Reine

Since that day, Felicity often follows Neil around the school like a chick. She often shows up to club practices along with her pencil case and sketchbook, just like today.

I've just finished one session of sparring when I notice Felicity at one corner of the training hall. She looks at me and motions for me to come. Since I'm on break, anyway, I decide to sit next to her.

"How's it going?" I ask.

Felicity smiles shyly. "It's good."

Felicity pours every bit of her attention to the sketch. It reminds me of Gwen: who is just the same way when drawing is concerned. Oh, yeah... "Is Gwen doing the same project as yours?"

"Yup."

"Who is she drawing?"

"Allen Rosencrantz."

"Ha? Who's he?"

"The 2nd Vice President for Council, we met him during the first day ceremony."

Ah, I didn't get to see him because I was stuck with Forrester.

I take a closer look at her pencil sketch: despite it being only black-and-white, I guess Felicity manages to capture the intensity of his eyes... eh?

I lift my head to the direction where the guys are having their practice. Neil is looking at this direction, but he quickly averts his eyes somewhere else.

Oh, I see.

Even he could notice a cutie like Felicity, I guess.

So he doesn't like it if I caught him red-handed for looking at Felicity?

And I thought, after all those walks every Saturday, we were at least friends...

Neil proceeds for a sparring with Rod. They fight almost evenly, but Neil's movements are noticeably sluggish and much slower than his usual speed. After two minutes, Rod manages to knock him out.

Neil

"Hey, are you okay?" Rod asks as he walks towards me. "What happened?"

Since this morning, my head feels like spinning and although I thought that training might make me feel better, it has the opposite effect instead.

"I think you better sit down first."

I nod and take a sit on the bench at one of the sides of the hall.

"That's what you get for getting distracted, I guess."

That voice.

Shit, I feel feverish.

That pink-haired girl tosses a bottle of water to me, "Drink up."

Her fierce eyes suddenly change into a much gentler, worried look on them. "Hey, your face is damn red!"

She puts her hand on my forehead and leans in, and I can feel my body temperature rises even more. I take her hand off and stand up, trying my best not to fall. "I'm fine." I tell her, although I know I'm lying.

Somehow, the thought of worrying her makes me feel even more uncomfortable than I already am.

Reine

"What? You're dating with Allen?"

Gwen breaks the news with such cool when we're walking to school together.

"Yeah, apparently." She says.

"You don't sound too happy about it." I tell her, "What happened?"

"Things happened."

I guess there is no use asking her. "Whatever," I say eventually. "Congrats?"

Then, I remember something Felicity told me yesterday: Allen is Gwen's model for their-whatever-project.

Is that how they can get close so quickly?

Neil was staring at Felicity yesterday.

What am I thinking?

The sound of the bell for the first break snaps me out. Shoot, I've been zoning out for morning lessons. Felicity suddenly comes into my class. "Reine, do you know where is Neil?"

She called him by first name.

"Do I look like a Forrester-radar to you?" I snap, which shock both of us. "I'm sorry." I tell her quickly.

Felicity mutters a quick apology before going out from my class. Shoot, now I feel damn guilty at her. Oh, well, I haven't been in good mood since yesterday. I guess my period is coming up.

But now, it's training time.

When I'm just about to go for training, Rod comes into my class with a stack of books. "Hey, Reine!"

"Oh hey, Rod."

He puts the book on my table. "Can you deliver this to Neil's place now?"

"What happened to him?"

"He has fever, apparently."

"But we have training today..."

He winks, "I'll tell Iroha and Ms Swann to excuse you."

I raise my eyebrow, "Isn't that... misusing of authority?"

He laughs. "Whatever works." He then says, "I'm counting on you!"

Then I remembered: Neil was looking at Felicity that time.

"Why don't you ask Felicity instead?" I ask before he leaves. "He... was looking at her during yesterday's training."

Rod breaks into another laugh. "But you were looking at him."

"It was coincidental."

"There is no coincidence!" he says as he leaves my class, "Thanks, Reine!"

I guess I have no choice. Oh well, at least I get to see Pochi.

Neil

DING! DONG!

Huh? Who would be visiting me?

It's still training time: it shouldn't be Rod.

Pochi runs towards the door before me and waits there with expectant eyes as if asking me to move faster. My head is spinning.

I swing the door open and I see her standing on the other side of the door. Pochi jumps to her, which she responds very kindly. "Hey, Pochi," she greets as Pochi-the-cheapskate licks her cheek excitedly. "So, is this your definition of fine?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Rod asked me to deliver this to you,"

I saw the notes in her hand. Darn you, Rod. Out of politeness, I invite her in.

She stares at me curiously when she sits on the couch. "Have you eaten?"

I haven't said a thing when my stomach growls uncontrollably. Well, I did spend my day sleeping and the last meal I ate was... noodles last night?

Much to my surprise, she stands up and finds her way to the kitchen and soon I can smell something nice is being cooked.

She comes out a few moments later, "It'll take a while to cook the porridge, just rest and I'll tell you when it's ready."

"Why?"

"Huh? Are you that hungry?"

"No," I reply, slightly annoyed at her slowness to catch my meaning. "Why are you being... so kind?"

She stares at me in disbelief. Okay, she's officially slow (now I doubt Iroha's saying that she has one of the best reflexes among the female karatekas). "Isn't it the most sensible thing to do? To cook a meal when you're hungry? Is your fever too high that you can't think straight?"

Now I am the one staring with disbelief. She says it in a very matter-of-fact way that I can't help but feel amused at how she makes things look so simple.

Suddenly I feel like something is being thrown at my feet. Both of us look down and realise that Pochi has been dragging my blanket from my room. He then jumps to the couch, as if giving a signal that I should sleep on the couch (where I can smell the porridge). This little guy...

She lets out a soft giggle. "Even Pochi agrees with me,"

Reine

His house is painfully big for someone to live alone. Maybe that's one reason why he took Pochi in.

He finishes the porridge rather quickly without much complain. "Thanks," he says sheepishly.

"Yup, you're welcome,"

I go to the kitchen and wash the dishes. I wonder how lonely it feels when he's all alone in this house. Thank God I have Gwen (although she doesn't speak much, especially when she has her sketchbook in her hand, which is practically almost at all time).

When I am about to leave, I notice that he's already asleep on the couch, cradling Pochi who is also asleep.

Okay, I admit it: they look cute together.

I feel like waking him up and tell him to move to his bedroom but when I move closer and notice his long golden eyelashes, something is stirring up in my chest, preventing me to touch him.

His steady breathing feels warm on my skin.

I feel the heat rising in my body. Do I have fever, too?

Maybe I should leave soon before this is getting even worse.

I eventually stroke his golden hair very lightly so that he won't wake up. "Get well soon, Neil..." I whisper in his ear, before silently taking my leave.

So... Neil's fever is apparently rather contagious.

I hope you enjoyed the story! ^^