"Tezuka!" Oishi appeared on the living room, the green eyes wide in absolute shock. He was about to lay down on his bed when hear the bell ringing and his voice. "What…. Why….?" He couldn't finish his question.

"You said you were sick." He said, calmly. On his hand there was a small plastic bag and he showed to him. "I brought sport drinks. Can I come in?"

"Sure, sure!" he got closer to them and finally noticed the confused look on Eiji's face while Tezuka removed his shoes.

"Ah, Eiji-kun! This is Tezuka Kunimitsu, he…. he's…."

"Nice to meet you." Kunimitsu said, politely.

"Nice to meet you too!"

"Come to my room so we can talk." Shuichirou said.

"Okay."

Eiji stood there, without understanding anything. Who was that guy?!

"Sorry for the mess." Shuichirou said, closing the door, after Tezuka entered his bedroom. There was some medication on the bed side table. "And for my clothes as well." He was still using his pajamas, dark blue pants with a striped white and blue buttoned shirt. It was fortunate that Takumi had changed his bedsheets for clean ones on the afternoon. He could feel his heart beating fast and he could feel his blushing face burning.

Without any warning, Kunimitsu was in front of him and leaned his forehead against his, looking deep inside his eyes.

"Your face is red. Are you feverish?"

"No, not at all! I'm feeling much better now." he averted his eyes. "I'm just… a little nervous you're here."

"I'm sorry, am I bothering you? I just wanted to check on you, so…"

"You're not bothering me! I'm… I'm glad you're here." He was finally able to show him a small smile.

He sat down on the bed and Tezuka did the same after putting the bag on the bed side table.

"So, tell me how you got sick."

"When I left your place last Sunday, I ran under the rain looking for Eiji-kun on the train station."

"Why?"

"He has post traumatic disorder and his anxiety attacks are related to storms, so I didn't want to leave him alone. I already saw it two times and it's really serious. He's even on therapy to deal with it as well."

"I see."

"I'm sorry I left your place like that." He touched his hand.

"It's okay. Don't apologize."

"So, tell me about you. How was your week?"

"Regular. My office is having renovations, so I'm working from home. Actually, I came to tell you I won't be able to see you for a while. Since I'm without my office, I'm working twice as much to put everything in schedule."

"It's okay." He was a little disappointed. "Thank you for telling me."

"But…" he touched Shuichirou's face and looked seriously at him. "I was thinking we could go somewhere as soon as I get less busy. What do you think about an inn? We could enjoy ourselves in a hot spring."

"Really?"

"Yes." There was a very subtle smile on his handsome face.

"I'd love to." Shuichirou smiled.

Suddenly the alarm on Oishi's phone started to ring and he picked up the object, silencing it.

"Don't you have to pick up the call?"

"It's not a call; it's a reminder for one of my cold medicine."

"Ah, I see. I should go, then, so…" he was about to stand up when the young doctor held his hand, making him stop.

"Would you stay a little more, please?" the green eyes were gentle. "I'll be sleepy in a while, but can you stay with me until then?"

"Okay." He stood up and removed his jacket and necktie, returning to his bed. He watched when Oishi picked up one of his energy drinks and took it with a small pill.

He laid down on the farthest part of the bed.

"I don't want you to get sick."

Tezuka looked at him for a moment, before laying by his side.

"I never get sick." He said, with conviction and Shuichirou smiled, leaning on his shoulder.

"Thank you for being here."

"Don't mention it." He said, before turning on the tv and they started to watch some documentary.

##########

Tezuka took a last look on Shuichirou's asleep face with a very subtle smile before leaving his room and closing the door silently. Almost an hour had passed by. His attention was drawn to Eiji, who was at the kitchen, preparing some of the food for the next day. He was cutting some chard when Kunimitsu got close.

"He's fallen asleep."

"Ah!" his deep voice startled Eiji and he turned around with a nervous smile. "Tezuka-san… I'm sorry, I didn't hear you."

"It's okay." He observed him and the dark eyes narrowed a little in annoyance.

"Would you like something to drink? Maybe some tea?"

Eiji noticed he was carrying his jacket and necktie on his arm. Why did he took them off? he asked himself on his mind.

"Tea is good."

"Please, sit down, it's going to be done in a minute."

He continued to observe Eiji while he was preparing things. So that was the person responsible for Oishi leaving his place in such a hurry and getting sick? He looked so… ordinary and silly. How could he be Oishi's priority over him?

Eiji returned with a tea cup and placed it in front of him.

"It's lemon tea. Would you like some sugar with it?"

"It's fine." He took a sip. "You can sit down." his invitation sounded like a command with his deep voice and Eiji obeyed.

"Ah..." he was nervous with his serious expression. "Do you and Oishi-san know each other for a long time?"

"Yes. Since middle school."

"Really? How was Oishi-san back then?"

Tezuka was annoyed with his question. Why would he want to know that?

"The same. He had always been hard working and caring towards people." He took another sip. "But to be so gentle can be a problem sometimes."

"What do you mean?"

"Once he got his wrist injured helping a pregnant lady from falling. He had to stay with a cast for a few weeks. It was a real hassle, but he never complained."

"It sounds like Oishi-san." He showed a small smile.

"Don't you think you're being the same? A hassle to him?" he placed the cup down and looked at him seriously, even though his voice remain absolutely calm.

"What?" he was truly confused.

"He told me how he got sick. And how your condition is troubling him." The dark eyes narrowed. "He was absolutely carefree before you started to live with him and I wonder if you have any idea of how much you're imposing on him."

"I… I…" the way Tezuka looked at him made Kikumaru forget all his words.

"You two are not related. You're nothing but a stranger he brought home because he felt sorry for you. Like a stray cat. But, don't you think it's enough? Now he even got sick because of you. He's missing work because of you."

"I'm…I'm sorry." He lowered his head and Kunimitsu noticed his shoulders were trembling.

"You're in college, right? You're not a child anymore. You should be able to deal with your own problems without relying on other people." He stood up and looked down at Eiji. "Oishi's too kind and he probably will never complain to you, but I hope now you can see you cannot stay in his life. Even if you just work for him, he will continue to feel responsible, so, you should serve all your ties for good. For his sake."

Eiji heard Tezuka's steps towards the door and when he left. His heart was racing painfully inside of his chest and he felt the air missing. He saw when big tears started to fall on his shaking hands. One of his biggest fears was being a trouble to Oishi. He was already feeling awful for his cold and trying his best to make it up to him, but Kunimitsu's words hit his chest like daggers and he felt extremely small and useless.