That Time of the Year

By silenthero27

"I'm sorry I'll be leaving you two on your own again," Sarah said, checking she had everything packed for her winter trip. It was her local church's Christmas Cantata; where the nuns and church choir would go to sing at various venues to raise money for the orphanage. For Sarah, she treated the event as a vacation since they would be staying in a ski resort. Unfortunately, however, her two housemates could not join her and would be staying behind.

"We'll be alright," Yakumo said. "We have to finish this Holiday Special for the manga in the first place."

"It's the holidays and the chief editor had to drop another 120-page to finish within a week like last year," Kenji said, already at work drawing whilst under the kotatsu table.

"We're all so busy despite the holidays," Sarah said ruefully. "Well, it'll only be a few days so take care you two."

After saying their goodbyes, Sarah then left. Yakumo went back into the living room after seeing Sarah off and joined Kenji in his work.

"Looking back on last year," Kenji said, starting a conversation. "How did I even manage to finish all of it in only a week?"

"I think reminding you was just the start," Yakumo noted.

"Tell me about it! After your sister kicked me out, I ended up at Mikoto's place as an errand boy. And then I got tangled up in Eri's arranged marriage with Tenma also somehow being there."

"She was really surprised when she realized it was you. Despite her efforts to annoy you, you didn't quit and tried to continue with the arranged marriage."

"And she acted as if she was Eri…like anyone would fall for that. But who am I to say, when I also pretended to be someone else. Eri sure got angry at me for that... And the very next day, we ended up as co-workers helping with the decorations at the city square. I'm sure Akira or Mikoto had something to do with that." Kenji said, twirling his pen. "Don't get me started on running around in a Santa suit after Mikoto pulled that stunt and I left her place too! Next thing I know I woke up at the police station and -"

"Kenji? The manuscript?" Yakumo said.

"Oh, crap! Sorry!" Kenji sat up straight. "Without all those distractions and with you around, this will be a piece of cake! I may not need an unusually large curry dish to deliver the manuscript this time." Kenji laughed. Yakumo smiled at his joke but then she suddenly sneezed.

"You okay?" Kenji asked with concern.

"I'm fine," Yakumo answered. "It's just the cold and all. I better apply these screen tones on these pages first." With that, Yakumo started working but Kenji felt something amiss. Watching her for a few moments work normally without any difference in her demeanor, he went back to drawing.

It was late afternoon when they finished their quota for the day. The assignment may have called for a 120-page manga, but he had managed to draw 20 extra pages last year despite his poor circumstances. This time around, with an actual roof over his head and food readily available, he might even break that record when all was said and done. Kenji tidied up his art supplies while Yakumo went to prepare some more tea in the kitchen. With this much time on their hands, maybe they could go out for a change of scenery. Yakumo had once said to him that the cold of winter and her didn't mix well for some reason, so perhaps he could help improve her outlook on the season. Many places in Yagami city were entirely different during winter time. It was also around this time when they actually first met as children, but hopefully now he wouldn't have to wear a suit several sizes too large just to do something nice for them.

Several minutes passed and Kenji noticed that Yakumo had taken far too long for simply preparing some tea and still hadn't returned. Kenji stood up, went to the kitchen, and was shocked to see Yakumo sprawled on the kitchen floor. Adrenaline pumping in his veins, he quickly went to her side and lifted her up off the cold ground. Upon doing so, Kenji recognized her flushed face and unconsciousness as being fever. He put a hand to her forehead and as expected, she was burning up.

How in the world did Yakumo manage to hide this from him all this time? Instead of thinking about how this happened, Kenji carried her to her room so she could rest more properly. Along the way, Kenji heard Yakumo saying something.

"I'm… sorry." Yakumo whimpered. "I don't want to bother –"

"No, don't say something like that," Kenji replied. "You're far more important than our manga. Please, rest for now. I can handle this."

