Fever
She's late.
Yuuko can't help but think as she looks at her watch for the nth time in the last 15 minutes that she's been waiting outside the doors of the cafeteria they've agreed to meet up.
She can't help but keep tapping her foot against the floor impatiently, a scowl present on her face while her arms keep crossed over her chest.
- I can't believe it's our first date and that idiot is already late.
She mumbles under her breath, searching for her phone in her purse to pull it out.
"You're late"
She types out plainly, before she hits the send button and waits patiently for an answer.
Several minutes go by and Yuuko can only stare at her phone's screen, waiting to see if Natsuki at least had the decency to read the message before she gives up and locks it.
It's in that precise moment when a chilly breeze hits her frame, making her shiver in cold and turn around to look at the cafeteria's door with crave, contemplating if she should just wait Natsuki inside, or just grab a quick coffee to go.
She can only sigh heavily before taking a decision.
- I guess it wouldn't hurt to at least grab a coffee.
She tells herself, taking a quick look at her phone to see that Natsuki still hasn't read the message she sent her minutes ago, before she decides to go inside the cafeteria.
- Good morning, what can I get you? – a chirpy voice greets her as soon as she enters.
- A vanilla soy mocha to go, please – Yuuko orders, waiting for her coffee while she checks her phone again to see that she still hasn't got any answer from Natsuki.
How strange.
She barely has time to think about the oddness of the situation before the barista places her coffee on the counter.
- Here you go – the barista says amicably.
- Thank you.
Yuuko says, smiling at her and paying for it as she takes the coffee in between her hands to warm them up and take a sip of it.
She sighs in delight, feeling warmer now and gets out of the cafeteria, stepping again into the cold weather, shivering briefly before she takes another sip of her coffee and lets it warm her more.
Then, she pulls her phone out to see how another 15 minutes went by since the last time she checked it and she still doesn't have any answer from Natsuki, neither any indication that she has she read the message.
Yuuko furrows her brow and searches for Natsuki's contact in her phone to call her, but it just rings until her call goes to the voicemail.
She hangs up and bites her lip, contemplating what to do next before she unconsciously starts to walk towards Natsuki's apartment, sipping her coffee on her way there from time to time to warm herself in the cold weather while she keeps the hope of finding the auburn girl halfway.
But she doesn't have such luck and starts to grow more and more worried about the other girl as she keeps walking and calling her.
- Please, answer the phone.
She mumbles, her stomach churning at the thought that something bad had happen to Natsuki.
Yuuko hangs up completely frustrated as her call goes straight to the voicemail again, throwing her empty coffee cup into the nearest bin and quickening her pace, almost ending up running to arrive sooner to the auburn girl's apartment.
She rushes the upstairs two steps at a time until she's right in front of the other girl's door, ringing the bell twice and knocking on the door frantically.
- Natsuki!?
Yuuko calls out Natsuki by her name, neither getting any answer nor hearing any movement from inside the apartment. She tries again, before she ends up trying to call at the other girl's phone, hearing it ringing inside.
Yuuko lets out a relieved sigh before she hangs up and puts her phone back in her purse to then take a tissue out of it and introduce her hand in the flowerpot that it's placed outside Natsuki's apartment, next to her door, in search for the key.
- You could at least hide it in another place – she grimaces as she searches for the key inside it before she finds it, quickly cleaning the dirt off it to introduce it in the lock and twist it to open the door – Natsuki?
She calls the other girl's name out loud, only to be met with silence.
She furrows her brow again and leaves her coat, purse and shoes scattered all over the entrance, wandering around the house being a bundle of nerves before she reaches the bedroom, letting an alleviated sigh escape her lips as she finds Natsuki in her bed.
- Don't tell me you overslept – she whines, approaching Natsuki's bundle form under the blankets ready to scold her, but then she notices her shivering and breathing raggedly, covered in sweat – Natsuki?
She calls her name again, shaking her lightly to gain a groan back.
Yuuko sees how the other girl doesn't attempt to move nor open her eyes. So, worried, Yuuko decides to place her hand on Natsuki's forehead.
- You're burning up! – she gasps, looking at Natsuki concerned, debating what she should do.
