Over the next two school days, it was difficult for Haruka not to notice Ikuya's absence. After he had talked about eating lunch together and spending time together, Haruka was almost looking forward to it. Yet, Ikuya was nowhere to be found. At first, Haruka wondered if he was home sick, then cursed the thought that he would then end up sick from their kissing the day before, but when he was still absent the second day, he grew even more concerned.

"Makoto," Haruka called, catching his best friend on his way to club activities.

"Oh, Haru!" Makoto exclaimed. "What's the matter?"

"Have you heard anything about Ikuya?" He asked. "He hasn't been to school for a couple of days." He wasn't just worried about the possibility that he was sick, he was concerned that he was being prevented from coming to school by his over-protective father.

"Ikuya? Hmm…" Makoto thought about it. "I noticed he hasn't been here, but I don't recall anyone mentioning why. He's probably just got a cold."

"Probably," Haruka muttered.

"Oh, actually," Makoto said, his brows scrunched in a familiarly worried way, "now that I think about it, Natsuya-senpai's been kind of distracted the last couple of days. Not that I see much of him, but, you know, he just doesn't seem like himself."

Haruka looked away. If Natsuya was being bothered by it, then something really must be wrong. Even if he tried to play it tough, Haruka knew Natsuya had a soft spot for his little brother. Considering his options, Haruka was starting to hope it really was just a cold.

On the third day of Ikuya's absence, Haruka was approached in the library by Natsuya. "Haru," he said quietly. He gestured to the door for Haruka to follow him out.

Nodding, Haruka complied. As soon as they were out of the library, he said, "Shouldn't you be training with the club?" He was sure Natsuya had come to tell him something about Ikuya, but he was almost afraid to hear what that something was.

"Yeah, I should be," Natsuya replied a little coarsely. "But since you're not coming anymore, I had to track you down in here to give you a message from my brother."

"From Ikuya?" Haruka asked. He waited for Natsuya to continue, feeling pressured under his gaze.

"Ever since my dad came to your place, my parents have been checking his arm for changes in color," Natsuya explained. "Ikuya tried to keep it covered, but as soon as he got home from your place the other day, our mother grabbed him by the arm and pulled up his sleeve. She saw what happened and told our father. So, now Ikuya is being kept out of school and will be transferring as quickly as my parents can find another school for him."

What Haruka felt inside of him was strange. It was like a sinking feeling, but not the same feeling as sinking in water. It was like he was sinking into muck, something he couldn't swim out of. It was heavy. When he looked at Natsuya, he could see a similar heaviness reflecting back at him. "How is he?" Haruka asked. He was afraid to know. If he was feeling this way, he could only imagine what Ikuya was feeling.

"He's depressed," Natsuya replied, shaking his head. "He really likes you, y'know. When he told me about your name appearing on his arm, he asked if he should tell you. I told him to think carefully about it, and I also asked him, 'if you do tell him, what do you hope happens?' He replied, 'I don't know, but I think it might be nice to be close to him.'" Natsuya paused and watched Haruka for a moment. "After I found out you two kissed, and after our parents blew up over it, I asked him if he regretted doing it. He said no. That's when I decided, I won't let my parents take away Ikuya's happiness."

"How will you do that?" Haruka asked. He felt a tingling in his chest when he learned that, even after all of this, Ikuya didn't regret it. He wanted to see him again.

"I won't let my parents tear you guys apart like this," Natsuya replied. "Right now, they're not letting him out of the house. Not even with Satomi or me. But they can't keep him locked up forever. When they let him start going out again, I'll keep you updated so that maybe you could 'bump into' each other."

Haruka nodded slowly. Well, that wasn't much, but it was better than never seeing him again. Of course, he still didn't know how long it might be before Natsuya could make it happen. "Would you tell him…" Haruka hesitated. He closed his eyes and calmed himself. "Would you tell him I miss him?"

Natusya nodded. "Of course," he replied. "Well, I should get to training. See ya." He turned around and started walking away, and Haruka thought he saw his shoulders shaking as he went.

For the remainder of the week, whenever Haruka caught sight of Natsuya, Natsuya would make eye contact and simply shake his head. Haruka would then look away with a frown, and usually Makoto was around to notice and make a worried expression at him. It became a routine.

That is, until Makoto came upon a revelation. "When I'm at practice, I can't help but notice Natsuya-senpai looks down lately."

