Chapter 43 (Yuiren)

It was the second time everyone had been gathered together in a room around Miki's bed. Besides Popiah and Pakkun, Cuddles-san and Kakashi were also surrounding her on both sides, silent cuddly guardians while she was sick. Yuiren had never seen someone get sick so quickly from walking around in wet clothes, but it was Miki and apparently she had a questionable immune system.

Win the game, fall sick. How ironic.

Having had plenty of experience with her own siblings, Yuiren had designated herself as Miki's nurse. Syo-kun was very concerned about his friend, and unsurprisingly, so was Natsuki. Aria had moved into Miki's room with them, because she was concerned as well - and also so Yuiren could occasionally take a break from taking care of the other girl, for which Yuiren was grateful.

Replacing the fever cooling patch on Miki's forehead - Ren's family had an excellently stocked first aid kit, and Miki had refused to have him call in the family doctor just for fever and flu - Yuiren tucked the blankets around the other girl and grinned.

"Get some rest," she advised. Miki was pouting - she'd been in bed for the whole day already and Yuiren knew that was about the time most patients got very tired of being told to rest when they'd done nothing else all day. She looked adorable, and Yuiren suspected that if she took a photo of her right now a certain blond musical genius might really appreciate it.

Aria entered the room, bearing a tray, and Miki promptly sat up, having spotted the food.

"Please tell me there's something good for lunch," she not-quite-whined.

"Porridge," the celeste-haired girl apologized. "You're sick, sugar. What did you expect, French cuisine?"

Miki groaned and fell back on the bed. She was pale, she still had a decent fever, and her eyes were still red from proximity to Kuppuru - who was currently with Nanami in her room next door. It had been porridge for breakfast, too. This was ridiculous.

Aria and Yuiren both fixed her with stern looks, fully expecting her to start suggesting other types of food like she had that morning - and both fully prepared to say "No" in very firm voices.

Pouting again, Miki complained, "I'll eat it. But someone better tell me the story of Yuiren and Ittoki while I do."

Aria grinned, while Yuiren proceeded to turn bright red, as she had been doing since yesterday whenever anyone brought up the subject.

"I wasn't there," sing-songed the blue-haired girl. "I was upstairs, in a closet. I wanna hear this story, too."

"There is no story," Yuiren protested. "It was an accident!"

"We've heard that before."

"Mmmhm. You 'accidentally' fell asleep on him in a wonderfully romantic position."

"And when you woke up, you 'accidentally' draped yourself over his lap."

Miki took the bowl off Aria's tray as she spoke, grimacing as she took a few mouthfuls, finding her appetite wasn't what it had been - though not because of the food. Ren's chef made even sick-people food taste absolutely delicious. She grabbed the pepper dispenser and grated out a generous amount onto it as well, before adding soy sauce - there, perfect. She thwacked Aria's hand away before the other girl could ruin the masterpiece with those annoying spring onions - ewwww. Not even when she was well, thank you.

"I really didn't mean to," Yuiren was saying now, in a small voice, and Miki almost felt bad enough for the other girl to stop the teasing.

"I'm not sure what you're so upset about," she pointed out, starting on the food. "Ittoki-kun's not the worst guy to fall asleep on. His fangirls would kill you if they knew, you lucky thing."

Yuiren was silent, and finally she looked up at the other girl. She didn't seem upset, but neither did she seem overly thrilled. Aria glanced over as well, but then Yuiren spoke.

"I... don't know. I don't understand. I like him, he's my senpai. But I don't think I like him as more than a friend. I... don't think I can."

"Why on earth not?" demanded Aria, voicing Miki's own thoughts.

The other girl shrugged. She'd gone pretty pale. Hm. Maybe it was time to drop the subject.

"Ano... he's a good friend. And I think it's really wrong of me to fall asleep on a good friend and think things like 'He smells good'."

The instant she said the sentence, Yuiren clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. Oh boy. She'd just given her friends ammunition for their guns. What the heck had she said?

"'He smells good'?" Miki nearly leapt off the bed, and Aria who was nearest only just managed to save her bowl. "Seriously? Woman, that is so... darn fever, I can't even describe that!"

Aria was grinning openly. "Try 'interesting'."

"Oh, definitely," Miki crowed. "Girl, you should totally -"

What Miki thought she totally should do, Yuiren never found out. This time, not even Aria was able to save the porridge bowl from the excited, supposedly-sick girl. Grateful for the reprieve, Yuiren instantly pounced on her porridge-covered patient and dragged her to the bathroom for a washcloth and a quick change of clothes.

