Act 9, Autumn

The utter embarrassment that Tomoyo felt was solely made evident through her warming face, and for a moment this young handsome doctor who lingered by the bed assumed her fever hadn't abated at all.

"Daijōbu Kinomoto-sensei," the nurse, who had checked her temperature, said with an amused smile. "Daidōji-chan's just a little confused right now."

Eriol was standing by the door now, a dark coat in his arms as he bid his goodbye to no one in particular, unfocused and slightly ruffled in some way despite the long drink he just had. It was rather too strange of the bespectacled dorm mate to seem so uncomfortable as if he suddenly didn't want to be in that room, but then Tomoyo supposed that her muddled thoughts must have played tricks on her. Besides, she didn't know Eriol Hiiragizawa that long to be able to say much about him.

But you didn't really say that to him, did you? The saner part of her jeered mercilessly, reminding her of what just happened. Somehow the girl couldn't remember the exact words that came out of her mouth but the strange color on the Eriol's pale face told her that she really must have done something completely awkward the moment she opened her eyes. The senpai had caught her hand in the midst of her convenient exploration of his face after all.

"Why was Hiiragizawa-san here?" She couldn't help herself but ask.

"Eriol-kun was the one who had brought you to my clinic, Daidōji-san. That was a smart decision to make," Tōya told her noncommittally without a glance at her as he made quick notes on his patient's medical chart before he handed it to his assistant. "You collapsed just when you were coming in the apartment, burning with a very high fever. You do at least remember that you were with my cousin before you fell, don't you?"

"I...suppose so." In her mind, even the memory of leaving Aoiya that night wasn't so clear to her. She could only vaguely recall about a troublesome headache that plagued her that day.

"You had a mild concussion which took your memory of the last activities you had before you fainted," the sensei stated helpfully. "Eriol worried too much when you wouldn't wake up sooner than he had expected, and I had to explain to him that you were just recuperating, your body making up for your neglect."

Senpai? Worried about me?

"Nee Daidōji-san, were you seriously trying to overwork yourself to the point of absolute exhaustion? Stress can kill, you know."

"Anō...how long was I unconscious, sensei?" She chose not to comment on the physician's statement even when he cryptically rested his dark eyes on her amethyst orbs.

"Two days, Daidōji-san. Jaa, it was the first time in years that I have seen my stoic cousin lose control like that. I don't think Eriol-kun had slept at all in the past two days," Tōya said as he shook his head to himself.

She managed not to look too fazed about this information, attributing it to the young doctor's attempt to affability while his assistant, this evenly attractive nurse, was adjusting her IV drip and carefully helping her sit up. But somehow the girl couldn't shake off the feeling of shame in her.

"It's almost winter again, Nakuru-san. I hope Eriol-kun takes caution. At this rate, he'll get himself seriously sick," the only male in the room softly addressed the nurse with a hint of concern in his low voice. It was an afterthought that came when he slid the drapes on the sides of the wide east bay window. Tomoyo briefly thought the doctor had the same raven mane as her senpai, but only when Tōya stood close to the window did she realize that her senpai's cousin actually had dark russet hair that deflected an interesting shade of ginger in the partial illumination.

Nakuru only smiled again but in a rather tender way as she looked over the worried man, who had started moving towards the bed again.

"Daidōji-san, this may sound too imposing but I'd like you to promise me that you won't do this to yourself anymore. Eriol-kun told me about your situation. You're taking classes in the morning and then you're working after that. It would've sounded right if you only have one or two jobs. But four? Your body wouldn't be able to hold together for that long."

He had seemed so daunting with his disapproving brown eyes, and when Tomoyo wouldn't say anything to counter him because there really would be no point in trying to defend herself, Tōya could only heave a sigh, raking his already messy hair in defeat.

"I'm sorry. It's not my place to lecture you," he apologized, taking his pristine medical coat from Nakuru's extended arms. "I sense there's a reason behind your actions, Daidōji-san, and I should respect that."

I just wanted to distract myself, to pretend that I can still run away from this hell okaasama is making me go through.

Didn't you choose this path for yourself? You pushed yourself too much, and you know it. Perhaps her mind was much wiser than she could ever be.

"I understand, sensei. I didn't mean to burden you in any way," the former heiress said in remorse, coloring yet again.

"Oh, no. Don't get me wrong. What I was trying to say was that even sometimes you have to take care of yourself," the doctor said with an embarrassed grin that easily vanished in his next declaration. "I wish Eriol-kun heeds this same advice. I'm the family doctor, and he never listens to me!"

His last words though they sounded comical echoed distressed in the amethyst-eyed girl's ears, and she wondered what Eriol's older cousin was really so worried about.

"Jaa, would you like some breakfast, Daidōji-san? Though I am afraid porridge will have to do for now. I'm sure you're famished."

With a shy smile, Tomoyo succumbed to the invitation.