His Childhood Friend is a Beautiful, Reclusive Girl, So He Spends His After-School Hours in Her Room (But He’s Not Her Boyfriend!) - Ch. 9: Today, As In All Days, I Spoiled My Childhood Friend Who Caught A Cold

Well, I was about to go to my childhood friend’s house again today.
As I was walking out of the school gate, I received a message from Yuika’s brother.

“Souta nii-chan, come early today. Something might be weird with my sister.”

I couldn’t tell him that your sister is weird by default. I typed a quick reply.

“Your sister is by default——”

I typed “no, no, no” in and shook my head. I can say that, but there is no reason that it’s okay to type it. I fought off the temptation and deliberated. I typed again.

“I just got out of school. I’m heading straight there. What’s going on?”

The reply came quickly.

“I just got home, and my room hasn’t been ransacked like it usually is.”

… Yuika, I think it’s more than weird that your brother said this about you, you are a bad older sister.
I don’t know why she hasn’t stopped picking up manga while her brother is at school. As a childhood friend, I had to give her a lecture. I replied quickly and hurried on.

“… I see what you mean, so that’s what happened.”

I arrived at Kisaragi’s house and went into Yuika’s room, leaving her mother and brother to check on her.
And I was taken aback.
It was true that Yuika was different from usual. She was coughing in bed and her cheeks were red. She seemed to have caught a cold.

“…Souta. I’ve been waiting for you. I thought I was going to die alone in here…”
“You know, you don’t have to wait for me, you have your mother downstairs. You should at least take a day off from being a hermit when you’re not feeling well.”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m a fashion recluse. There’s no one else I can rely on but Souta…”
“Yeah, yeah, so how’s the fever?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have a thermometer…”
“You’re such a handful.”

I put down my school bag and walked quickly to her bed. When I tried to put my hand on her forehead, she shook her head.

“No.”
“No… you can’t tell if you have a fever unless I touch…”
“Your forehead.”
“What?”
“Measure your forehead against mine. Do that or else.”

… No, I can’t do that. If she coughs while I’m measuring, it could be a major accident that breaks the childhood friend line instantly.

“Hey, please. Souta…”

She wriggled out of the covers and stared at me with moist eyes.

“I’ve been missing Souta since this morning. So please. Please come close to me…”

In a sweet voice, she extended her hand to me. She wasn’t asking for a fever anymore, she was asking for a hug.
I was sure of it. She definitely had a fever. I had completely forgotten about it since Yuika hadn’t caught a cold since she had been cooped up, but she has always been a spoiled brat when she has a fever.

And once you start spoiling her, she will never back down.
What’s worse is that Yuika is a complete and utterly beautiful girl.
Even now, the weak vibe and moist eyes make me felt very protective.
… No. I can’t win.

“Keep your mouth shut. Don’t cough or anything, okay?”
“Yes, I’ll make sure Souta doesn’t catch a cold.”

She obediently closed her mouth with both hands. When she had a fever, Yuika is not only sweet but also obedient.
It’s not about catching a cold that I’m worried about…
I leaned forward, muttering in my mind.

“Should I close my eyes?”
“You don’t want to do that because it’ll make things weird…”
“Then I’ll stare into Souta’s eyes the whole time.”
“That’s going to be problematic…”

I lay her down and put my hand on the side of her face. It would be hard for her to sit up, so I approached her as if I were covering her.
With my free hand, I gently brushed up the front of Yuika’s hair. The feel of her silky hair was pleasant.

“Souta…”

She said in a sweet whisper.
Her crystal eyes stared at me, and my heart started to race.

“Stay put…”

For some reason, even my voice became quiet.
I moved closer to Yuika’s burning skin. I felt immoral as if I was playing a secret prank on her.

“Ah…”

As soon as our foreheads touched, Yuika let out a small squeak. Her eyes were right in front of me, and her long eyelashes were almost touching. My heart pounded like a ringing bell.

…… I messed up. I misjudged.

This proximity is seriously bad.
And it’s not the kind of danger that makes it impossible to maintain reason.
It’s the kind of danger that makes it impossible for me and Yuika to hide our true feelings.

“Souta……”
“Wh-What is it?”
“Do you want to kiss me?”

…!? For a moment, my heart almost stopped.

“Why are you asking me that?”
“Because you looked like you wanted to…”

I couldn’t say that I didn’t look like that. At such a close distance, it was impossible to make up for it.

“Do you want to, Yuika?”
“I am…”

The whispering voice was barely audible, even this close-up.
Yuika looked away shyly.

“…… Fine either way.”

She said in a whisper. It was like a secret conversation.

Normally, I would say absolutely not…
Dang it, calm down, me. Yuika’s fever has impaired her judgment right now. I need to be the one to calm her down…

“Oh, uh… felt pretty hot. Wait here. I’m going downstairs to borrow a thermometer from your mother—”
“What if…”

When I tried to give a reason to leave, I was interrupted by words that cut in.

“If Souta moves his hand on me now… I’m sure I can’t refuse. I’ll forgive you no matter what you do to me.”
“…”

Now, Yuika is holding her mouth with both hands still because of what I said earlier.
But they are only lightly held, and if she moves her wrists just a little, there are cherry blossom-colored lips there.

I want to see it.
I want to touch it.
I want to take it.

An irresistible urge wells up in my chest.
Because I can’t help it.

I.
Mikami Souta.
Ever since I was born, for 17 years.

Liked Kisaragi Yuika.

“Heeeyyy! Use all your strength to maintain your reason!”
“Wow, what a surprise. Why are you the hero of my dreams?”
“That’s because I used to cry every week watching reruns! When it comes to heroes, I’m more attached to them than you are!”

I shrimped so hard I thought my spine was going to break and backed away from the bed.
Yuika’s eyes fluttered in surprise.
In the meantime, I moved quickly and grabbed the doorknob.

“I’ll get a thermometer and some regular medicine downstairs. You don’t want to go to the doctor anyway, do you?”
“Oh, yeah. I’ll also need some Pocari, ice packs, and ice cream.”
“Okay. It’s a service for the sick. I’ll bring you everything you need.”

I managed to get through it.
As I was about to leave the room, Yuika whispered behind me.

“…Souta’s coward.”
“Uh…”

I wonder. For once, it’s me who’s right, right?　I’m dealing with a sick person who is weak, so the right thing to do is to control myself, right?
But at times like this, ‘coward’ has the power to make you say no. It’s unreasonable.

“… Also, please stay the night today. don’t like sleeping alone when I have a fever, it scares me.”
“What? No, wait a minute, that’s…”

I reflexively turned around, but Yuika pulled the covers over her head and wouldn’t let me argue with her any further.
We’ve known each other since childhood, so I don’t have to look to know. She’s turning deathly red under the covers right now.
She’s going to regret it when her fever goes down, but she’s going to indulge her instincts right here and now.
And in that case, it is I who will be forced to endure a demon. No, but.

“I’m sure the world won’t allow such a thing…”

I muttered to myself in dismay, based on my extremely straightforward common sense.
But.
The world may not allow it, but there were those who did.
Listen and be amazed, or rather, listen and pity…
It was the parents of both families who heard about Yuika’s request from me and gave their permission.

Both my parents and Yuika’s parents allowed me to stay at Yuika’s house with horribly light-hearted reasoning, “well, it can’t be helped if she has a cold.”
Out of them all, the only person who gave me an apologetic look was Yuika’s brother.

So, regrettably here it is — the decision has been made to hold the first sleepover since early elementary school. …… Honestly, it’s tough.

[TLN: Thank you to the one who had donated! I will try to get more chapters out.]