To Himawari, the next couple of days are dreadful to her. The young artist can't bring herself to focus on anything that she is doing and she is stressed out even more whenever someone mentions the name Luka.
Today is the same for her as she walks around the campus with a major headache while doing her chemistry quiz. The combination of stress, headache and taking a test from the school's most difficult teacher, Ms. Mendeleiev is definitely not a good combination and it's taking a toll on her when the raven head realizes that her vision slowly becomes blurry.
"Are you okay?"
Chloe notices her friend's tired face first thing in the morning. Although it's the same Himawari she sees every day, today is an exception. The dull and tired look on her face is the dead giveaway.
"I'm okay, just a bit tired…"
"It's lunchtime now, you should eat something." Juleka walks up to her " I heard from your auntie that you have not eaten much lately."
"You haven't?" Chloe turns to her friend again, surprised at the news.
"It just, I don't feel like eating…" the raven head responds tiredly "I'll be okay. I pack lunch today so don't worry."
"Don't worry?" the blonde scoffs at her "For someone who always looks out for others, I find it quite stupid for you to not take care of yourself properly."
Himawari wants to respond, but a bang on her head prevents her from even speaking up. It hurts, her head hurts like hell. Ever since that day, the raven head has shown signs of a lack of appetite. Despite having Cecile coaxing her into eating more, every bite of food tasted bitter to her, which makes the young artist hates eating even more.
For someone who enjoys cooking and baking like her, to be forced to eat is nothing but a punishment. She doesn't understand why she has a change in appetite like this, but to see other people worried about her like this makes her feel like a burden to them. She hates being a burden after all…
"Come now, I'll get you to the cafeteria." Chloe stands up "Help me too, Juleka."
The younger Couffaine nods her head, letting her friend lean on her tall frame as she guides the raven head to the cafeteria. When they reach the cafeteria, the noise from other students makes Himawari wince as she holds onto her head painfully. Chloe notices this and sets her friend down at a table with Kagami looking at them, puzzling.
"You're not feeling well?"
"No, not today…"
Her faint and tired answer worried the young fencer. It's quite rare to see Himawari like this, fatigued and in pain. Maybe she should tell Luka about this, he would run to the raven head's side immediately if he heard this news.
The young artist opens her lunch box as she starts eating, each bite tastes like medicine to her. She can't believe that her food can be this bad, or maybe it's because she's not feeling well today. She tries to eat as much as she can, but the headache slowly wins over her body as she sets down her utensil, the pain is too much to bear. Chloe and Kagami look at each other, witnessing this sight is quite worrisome as Himawari leaves more than half of her meal at the lunch table.
"You should eat more." Kagami tells her friend "It's not good to leave food like this, especially when you're not feeling well."
"I can't eat another bite."
"I'll get you some milk." Chloe stands up and walks toward the lunch lady.
The raven head wants to deny her friend's kindness, but she doesn't even have the strength to stop her, let alone scream at the blonde that she's okay.
She has medicines this morning already with the hope that they can ease her headache, but no, the pain only gets worse. Why does it hurt so much? Is it because she doesn't eat a lot? Or maybe because of how loud and noisy the cafeteria is? Either way, the raven head feels horrible, like thousands of needles are poking at her head right now. It hurts so much, she can't even think straight. On top of that, her stomach is twisting painfully, making her feel she's going to throw up soon.
"Kagami, can you pass me my water bottle?"
"What's wrong? You okay?" the young fencer gives her friend some water immediately as she touches her forehead to check for temperature "Himawari, you have to go to the infirmary, you're having a fever."
"Maybe later, I just need to sit down a bit…"
Chloe comes back with a bottle of café latte and hands it to her friend, who accepts it gratefully. The blonde looks at Himawari with great concern, she has never seen her friend this weak before, and she even has a fever?
"Try to drink the whole bottle first, we'll get you to the infirmary soon."
"Thanks guys…"
Even with the sweet drink in her hand, the tip of her tongue tastes bitter. When this happens, Himawari knows that she's getting sick. For the last couple of days not eating much, stressing about life and dealing with the deadline of her work have taken a big toll on her, maybe she is catching a cold, she hopes it's the case and nothing worse than that.
It takes both Chloe and Kagami to coax her into drinking the whole bottle of café latte so that she is able to finish it, or else, she would just leave half of it on the table. The raven head sighs heavily when she holds an empty glass bottle in her hand, not liking the lingering bitterness on her tongue. She needs her water to wash away that unpleasant taste.
