuko said, quickly feeding Minami Yuuki.
"What is it?" Minami Yuuki asked.
Half of the porridge was already gone. Ibuki Yuko put down the spoon and placed the bowl on the bedside table. She then took off her shoes, knelt by the bed, and leaned toward Minami Yuuki.
Her delicate face was so close to Minami Yuuki's that her small, fair nose almost touched his.
The girl's clear eyes were like a serene pool in a deep mountain in summer. The pure mountain water seemed to flow from her gaze, extinguishing the low fever on Minami Yuuki's forehead.
"It is a normal cold, not rebellion, right? It seems hard to die from a cold, and it would be very painful," the girl said in a clear voice, her lips parting and her breath hitting Minami Yuuki's nose.
Ibuki Yuko wasn't intentionally being seductive, but her every move, every blink, and every breath made Minami Yuuki's heart swell with joy.
His heart itched uncontrollably, and the low fever on his forehead reignited in his chest. The only water source that could extinguish this flame was the girl herself.
He gently lifted his head, touching her nose with his own. This minimal contact, like a drop of water under the scorching sun, only deepened his longing.
He answered the girl, "Of course, Yuko is a good mother, isn't she?"
"Yes." Ibuki Yuko's eyes slightly narrowed, a smile seemingly long absent from her face appearing.
Minami Yuuki felt his chest throbbing intensely. He continued, "But if Yuko-mama loved me a little more, it would be even better."
"What should I do?" Ibuki Yuko blinked.
"A kiss," Minami Yuuki couldn't hold back, revealing his goal too soon. He hadn't yet thought of a suitable excuse or any twisted logic.
Ibuki Yuko didn't question or hesitate. She lowered her face even further, her soft lips pressing down.
[Ibuki Yuko meticulously took care of you. Her overly intimate yet natural actions made your heart flutter. The girl's emotions weren't gathered in her chest, making her shy or annoyed. Instead, they were spread throughout her body, manifesting as her unguarded, non-resistant closeness to you.]
[Unable to suppress your surging love, you deceived her into giving you a kiss.]