Yuuko then takes a deep breath and rolls her sleeves up, determination glinting in her emerald eyes before she leaves the bedroom to go to the kitchen and get a bucket of water and a washcloth before coming back.
She damps the washcloth to clean and freshen up Natsuki's face and neck, repeating the same action for a couple of times before she ends up placing it on her forehead, caressing Natsuki's cheek fondly.
- Now I understand why you were so tired during the entire week – Yuuko whispers, looking worriedly at Natsuki while still caressing her cheek.
She can't help but remember how the other girl seemed to be less energetic and more tired as the days went by.
She should have expected that something was off when Natsuki didn't even try to rile her up at all over the last couple of days but instead, she shrugged it off, choosing to trust Natsuki every time she assured her she was okay.
Yuuko sighs, leaving a last caress on Natsuki's cheek and a light kiss on her temple, making sure she's completely tucked in bed, before she goes back to the entrance to put her things in the right place and then to the kitchen to wash the dishes and clean and order the house a bit before going back to Natsuki's bedroom with a glass of water and some medicine for when she wakes up.
In the meantime, she can't help but watch Natsuki sleep in her pitiful state, cleaning her skin off sweat and wetting the washcloth again from time to time before she goes to sink into Natsuki's comfy beanbag to rest for a bit, taking a look around her bedroom.
Even though she's been in her bedroom multiple times with Mizore and Nozomi to study all together, she can't help but see it differently now, noticing how even though it seems messy, it's still tidy, but she guesses that's a very Natsuki thing.
Yuuko chuckles quietly, before her eyes land on Natsuki's shelves, full of mangas volumes, books of classical music as well as some novels.
Curious, she stands up and approaches them to take a better look of the books. Her fingertips trace along their spines before she comes across a book she'd have never expected to find in there.
"The notebook"
She takes it and brushes her fingertips over its cover.
- Didn't you tell me you hadn't like the movie? – she asks rhetorically out loud but softly to not wake Natsuki up, giggling quietly before she goes back to the beanbag and lets her body sink again into its comfort with the book in her hands, opening it to start reading it.
She has barely read two chapters when she sees Natsuki moving out of the corner of her eye, hearing her grumbling.
Yuuko tucks the bookmark in the page she's currently reading and closes the book, placing it on the floor before she quickly goes to Natsuki's side, just in time to see her opening her eyes heavily.
Soon, she finds her beautiful but red and glassy amethyst eyes looking right into hers.
- Yuu… ko? – Natsuki asks her name hoarsely and confusedly.
- Hey there sicky – Yuuko jokes, caressing her cheek.
- What… – Natsuki trails off, completely worn out by the fever.
- You stood me up in our first date, how nice of you – Yuuko says teasingly, seeing Natsuki furrowing her brow.
- Date?
Yuuko clicks her tongue, caressing Natsuki's cheek a bit more as she sees her gaze growing hazy, trying to think about it and she can't help but feel bad for her.
- It's okay silly, don't worry about it. Do you think you can sit up for a bit to take the medicine? – she asks her softly, seeing Natsuki trying to do what she asked her yet scrunching her nose up at the mention of medicine, making her giggle.
Yuuko helps her to sit up and makes sure she swallows the medicine before she helps Natsuki to lie back down again.
- Get some rest, okay? – she tells Natsuki, seeing her fighting to stay awake before she grumbles something incoherent and closes her eyes to go back to sleep.
Yuuko brushes Natsuki's sweaty hair out of her face and damps the washcloth again to place it on the other girl's forehead and lets her rest while she resumes her reading.
When it's time for lunch, Yuuko can't help but feel bad for having to wake up the auburn, but she needs to eat a little something, so she pauses her reading and goes to shake Natsuki lightly.
- Natsuki wake up, it's time for lunch – she tells her softly, seeing the other girl opening her eyes groggily and unfocused.
- No… – Natsuki croaks.
- Nat, you have to eat something.
- Not… hungry… – Natsuki says hoarsely before she closes her eyes again to sleep, and even though Yuuko wants to keep insisting, she understands that Natsuki may not feel hungry and lets her rest while she goes to the kitchen to make herself something quick for lunch.
