By Monday morning, everyone in school knew that Dive got 2nd place in the Band Competition and that Ookouchi Sakuya sang in place of Makoto. They were all talking about it, making up reasons why he did it.

"Why, indeed, did you do it?" Yukifumi asked curiously. He and Sakuya were hanging out on the rooftop—the only place not occupied by a mob of students.

"Did what?" He was playing with a coin, flipping it in the air, catching it, and throwing it up again.

"Sing."

"You're asking me why I sing? That's like asking a writer why he writes."

"Now you're being sarcastic. I meant, why did you sing for us?"

Sakuya sneezed. "Because I felt like doing it."

Yukifumi laughed. "That sounds just like you."

Sakuya sneezed again. "Well, what were you expecting? That I did it to help you out? Guess again."

This time Yukifumi frowned. "Well, no. Ah, never mind." He looked up. "Looks like it's gonna rain." No sooner had he said it when huge droplets of rain pelted them. They ran for cover but got heavily drenched on the way.

"Oh, shit." Sakuya sneezed again and again. Yukifumi looked at him worriedly. "Hey, you okay? Sounds like you're coming down with something."

"Yeah, maybe. Talk about bothersome." He blew his nose on his handkerchief.

"Well, come on. We should go home." They separated ways.

The next day, Yukifumi was surprised not to see Sakuya's red bike in its usual parking space. Was he THAT sick to miss school?

Impatient for classes to end, he rushed out the moment their teacher dismissed them. He left a note in the music studio saying he wouldn't be able to join practice that day, only to remember while he was in his car that they didn't have one anyway.

"Let's take a break for the rest of the week and get together in the weekend, okay?" Makoto's slightly hoarse voice floated in his mind.

Yukifumi planned to go to Ookouchi Sakuya's house that afternoon. He was unable to explain it himself but something close to worry had been nagging at him all day. He guessed the best way to get rid of it was to visit Sakuya.

He found Sakuya's house with no difficulty and parked his car in front of it. He knocked on the door and waited. When no one came to answer, he opened it himself.

"Sakuya?" he called out in the empty room. "It's me, Yukifumi. Um, are you in?" He heard the faint sound of music and decided to follow it. He came upon a half-open door, cautiously opened it further and peeked in. He found Sakuya in bed, lying on top of the covers in a shirt and a pair of shorts. The music he had heard came from the stereo beside the bed.

Sakuya looked up. "It's you." He didn't even look surprised.

"Hey. Sorry for dropping by so suddenly."

"It's okay. I was bored to death."

"So how're you feeling?" Yukifumi asked, entering the room. He tiptoed over the sheets of paper scattered on the floor. Some had words scribbled on them, others had notes.

"Like shit."

"Figured you were really sick to miss out on school."

"Heh. And what made you think that I value school that much? I could just be too lazy to go, for all you know."

"Hm...Just a feeling, maybe. I don't think you've been absent before. Am I right?"

"Whatever."

Yukifumi went to stand by the bed. "You know, you'll only get sicker if you keep getting exposed to the cold. Don't you have jackets around here?"

"There's one in the closet."

Yukifumi took it and gave it to Sakuya to wear. The latter obeyed without complaint.

"Now, stand up for a minute."

Sakuya did and swayed a bit on his feet. Yukifumi took off the blanket. "Now, lie down." Then he covered Sakuya from neck to feet.

"It's hot," Sakuya complained, kicking off the blanket. "You need to sweat out the fever, okay?" Yukifumi covered him up again. "Now stay put." Sakuya glared at him which he returned with a stubborn jut of the chin.

"I'll be right back." He went to the kitchen to get a basin of water. Then to the bathroom for a face towel and a thermometer. He placed them all on the bedside table.

"You sure know your way around," Sakuya remarked sarcastically. Yukifumi ignored him and picked up the thermometer. "Open your mouth." Sakuya complied and he stuck the thermometer in. Next he dipped the towel in the basin and placed it on Sakuya's forehead.

"You'll do well to rest now," he said. "You hungry? I'll cook you something." Sakuya opened his mouth to speak, but too late, Yukifumi was already out of the room.

He returned minutes later after a considerable number of bangings in the kitchen with a bowl of steaming soup and a pitcher of water.

"Here you go."

