Disclaimer: You know, the usual.

The Allergy

Chapter 2

"So."

Sakuno watched as her boyfriend twirled his drink straw. She watched as familiar purple carbonated bubbles floated up to the surface, no doubt pervaded with artificial flavors and dye. She watched as her boyfriend wouldn't look at her. She watched as he stared into his Fanta drink, she watched as he struggled with the words.

"So," he repeated. "You're allergic to cats."

"Yes."

"Well." Ryoma lifted his gaze to meet hers. "We have to do something about that."

.

.

.

"Ryoma-kun, I told you I've tried this before."

"Hmm? What? When?"

"Mou, I told you once I stayed over at a relative's who had cats. I tried this medication. It just didn't help. It did nothing."

"Well, there is always something else. C'mon, over here."

"Mm," she smiled despondently as she followed close behind.

To be frank, Ryuzaki Sakuno was a dog person.

Of course she had known that her other half, the Echizen Ryoma, had an affinity for cats. They had been going out for 8 months and 17 days—but really, who's counting? So yes, they may not exactly be a seasoned couple by technical terms. They had yet to hit the three-six-five, but it all be damned, Sakuno would make it last. She had come this far.

So yes, they could not compare to those couples with a few years or so under their belt. At least in the archives of their official couple status. However, recall that these two had become well-acquainted since the beginning of first year, middle-school. So yes, of course they evolved through the stages: acquaintances, classmates, friends, that-quasi-dating-it's-basically-happening-but-not-official. They had come a long way.

So yes, long story short, Sakuno knew for a long time that she would have to face this hurdle sooner or later. She had wished it would come later.

And later it did, later was the autumn of their first year. Was intended to be a permanent relocation to America turned into a short excursion for Ryoma, and his beloved cat was left behind with the rest of his family as he returned to Japan to live with his cousin and prolong his Japanese junior tennis career.

It's not like she was particularly waiting for one of her greatest obstacles to her love to ship off to another continent. No, no, nothing like that. Honestly. It was just coincidence and great timing that worked it out the problem. Well, until now.

Sigh. And it was going so well, too.

.

.

.

"I'm home," Ryoma drawled out lazily.

"Please excuse the intrusion," Sakuno chimed in.

This had become the routine ever since the allergy was discovered. Sakuno would come over to the Echizen residence every other day to test an allergy medicine. Initially, it was Ryoma's preference to have her visit every day to test, but alas, Sakuno did have school, and family, and other endeavors that made it difficult for her to dedicate all her time to Ryoma and finding a cure for her allergies. So it was decided that every other day was the best for now, though Sakuno was just about ready to propose a weekly experimentation.

For every two visits, Sakuno would use one brand of medication. The visits entailed her entering the house first. Then pause for observation and effect. Then she would approach the living room area, an area frequented by the cat. Then pause for observation and effect. Then, the cat would be brought to the same room. Pause. The cat would be brought within her vicinity. Pause. If she wasn't entirely watery eyed, red, bloated, and/or itchy, then the final stage of the test was putting the cat next to Sakuno. They never really could get that far before Sakuno had to run to the bathroom to flush her eyes out and blow her nose.

However, one day, one medicine seemed quite promising.

"Ryoma!" Sakuno inhaled a deep, clear breath after a few moments inside the Echizen household. "I think this might be the one!"

"Really?" Ryoma whipped. He wasn't smiling, but his eyes were glistening with anticipation.

"Yeah," she smiled softly. Her eyes searched his eyes, spellbound by the childlike glee that reflected in his gold flecks.

"You liar, your eyes look wet…" Ryoma interjected, scrunching his face in confusion.

"Silly, that's because I'm happy," Sakuno said, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

"Well stop that, we need to test the next stage."

Ryoma guided Sakuno into the now all too familiar living room. They both stood, waiting for something to happen.

"Yeah, I feel good!"

"Really?" Ryoma exclaimed, this time his lips tensed in a restrained smile.

Sakuno grinned. "Yes."

"Okay, let me get Karupin," Ryoma called, rushing out of the room.

"Ah, wait. Ryoma," Sakuno sat down on a nearby couch and held her head. "I think my eyes are starting to water."

"It's okay, here look here's Karupin."

Ryoma sauntered back into the living room, cat in his arms, clearly unable to contain his excitement.

"Hold him."

"Ryoma, I don't think…"

"Here."

Ryoma collapsed the complacent feline onto Sakuno's lap, then took a step back to admire the picture. His girl and his cat.

He knew that hard work always paid off. And hard work had been had. Boxes and boxes of allergy medications purchased, days and days of seeing Sakuno's allergy-induced tears. And what's worse, poor Karupin had visibly been dejected lately, for Ryoma wasn't giving him the usual amount of attention he did after school.

But now, here it was. The moment he'd been waiting for. His girl and his cat. Together. His two favorite things. It was perf—

"Ryo—ACHOO!"

If there ever was a powerful sneeze to be had, Sakuno had it. Upon later observation, it would be noted that the wall photos became crooked because of the impact of such a powerful sneeze.

Karupin scampered away hurriedly, stubby legs flying every which way in order to increase the distance between cat and powerful, sneeze-producing girl.

Ryoma watched sadly as his poor cat fled, apologetic for unsuspectingly putting him to such anxiety.

"You scared Karupin!" Ryoma turned toward the source of his cat's plight. "Sakuno—AHH!"

"Eeym sorreh, Ryoma-kyun."

Sakuno's face was now completely red.

Ryoma had seen Sakuno's face red plenty of times, if you could believe that. All those times, it had been quite endearing. But this, this not so much.

Hives had broken out all over her sad-looking visage. Her lips had ballooned to more than twice their original size. It was curious how simply exposing a girl to a feline could render her so…visually challenging. He cursed his keen peripherals in the struggle to not look at her. Ryoma could barely stand sending her home.

After that day, they made the wise-decision to ease back on their current approach. Testing every other day and testing each medicine twice was taking its toll. It just wasn't worth it.

But it wasn't over.

A/N: Forgive my dramatization, I've never had allergies. Or well, I had an allergic reaction to one food and clearly, knowing what was good for me, never ate it since. So please do feel free to retell or correct me on allergy experiences.