Ryoma got up on a Wednesday after being dragged out of bed by his mother and yawned and stretched his arms.
He attempted to eat breakfast but the smell of it made him feel nauseous so he just left to hop on Momo's bike as usual with Amy trying to run after him.
He felt so hot today, he fanned himself in lunch but nothing seemed to work and just when he fanned himself the heat would turn cold and make him shiver.
Ryoma went through the day without anything to eat then went to tennis practice; unfortunately he was playing a match with Momo and wasn't feeling too good then.
Ryoma suddenly felt he would collapse and that was right when Momo was giving his powerful drive. Ryoma heard feet fly past him and vaguely saw Sakuno adjust her stance and use his old racquet to earn a point.
Ryoma's fever hit a point and he nearly fell and he felt soft hands take his shoulders and ease him down to his knees. "I was right; you have a fever don't you?" Sakuno's soft voice told him, he couldn't answer just rested his head on her shoulder.
When Ryoma came to, he was in the infirmary "well I'm gonna go call his mom-" Sakuno was about to leave when Ryoma instinctively grabbed her shirt. Sakuno looked Ryoma with wide eyes, her face going red like old times.
Ryoma's heart pounded but he could ignore the blush since he was sick so they wouldn't notice. "Ano…" Sakuno trailed Ryoma smiled misty eyed.
"Nice serve" he told her "now stay" he told her.
Sakuno stuttered for a few more moments then sat on Ryoma's bed "feeling better?" she asked him.
"Not really, my head pounds, my whole body feels hot, my eyes are watery and my heart pounds" Ryoma replied looking to the side.
Sakuno looked at Ryoma then giggled "Ryoma-kun, you complain when you're sick" she told him.
Ryoma took Sakuno's hand and pressed it to his cheek, her hand was so cold that it felt good; Sakuno blushed so badly that steam seemed to come off her face.
"D-Did you have anything to eat today? You know it's not healthy to go without at least a snack" Sakuno asked slightly stuttering before gaining her now usual manner.
"No, everything made me nauseous" he admitted.
"Ah, I know…" Sakuno said digging into her bag, pulling out a bowl of instant ramen "I was going to eat this before dance class but your more important so I'll just have to eat when I get home" she said softly.
Then heated up some water in the microwave in the infirmary and poured it into a bowl.
She then stirred it up then placed it in Ryoma's hands "careful, it's hot" she warned 'like you?' Ryoma asked in his thoughts.
"You sure it's ok? You won't get hungry?" Ryoma asked then looked away from her when he realized he sounded stupid.
Sakuno smiled and checked Ryoma's forehead again "nope, unlike you, I actually ate breakfast and lunch. I wouldn't be able to eat it worrying about you" she confessed, smiling gently.
Ryoma's heart raced and his chest pounded, 'CALM DOWN, DAMNIT!' Ryoma's thoughts screamed with him blushing so hard.
"Oh, maybe I should get you some ice, you seem hot" she told him then got up.
'That girl isn't good for my health' he thought then smirked and started slurping the ramen.
Soon, the rest of the regulars came back "ne, Ryoma's blushing" Momo teased making Ryoma glow with embarrassment "I'm sick! Baka!" he yelled.
"Saa, Ryoma's mad" Fuji joined in.
'Not you too' he thought.
"I'm back with the- oh…Senpai's" Sakuno started off quickly then calmed down, and walked over to Ryoma and pushed him to lay down and put the ice pack on his forehead.
"OH!" the Regulars teased loudly making Ryoma glare then stops and closes his eyes when he realized that it hurt.
"Oh Ryoma!" a voice sang making his head pound.
He rolled over and dived under the covers, Amy was here again and as loud as ever, "Oh poor baby" she cooed making Ryoma pretended to be asleep.
"The first step to Ryoma getting better is quiet" Sakuno told Amy cheerfully but quietly.
"Oh, right, I knew that like totally" Amy replied quieter, 'thank you Sakuno, you are an angel' Ryoma thought.
"Anyway, I'm gonna have to skip practice today. Momo, help me take Ryoma home?" Sakuno asked.
"Sure" Momo replied nodding.
"Oh, but- but- I can take care of Ryoma myself" Amy whined.
"No, it's alright I couldn't ask you to do that" Sakuno told Amy as if it would trouble Amy if she didn't do it.
'This is why I like Sakuno, she dismisses Amy's antics flawlessly and Amy can't say anything to complain' Ryoma thought.
After a few more minutes, Ryoma was lifted by Momo "I- I can walk" Ryoma snapped blushing due to the fact Sakuno was watching.
Momo shrugged and set Ryoma down, however by then a wave of nausea coursed through Ryoma and he nearly collapsed.
Momo caught him raising his eyebrows "you were saying?" he asked him.
Ryoma sighed and allowed him to be picked up "you're really light, Ryoma" Momo told him.
"So?" Ryoma snapped in irritation.
"Nothing, it's just even my cousin your age doesn't weigh so little" Momo replied while Sakuno listened with interest.
"Yeah, well, I exercise before and after meals so some of that exercise takes the calories away" he muttered.
Sakuno met his eyes and Ryoma stared back then she looked away with cheeks tinged with color.
"Right, well, we'll take you home then… is your mom normally home?" Sakuno asked.
"No, she works until at least 6:00 on these days" Ryoma replied.
"And you're dad?" she asked.
"I don't know" he answered but secretly hoped he wasn't there so he could be taken care of by her.
When they arrived though, his dad was unfortunately there.
"Don't you think it's a bit unmanly to be carried around by him?" Nanjiro told him, smirking at his son who struggled out of Momo's arms and was about hit his dad but the wave of nausea came again.
Nanjiro caught his son and chuckled "you're too serious" he whispered to Ryoma.
"Well thanks for bringing him home, Sa-chan and you too" Nanjiro thanked them both.
"No problem, get better Ryoma, otherwise I'll beat you easily at tennis" Momo told him grinning.
Ryoma smirked "Mada mada dane" he told him.
"Haa… it's really too bad you couldn't be nursed back to health by pretty Sakuno" Nanjiro sighed.
Ryoma's cheeks went red "shut up, Baka Oyaji!" he snapped.
"Okay, okay, I'm being tactless about your little crush aren't I?" Nanjiro teased.
"SHUT UP" Ryoma replied shoving his dad away and leaning on the wall for support.
Nanjiro chuckled then helped Ryoma up the stairs, Ryoma fell asleep as soon as he hit the pillow.
Nanjiro let out a final chuckle then closed the door "so uncute, ne?"