"Oh?" Haruka prodded. He wondered if it was related to Ikuya be transferred to another school.

"I mean, I know Ikuya hasn't been around, but if it was something serious, he would've told us, right?" Makoto asked.

Considering whether he should share what he knew, Haruka closed his eyes for a moment. "Ikuya is transferring schools."

"Eh?!" Makoto exclaimed. "What? Why?"

Haruka shook his head. Even though he had the answer to that, he wasn't willing to tell Makoto about it just yet. As far as he understood it, what was happening between Ikuya and him was supposed to remain secret.

During lunch at school, Natsuya caused waves as he came into Haruka's classroom. He quickly located Haruka's seat, once again pushed together with Kisumi's, and approached them. "Haru," he said, looming over the younger boy. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Nodding, Haruka got up and followed him out into the hallway. When they stopped and Natsuya turned to face him again, Haruka could see dark circles under his eyes. He was paler than usual, too, and his shoulders sagged.

"Ikuya is sick," he said quietly. "Really sick. We took him to the hospital yesterday to get checked out, but the doctor there told us, well…" His voice trailed off and he had to collect himself. "Apparently, when people share the kind of bond you and Ikuya share, being kept apart like this can make one of the partners sick. It started off as a mild fever but it's gotten pretty high." Natsuya paused for a moment, looking around them. "As soon as the doctor learned of your name on Ikuya's arm, he said that letting you two be together was the best way to make Ikuya well again. He said they could treat Ikuya's symptoms, but the only way to bring the fever down was to get you two together and either let you be together or have you release him."

Haruka felt sure he knew what was coming next. That Natsuya would tell him some kind of message from his parents asking Haruka to release Ikuya. If it were for Ikuya's own health, Haruka thought he might do it, but he knew it wasn't what he or Ikuya really wanted. He waited, his eyes locked on Natsuya's.

"My mother sat down with me this morning and asked me to do something," Natsuya continued. "She wants me to bring you over after school."

"To release him?" Haruka asked.

"Don't know," Natsuya shrugged. "She didn't say. But I do know my dad isn't aware of it, so it might not be that. Either way, will you come?"

It didn't even require thought. "Yes," Haruka replied. If being near Ikuya would make him well again, he would go. It wasn't like anyone could force him to say those words if he didn't want to, anyway. The worst they could do would be to kick him out and take Ikuya back to the hospital. If what the doctor said was true, they'd have to come back to him eventually. Otherwise, Ikuya might… well, he didn't know for sure, but he didn't think it was out of the realm of possibility. Even if Ikuya's parents didn't like him, he was sure they wouldn't hold a grudge to that extent.

"Thanks," Natsuya smiled. He looked as though a weight had been lifted from him. "I'll meet you at the front gate after classes."

Nodding, Haruka watched Natsuya walk away. This time he was sure he could see him crying as he went, and it seemed those in front of him in the hallway could tell, too. Of course, then their eyes fell on him, since he was the one Natsuya had been talking with. Uncomfortable with the attention, Haruka returned to his classroom.

When Haruka met with Natsuya at the school gate, it seemed Natsuya had completely recomposed himself. They didn't try to make small talk as Natsuya led Haruka to his home, for which Haruka was grateful. It was a little bit of a trek in the cold, but nothing Haruka couldn't handle. When they reached the front door of the Kirishima home, Natsuya let them in with a key, calling out, "I'm home!" to no reply.

"Both of my parents are out right now," he explained, "so it's just us and Ikuya."

"Where is Ikuya?" Haruka asked. He followed Natsuya to a door that was left partially open. There were no light on inside, but as they opened the door, Haruka could see Ikuya asleep in his bed.

"Oi, Ikuya," Natsuya called gently, stepping inside ahead of Haruka. "Look who I brought." When he received no response, he knelt down beside his brother's bed and put a hand to his forehead. "He's gotten worse," he muttered. "Haru."

Haruka was already standing just behind him. "Ikuya," he said softly, "it's me, Haru. I came to make you well again." He waited for Natsuya to move before kneeling down and taking Ikuya's hand. "Can you hear me?"

Ikuya didn't speak, but his hand squeezed Haruka's very gently.

"I can't stand to see him like this," Natsuya murmured solemnly. "I'm going to the kitchen. I'll bring in some snacks for you, so please stay with him."

