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

[jitensha]

[ Makoto outright snorts this time, shaking her head. This isn't enough to dissuade her-- none of it is. ]

I didn't go out with you because I wanted to date this really handsome and athletic model. I'm going out with you because when I thought about the good things and the bad things that happened to people, I thought that I wanted to be there for yours, to smile with you when the good things happened and to help make the bad things a little easier.

[ she trails off with a small sigh. ] Maybe that sounds too cocky, but the point is, nothing's changed. You're not gross or anything like that to me.

[ex_doubly406]

[It might be the fever; somehow her words hit him deeper than usual.

True, maybe he should be disappointed that she didn't want to date a really handsome and athletic model. But it might also be true that what he needs right now is someone who doesn't care about that, but would stay with him even after he threw up all of their homemade soup.

So maybe he could manage one more smile for that someone.]

You're going to make me cry.

[jitensha]

Sorry. [ and she's still cupping his cheek, offering him a warmer smile in return. He looks like he feels miserable, so that he's trying to smile both touches her and makes her heart twist a little. ]

It's true, though... I won't take it back.

[ex_doubly406]

It wouldn't be like you.

[It looks like he'll finally drift off now...

And then he starts coughing again.]

[jitensha]

It'd be nice if we could give you something to calm that down, but if your stomach's still not up to it...

[ she just wants you to rest dammit. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[wow it's not like he doesn't want to rest.

At the mention of his stomach, he makes some kind noise that is definitely a 'no'. He's not going to try to shove anything down for a while.]

[jitensha]

Thought not... maybe I could try massaging your back? It should at least help your muscles from getting too sore later...

[ things she learns from dance and martial arts practice. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[Ah yes, her effective but painful massages... Something else she's surprisingly good at.

The question is whether he can handle that right now.]

Won't that-- [Gotta communicate his worry with more vigor.] Won't that hurt more?

[jitensha]

Eh-- a-aaah, no, this is something different! It's supposed to be relaxing, so I don't use as much force!

[ex_doubly406]

But you're really strong.

[Despite the whining, and the unnecessary reminder of her not so feminine traits, he tries to roll over so that she can start if she wants.]

[jitensha]

I can be gentle too, you know...

[ and she almost sounds hurt about it, even as it emerges as a sigh when she reaches out to rest her hands on his back. A pause. Then she starts circling her fingers in a gentle(!!!) pressing motion, working her way down from his shoulder blades. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[Sorry Makoto, this fever. Also his mouth in general.

Anyway, he's anticipating pain even with her reassuring him that she will be gentle. So when she is gentle, he's... surprised. And then caught by the vague notion that this is pretty intimate.

But it still hurts because tensing and general body ache happens when you're down with the flu. His hands curling into the covers, he's caught between muffling himself with the pillow and trying to breathe steadily.]

[jitensha]

Ah-- [ if she's too light on the pressure, it won't help him at all, but she doesn't want to hurt him. After another minute, she pauses. He's still so tense... ]

Is it too much?

[ex_doubly406]

['Yes' is the easy way out. But he's always been kind of dumb when it comes to things like this.]

It's supposed to help, right?

[jitensha]

... Yeah. But if it still hurts...

[ she's already messed up a bunch as is. ]

[ex_doubly406]

Doing things halfway... isn't me.

[Says the guy having another coughing fit.]

[jitensha]

I know. [ and she says it fondly, though there's still a trace of concern as she rubs his back to try and help him through it. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[The thought process here is that if he closes his eyes and drowns himself in his pillow, he might be able to fall asleep.

He still can't, getting interrupted by coughs whenever his breathing evens out, but he does start to unwind thanks to that gentle(!!!) massage.]

[jitensha]

[ it helps relax her, to be honest. It'd be good if he could stop coughing, but one thing at a time.

She'll even hum for him. ]

[ex_doubly406]

Is that-- your image song?

[Which reminds him]

You still didn't... sing it for me.

[jitensha]

Huh-- well, it's one of them, but... I don't think singing it now will help!

[ex_doubly406]

Aah, that's--

[You know, if he passes out he'll stop coughing.]

--stingy.

[jitensha]

[ a pause.

A sigh. Well, maybe there's something she can finally do right. ]

Do you want me to sing for you, Ryouta-kun?

[ex_doubly406]

[It takes him a moment to answer-- his head feels so heavy now-- but he's clearly enthused by her suggestion.]

Makocchi's nice, like I thought.

[jitensha]

Wasn't I stingy just a few seconds ago?

[ but she's grinning, starting out with a few hummed notes to get the pitch right before she starts singing her image song.

... She can't exactly belt it in this situation, though, so it's a much softer version. ]