When Himawari thinks she is well enough to stand up, she is way too wrong. If it weren't for Kagami who catches her immediately, she would already crash down onto the table again. Both of her friends ask her to lean on them so they can walk to the infirmary together, but Himawari and her stubbornness refuse to accept their help, she already feels bad enough for making them get her drinks and café latte, she can not become their burden.
"Himawari, you are not a burden. Now lean onto me so we can take you to see the nurse!"
"I'm fine, Kagami. I can walk on my own." she tries to get away from them and walk independently "See, I'll be just fi…"
The moment she steps foot on her own, her head spins painfully, her vision becomes blurry and it doesn't take two seconds for her to realize that she is tripping and falling.
"Himawari!"
The raven head has braced herself for the impact, it will hurt, and she knows that very well. But instead of falling onto the hard, cold ground, her body collides with something warm. This warmth… she knows this warmth very well…
Everything in front of her eyes is a blurred mess, but she can make out who is calling her name. She knows Kagami and Chloe are right by her side, she can hear Juleka's worried calls and Alya's shouting loudly, trying to clear the way. She can hear Adrien's voice saying that she has a fever and Nino's asking if she is okay. But none of the noises matter because of the warmth that is surrounding her body.
Someone is hoisting her up, carrying her in their arms. This embrace feels familiar, she knows this warmth very well. In fact, she has been in these arms for so many times, she knows exactly who it is.
Luka…?
When Himawari wakes up, it's already the next day. She looks at her surroundings, the familiar furniture brings her back to her sense, she is in her room. Sitting up on her bed, the raven head notices her clothes have been changed, it's probably her auntie who changes them.
"Little one, you're awake!"
"Auntie?"
"Easy now, you don't need to get up like that." Cecile smiles warmly at her "You frightened me, Himawari. I almost had a heart attack when I saw you."
"Sorry auntie…" she lowers her head, now she is a burden to everyone…
"Don't be. You know you can always count on your beloved auntie, right?" the young woman pats her head lightly "Doctor said you have a severe cold. Your fever was so high last night, I almost thought that I had to get you to the ER."
"It was that bad?"
She can't remember anything…
"It was. But don't worry, your fever came down a lot this morning. It's already the afternoon, you know?"
The raven head stares at her aunt, it's already the next day?
"Thanks to your friends that you were able to get home safe." Cecile smiles "You should bake them some sweet treats as a thank you."
Himawari nods. She is very thankful to have such wonderful and supportive friends. But a question pops into her mind, who was the one that bring her back home? Does her auntie know?
Cecile looks at her little niece, a knowing smile spreads across her lips. She doesn't say anything and lets the young artist ponders her own thoughts.
"Okay, you continue to get some rest. I'll go make you something to eat, what do you want?"
"Ah, some porridge would be nice." the raven head looks at her aunt "Thank you, auntie."
When her aunt leaves her room, Himawari sighs. She can still remember it, the warmth of that person still lingers on her skin. She knows who that is, the same warmth that has always made her feel so safe, so loved…
Luka…
A bright blush appears as she hides her face in the pillow. He really was there for her, it would be a lie if she said she is not happy about it. Despite not talking to each other for so long, Luka is still there for her. Himawari feels her face heat up at the thought, is it because of her fever or something else? She is not so sure anymore…
As the raven head relaxes on the pillow, her eyes slowly open when she hears that faint guitar sound outside of her opened window.
That guitar tune…
Holding onto her soft blue cardigan, Himawari steps closer to the window and looks out on the street, her eyes are searching around, looking for someone. The soft melody is still there, although fainted, she can still hear it from her house. It's gentle and full of emotion, with each note as clear as a crystal in her ears. Amethyst eyes scanned the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of the familiar figure.
This melody, no one knows this melody besides him…
It's the same melody he plays whenever she's around, a soft and loving melody.
Oh how she misses it…
Himawari has tried her best to stay away from him, to heal her own wound as much as she can, but the more she steers far from the older Couffaine, the more her heart yearns for him. No longer is her ego mind telling her what to do, the raven head is following her heart. She wants to see him, she wants to be in his arms, she wants to be by his side, she wants to hold his hand, and so much more.
Luka…
Does he still think about her as much as she is thinking about him right now?