Haruka nodded. Once Natsuya had left the room, he leaned forward and kissed Ikuya on the forehead. He was certainly very warm, it was true. If he didn't already know Ikuya had been to the hospital, Haruka would want to take him there, but it sounded like there wasn't much they could do for him.

"Ikuya," he whispered. "You've got everyone worried, even me, so get better soon. I'll be here when you wake up."

Haruka remained sitting with Ikuya's hand in his, even when Natsuya returned with a snack for him. He wondered if this was how his friends had felt that time when he was in the hospital with a fever. He wondered how long he had to stay with him before it would start to take effect and make Ikuya better. He wondered what would happen if Ikuya's dad came home and Ikuya wasn't doing any better. The thought made him shudder, and he kissed Ikuya's forehead again, a silent plea for him to wake up.

Periodically, Natsuya would come in with a thermometer and take Ikuya's temperature. Even though the small boy hadn't opened his eyes or said a word, the thermometer confirmed that his temperature was, in fact, coming down. It was small consolation to Haruka, who couldn't help but think of how fragile Ikuya looked.

After kneeling for so long, Haruka's legs began to protest, and he eventually switched on a small lamp and sat cross-legged on the floor with his back resting against Ikuya's bed frame. He took a book- the next one he was doing a book report on- out of his school bag and began reading aloud, hoping that Ikuya would hear him and know he was there.

"How's it going?" Natsuya asked, poking his head in after a while. His eyes widened and he looked as though he might begin to cry. "Why didn't you tell me he was awake?!"

"Huh?" Haruka put the book down and turned around. Ikuya was still in much the same position he had been in, but now his eyes were open and he was watching Haruka with a faint smile. "Ikuya!"

"I didn't…" Ikuya breathed. He still seemed to have difficulty speaking. "I didn't want to interrupt. You really seemed to be into it."

"Idiot!" Natsuya cried, running over to his brother's side. "Everyone's been worried sick, you know! Okaa-san even asked me to bring Haru here!"

"She did?" Ikuya asked weakly, his eyes looking from his brother to Haruka.

"She did!" Natsuya exclaimed.

"Haru," Ikuya smiled. "Will you stay with me 'til I'm all better?"

Nodding, Haruka took Ikuya's hand again. "I'd be a pretty terrible boyfriend if I didn't," he replied, a shy blush tinting his cheeks for just a moment.

With all the commotion of Ikuya waking up, none of the boys had heard the front door open or the footsteps that approached Ikuya's room. "Is Haruka-kun here?"

"Okaa-san," Ikuya grinned, peering past the other two startled boys beside him. "Thank you for letting Haru come over."

Haruka turned and looked. It was easy to see which side of the family Ikuya took after; his mother had the same dark hair and reddish eyes as he did. Standing and giving a polite bow, Haruka said, "Thank you for having me."

"Haruka-kun," the woman smiled gently. "I know my husband was harsh with you before, but please let me deal with him. I want what's best for Ikuya, and I believe letting you two be together is best. So, please, stay here with us until Ikuya is well again."

"Yes, ma'am," Haruka agreed. He had already asked Makoto to look after Makkou for tonight, though he would want to call his mother and tell her what was going on.

"I'll get dinner started right away," Kirishima-san said. "Ikuya, do you think you could eat soup?"

"I think so," Ikuya nodded.

Natsuya left with his mother, leaving Haruka alone with Ikuya. "Should I keep reading to you, then?"

"Haru," Ikuya said, struggling to push himself upright, but he was thwarted when Haruka pushed him back down with a warning glance. "Geez! Fine. I just wanted a kiss."

Raising a brow at him, Haruka put his wrist to Ikuya's forehead. He was doing considerably better than he was when he got there, but he was still pretty warm. Yielding to Ikuya's pout, Haruka leaned down and gave him a kiss. He wasn't expecting to be caught by the shirt collar and held there, but that was what happened. For how sick he was, Haruka had to commend Ikuya for being so strong. When he was finally released, however, he could see Ikuya was breathing heavily and his face was flushed. "Don't push yourself," he scolded him.

"I really thought I might never see you again," Ikuya said with tearful eyes. "I couldn't help it."

Haruka sighed and showed a soft smile. "I'm glad you're feeling better."