Kenji laid Yakumo on a futon and covered her with a blanket. She was asleep but Kenji was wide awake, his mind racing. What kind of a boyfriend was he if couldn't notice something like that? He had given her ideas when he had told her what happened last year and now, not wanting to be a distraction, she ended up pushing herself too hard. This was one of the things that he liked about Yakumo, even before they became a couple. She was a silent hard worker, a crucial trait to have in the world of creating art. It might just be manga for normal people but it required mental endurance and focus to work on something that needed great detail. That was why some mangaka had oftentimes ignored their health due to the amount of work required to finish a chapter – not to mention not wanting to throw off their rhythm once they got into a flow state – only to be hospitalized later.

The night was longer during winter and so Kenji decided to call it a day after eating an early dinner. He went upstairs to check up on Yakumo and sure enough, she was still asleep. Putting a hand to her forehead, he could feel her fever was still high, like last time… Back then, he had thought it was Tenma who needed help but it was Yakumo instead. It might be harsh to admit he would rather have helped Tenma instead of Yakumo but it was all different now.

For all Yakumo has done for him, he was doing it because he loves her now. Love keeps no score. Doing something for others because you loved them and not because you expect something in return was much more powerful. Even to Tenma, his desperate actions which he knew he would get absolutely nothing out of, he continued doing because it was out of pure love. This time, the love that he gave was returned to him, and there was no feeling more powerful in the world, than a love made whole.

Kenji was thinking all of this when he felt Yakumo touch his hand.

"I'm here," Kenji said. "Do you need anything else? Something I can get you?"

"I'm… cold," Yakumo said between breaths.

Kenji thought of turning up the heater further, but it was old and if he stressed it too much, it may break down and they'd be in a worse situation. He couldn't just pile blankets on Yakumo either without smothering her in her already weak state.

Without thinking too much about it, Kenji lay beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Aware or not, Yakumo turned around and huddled in his arms. This caught Kenji by surprise. She felt quite hot to the touch but the way she was clinging to him, he could feel her need for warmth. It always struck him odd that a fever would make you feel hot and cold at the same time. Not long afterwards, the two fell asleep in each other's arms.

x-x-x

Winter cold slowly crept into Yakumo's consciousness. A moment ago, she felt so warm and cozy but the next she felt a chill that managed to nudge her into waking up. The room was still dark but there was a small amount of moonlight shining in through the uncovered windows. She was sleeping on her back which made her feel exposed to the cold so she turned to her side and saw Kenji sleeping beside her, also on his back. Memories from last night returned to her and Yakumo was embarrassed she had to be carried to her bed again after falling sick. She shouldn't have allowed herself to succumb to illness just like last year.

Her mind wandered as she quietly watched Kenji slumber - she was again helped by the person she would come to trust, depend on, and then love. This current situation wasn't strange to her anymore as she had slept by his side many times by now. It was still hard to believe how much she had changed in so short a time. 2 years ago, being in a relationship wouldn't have even crossed her mind. A year ago, she wouldn't have imagined she would be working with manga of all things. Half a year ago, she wouldn't have believed she would be sharing a home with the man she had fallen in love with and who, against all odds, would then love her in return. She could say how much she loved him without any reservations, hug him whenever she liked which he would return; or even kiss him without worrying what others would think. The seeming unlikelihood of all these events happening always brought to her a sense of wonder, and a happiness so great she sometimes felt like crying.

What if she hadn't picked up a random manga at the café.

What if she had refused to help her rather rough-looking upperclassman.

What if she hadn't accepted this man into her household.

So many opportunities for things to be entirely different, and yet here she was - side by side with the man who wasn't supposed to love her. Yakumo could only recall the tale of a lone Sakura tree on top of a hill that would not bloom for many years. It was scheduled to be cut down by the next year to clear the land for a better use but her sister Tenma never gave up and pleaded with the tree to bloom at least one more time. Rain or shine, a young Tenma along with Yakumo offered prayers and tokens to ask for a miracle. In the end, the tree was cut down. But a rumor spread that the night before it was to be removed, the tree did indeed blossom. It blossomed beautifully to its fullest only to wither not long after, surrounding itself with a carpet of fallen sakura petals. The bare tree was cut down but its legend still lived on; telling future generations that flowers may bloom in the most unexpected of ways.

