Model Idol Combi: so you had a sick day

[jitensha]

[ so the thing was, Makoto didn't get sick. It took a series of unfortunate events, a moment of stress-induced weakness, and doing the idiotically chivalrous thing of trying to make her way home in the pouring rain and likely spending too much time in soaked clothing, despite Kise's best efforts.

But the point was, Makoto didn't usually get sick, and when she did get sick, it had to be sick enough to buckle her knees and keep her under her covers with a fever that could warm cold palms in an instant. She'd tried to go to work, but hadn't made it further than her own doorway before she'd gotten too dizzy to stand without the aid of the frame and had been promptly ushered back to bed.

And of course, she hadn't wanted to worry Kise, but that had backfired and for some inexplicable reason, she felt worse than ever. She'd have to change the compress again, she thinks distantly, as she tries to push herself up on her elbows to give him a properly chastising look. At the very least, her parents were now out for one of her dad's races, but... ]

You... really didn't have to come.

[ what if she's contagious? It's bad enough that she feels awful and she's sweaty and her hair's a mess and her face is all red and this isn't very romantic at all-- ]

Comments

[ex_doubly406]

[H-His shirt... It was sponsored...

But no, he has no time right now to worry about spots on his shirt. Not when he's overreacting as per usual, patting her back with a little more force than necessary and looking so anxious over making her choke.]

Makocchi, are you okay?! I'm sorry, was that too fast?? Don't choke!

[you idiot she's already done.]

[jitensha]

[ okay, that actually hurts, though she only hunches over a little more until she can breathe again. Finally, still a little strangled-- ]

I-I'm okay.

[ex_doubly406]

Are you sure?? You still don't look so good. Do you want water? Should I take your temperature again? I'm really sorry, I should've been more careful!

[Shut. Up. Kise.]

[jitensha]

[ as hard as it is to feel cheerful at the moment, Makoto still manages a smile as she reaches out to touch his hand. It's terribly weak, a bit shaky at the edges, but it's a genuine attempt at reassurance.

Even if she's sort of listing to one side. ]

It's not your fault. Actually... you were a really big help.

[ex_doubly406]

[Time for a rescue, Kise style.

Which means he's wrapping his arm around her so that if she's going to start leaning, at least she'll lean into him instead.]

I know I screwed up so you don't need to say that... [It kind of hurts when he can tell her hands are shaking.] This nursing stuff isn't as easy as they make it look...

[jitensha]

[ and lean she does; her body's aching too much for her to be terribly stubborn about sitting up on her own. It doesn't mean she's not frustrated, though. When she starts speaking again, a little louder and persisting through a cough, her voice sounds like it's being squeezed through a tight tube. Her forehead presses against his shirt.

It's like she's trying very hard not to cry. ]

You didn't... I'm sorry, being this pathetic... I really didn't want you to see me like this.

[ex_doubly406]

[Oh.

That twinge in his heart becomes an all-out ache, making it easy for him to declare that that wasn't very fair of her. Seeing her so upset isn't helping, and he wonders if it's because she's feverish or if it's because he gave her the wrong impression about what he likes about her.]

Hey, Makocchi, I never said anything like that. [He gives her a squeeze, leaning down so that his lips can ghost over her forehead.] Can you not put words in my mouth?

[It sounds pretty harsh, but he's smiling and his tone is light enough that she should be able to tell that he didn't say that to be mean.]

Even if you said no I would've come by to see you.

[jitensha]

[ ordinarily, she'd know better. Except that thinking with a fever has never ended well, and she's this close to crumpling in a fit of hopeless tears. But then he's leaning in and smiling, and she has to breathe shakily instead. She's acutely aware that she's trembling, but he doesn't look appalled at all. ]

... You're amazing.

gdi i thought you went to bed

[ex_doubly406]

[It catches him by surprise, leaving him blinking dumbly. The abruptness of that compliment melts away with her trembles however, letting concern settle in again.]

Thanks, Makocchi.

[He gently lowers her back down onto the bed, pulling the blanket up for her once she's settled in. She seems even smaller than usual like this.]

Then you'll be an amazing patient for me, won't you?

lmao no

[jitensha]

[ she settles without complaint, though she's looking at him so wistfully it's like she's about to ask him to hold her hand or start rambling about how much she loves him for coming over and taking care of her because it's nice not being alone--

But she doesn't, instead curling under the blanket and trying not to shift too fitfully when the aching persists. He's doing this much for her, the least she can do is be as good a patient as he wants. ]

I'll... do my best.

[ never mind that her arms feel too heavy to move, she shakily liberates a hand to form an expectant fist to hold up. ]

sob i thought i won

[ex_doubly406]

['You shouldn't do that' is at the tip of his tongue. You're forcing yourself too much, he wants to say. But she looks so hopeful that he bumps fists with her regardless.]

