Higashi Hazuki Fell Ill

[You can walk me here.

I can run the rest of the way myself.]

When I said that to him, I didn’t get any reply.

Instead, he responded with silence, and the umbrella shielding us from the storm showed no sign of being pulled back.

It was very quiet.

Or rather, the only sound in my ears was the rain.

The rain hammered violently against the umbrella, like heavy blows one after another, yet none of them made Ichijou Rikuhiko waver.

So we walked toward my home in silence.

[Yue-nee!]

A childish voice pierced through the rain curtain, reaching us clearly.

More voices followed.

[Yue, what’s wrong with you?]

[Oh my, you’re soaked like this.

Are you alright?]

Ah, I didn’t expect them to notice us even in this weather.

Renako and Keiko saw us returning through the window.

They opened the door and called out in concern.

In the end, even if one were deceived by appearances, it wouldn’t make sense to deliberately show goodwill at a moment like this.

It only made me feel foolish.

[I’m fine, Renako.

Keiko.]

I put on a gentle smile.

[You should hurry back and change your clothes.]

Thanks for letting me go back so considerately.

I had thought they might ask about Ichijou Rikuhiko, like Hanai Ayako would have.

After all, he had escorted me all the way home, which was enough to spark pointless speculation.

[This is my place, Ichijou.]

Only when the door was fully opened did he finally stop moving.

He was still silent, wearing that same indescribable expression.

[Anyway—thank you.]

I said that to him.

[Yeah—]

At last, his face showed a bit of expression.

The same as usual.

[Higashi, hurry inside and change your clothes.

It wouldn’t be good if you caught a chill.]

That was the last thing he said to me.

A very earnest piece of advice.

[Take good care of your body, Higashi.]

[Then, goodbye.]

[Yes, goodbye.]

He was right.

I really should take care of my body.

After all, someday I have to return it to the real Higashi Hazuki.

And I still need to go back myself.

I can’t just rot away here.

I obediently changed my clothes.

The numbness caused by being soaked for so long gradually faded, replaced by a sense of comfort.

At the same time, a wave of drowsiness washed over me.

It was my body urgently signaling that it needed rest.

So tired.

So tired.

It was like alarms were constantly sounding.

Well, that was just my own messy way of translating it.

A jumble of nonsense, really.

Thinking about it, was there anything I still needed to do.

Probably not.

As for homework, tomorrow was the weekend, right.

So there was no need to rush.

I staggered toward the bed.

I actually wanted to just lie down on the floor, but after thinking it over, I chose the comfort of the bed instead.

Then, slowly, I closed my eyes—

[Yue, be careful, okay.]

In childhood, curiosity is the greatest driving force for exploring the outside world.

At the same time, it’s also repeated practice in facing danger.

During moments like that, someone always needs to be watching nearby.

[Don’t stand so high up.

Mom will worry.]

I was lifted down from above.

[Worry?]

Still at an age where everything was a question, even a small sentence was enough to make me ask.

[That’s right.

Not just Mom.

Dad is worried too.

Because Yue is our most precious treasure.]

I was held in her arms, warmth brushing against my cheek.

[Hehe, Mom.]

I let out a bit of affectionate, happy laughter.

[Listen carefully, Yue.

You have to protect yourself well.

Otherwise, Mom and Dad, and everyone who loves you, will feel very sad.]

[Remember, Yue.

As long as there are people who love you, you must cherish your life and live on.]

[And live happily.]

She said gently.

[Mhm, I know, Mom.]

[Good.

Just as expected of my precious child.]

[Hehehehehe.]

So happy.

So happy.

Joy lingered all around.

I couldn’t help but smile.

I was truly happy.

It was a rare happiness.

[Crash—]

A terrifying clap of thunder slightly stirred my consciousness awake.

Even though the windows were tightly shut, a bit of wind still seeped in, carrying cold that slowly invaded my body.

So cold.

I muttered the words indistinctly.

And then—

[Achoo.]

My nose seemed blocked, and my throat felt strange too.

My hand unconsciously pulled the blanket up, covering myself haphazardly.

Then, with my head even heavier, I fell back into sleep.

[It hurts so much, Mom.]

[My head hurts, I’m dizzy.

Why.]

[You’re sick.

Pretty seriously sick.

It’s okay.

Mom is here to take care of you.]

[Where’s Dad?]

[He’ll rush back soon.

He’ll come take care of you, Yue.]

[Don’t fall asleep now.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to see Dad.]

[Mhm.

Yue will stay awake.]

[Yue is the best.]

[The very best.]

But the voices drifted farther away from me, leaving only fragments behind.

[Higashi—]

So he finally came.

Did I manage to wait.

I grabbed the hand that reached toward my forehead.

I opened my eyes and saw a blurry figure.

[Dad—]

Those words slipped out.

[You’ve got quite a high fever, Higashi.]

He said something I couldn’t quite understand, then moved away from my side.

[Don’t go.]

