Disease and Medicine

On the way back to the dormitory, Kushida followed about half a step behind Hoshino.

Along the way, Hoshino did not speak to Kushida again. Instead, he operated his phone. Kushida cautiously stole glances at his face from the side. He had returned to his usual gentle, smiling expression, but Kushida had just witnessed how, even with barely any change in that smile, the cold, sharp gaze in his eyes alone had been enough to crush her will.

"Kushida."

Kushida suddenly came back to her senses and realized that, without her noticing, they had already arrived in front of the dormitory building.

"We'll part ways here. You'll be fine getting back to your room on your own, right?"

"No problem..."

"Good."

Hoshino raised a hand to indicate that she should go first. Kushida hesitated for a few seconds before walking into the building. Even as she walked, she could still feel Hoshino's gaze following her, like sharp spikes pressed against her back.

She could not help quickening her pace, stumbling into the elevator in a panic. She did not even dare look back, blindly feeling for the button and repeatedly pressing the door-close button with all her strength.

It was not until she fled back to her room that Kushida felt slightly at ease. But the moment she relaxed, her legs immediately gave out. She collapsed onto the floor with her back against the door, tears spilling from her eyes once more.

She curled up, wrapping both arms around her legs and burying her face between her knees.

"Why... did this happen? Why... did I have to go through something like this...?"

Her sobs were laced with pain and regret.

Yet no one was destined to answer her questions.

"Ring-ring—"

Hearing the ringtone, Kushida slowly opened her eyes.

"I'm..."

After a few seconds, her memories caught up with her, and she slowly understood the situation.

Last night, frightened, exhausted, and sleepy, she had actually fallen asleep sitting by the door.

Sleeping in such an awkward position had naturally left her entire body aching. On top of that, she had been soaked through yesterday, so catching a cold now was only to be expected.

Kushida felt as if her body were burning, her throat scorched as though on fire, and her head splitting with pain. She wanted to stand, but could not muster even the slightest strength.

"Ring-ring—"

The phone continued to ring. It took Kushida's sluggish mind another two seconds or so to realize that this was not an alarm she had set, but someone calling her.

Lowering her head, Kushida laboriously pulled her phone from her skirt pocket. She stared at the name on the screen for a while before finally pressing the answer button.

"...Hello?"

"Kushida. Thank goodness, you finally answered."

Hoshino's voice came from the phone. Hearing his calm tone, Kushida's emotions unexpectedly settled.

"Are you still in your room?"

"...Yes. What is it?"

"Then can you open the door? I'm right outside."

Kushida was startled. She turned and stared at the door she had just been leaning against. On the other side of it stood that boy.

"...Wait a moment." Gritting her teeth, Kushida braced herself against the wall and struggled to her feet before opening the door.

With a backpack slung over his left shoulder and a bag in his right hand, Hoshino stood outside looking at Kushida. Merely opening the door had drained most of her strength, so she simply leaned against the wall beside her and said listlessly, "Morning, Hoshino."

"Morning? Kushida, do you know what time it is?"

Kushida froze. Her curtains were drawn, leaving the room dim enough that she could not tell the time. She could only turn to look at the time displayed on her phone: 16:13.

"Seriously...?" Kushida murmured. "Did I sleep for an entire day?"

"It certainly seems that way." Hoshino walked inside and casually shut the door behind him. "It looks like you just woke up and still haven't figured out what's going on?"

"Yeah, someone's phone call woke me up."

"You look terrible," Hoshino pointed out. "And you're still wearing what you had on last night. You didn't shower or change after getting back to your room? Sleeping in wet clothes will make you catch a cold."

"And whose fault was that..." Kushida replied weakly. "Thanks to you, I really did catch a cold."

Hoshino set the bag at his feet, took a long stride over to Kushida, and raised the back of his hand to feel her forehead.

"Y-you, don't touch me..."

"Hey, this isn't just a 'little' cold." Hoshino frowned slightly. The girl's temperature was frighteningly high. Hoshino even thought it was a miracle that she could remain conscious enough to hold a conversation.

"Ugh..."

Kushida was not actually all that awake right now. The drowsiness brought on by a high fever was not so easy to overcome. Hoshino understood that perfectly well, so he decisively made the choice for her. "Change your clothes. I'll take you to the infirmary."

"There's no need..."

"There absolutely is. You're seriously sick."

As Hoshino spoke, he reached out to support her arm, only to meet an extraordinarily firm resistance.

"No..." Kushida leaned weakly against Hoshino and lifted her head to look at him, her tone resolute. "I absolutely can't let anyone see me like this."

From the hand clutching his arm tightly, Hoshino could feel her determination. Kushida Kikyo was Class D's little angel, a famous social butterfly in their grade, but one of the foundations of all that was her cute appearance. If anyone saw her in this miserable state, and then dug up something deeper, all her previous efforts would be wasted.

"I understand." Hoshino nodded. "I guarantee that I won't let anyone see this embarrassing side of you, but you have to listen to me about everything else."

"Okay."

Kushida agreed without hesitation. After all, she knew very well that if Hoshino wanted to do something, she had no ability to resist him.

"Then take off your clothes."

"..."

"You need to take a shower first. No matter what, you don't want to stay this filthy, do you?"

After confirming that she could stand steadily, Hoshino let go of her. He went into the bathroom, adjusted the water temperature, and began filling the tub. When he turned back and saw Kushida still staring blankly at him, he said irritably, "What, are you waiting for me to undress you?"

"N-no!" Kushida hurriedly replied.

"To be honest, I'm pretty good at taking girls' clothes off."

"...I don't need your help!"

Kushida rolled her eyes and slowly made her way into the bathroom while supporting herself against the wall. Only as she began undoing her clothes did she realize that what she was wearing was still Hoshino's jacket.

Under the jacket, she wore only her underwear. She had taken off her soaked shirt last night. Kushida had only just noticed that herself.

"Y-you, get out already!"

"What are you embarrassed about? Didn't I already touch you yesterday?"

"...Pervert!"

Kushida muttered a curse, though she had no choice but to admit that Hoshino was right. She did not make much of a fuss, taking off the jacket and placing it in the laundry basket. She glared at Hoshino, and seeing that he still had no intention of leaving, she hardened her heart, closed her eyes, and reached to take off her skirt.

"I'm going to buy you some medicine. I'll be back soon."

Hoshino's voice fell, followed by the sound of the door closing. Kushida opened her eyes, stared toward the bathroom door for a while, then muttered, "Stinking pervert!"

As she took off her wet, cold clothes, the girl's lovely body was completely revealed. Kushida faced the mirror and stared at the reflection covered in grime.

She raised a hand and wiped a streak across the mirror, first using the shower to briefly wash the dirt from her body before stepping into the bathtub and slowly sinking herself into the perfectly warm water. The comfort of that moment greatly eased her physical suffering.

"I decided long ago..." The girl rested her head against the edge of the bathtub, her brown hair hanging wetly as she murmured expressionlessly, as though convincing herself through the words, "No matter the price, I can never give up..."