*Mitsuba's POV*

Rain. It was something I disliked. Not only does it make your clothes wet, it also dampened your mood.

Unfortunately, it was raining that day. As I rushed to collect the laundry, I felt my head spin. I lost my balance and hit the ground. As my vision got narrower, I heard a voice calling out my name.

"O-OI! MITSUBA!"

Then everything went black.

*Hijikata's POV*

Ugh, that Kondo-san. He knew Sougo hated me yet he still put me as that brat's sparring partner. And boy, did he hurt me. I touched my face where sadist-in-the-making managed to whack. It stung. I cursed under my breath. I can't stand him. I need to get out of here.

Sighing, I wandered around, engrossed in my thoughts. How could one sibling be so evil, yet the other is practically an angel. I wonder why the sadist hates me though. I haven't really done anything that would trigger his anger. Maybe he just hates my face.

I had not noticed that my feet had taken me to the Okita residence. The gate was open so I curiously peeked inside. That was when I saw her taking down the laundry.

"Boy, do I feel like a stalker or what," I thought to myself. But I couldn't take my eyes off her. Everything about her—her straw-coloured hair, how she put her hair up, how her kimono hung on her slim frame, how she tiptoed to get the laundry—was graceful.

"I probably should leave before someone thinks I am someone suspicious," I turned around and began to head back to the dojo.

I heard a thud behind me.

I rushed back and peered into the residence. There I saw her figure on the floor, her pink kimono covered in mud.

"O-OI! MITSUBA!" I called out as I rushed to her side. She was unconscious.

I immediately lifted her tiny frame in my arms and headed towards the house. I can't help but notice how light she was, how small her body was compared to mine…

I mentally smacked myself. No, I shouldn't be thinking about these things! She just fainted for heaven's sake, Toshiro!

I placed her down onto the sofa and went searching for a towel I could wet to wipe her mud-covered face.

I really didn't want to search around someone's house without permission so I decided to wet my handkerchief instead.

Crouching down beside her, I gently wiped the mud off her face. First off her cheekbones, then her cute nose, then her chin…

My body unconsciously went closer as my gaze fell upon her lips.

Ah, those lips. How I wish to feel them against my own.

That was when I felt heat radiating from her face. I placed my calloused hand on her forehead. It was hot. She has a fever.

Panicked, I went to rewet the handkerchief and placed it on her forehead. Her brow furrowed at the sudden coldness, then relaxed. My fingers traced the outline of her face.

How I wished you were mine…

*Mitsuba's POV*

I woke up with a start. I was somehow back in my house. My eyes slowly adjusted to my surroundings as I sat up. Then something plopped onto my lap.

A handkerchief. I picked it up and looked around. It can't be Sou-chan because it's still too early for him to be done training for the day. I looked down at the figure leaning against the couch. He was fast asleep.

I tried to quietly get off so as to not wake Toshiro-san. But he felt the couch shifted a little and woke up.

"Ah, sorry Toshiro-san to have troubled you—"

"M-Mitsuba! Thank god you're alright. How are you feeling?" He looked at me with a worried expression.

"I'm fine now, thank you," I replied. Then I noticed there was a cut on his face. "Toshiro-san, you got hurt." My hand reached out to touch his face. He backed up.

"Ah, don't worry about me. I'm fine, really," he said as he got up.

I grabbed onto his hand. "You need to bandage it up or else it will get infected. Wait here," I instructed.

I went to grab my medicine box and helped him bandage up his face. The whole time his eyes were averted to the ground.

"Thank you," he mumbled as a hint of pink began to colour his cheeks.

I smiled.

As my hands left his face to repack the medicine box, his hand darted up to hold onto mine. I jolted in surprise.

"To—"

"Hijikata-san, what are you doing with my sister?" a deadpanned voice called out.

Toshiro-san let go of my hand and walked past Sou-chan without a word.

"Toshiro-san—"

"Ane ue! Just let him go. That heartless bastard doesn't know how to thank people when they help him."

As I watched his retreating back, I secretly felt my hand that he held. His warmth was still there. A smile slowly formed on my face as I headed towards the kitchen, all the while with Sou-chan calling him other demeaning names.