Sakuya struggled to sit up. "If you're thinking of spoon-feeding me, you can just forget it," he mumbled through the thermometer.

Smiling, Yukifumi took it out and read the indicator. 38.2. 'Not too good,' he thought. Then he said, "Of course not. I don't think your pride can take it."

"You're really pushing your luck."

"Nope. Just being honest." After a while he said, "It's instant so I'm sure it's safe to eat," when Sakuya sniffed cautiously at his food.

"It better be." He ate in silence and drank the water. He also took the medicine Yukifumi handed him. When he was finished, Yukifumi took the tray out and returned to the room. Sakuya was again lying down.

"Now, you're a pretty good patient, Ookouchi Sakuya."

"Shut up."

Yukifumi laughed as he wet the towel and replaced it on Sakuya's forehead.

"Do you mind if I do my homework here?" he asked.

"No, but why not just go home and do it there?"

Yukifumi gazed at him. "Yukifumi might do that, but I'm Doctor Yuki tonight and I can't leave my patient."

"Doctor Yuki? What the hell is that?"

"Ookouchi Sakuya," he said sharply. Sakuya raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Do shut up and rest."

That did it. Sakuya burst out laughing and gradually quieted down when he saw that "Dr. Yuki" was serious.

"Alright, I'll rest, Doc."

"Good."

The minutes ticked by and the room became stuffy with heat. Yukifumi undid the first two buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. Then he stood up to check on Sakuya. His eyes were closed and he was drenched in sweat. Yukifumi went to his closet and took out a new shirt.

"Sakuya." He gently shook the boy awake. "You need to change your clothes." Sakuya didn't wake up and Yukifumi shook him more insistently. "Hey, you're not going to make me change your clothes for you, are you?" No response. "Fine." He sat Sakuya against the headboard and pushed his lolling head upright.

"Hey, I'm taking off your shirt, alright?" He removed the jacket first then passed his shirt over his arms and head. He did it carefully so as not to disturb Sakuya in his deep slumber. Taking a new towel, he wiped Sakuya's back dry before getting him into his shirt and jacket.

Yukifumi looked down at Sakuya's sleeping face, his heart pounding. He was acting pretty strange, even for him. Playing doctor for Sakuya? Cooking him dinner? Changing his clothes? He felt pretty faint himself. And now, he reluctantly admitted, he did admire Sakuya's body and almost welcomed contact with it.

'Okay. Now I'm thinking like a pervert.' He mentally hit himself on the head. 'Who can help it, though, after being close to someone like him.' He gazed down on Sakuya again. Although this time the body he had admired was all covered up with a thick blanket.

Twice through the night, he had to change Sakuya's clothes again. He was sweating profusely and it was all Yukifumi could do not to take off his own shirt completely. The heat in the room was unbearable.

At around 2am, he checked Sakuya's temperature and this time, was relieved to see that it read 37.4. He yawned widely and slapped himself to keep awake. It was a long time before dawn.

He heard a rustling from the bed, and, turning around, saw Sakuya sitting up. The towel fell on his lap.

"Oh, you're awake," Yukifumi said, standing up. "You thirsty? I'll get you some water."

Sakuya gazed at him sleepily. "What the—you're still here?" He massaged his temples. "Darned headache."

"Drink this, then," Yukifumi said, handing him a glass of warm milk.

Sakuya stared at it and said, "Isn't milk meant to help you fall asleep and not to cure headaches?"

"Who knows, it might have the same effect."

Sakuya did, then afterwards he said, "Can you get me my guitar?" It was leaning on the wall near the door. Yukifumi took it then handed it to him.

"Thanks." He plucked the strings before playing a light-hearted piece. Yukifumi sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the bed, listening contentedly, as Sakuya played piece after piece. Some were fast, others slow, and some even sounded classical to Yukifumi.

Pretty soon, he drifted off. Sakuya was so absorbed in his playing that he didn't even notice that his listener had fallen asleep until the latter fell to the floor with a thump, directly over Sakuya's papers.

Sakuya glanced up, saw Yukifumi deep in sleep, and got up. Thinking he wouldn't be able to carry Yukifumi to the couch, he made him comfortable on the floor instead. But first, he had to save his precious papers. Then, satisfied with his work, he sat on the bed to play again.