Chapter 6: Recovery

I was in the middle of sketching a new design when my phone notified me of a text.

Hey, this is Sayaka. Mitsuha has a cold and is at home so whenever you have free time can you go visit her? I would go but I am working late today. Just a heads up, Mitsuha told me not to tell you that she was sick, but I had to inform you. I am sorry for dumping this responsibility on you.

I will see what I can do. I texted back.

I resumed my drawing, but thoughts of Mitsuha weighed heavily in my mind.

It wasn't until evening that I got out of work. I did not text Mitsuha. Instead, I wanted to surprise her and make rice porridge for her cold.

But first, I needed to buy the ingredients.

"I wonder if she likes pickled plums," I thought out loud while examining the package.

After I finished shopping, I boarded the train to get to her apartment. Once I arrived, I walked up the stairs and knocked on her door.

It took a few minutes before Mitsuha came out.

"Saya-?" her eyes widened, "Taki? What are you doing here?"

"Sayaka told me you had a cold so I decided to surprise you by coming to visit," I said.

She sure was sick; her hair was disheveled, she had a runny nose, her cheeks were pink, and her sweater and sweatpants were wrinkly from being in bed all day.

And she did not look pleased.

"I told Sayaka not to tell," she grumbled.

"Why?"

"Because it's not a big deal."

She started coughing.

"I am coming in," I pushed the door in and walked past her to the kitchen.

"What are you doing?"

"I bought some ingredients to make you rice porridge," I replied.

"You don't have to do that," she looked bashful.

"Go lie down," I told her.

She groaned but didn't argue as she went to her bedroom.

"It will be ready in a bit," I called out.

I looked around for a pot, then filled it with water and a cup of rice with a pinch of salt and set it to boil on the stove. While it cooked, I busied myself with some drawings I brought from work. When the porridge was done, I ladled out a bowl and topped it with a pickled plum.

"Okay, it's ready!" I said, and slowly walked to her room.

Her bedroom was relatively tidy. There was a small table with a tea set, folders and binders from work were placed neatly next to her bag, and rows of books lined the wooden shelves that made up her bed side. Just as Yotsuha described, there was a small hedgehog plushy placed next to her bed.

When she saw me, she started to sit up slowly from the bed.

I sat next to her and began to spoon some porridge.

"Are you going to feed me?" she asked, looking mortified.

"Here," I blew on the spoon and moved it in front of her lips.

"Please eat," I said.

She looked at me for a second and then opened her mouth.

"There we go."

"It tastes okay," she said.

"I added some salt for flavor," I prepared another spoonful.

"Thanks for making this for me."

"Do you want some more?" I asked her when the bowl was empty.

"I am good for now," she replied.

"Hmm," I put down the bowl and placed a hand on her forehead.

"You still have a fever," I told her.

"Or maybe it's because of your touch," she muttered.

"Oh," I took my hand away, "sorry," I started to feel self-conscious.

She sighed and laid down.

"You shouldn't have come," she said.

"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't."

"Stupid Taki."

"Why am I stupid?"

"Because you can't figure it out."

"Figure out what?"

"Figure out the reason why."

"What reason?"

"Argh!" she turned her back to me.

"The reason why I didn't want you to know…" she said slowly, "was because I didn't want you to worry about me while you were at work," her ears turned red.

"A little late for that," I was touched by her words.

"…Stupid Taki," she repeated.

I stroked her hair.

"Thank you for worrying about me," I said.

"Hmph."

I continued stroking her hair until she fell asleep, then went out to the dining room to let her rest. An hour later, I went to go check on her and found her moaning in her sleep.

"Mitsuha?" I placed my hand on her forehead again to find that it was very hot.

"Ugh," she groaned.

I ran into the kitchen to grab a cup of water.

"Here," I lifted her head to let her drink, some of the water spilled and landed on her blanket.

"Maybe I should wipe you down," I suggested.

She coughed. "Huh?"

"I, uh, just your back," I stammered.

"…Fine," she said.

I went to the bathroom to grab a towel and plastic bowl, then filled it with warm water and headed back to her room.

She pulled her sweater up to reveal her bare back and shifted her hair to the front.

I took the towel, soaked it in the water, then wrung it and began wiping her back.

"How is it?" I asked.

Silence.

"I'm sorry for being such a burden," she mumbled.

"No, you aren't."

"Don't lie."

"I am not lying."

"I am keeping you from doing your work."

"I can do it later."

Silence again.

"How did you get sick?" I asked.

"Overwork," she replied, "I wanted to get my work done early so that I could attend Sayaka and Tessie's wedding."

"You could have paced yourself better."

"Yeah," she sighed.

"Alright, I think this is good enough," I put the towel into the plastic bowl and helped her pull her sweater down.

"I will be back, I am going to get something to eat."

"Okay."

I came back with a bento box in hand.

"Did you make that?" Mitsuha asked, eyeing my bento.

"I bought it at a convenience store."

"Can't you make those yourself?"

"I don't have time."

"I can make them for you."

"How are you going to deliver them to me?"

"I don't know."

I laughed. "Thanks for the offer, but what I want most right now is for you to get better."

"You are sweet," she laid down again.

It was almost eleven at night when I heard a knock on the door.

"Hey, it's Sayaka!" she called.

I walked out to let her in.

"Sorry about that Taki, too much work today," Sayaka said, "how is Mitsuha?"

"She is doing okay," I replied, "I made her some porridge and wiped her back, she is sleeping right now."

"Oh good, I brought some medicine for her just in case."

We walked into Mitsuha's bedroom.

"Hey Sayaka," Mitsuha cracked open her eyes to greet her friend.

"How are you feeling?" Sayaka asked.

"I am doing better thanks to Taki."

"That is nice to hear," Sayaka smiled.

"I guess I will take my leave now," I said.

Mitsuha sat upright. "Why are you leaving?"

"Well… Sayaka is here, so she can take over for me… and she is a girl so maybe she can help you with things that I can't do," I rambled, feeling awkward all of a sudden.

As I got up to leave, a hand grabbed the back of my shirt.

I turned around to see Mitsuha's face flushed with sickness and embarrassment, but there was a determined glint in her eyes.

"Stay here with me," she said in a low whisper.

"What?"

"Please," she implored.

"Alright, I will stay," I assured her.

"Good," she smiled tiredly and fell back in bed.

"I never realized Mitsuha had a possessive side," Sayaka looked genuinely surprised.

"Give me your hand," Mitsuha told me.

I reached out and took her hand.

"Now I can rest easy," she grinned.

"Looks like you got things covered," Sayaka told me, "I will be heading home now; Tessie is waiting for me."

"Good night you two," Sayaka got up and left the room.

"Good night, Sayaka," Mitsuha called after her.

When Sayaka was gone, Mitsuha slightly tightened her hand.

"Stay with me until I fall asleep," she ordered.

"Okay," I replied.

I watched Mitsuha close her eyes.

"Thank you for today," she said quietly.

I tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Sleep well," I said.