Of course, they wouldn't forget this topic - not likely, but she would take the break now she had it. Because she hadn't been kidding when she said she was confused.

But wasn't it a moot point? Ittoki-senpai was a famous idol. Idols didn't fall for girls like her. In fact, according to their principal, idols shouldn't even fall in love.


Meanwhile, in the room Tokiya and Ittoki were sharing, a rather similar discussion was taking place, if Yuiren had but known it.

"It really was an accident, Tokiya!" Ittoki was telling his roommate, who had finally confronted him about the incident yesterday.

"You should have woken her up."

"B-But she looked so peaceful!" Ittoki looked earnestly at his friend from where he was sitting on the bed. "And she was tired. I just didn't have the heart to do it, Tokiya!"

The dark-haired teen sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "It wouldn't have happened if you'd woken her up."

Ittoki sighed, his usually smiling face turning serious. "I know." He slumped dejectedly against the wall. "But she was so cute, and so warm and soft... and she smelled good."

Tokiya flashed him a startled look. "What are you saying, Otoya?"

"Iie! I didn't mean it like that. I just meant... I mean... girls are... they're different!" Ittoki waved his hands animatedly, trying to explain himself.

"Well, of course they are! Why is this a revelation?"

"No, I mean... I mean... oh darn it." Giving up, Ittoki let himself slide off the bed, hands going to his own head to grip his hair. "Oh, man..." Looking up at Tokiya, who was sighing and rolling his eyes, he whined, "Is it always so difficult, Toki? Dealing with girls?"

"Just get off the floor, Otoya, please. I suddenly don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Awww, Tokiya!"


As luck would have it, Yuiren bumped into Ittoki in the hallway just as he was returning from lunch and she was taking Miki's porridge-covered bedding to the laundry room. She'd left Miki with Aria, both watching Running Man, leaving the room just as Miki cooed "Ji Hyo SHOOOO PRETTY" and proceeded to fangirl over the series regular who was her favorite member.

She wasn't sure if it was good luck. She hadn't actually been alone with her senpai since yesterday. Ducking her head a little, suddenly shy, she bowed and said, "Good afternoon, senpai."

"Yui-chan! Good afternoon." Ittoki looked a little nervous as well. Rubbing at his nose, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm as she started to edge away. Yuiren was concerned - he looked serious.

"Yui-chan, I'm sorry," he said, with a deep bow. "About yesterday. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

Yuiren stared at him, upset. "You don't have to apologize, senpai!" Quickly she dropped the bedding and reached to raise his body. "It was an accident, right? On both our parts. If anything, I'm sorry I fell asleep on you."

"But you -"

"I shouldn't have-"

They stared at each other for a moment, and then the funny side of their situation kicked in, and both of them started laughing together.

"I think we can call it even and put it behind us," Ittoki chuckled, and Yuiren nodded. He bent, eyes lit with humor once again, and picked up the fallen bedsheets. "Where were you taking these? I bet you've been looking after Miki and haven't stopped for a break, right? There's still food left - you can probably get there before Syo finishes up the leftovers. Tokiya was saving you a plate."

"You don't have to," Yuiren began, but he waved at her and turned in the direction of the laundry.

"It's okay, Yuiren." He grinned, and Yuiren wondered why - after all the times he'd called her 'Yui-chan' - that suddenly hearing her name like that, unadorned with any honorific, from him, sounded so different all of a sudden. So very different... so oddly intimate. And yet, probably just meant as a method of address from a senpai to a kouhai.

"T-Thank you, Ittoki-s-senpai." She gave in, and he walked off, his steps light and cheerful.

She wondered what he would have done if she had given in to the sudden, odd urge to call him 'Ittoki-kun'.


At the end of the week, their holiday came to a close, and they went their separate ways before school started. Ren stayed on at the villa, Yuiren thought Masato and Aria stayed on with him for a while, but wasn't sure. However, the van Ren hired took the rest of them back to their various homes, including Kuppuru, who went with Nanami. It was good to spend that last week with her family again, and lighten her bag of its souvenirs. And then, with the end of the summer hols, it was back to Saotome Gakuen.


Author's Note: How I do love those girl-bonding moments all three leading ladies share, their friendship is turning out to be sooooo cute! Ohh Miki, spring onions are yummeh, what's wrong with you? Nevermind.

Please R&R if you like and do stay tuned!