A/N: Hey guys. Sorry, I meant to write this one-shot earlier, but I got busy unexpectedly. One of my readers requested a fanfic related to the current pandemic going on. I was initially hesitant to write such a story. Having got COVID-19 myself once, I knew that it was no joking matter and I'd have to keep in mind of being sensitive when writing this. With that, be kind, be safe, and follow official safety procedures to protect ourselves and each other.
FYI, this fanfic is a one-shot side-story for the Toji No Miko mystery series and takes place after "The Mystery Of Jacklyn Ripper".
In Sickness And In Health
Throughout the city of Kamakura, all was in stillness and not a soul was to be seen. Silent leaves rustled in the wind, being blown across the bare streets. Every door and window were closed, despite the sunshine and blue sky. During this warm season, people should've been enjoying the weather and flocking to the beachside of the city. However, instead, the citizens of Kamakura had locked themselves into the isolation of their homes, their faces ashen and scared.
On this particular day, Hiyori was staring at the bubbling stew she was cooking. Being the Head of the Origami Family, it would've been an abnormal sight to see her in the servants' wing of all places. However, during these difficult times, the kitchen was empty. Hiyori didn't mind—the quietness allowed her to think, and granted her the peace and solitude she lacked ever since becoming the Origami Head. Even if Hiyori did want to interact with one of the servants, she wouldn't have been able to, due to safety precautions.
"I won't be surprised if I have trouble hiring more help after this is all over," Hiyori said to herself. "Not after the news of half the staff dying from it. At least the Elite Guards are healthy."
However, this really only alleviated her increasing worry a little. Hiyori tried to banish all negative thoughts from her mind.
It was only in January when the first case of a new virus entered the country. Of course, people were aware when cases started emerging in China, but everybody was certain that eventually, it would go away with time. Only it didn't. Fast forward to March and the World Health Organization declared this new virus to be a pandemic—COVID-19. There was panic everywhere around the world and Japan was no exception. It didn't take long afterwards for the country's prime minister to declare a state of emergency nationwide.
Hiyori bit her lip in remembrance of those infected—people who were now dying like flies. Vigorously stirring her pot of boiling stew, she tried not to let her mind be weighed about those she personally knew. Some people were immune to the deadliness virus. They'd get infected, yet somehow mysteriously recover...but some people didn't.
Unable to control her thoughts, Hiyori let her mind run over the names she was familiar with. Director Maniwa had just been sent to the intensive care unit last week. A lot of Tojis got infected as well; Sayaka included, but she miraculously got well.
Even Sanae, who retired early from her Toji career to become Hiyori's personal attendant, became sick. Hiyori's stomach churned as she glanced down the hall of the servants' bedrooms. Behind one door was the silver-haired girl, restricted to her bed. Hiyori didn't want to think of what she'd do if the worst befell on Sanae. To Hiyori, Sanae was more than just her lady's maid—she was her only close friend at the Origami Family Estate.
When the Elite Guards would go off on missions, Hiyori found herself very lonely without them. Unable to connect with any of the servants, the Origami Head eventually wrote to her former classmate, voicing her troubles. She never would've expected Sanae's reply to be returning her okatana to the Heijou Institute to be with her.
One of the worst shocks, however, was when Akane fell ill. When she received the news from Inspector Etou, Hiyori literally dropped her phone and blacked out. Restless nights were then spent tossing and turning in bed, worrying over her predecessor. After receiving word of Akane's recovery, to say Hiyori was relieved was an understatement.
"Take care of Kanami for me, okay, Hiyori-sama?" Inspector Etou had said over the phone. "Keep her out of trouble."
"I promise nothing bad will happen to her," Hiyori had replied. "She's safer here in this big bare place anyway."
'And already I broke that promise!' Hiyori internally screamed as she scooped a bowlful of stew.
She placed it upon a silver tray, before preparing to carry her load towards a certain Minoseki Toji's guest room. Finally, everything was in readiness.
Putting on sanitary gloves along with a mask, Hiyori's last thought was, 'Once he learns Kanami is now showing flu symptoms, Inspector Etou will kill me...that is if the virus doesn't first.'
Underneath the thick covers of her bed, Kanami let out hacking coughs that sounded more animalistic than anything. She sniffed heavily, before releasing a moan. The few streams of light coming from her closed drapes were painful to her light-brown eyes and the Minoseki Toji turned the other way to avoid getting a headache from looking at them.
At the time when Prime Minister Abe announced the state of emergency, Kanami had been staying over at Hiyori's mansion for spring break. Both her father and girlfriend agreed that it would be better for her to stay put, instead of possibly contracting the virus on her return trip to Gifu. But even in the huge empty rooms of the Origami Family Estate, Kanami started developing a fever and terrible cough. No doubt from one of the servants. Right now, every one of them was confined to their quarters, but already the damage was done.
At the sound of a humble tap upon her door, Kanami groaned, "Whaaaaaaat...?"