She finds some instant noodles in one of the kitchen's cabinets and even though Yuuko knows she should be eating something different, she doesn't care to eat them just for one day, worried about leaving Natsuki alone for too long.
Who would have thought our first date would end being like this?
Yuuko thinks, clicking her tongue amused yet blushing a bit at the thought of their first date and at having to take care of Natsuki, but it somehow feels nice to be the one doing it as the auburn is always who takes care of everybody even if it seems strange.
A shy smile spreads across her face as she thinks about Natsuki always keeping an eye on everybody, making sure they're okay even though she always seems so carefree about it.
Yuuko shakes her head, finishing eating her noodles to throw the empty bowl to the plastic's bin and wash the cutlery she used so she can go back to Natsuki's bedroom, damping the washcloth of her forehead once again to clean and refresh her sweated skin before she sinks into the beanbag and resumes her reading.
A couple of hours have go by when Natsuki opens her eyes again, heavily while groaning, making Yuuko pause her reading to approach her.
- Hey – she says softly, not wanting to startle her.
- H-Hey – Natsuki says back, her voice still hoarse as she tries to sit up almost exhausted.
- Wait, Nat you're still too weak, go back to rest – Yuuko tells her, trying to stop her from getting out of bed.
- But I need… to pee…
How smooth.
Yuuko thinks to herself amused, rolling her eyes before she ends up helping the auburn, slipping her arm around Natsuki's waist to support her weight as they walk slowly together towards the bathroom.
- Do you, um, need me to…? – the blonde trails off embarrassed, trying not to look at Natsuki and her lopsided amused grin.
- No… don't… worry.
Yuuko nods almost alleviated because it'd have been really embarrassing, and sees Natsuki entering the bathroom, noticing her clothes slightly drenched in sweat before she closes the door. She then wanders around the room, trying to distract herself until she hears the door clicking open and sees Natsuki appearing again, leaning lightly on the door frame.
- You should change your clothes Nat, they're drenched in sweat.
Yuuko tells Natsuki, hearing her grumbling before she heads towards her wardrobe without a word to retrieve two shirts, two hoodies and two pairs of baggy pants. She then hands half of each set of clothing to Yuuko.
- Uh? What are these for?
- If you… are gonna stay… just wear something… more comfortable – Natsuki says with difficulty being a little out of breath, trying to give the blonde a smile that unfortunately comes out more like a grimace than anything else.
Yuuko gladly accepts them, a blush tinting her cheeks.
- I-I'll use the bathroom then! – she squeals high-pitched, before she quickly shuts the door behind her and leans against it, hearing Natsuki's muffled laugh then cough at the other side.
Yuuko smiles softly and puts Natsuki's clothes on, blushing harder at the sight of her reflection in the mirror wearing the auburn girl's clothes and at the soothing lavender scent that envelops her.
She inhales Natsuki's scent deeply, feeling calmer before she comes out.
- I'm coming out! – she warns the other girl, waiting a prudential time before she opens the bathroom's door to find the other girl already changed and sat on the bed with a tired smile on her face.
- You look good – she says tiredly, causing Yuuko to blush harder.
- S-Shut up! – she squeaks embarrassed yet still goes to help to an amused Natsuki to get in bed, tucking her in – Get some more rest before it's time for dinner, okay?
Yuuko tells her, damping again the washcloth of her forehead.
- Thank… you – Natsuki croaks, quickly falling asleep and Yuuko can't help but leave another tender caress on her cheek.
- You're welcome, silly – she whispers with an affectionate smile on her face before she takes their clothes to load the washing machine with them.
Once the cycle is over, she hangs them up to dry, to then search around the kitchen for the ingredients she will need to make a simple chicken soup for dinner, accompanying it with a yogurt and some juice for Natsuki before she carefully takes the food to the bedroom, placing it on the nightstand to wake the other girl up again.
- Nat, wake up – she calls her name softly, shaking her shoulder to see her opening her eyes slowly, dazed, before she ends up focusing her gaze on her – It's time for dinner.
Yuuko sees Natsuki wanting to reject the food again but once she smells the soup and her stomach growls as a sign of protest, she changes her mind and tries to sit up with Yuuko's help before she puts the food tray on her legs.
- Thanks – Natsuki sighs out, making Yuuko blush again.
