Chapter 12

~Kahoko's POV~

Heat brushed through my skin as though an invisible flame trying to burn me. It was hard to intake air, I heaved for some air but it seemed not enough, it didn't quench my need. Tads of water forming on my forehead, I felt very weak.

I opened my eyes. I saw Manami at my side.

"Are you alright?"

"W-What happened?" I weakly asked.

"Y-you fainted, didn't I tell you to take a rest. You've been sleepless for three days. Don't be too harsh on yourself." Manami scolded me.

I leaned on my bed. I remember, it was almost time for the cultural festival, our class will be having a cosplay café and I somehow overworked, day and night that I didn't notice my health.

I glanced at Manami. "I'm sorry, but…I'm fine now, you have to go. I thought you still have meeting for the student council?"

"I do, but what about you?"

"I can handle myself," I lied, though how it was hard to sit, I tried to assure I'm fine.

"O-ok…I'll just call Oba-chan about you—"

"No…don't tell her. I don't want to mess her time with her family." I muttered. They were elsewhere to have a picnic; I couldn't just ruin their time.

Manami sighed. "Kahoko, don't be stubborn, you're not feeling well."

"I'm fine Manami. I'll take my rest for the whole day but promise me don't tell anyone."

Her worried expression looked at me. "Ok, call me if you're not feeling well. I'll be going now."

I nodded as I watched her leave. Deep inside I don't want her to go, I want someone at my side. Abandonment started to poison my mind. I closed my eyes; it feels so lonely without them.

All I could hear was the faint sound coming from the kitchen and some murmurs of the maids. Though I still have companions I felt very alone.

I decided to sleep but for about an hour sleeping I felt my throat dried, I tried to stand up. Fortunately I managed to step until outside my bedroom, all I need to think is how to go downstairs.

A door opened beside mine. I glanced sideways.

"Are you alright?"

My eyes grew bigger, of all people. I mentally cursed. "I—I'm fine, nothing to worry—" Sadly my voice was unconvincing, he just frowned more at me.

My voice muffled when I felt his cold hand on my forehead.

"You're not."

"Your hand is cold, anything you touch is warmer than your hand," I retaliated, distancing myself from him.

"You're not even warm, you're burning, are you that dense that you don't know the difference between the two? Where are you going? In your condition, you should be resting."

I ignored him as I attempted to stride downstairs. My feet didn't touch the floor though, as two arms wrapped around me, one in my back supporting my weight and the other on my legs to prevent me from walking more.

It took a while before I realized what he was doing.

"Let me go!" I kept on repeating but it seemed he was unbroken.

His arms freed me in the air, I squeaked as I noticed my fall. "Why did you let me go?" I complained after I tumbled in my bed.

He grunted. "Shut up, where do you get the strength of talking more, you should be resting right now."

"I will, after I get something…"

"What is it?"

I looked away. "I'm thirsty."

"Is that all? Stay here…"

I heard his footsteps leaving, I remained my stare away. Did he eat something poisonous that damaged his head?

I lay in my bed, placing my sight at the ceiling. The earlier action made everything rotating, I felt kind of nauseated. I badly need water… and a companion. Gathering all the remaining strength I have, I urged to sit up.

My headache churned more, I winced. I rolled to the side but just to fall in the floor. Crap…another pain.

The door opened again, blurry image came to my view. I blinked but to no avail it didn't change. I could hear voice…it was too hazy.

Don't leave me again…words slipped to my lips the same as darkness consumed everything to me. I feel so alone…

As light brought back to senses, I opened my eyes, it was still blurry but I could manage to see someone at my side. The shadow was motionless, I blinked and looked again. He was sleeping?

"Anou…Le—"

My voice cracked in the air, he was holding my right hand. No, I can't believe this…I'm holding his hand rather. I tugged it away, heat started to swirl on my face, my breath matched my peculiar heartbeat.

How I wanted to consider that it was because of my illness but it appeared a part of me didn't agree.

Glancing at him made another skipped in my heart, I averted my stare. My hand landed on my forehead, I paused and gazed at the corner of my eyes. Is he here the whole time? I put away the cold cloth on my forehead.

"Thank you…" I whispered he would hardly hear it nonetheless.

Being alone and my illness making my head assumed for illogical prospect gave a fracture of melancholy in me.

"Len-san…are you alone too? You shouldn't be…" I went on, definitely I looked stupid. Talking to someone who hardly awake. "You shouldn't be alone because they are here for you… you shouldn't feel that way… what I'm feeling right now…" I started to yawn.

Why is he here? He's wasting more of his time…

"Don't confine yourself in the past and move on…" Oba-chan's request emerged in my mind. "Look at your present and never look back…look forward." He has to go…nobody should feel the same feeling I am suffering at... it's much better that I'm the only one and nothing more.

My eyes became heavy, fluttering in every word that even I, don't understand why I am saying it…"You have your family and I have none…you're lucky, you should know it…don't linger in sadness…you still have companions to care for…"

A faint sound of his voice followed but I wasn't able to hear any longer.

~NeKo Meow~

I left dreamland but I remained my eyes close. I felt comfortable, the high of my temperature drawn out. I could even move my arms the same as I always do, however something was odd, somehow a certain thing earlier was absent.

I opened my eyes… I saw someone. I sat up…

"Kahoko are you alright?"

Never in my mind that the name I has, could be so depressing. It seemed I desired for another one…

I faked a smile…is it just a dream? "Manami, what happened…?" this is what I said earlier, isn't it?