Okay, let's both do our best!

[Which is easier said then done. He's not sure what he can do now, other than place the compress on her forehead again. As soon as he thinks she's not looking, he lets his expression fall back into one that's completely lost.]

you usually beat me anyway

[jitensha]

[ just because her lids are half-lowered and she looks for all the world like she's going to pass out, she's still observant enough to see his face.

Her hand drops down on the blanket, and somehow, tucking it back under seems like too much effort. Which is a shame, because she wants to touch his cheek to reassure him.

But she also has to cough first and that headache's still present. But... ]

Ryouta-kun... will you talk to me?

well. true.

[ex_doubly406]

Eh?

[She looked so out of it he was sure she would've fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.]

Talk? But...

[jitensha]

... Please?

[ usually when she was sick, she either forced her way through it and went to school and work anyway, or she'd curl up in bed and more or less take care of herself while her parents weren't home. She'd been raised to be pretty self-sufficient.

But right now, she thinks maybe it's okay to accept something like this. She feels awful, but she's got enough energy to look at him imploringly. ]

I... really like hearing your voice.

[ex_doubly406]

[And here he was thinking he was the best at making those faces.

She's not being an amazing patient, not in the sense he was thinking of. But he finds he can't refuse her either. It gives him something to do, and she's still got a hold on his heartstrings looking at him like that. It's not exactly the teary scene in a drama beside your lover's bedside, but then he wouldn't want her to be actually dying.

She did say she liked his voice too.]

... I guess I can consider it a fanservice for today. So, what should I talk about?

[jitensha]

Anything. [ and she exhales on a harsh cough, dropping her head back on her pillow. It's a little annoying that even the pillow's gotten hot, but no use complaining. ] Anything you want.

[ex_doubly406]

[A minute twitch, and he fusses with the blanket a little.]

Hmm... Anything is pretty broad... Ah, I know! I heard something interesting from Momocchi! She went shopping the other day, and there was a sale at this one store where--

[... She did say she wanted him to talk about anything.]

[jitensha]

[ yes she did. And, to her credit, she's actually listening as intently as she can. His voice is soothing enough. ]

[ex_doubly406]

--And then Aominecchi threw it away! He can be really insensitive, don't you think that's why he doesn't have a girlfriend like me? But Momocchi can be pretty insistent too, so I guess it's not a surprise that happened. Anyway, she called me right afterwards complaining about it, and then she asked me if I wanted to go with her to get another one. I told her that I can go with her this weekend, but turns out the sale is over by that time. I was in the middle of practice when she called so I said I'd talk to her later to sort it out. But guess what? She ended up asking Kurokocchi instead! When I called Kurokocchi afterwards to invite him-- for Momocchi's sake, you know-- he said he's going with her tomorrow and that Momocchi didn't say anything about inviting me! Isn't that depressing? I understand that she would want alone time but it's like she completely forgot about calling me! It's cute how Momocchi only has eyes for Kurokocchi but it's scary too.

[He can go on forever...]

[jitensha]

[ ... wow. Were this anyone else, it's likely they would have zoned out ages ago or regretted asking him to talk. But even though this really annoyingly bad cold isn't doing Makoto any favors, she's as alert as she can be, eyes fixed on his face like this really is story time. She's even trying to be discreet by scrunching up and coughing into her blanket while he's talking, shifting underneath it. She's too hot, but when the blanket lowers, she starts shivering. She just can't win. ]

When there's... someone you really care about, I guess it's easy to forget about a lot.

[ not that Makoto ever forgot her friends or Kise shirked his teammates, former and current, but she could understand being distracted. ]

[ex_doubly406]

Well, it's like Momocchi to get carried away with stuff like that. It's what makes her cute. Anyway I guess that means I'm free for tomorrow. I wouldn't want to interrupt them.

[Says the guy who stalked them in middle school.]

... Actually, maybe Kasamatsu-senpai will want to come with me! We might end up bumping into them!

[Never mind.]

[jitensha]

Ryouta-kun...

[ wow this is the weakest scolding look ever. It probably doesn't help that she's still shivering. ]

Don't... actually try to... okay?

[ex_doubly406]

[... Wow, she looks like she might collapse at any moment and she still scolds him. What did he do to deserve that.]

I wouldn't try... I mean, I wouldn't go up to talk to them. It'd be a coincidence if I did end up seeing them.

[Yeah, sorry. You tried.]

But Makocchi, you don't have to stay up and listen. No one really listens to the end of a bedtime story.

[jitensha]

... Was it a bedtime story?

[ she's so baffled. ]

[ex_doubly406]

Huh? Wasn't it?

[He's the one who's baffled here.]

Didn't you want me to talk so that you could fall asleep to the sound of my voice?

[Someone's flattering himself too much.]