Yakumo looked on at Kenji and couldn't help but compare their relationship to that lone tree.

She had almost given up on him, many times in fact, and only at their lowest of low did they show that they do care for each other on a deeper level. She had hoped that this time, the blossoming tree wouldn't be cut down and be left standing for everyone to see. Sometimes, what seemed impossible was possible when given a chance.

They were still very early in their relationship but a plant would only grow and thrive if one kept tending to it. Through hardships and the passing of time, this impossible love would grow not as a legend but rooted in reality.

Yakumo moved closer to Kenji to rest by his side. His warmth always gave her a sense of security that she hadn't found in anyone else other than her dad. Before, she would attribute her feelings for him to be a lingering longing for her late father. It was a love misplaced and she couldn't pursue it as a false foundation. Moreover, Kenji's love for her older sister was so pure that she thought she envied that kind of love despite being universally liked by other boys. Since it was unique and different, she had thought she wanted to take it for herself out of selfishness. These thoughts had kept Yakumo from admitting her feelings, both to him and herself. How could she have loved him if she only saw her late father in him? Was she so selfish that she had to take a kind of love that wasn't hers in the first place?

And yet over time, she saw him different from her father; his love was still as unwavering as ever. He was Kenji Harima, whose heart she didn't take but rather he offered it to her of his own volition. He was a man of his own making, always trying hard to do his best for the sake of his loved ones. Both traits on display in front of her in the coldness and faint glow of the night.

With emotion filling her heart, Yakumo lightly kissed Kenji on the cheek. "I love you," she whispered and settled by his side. Kenji suddenly moved and wrapped his arms around her. Yakumo was startled. She thought she might have woken him up but his breathing was even and his eyes were still closed. Feeling his warmth, Yakumo then returned to sleep, her fever mattering little while in the arms of her loved one.

x-x-x

The sun shone on a cold morning. The faint light trickled down from the window into the room where her senses could perceive. At this time of day, Yakumo would normally already be up and about, but her fever made her body sluggish. The cold air outside her blankets trying to persuade her to stay and go back to sleep. She turned to one side, and then to the other and realized something was missing. The warmth that had accompanied her sleep was gone.

Making a determined effort to get out of bed, Yakumo looked around. She was alone in her room and she could tell Kenji had already started his day, maybe preparing breakfast. Her fever had gone down to a manageable degree and so she made her way downstairs. A delicious smell from the kitchen woke up her appetite, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon.

Before entering the kitchen, Yakumo stopped by the doorway. A man was stirring a pot on the stove, and from its smell, she could tell it was chicken soup. On the table was a tray laden with slices of bread, a cup, and a teapot. It seemed it was arranged in a way to be brought up to her room. Unlike last time, it wasn't her father's false image in her eyes, but a man named Kenji Harima. And the best part was: he was hers.

Yakumo inadvertently coughed a little and Kenji noticed her.

"Oh, you're awake," Kenji said, tapping the spoon on the stove. "I just finished here. Are you feeling better?"

Yakumo nodded. "Yeah. It's just… I didn't see you in bed so I thought –"

"Oh!" Kenji blushed at the reminder that they'd shared a bed last night and in turn, caused Yakumo to also blush. "You didn't eat anything last night so I went to prepare breakfast early. Do you want me to bring this up to your room?"

"It's okay here." Yakumo walked a few steps and nearly stumbled. Kenji quickly went to her side to assist her. Without ado, Yakumo gave Kenji a peck on the cheek. "And good morning."

Kenji smiled. "You too, sleepyhead," as he ruffled her unkempt hair. Just the small laughter between them alleviated her fever. Truly, laughter was the best medicine.