- I-It's nothing idiot, but you should have told me you were sick – Yuuko scolds her as they start to eat.
- I *cough* didn't know I was… getting sick – Natsuki says quietly, making Yuuko sigh.
- It's a good thing I'm here to take care of you then – she pesters her slightly embarrassed.
- Y-Yeah, it is, but... you should go home though.
Yuuko can only give her a disbelieving look.
- Excuse me!? I'm not leaving you by yourself when you're sick! – Yuuko exclaims outraged, making Natsuki smile softly.
- If you stay... you'll get sick Yuuko and I *cough* don't want that.
Even though Yuuko is touched by her concern, she can't help but snort.
- Thank you, but my immune system is better than yours, not to talk that I take vitamins to prevent myself from getting sick, unlike apparently a certain someone.
Yuuko says glaring at Natsuki, making her laugh lightly and cough a bit more. She should have expected something along those lines.
- Just don't worry about me and focus on getting better – Yuuko tells her softly, handing her a glass of water and the medicine – take this.
Natsuki sighs but swallows them, grimacing before Yuuko helps her to lie back down in bed, tucking her in again and making sure she's comfortable and warm.
- You can... sleep in the guest room – Natsuki tells her tiredly.
- What? No way! I'm staying here. I'll take the futon out of the wardrobe.
Natsuki wants to protest but knowing how stubborn Yuuko can be, she knows it'd be pointless so she quickly gives up.
- Okay.
She says as her eyes start to flutter and ends closing them with heaviness, quickly falling asleep.
Yuuko shakes her head and takes the food tray back to the kitchen to wash everything they used before she comes back to the bedroom.
- Get well soon – she whispers, leaving a light kiss on Natsuki's forehead, checking on her temperature to damp the washcloth one last time before she places it back on the auburn girl's forehead.
She stays for a bit staring at Natsuki, noticing her already sleeping soundly before she goes to the wardrobe and takes the futon out of it to sleep on the floor, close to Natsuki just in case she needs something.
Yuuko takes one last look at the sick girl before she closes her eyes and ends up falling asleep with a soft smile on her face.
It's late at night when some whimpers wake her up.
Yuuko turns the dim light of the nightstand on to see Natsuki shivering and coughing.
She sighs, sitting on the edge of the bed to check Natsuki's temperature, noticing how she's still a bit warm but nothing like in the morning. Then she tucks the other girl in the blankets to make sure Natsuki doesn't get cold and damps the washcloth again before going back to her futon. But as she's standing up, Natsuki's hand clutches her hoodie and Yuuko can't help but smile softly, sighing again before turning the light off and getting into the bed with her, feeling Natsuki's head quickly coming to rest against her chest while the shivers slowly cease.
- So much for not wanting me to get sick, eh? – Yuuko says quietly, chuckling before hugging Natsuki tightly against her to keep her warm.
Hours later, Yuuko wakes up with the sun entering through the window, illuminating the bedroom. She shuts her eyes briefly before opening them again, focusing on the girl still sleeping soundly on her chest, clutching her hoodie. She blushes slightly, enjoying waking up like that before she checks Natsuki's forehead, noticing how she's barely warm.
Yuuko lets out a relieved sigh, kissing Natsuki's forehead again before she slowly detaches herself from the other girl's hug to go and make some light breakfast. Once she finishes making it, she goes back to the auburn girl's bedroom.
- Hey, sicky, wake up – she says poking Natsuki's nose lightly, seeing her scrunching it up and opening her eyes slowly, and somehow Yuuko can't help but feel her heart flutter at the cute sight – Do you feel better?
- Y-Yeah, a bit – Natsuki sighs out, slowly sitting up.
- Do you want to have breakfast here?
Yuuko asks her softly, seeing Natsuki shake her head before she tries to stand up, ending up being helped by the blonde, walking slowly to the kitchen.
- You're so stubborn – Yuuko says once Natsuki is sat at the table.
- But you like it – the comment doesn't go unnoticed by Yuuko, making her blush before she hears Natsuki continuing – besides, I'm tired of being in bed all day.
Natsuki ends up grumbling, happily starting to eat the porridge Yuuko made.
