Okuda stared at the ceiling….The walls seemed to extend upwards for an eternity as they blurred together in hazy conjunction. She was sick. She sneezed a couple of time and started coughing violently…she would have to call in sick….normally she was very healthy and would go to work even if she had a minor cold, always making sure to wear a mask to prevent others from getting sick…but today she had a fever…and she felt horrible. Her face was flushed a light red and her eye sight was worse than usual even with her glasses on. She tried reaching for her phone, but she felt her limbs ache at any mere movement and decided to ask Ritsu to help her instead.

"R-Ritsu…Achoo…C-could y-you send Takebayashi a text a-and send an e-mail to my boss t-that I- cough, cough- won't be a-able to work to-Acho! T-today…I don't- Cough, cough- feel so g-good…" Okuda weekly muttered out from beneath her bed sheets.

"Of course!" Risu replayed happily as she immediately began creating an e-mail for Okuda. "I will also take the liberty to search up for any home remedies that can assure a speedy recovery!" Okuda smiled…

"You're the best Ristu…" She said gratefully…..

The gentle humming of his phone alerted Takebayashi of an incoming text.

Dearest Takebayashi-kun,

I must sadly inform you that as off the last moon I have been stricken down with a flaming illness. I have managed to overcome the illness's tyranny temporarily to send you this text. It is with a heavy heart that I must resign from work today perhaps even for a fortnight at worst. I entrust you with all my knowledge….

Sincerely, Okuda….

…..PS It's it not really Okuda it's me, Ritsu!

But no really Okuda has a fever & can't go 2 work 2day :(

Takebayashi let out a small chuckle as he read Ritsu's overly poetic text message…. Hmm…Okuda's sick….He quickly decided to send a text in response.

Real shame. Don't worry tho. I'll help you get better….If I can't get a week off neither will you…!

"Neither will you…It says…" Ristu read aloud for Okuda to hear. Okuda let out a sigh….

"Being s-s-sick for a-cough, cough-week i-isn't really a-a-achoo..! A vacation…." She muttered…. "T-tell him-cough, cough- not to worry though…I just need some sleep..." Okuda said weakly as she rolled over in her bed snuggling closer to the cooler side of the bed.

Ritsu knew Okuda didn't want to be a burden but as her friend she also knew that Okuda would be able to recover a lot faster if she let Takebayashi help her. So she sent Takebayashi a text message:

Being sick is no vacation from Okuda….

and also (this is now Ristu) Go get some ice cream or yogurt for Okuda to help cool her down…

Takebayashi texted back a simple k as a response.

Okuda awoke to the sound of knocking…She grumbled something underneath her breath…she didn't want to get up….but it would be rude to just ignore it….So she slowly got out of bed and dragged her overheated body down the steps towards the door. She slowly opened the door and peaked out curiously to see who it was.

"Takebayashi-kun….?" She said curiously as she saw her fellow E-classmate and current science partner in his street clothes with a large white plastic bag in hand.

"Hello Okuda-chan." Takebayashi greeted. He saw her eyes curiously wonder down to the white bag he had in his hands. "I got you some stuff to make you feel better." Okuda flushed.

"O-Oh no…y-you didn't have to! I-I didn't mean to cause you any inconvenience….I-I'll pay you back...uh w-where's my wallet…I-I thought I told Ritsu to tell you that I cough cough….n-not to worry." Okuda said as she scrambled to find her purse.

"You can't control how we feel, Okuda-san." He lectured. "Excuse me coming in." He said as he gently pushed Okuda to the side so he could go inside. Okuda weakly obliged.

"By the way I got you some yogurt, Ristu thought it would help." He said as he got the strawberry flavored yogurt out of the white shopping bag. "Here, hope you like strawberry." He said as he handed her the sweet treat.

"I-it fine thank you…" She said feeling slightly embarrassed that Takebayashi was willing to baby her… "uhh so cough cough… h-how was work…any prog-gra- achoo!I progress…?" Okuda asked weakly.

"Why don't you lay down on the couch while I get you an ice pack to cool you down, then I'll talk to you about work….honestly your probably the only person I know who is willing to talk about work while their out sick." Takebayashi said as he made his way towards the small kitchen.

"Ok…." Okuda weakly muttered, as she went to lie down on the couch.