Manami placed her hand at my forehead. "Good you're ok now…"

"Am…Mana—"

A knock in the door cut me off.

Ryoutarou-kun and Kazuki-san came running, their faces patched with worries. I gave them a reassuring smile.

I could hear Ryoutarou-kun's sigh, if I know better perhaps in relief…but why?

"Are you ok, strange-girl? Are you hurt? Do you want something?" Kazuki-san kept on asking, leaning on my bed.

"Sorry I wasn't able to go back earlier, are you ok?" Ryoutarou messed my hair.

"I-I'm fine… I bit dizzy but I'll be fine in no time."

"Oi, you two, she needs more rest, go back later…ok. Shoo…"

I laughed a bit; it's so different when they were out of awareness and when they were just...here

Manami closed the door and came to aid me.

"I was walking at our department building when I bumped into Ryoutarou… he ask me to look for you for a while since he has things to do."

I looked at her, questionably, how did Ryoutarou know? As though she read my mind, she smiled.

"Len called him…"

So it's not a dream then…"Why? That haughty guy could leave like he always does." my voice still weak.

"Well…" Manami sat by my side."He said he doesn't want to leave you…alone…although he has so many task in school he stayed until I came not that long after you woke up."

"It's not like him."

"You said it…"

"Huh?" I looked at her.

"You said to him, that don't leave you… thus he did. He might be inconsiderate at times but you know he takes everything seriously."

"I should thank him." I whispered.

"You should be. Anyway, go back to sleep, you still have to gain your strength." Manami stood. "How can he leave if you don't want to let go of him ?" she laughed.

"Hey! I didn't mean that…I'm ill, everything is vague." I defended.

"Yeah, really? Take a rest…I'll be back later."

~NeKo Meow~

A familiar sound, the cascading of the bow to the strings emerge a laid-back sound… Iikun… yet it's different…No, it's not him…then who? I opened my eyes, it easily landed at the window, it was already dark, and stars gleamed in the sky as a bright crescent moon smiled at me.

I glanced at the terrace…he was there…the recognizable sound I was hearing came from where he was. The same music he always plays.

I dragged myself to the terrace, never in my mind that I feel intimidated or reluctant, I continued on pacing toward him.

For the first time he didn't stop, he sustained on his playing. The warm sound of his music brushed away the winter in the atmosphere. I'm standing a meter away from him when he stopped.

A start looked met my sight. He didn't notice me?

"What are you doing here? You're not fully recovered yet, and then you want another illness? If you want to kill yourself then just do it fast." He brought the violin to the table and walked towards me.

"I just want to say thank you for earlier—"

"I heard you earlier, you don't have to say it again…" he paused midway

"Everything?"

"Well, yes, your voice is too loud anyone could hear it."

"It's all true…" I turned around to hide my expression; I knew my face was flushing. "I'm just saying it because you're such a dim-headed lad who always blames himsel—"

I haven't realized until a warm clothe wrapped on my shoulder. I gaped at him.

"It's cold here. Try to be careful sometimes…you're still unwell."

…His hands still on my shoulder, I haven't realized, he took off his jacket to don on me, his eyes basically preventing my stare, and a pink hue strangely crept on his cheeks.

"T-Thanks—"

"If you love getting sick it's fine with me but don't bother me again…"

I turned. "I didn't say you have to help me, you have a choice! And…and, you should at least say you're welcome."

"It's unnecessary. You're too dense to understand it."

"I—"

He leaned closer, I suddenly couldn't breathe with the entire remaining expanse we have. My face warmed so much as though my illness returned. His gaze brushed at my expression, I felt very uncomfortable. In alternative, I just closed my eyes, waiting for whatever to come…

I felt something warm, it doesn't feel uncomfortable or anything, somehow I wanted this to last long. I opened my eyes and saw his golden eyes merely looking at me.

"You're alright now, your temperature lessened."

My reaction gleaming questions, why does he need to rest his head on mine? I heard him sighed.

"You said my hands are cold, how will I suppose to look for your temperature then?"

It's all hazy to me, his explanation and everything; my attention focused no more than him. He tried to step back but I stopped him…why?

If he was surprised I'm more than that, I kept my look at him, didn't know what to do next. I grabbed his shirt again, tearing my look just to prevent his eyes. I don't know what to say.

My heart rumbled. It took a while before I glanced back but just to find him still looking.

His eyes are just so warm… so warm that the only thing that I want to do is look at it. I felt his hand traced on my cheek. It doesn't matter though; I remained staring at him…

"Kaho!" A little voice came. I looked at my door, Keiichi opened it not bothering to close it again as he went to me. "Kaho-chan, are you ok? I'm so sorry I'm not here to take care of you…"

In a haste we distanced from each other, my face turned warmer than before. I went to Keiichi and tried to smile. I heard another complaint but I ignored it.

"It's ok. Len-san took care of me…"

Keiichi distanced from me and looked at his brother.

I couldn't seem to decipher their silent conversation; they merely kept their stares fixed at each other. If it was possible I became nostalgic…It seemed familiar like, whenever Ryoutarou-kun closes his distance to Len-san.

Then suddenly Keiichi stuck his tongue out, making faces perhaps pertaining to his older brother. I looked at Len-san, he was more than annoyed.

"W-wai—" I wasn't finished yet in my word when the two turned the opposite sides, leaving me alone in the terrace. I felt my headache return. What's wrong with these two?