Yuuko can only roll her eyes and look down at her plate, starting eating to hide the soft blush and smile adorning her face.
- I'm going to stay today too to make sure you're okay – Yuuko looks up from her plate to see Natsuki about to complain and quickly glares at her – and don't even dare to complain about it.
- Fiiiine – Natsuki breathes out pretending to be bothered, but the soft smile on her face gives her away.
They keep eating in silence until Yuuko washes the cutlery and plates they used so they can go back to the bedroom together where Natsuki goes directly back to sleep still feeling tired and after have been fighting so stubbornly to stay awake while Yuuko washed the dishes.
Yuuko smiles softly and leaves a featherlight kiss on her temple before resuming her reading from where she left it the previous day.
The hours go by similar to the prior day, with Yuuko reading "The notebook" until Natsuki wakes up to use the bathroom or to have lunch together and then goes back to sleep after struggling to stay awake talking with Yuuko, and the blonde can't help but find this endearing cute.
By the time dinner time comes, Yuuko has already ended reading the whole book and is simply watching Natsuki sleep, thinking about everything that happened.
She sighs and shakes the auburn, waking her up so they can have dinner together in the kitchen, noticing how Natsuki is already feeling a bit better as she tries to rile her up as she used to do before getting sick.
Once they end up having dinner, Yuuko can't help but doubt about taking the futon out of the wardrobe again or sleep with Natsuki, blushing at the mere thought of it.
- What's wrong? – Natsuki asks her curiously.
- N-Nothing! – Yuuko squeaks, going to the wardrobe.
- Don't tell me you want to sleep with me – Natsuki says teasingly.
- S-Shut up! And don't phrase it like that! – Yuuko squeals, seeing the smile on Natsuki's face, having missed it this whole time – O-Okay, maybe.
She ends up admitting, mumbling, hearing Natsuki giggling before she sees her pulling the blankets apart and pat the spot beside her in bed.
- Just promise me you won't get sick – Natsuki tells her seriously, warming Yuuko's heart at how concerned she is by her well being.
- Who are you taking me for!? – Yuuko exclaims with feigned indignation but gladly getting under the blankets, lying down facing Natsuki.
- Right, unlike me, you take vitamins to not get sick – Natsuki mimics her, joking and sticking out her tongue at her before mirroring her, facing her to sleep – Sleep well Yuuko.
She says, leaving a tender caress on the blonde's cheek, making her blush.
- Y-You too idiot, and get well soon, it's tiring to be taking care of you – she says embarrassedly and stubbornly, seeing Natsuki's lovely smile before she shuts her eyes to try to sleep, hearing her own heartbeat pounding loudly in her ears.
Natsuki laughs lightly before she rests her head against Yuuko's chest, letting her fast heartbeat lull her to sleep.
Yuuko blushes even harder but hugs her tightly against her before finally falling asleep with a happy smile on her face.
When she wakes up though, she can't help but feel dejected, wanting nothing more than spend more time together, but she has to go back to her own home and prepare for classes.
She sighs and squeezes Natsuki lightly, leaving a kiss on her forehead before she gets out of bed to go and make breakfast.
- Morning – a still groggy Natsuki says appearing through the kitchen's door.
- Good morning – Yuuko answers her softly, seeing her cute bed hair and how she rubs her sleepy eyes, yawning.
Just like a kid.
Yuuko thinks to herself amused, placing a bowl of porridge in front of Natsuki, who yawns again.
- Thanks. Are you leaving today? – Natsuki asks her quietly.
- Yeah – Yuuko answers her almost sadly.
Natsuki smiles fondly at her but a sad glint flashes across her eyes as she extends her hand to caress Yuuko's.
- Don't worry, we'll see each other once I don't feel so weak, and hey! I'm already feeling better so I'm sure it'll be very soon.
Natsuki says in a lively way, winking at her and making Yuuko smile.
- Okay, but you still need to be careful and don't be stubborn and call me if you need anything.
Natsuki can't help but snort.
- You make it sound as if you wouldn't be checking on me every single day.
- S-Shut up!
Yuuko squeals embarrassed because it's precisely what she'll do and Natsuki can't help but laugh, still coughing slightly but smiling to dispel Yuuko's concerns.