After a few seconds Takebayashi came back with a bag of ice in his hand. He pulled one of the lone sofa chairs next to the large couch where Okuda was laying and sat down after placing the cool bag of ice on Okuda's burning head. The sudden cold rush Okuda felt that was juxtaposed to the rest of the heat she felt made her shiver.

"Did you eat anything?" Takebayashi asked as he got out a thermometer from the plastic white bag and began taking Okuda's temperature.

Okuda tried answering but with the thermometer in her mouth, which muffled her speech she just shook her head 'no'. She knew she should have eaten something, but honestly she was too weak to get out of bed this morning and make anything.

"Well then no yogurt for you then." Takyebayashi scolded, which made Okuda pout… "At least not until we get something in your stomach." He continued as he took the thermometer out of her mouth to check the temperature. "Hmm 102 Fahrenheit…it's nothing serious at least…"

"I-it doesn't feel that way…" Okuda muttered bitterly. Takebayashi merely chuckled before he made his way into the kitchen….rummaging for any instant noodle….he didn't know how to cook and he really didn't want to burn down Okuda's house.

"Hey, hey you aren't just going to heat up some cheap noodle are you?!" A sweet female voice chirped from his pocket.

"Huh….Ristu…?" He got his phone out of his pocket and his hunch was correct for indeed there was Ristu with her pretty pink hair and big eyes that were currently glaring at him with disapproval.

"Cheap noodle aren't going to make Okuda feel better." Ristu lectured.

"….but I don't know how to cook…" Takebayshi admitted sheepishly.

"No problem! Ristu the chief is here to help! Just do exactly what I say!" Ristu said cheerfully as she created a chief uniform out of data.

"Well…if it makes Okuda feel better…."

"Hmm….is this…Chicken soup…?" Okuda asked as she idly dipped her spoon into the golden broth of the steaming chicken soup.

"Affirmative." Takebayashi replied anxiously waiting for Okuda to try a spoonful, his shoulders were stiff.

Carefully Okuda brought the spoon to her mouth and gently blew three gusts of wind to cool it down before she ate it.

"So….how is it?" He asked as he leaned in waiting for the verdict.

"It's really yummy…" Okuda replied happily with a smile. Takeybayshi smiled and let out a sigh of relief, overjoyed knowing that Okuda had not died from food poisoning….although the irony of poison glasses getting food poison is hilarious to think about Takebayashi thought.

After finishing her chicken soup Okuda let out a small sigh of relief, her belly was warm and full and she felt a little better, a little lighter….and really sleepy. She let out a cute yawn.

"Tired?"

"mmhh…" Okuda hummed out…

"Come let's get you to bed, but before we do that you got to take your medicine…." Okuda groaned.

"…nooo…."

"Okuda come on now you're a grownup.."

"I d-don't wanna….!" She whined…The fever must still have a hold on her system, meaning it made it even more important that she took her medicine.

"Okuda if you take the medicine I'll read you Relativity: The special and General Theory by Albert Einstein."

"….really?" She asked slightly hopeful and slightly suspicious.

"Indubitably."

"….what…"

"It mean of course…."

"Okay….." Okuda mumbled as she made her way slowly towards her room.

After ingesting the gross purple medicine that tasted like plastic grapes Okuda snuggled up in her bed.

"Okay so let's start. Takeybayashi said as he sat down on a chair and moved his glasses up as he got out his kindle. "Part one, Physical meaning of geometrical propositions. 'In your schooldays most of you who read this book made acquaintance with the noble building of Euclid's geometry'…."

"Takeyabayshi…" Okuda mumbled quietly. Takebayshi stopped reading and looked up from his kindle to see what Okuda wanted

"Yes…?

"Thank you….I feel much better…." Okuda said with a grateful smile.

"Your welcome….Perhaps once you start feeling better you and me can go to this nearby maid café."

"Hmm….okay…" Okuda said her mind still a little foggy as she agreed to go with him to a maid's café, even though she usually doesn't. "It's a date." She said as she drifted off to sleep.

"A-a w-wha…" Too late she was fast asleep. He sighed….Okuda and her poor language skills…..Did she even know what she just said…? Of course she didn't she's Okuda….Oh well…he'll tease her about this later….

"A date huh…..that doesn't sound too bad…." Takeybashi mumbled quietly as he tucked Okuda in bed and made his way downstairs, careful not to wake the chemist up.