"I brought you some stew," Hiyori said, upon entering.
"Hiyori-chan...you shouldn't be here..."
"I'm wearing a mask and sanitary gloves. I'll be fine. Just won't be able to touch you."
Hiyori set the silver tray on Kanami's bedside table. "Thermometer is on the tray. Take your temperature and then show me."
Once the Minoseki Toji did so, she held it out to Hiyori, who was careful not to hold it in her own hands but simply glanced at it. Kanami's fever was going nowhere but up. Following Hiyori's instructions, the Minoseki Toji took the ice bag that was on the silver tray before placing it on her forehead.
However, upon taking a spoonful of Hiyori's stew, it took all of Kanami's strength to not spit it back out. It just tasted so unlike the delicious meals she knew Hiyori was an expert at making. So why did it taste so...awful?
"I know," Hiyori said. "Mother would give the same stuff to me when I was sick. Despite how disgusting it was, it worked—most of the time. Finish that up."
Letting out a whine, Kanami forced herself to empty the bowl. But right after, Hiyori was quick to take the tray away and leave. As much as both of them wanted to stay together, they knew doing so would be foolish. Kanami hated being sick like this. Having to be in solitary confinement without Hiyori only made it worse. She wanted to embrace Hiyori and stroke her hair. She wanted to kiss those peppermint-flavoured lips she loved. Even simply being in Hiyori's presence would've been enough. But strong loving relationships were not immune to the virus. They could not act as barriers against it.
"I'm sick of being sick..." Kanami moaned.
For Kanami, every day was exactly like the others. Each day she'd awaken to Hiyori bringing her meals to her, taking her temperature, and then leaving right away. The only times they'd really have long conversations were by video-chatting in their own separate bedrooms, talking for hours and hours on their phones. It was funny really to Kanami. She and Hiyori were in the same building, and yet, it felt as though they were so far away from each other in those moments.
Then one glorious afternoon, after what felt like centuries of time going by, Hiyori finally declared, "Kanami, you're as fit as a fiddle."
The Minoseki Toji could hardly contain her emotions at that moment. But of course, even though she was now healthy, she couldn't go ahead with kissing Hiyori all over. Not that social-distancing from her girlfriend prevented the ominous virus—because just five days after she got well, it was Hiyori's turn to start developing symptoms.
"And now it's your turn to take care of her!" Kanami told herself out loud, as she walked into Yukari's former bedroom with a breakfast tray in hand.
It was strange being in Yukari's bedroom again. Last year, it had been a crime scene—but now, it had been transformed into Hiyori's private quarters. It looked the same since Kanami last saw it. The Minoseki Toji wondered how her girlfriend felt—being the inheritor of all of Yukari's property. Well, she did know because Hiyori told her...yet there was something about the ebony-haired girl's words that made Kanami think Hiyori wasn't completely relishing the wealthy life.
"But you're one of the most important people in the country, Hiyori-chan," Kanami had said once. "Normally, people with high positions get what they want."
"That's just it," Hiyori responded. "Whenever I look at all this luxury around me...I just think about how Origami Yukari practically lived like a queen, while my mother..."
She didn't have to finish her sentence; Kanami understood. The Minoseki Toji wore a frown for at least five minutes after she said this.
Then following a long silence, Kanami said finally, "I think Yukari-sama felt terrible because she knew what you went through, Hiyori-chan. I think that's why she chose you as her successor."
"Well, if she thought she could win me over by just giving me wealth and power, she couldn't have been any more wrong," Hiyori said, then added with a huff, "I already forgave her after we returned from the netherworld anyway. It wasn't her fault to begin with—only Tagitsuhime's."
Despite how gruff her girlfriend sounded, Kanami couldn't help smiling at that. Hiyori no longer held a grudge against Yukari. That was all that mattered. Kanami honestly didn't see the point in clinging to the past. Why waste time dwelling on negative moments that one couldn't change? Why let those moments eat one's soul away?
Well, Kanami couldn't help feeling like a hypocrite about that. Cause now, here she was leaning over Hiyori's bed, agonizing regretfully at the sight of her sick girlfriend. And blaming herself for causing the ebony-haired girl to fall ill.
"Hiyori-chan, I've brought you breakfast," Kanami said as cheerfully as possible.
"Mm," came a grunt from underneath the duvet.
After she heard the door slide closed, Hiyori weakly forced herself to sit up in bed. Her hair was all wild from hours of sleeping and the dark hollow circles around her eyes were more noticeable than ever. Turning to the tray on her bedside table, Hiyori stared at her...green stew? Tentatively taking a sip, the Origami Head's eyes bulged before she spat it back out.
'Note to self: tell Kanami that mint-chocolate may be delicious—but not as a stew.'
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this fanfic. FYI, don't worry—in the end, Hiyori doesn't die from the coronavirus. Otherwise, how else would I include her in the next upcoming murder mystery? ;)