- Seriously, I'm already feeling better, so don't worry so much about me and go back home to get some rest, okay? You also need it.
Yuuko smiles and nods at her, both of them finishing their breakfasts in a comfortable silence.
- Okay, I washed the dishes and the laundry is in the machine – Yuuko tells Natsuki as she puts her coat on, earning herself an eye roll – If you-
- Yeah, yeah, if I don't feel well or need anything, I should call you. But really Yuuko don't worry and get some rest, you need it too, okay?
Natsuki says softly, caressing Yuuko's cheek tenderly before giving her a quick hug.
- Ugh, fine – Yuuko says against her chest, happily returning the hug before she leaves.
Once she steps out of the house and into the cold weather, she can't help but sigh, already missing the auburn and the time they spent together.
Yuuko shakes her head and stops on her way back home to buy some food before resuming her walk back.
Days go by and Yuuko makes sure to check on Natsuki every single day as she told her she'd be doing to know how she's doing, until one day she doesn't.
"Oi, you didn't check on me today ️"
Natsuki texts Yuuko one afternoon after not having received any text from the blonde in the whole day, neither have seen her around the college campus.
She sighs and without expecting any answer back, she makes a brief stop at her apartment, taking some spare clothes and medicines before she stops by the grocery shop to buy some food and ends up heading to Yuuko's apartment.
Once she's at the blonde's door, she rings the doorbell twice and knocks on it, waiting for the other girl to open it. She hears some muffled shuffling from the inside before she sees the blonde opening the door slowly, looking tired besides of with her eyes and nose red.
- What are you doing here? – Yuuko asks her confused and a bit hoarsely, letting Natsuki in after seeing her with a bag of food and a sport bag.
- Isn't it obvious? I'm here to take care of you – Natsuki says nonchalantly, winking at a stunned Yuuko before she takes a step forward and kisses her forehead – mmmh, you're a bit warm, go to bed.
Natsuki says, lightly pushing the blonde in the bedroom's direction and Yuuko can only sigh yet let Natsuki take care of her and guide her back to her bedroom, sitting on her bed.
- Did you already take your meds and vitamins? – Natsuki asks her a bit teasingly, crouched as she pulls a pair of baggy pants, a shirt and a hoodie out of her sport bag.
- Yeah, a bit ago – Yuuko says tiredly.
- Good, then let me change real quickly and I'll do whatever you need me to – Natsuki says, disappearing into the bathroom to get changed without waiting for any answer in exchange from Yuuko, eliciting a soft smile on the blonde's face.
- Silly, you don't need to – Yuuko whispers softly, touched by the fact that Natsuki came to take care of her and glad she didn't mention anything about her having not such a strong immune system as she boasted.
- Okay, done. What do you want me to do? – Natsuki says once she gets out of the bathroom, wearing the same clothes she gave Yuuko when she stayed with her.
Yuuko shakes her head, blushing slightly yet with a tired smile on her face.
- Just sit with me, I'm a bit tired.
Natsuki nods happily complying, but before she goes to sit by her side in bed, she approaches Yuuko's small TV and puts a DVD on.
- Uh? What are you doing? – Yuuko asks her confused.
- Shhh, you'll see soon – Natsuki says with a fond smile on her face, sitting beside her, their shoulders touching after making sure Yuuko is tucked in and comfy and before she presses the play button.
As she does it, the title of the movie appears on the screen.
"The notebook"
Yuuko smiles softly and looks at Natsuki.
- I thought you didn't like it – she tells her softly.
- And I don't, but it's your favorite so – Natsuki simply says, shrugging her shoulders yet still managing to touch Yuuko.
- Silly – she says softly with a smile on her face – Is that why you also have the book? – Yuuko ends up asking her teasingly, seeing Natsuki blush.
- I… yes – she admits embarrassedly, making Yuuko giggle and rest her head on her shoulder, feeling Natsuki draping an arm around her waist to pull her closer and kiss her forehead.
Yuuko smiles and focuses on the movie, feeling her eyes getting heavy.
- Thank you...
She whispers quietly, a smile taking over her features while she enjoys Natsuki's warmth and the feeling of the other girl taking care of her.
She feels Natsuki kissing her forehead once again before she finally falls asleep.