I put a bit of strength into my grip.

[I’m not going anywhere, Higashi.

I’m going to get you some medicine.

You’re sick right now.]

[I’ll be right back.

Don’t worry.]

[Don’t worry.

I’ll be back soon.]

Under those gentle reassurances, I finally let go.

Half asleep, half awake.

[Yue, take this medicine and you’ll feel better.

Then be good and go to sleep.]

[Aren’t we waiting for Dad?]

[Of course we are.

When Yue wakes up, you’ll be able to see Dad.]

[Mhm—]

[Yue—]

The voice was very soft.

[Even if Dad never comes back, he will always love Yue.]

That was something I already knew.

And—

[Higashi—]

His attention shifted from the window to me.

[Ichijou?]

Ichijou Rikuhiko was wearing the same white loungewear I’d seen before.

He looked rather bright and cheerful.

He seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

[When I went to the convenience store, I found that you weren’t there.

Ayako said she couldn’t get through on your phone either, so I got worried and rushed over.]

[As for the door, Keiko told me that you hid a spare key under the flowerpot by the entrance, so I used that.]

He looked a bit awkward as he said that.

After all, he had entered without permission.

[But it was precisely because I had such a strong urge to check on you that I found you burning up with a fever in bed.]

[So, I don’t regret my decision.]

When he said that, his expression turned serious.

[Of course, if you want to blame me, Higashi, I’ll accept it all.]

He really was a very earnest protagonist.

But there was no need to face me, a fake, with such sincerity.

Because all I could give were overly false responses.

[Thank you, Ichijou.]

Well, it wasn’t entirely false.

I showed him a faint smile that was probably quite ugly.

I just didn’t feel like putting on a fake smile all of a sudden.

Just this once, it should be fine.

[Higashi.]

He gazed at me.

[There are a few questions I want to ask.]

[Go ahead, Ichijou.]

[That day, you didn’t bring an umbrella?]

[That.

It was probably taken on purpose by someone who dislikes me.]

I put on that gentle smile again.

[Maybe someone saw how rotten I am inside and wanted to make some trouble for me.]

[You shouldn’t always say you’re rotten, Higashi.]

He shook his head, unconvinced by my words.

That’s why.

If you haven’t seen my heart, don’t be so certain.

[Growl—]

An ill-timed sound rang out.

[You’re hungry, right.

I made some lean meat porridge.

I’ll bring it to you.]

He moved quickly.

Before long, as the bowl approached, a fragrant smell drifted over.

My stomach, already protesting, grew even louder.

Even my stomach, which should have felt awful, didn’t have that nauseous urge to vomit.

As expected of cooking that everyone praised.

Even I could feel my appetite stirred.

[I’ll feed you, Higashi.]

[I don’t think I’m so weak that I can’t even hold a bowl myself, Ichijou.]

[That’s why you need to have some awareness as a patient, Higashi.]

As he said that, he scooped up a spoonful and held it toward me.

[Open up.

Ah.]

This was supposed to be treatment reserved for the heroine.

And not even she might always get it.

Yet now it was happening to me.

It already was.

A sense of pleasure arose.

Like the stimulation I’d felt before, it rippled through my already necrotic heart, flowing and blooming endlessly.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

[Hehe—]

I laughed.

[Hehehehehe.]

I laughed so hard my eyes nearly watered as I looked at Ichijou.

[I’m very sorry—mm—]

The spoon was pushed in as I spoke, carrying a flavor that could make anyone feel happy.

[I’ll forgive you for laughing without warning, Higashi.

But you should finish this bowl of porridge before laughing more.]

He sighed, then smiled faintly.

[Is it good?]

He looked very concerned about my evaluation.

[Mm—]

I couldn’t just say it was good.

It was very good.

So good that even while chewing, I felt satisfied and wanted another bite.

I swallowed slowly, feeling comfort spread in my stomach, and slightly narrowed my eyes.

[Mm—]

[It’s very delicious, Ichijou.]

It had been a long time since I’d felt this comfortable.

Really unbelievable.

Even though my heart was already dead.

Anyway, I narrowed my eyes slightly, feeling happy.

[By the way, Higashi.

There’s one more question.]

His movement paused, and he looked at me seriously.

[I want to ask about your parents.]

At that moment, I stopped savoring the food.

[Are you asking about the original Higashi Hazuki, or the current Higashi Hazuki.]

[Both.

I want to know both.]

[I don’t know about the original Higashi Hazuki.

I’ve never seen her parents.

She might have been abandoned.

After all, like me before, she lived by doing part-time jobs.]

That was probably the only pleasant part of coming to this world.

Continuing the same kind of lifestyle as before.

[As for me.]

[Hehe, hehehehehe.]

This time, I laughed even more brazenly, drawing a puzzled look from him.

Honestly, I couldn’t help it.

[Hehehehehe.]

I laughed so much I could barely speak.

Especially after seeing Ichijou’s expression.

[They—]

[They’re all dead.]