The two ate breakfast while discussing the manga. It was a 120-page manga special centering around the holidays. It was the 'season of giving' and so the chapter was about Hario and Ya'mo looking for gifts to secretly give to each other. The issue was they didn't have enough funds to buy what they thought to be suitable presents. The two made excuses while they were working to earn money: Hario went off to hunt some undesirable pests from a help-wanted bulletin board while Ya'mo was working as a cook in a small inn, both scenarios having their respective subplots to fill the quota.

The Day of Giving - a special holiday which was still universally observed across the Kingdom despite its fall - was drawing near and yet the two still didn't have enough money for the presents they had in mind. The day came and each presented their gifts to the other: from Hario was an ornate necklace to which Ya'mo could slot in her magical crystal to further boost its innate mana regeneration whereas before it was only looped around a normal piece of string. From Ya'mo was an engraved knife sheath that would preserve the weapon's sharpness and was fitted to the particular knife Hario carried. After receiving each other's gift, they got struck by such great irony that they could only laugh at the absurdity of it. It turned out that Hario sold his knife so he could buy the necklace while Ya'mo sold her magical crystal so she could buy the sheath – leaving them with two items that were practically useless on their own.

Despite what had happened, the last panel showed the two wearing their respective gifts – as the thoughts that went into them weighed more than silver or gold.

The story proper was finished but he needed to do some finishing touches art-wise so Kenji worked on them while Yakumo rested. He would occasionally stop to check up on Yakumo and when it was time to eat, the two of them dined together and chatted about the manga or other things. Yakumo finally shared how she would like to learn skiing or skating someday; to which Kenji agreed they would go together if an opportunity came. If he could ride a giant curry dish, skiing or skating shouldn't be too much of a problem.

The day ended and the two shared a bed again as Yakumo was still feeling sick. It was snowing outside, making the night even colder. It was like the night when Yakumo fell ill last year, Kenji said to her. He recounted the time Pyotr was hiding underneath the kotatsu table before emerging to ask for Kenji's help in saving his friend. Of course, it made for quite an unbelievable bedtime story and Yakumo could only chuckle in amusement. In return, she told him that when she was sick as a child, Tenma would create snowball bunnies to put on her forehead as a way to cool down her fever. Kenji then asked her if he should make her one but she declined, saying the best medicine to make her feel better was already lying here beside her. Yakumo hugged him and soon enough she fell asleep.

Kenji looked on as Yakumo was sleeping. Now he could tell why other students christened her the "Sleeping goddess" at school. She looked so peaceful and serene that it would be shameful to disturb such a sight. Over time she did drop that habit, but now, if she had a tiring day she usually falls asleep beside Kenji. They would just be at the veranda, enjoying each other's company until Yakumo's timely senses to cook dinner woke her up. Kenji knew that Yakumo was indeed beautiful but physical attractiveness was enhanced when coupled with the knowledge of inner beauty. She was a sympathetic, sincere, and kindhearted person who looked past a person's facade to understand who they truly were underneath.

When she had first learned of his manga, Yakumo didn't laugh nor question it and instead decided to support him. If it were anyone else, Kenji would have believed they were being insincere; or maybe even only helping him out of pity. But he decided to trust in her, sensing a kindred spirit after Yakumo first reviewed his manga. Back then, his manga was a self-indulgent reflection of himself and his fantasies. But she didn't know that. She knew little about manga and even less about Kenji; yet she saw right through the main character – and therefore him. She described the main character as being rash and impulsive, but acting with the purest of intentions. And her suggestion of a companion – someone he could confide his feelings in and who could also help guide him – would lead him to more success. In the midst of her review, Yakumo even quietly admitted this was the kind of person she liked. In hindsight, one could take that as being Yakumo's first confession towards Kenji and yet neither of them knew how that one fortuitous meeting over a manga would change their lives forever and set them down their current path, together.

Kenji reached a hand towards Yakumo, tempted to caress her silky hair. However, he withdrew it at the last moment, fearing he might wake her up. Instead, he kissed her on the forehead, hoping for her recovery. He wondered how his life would be if he didn't meet her. She had offered him her time, talents, home, and then her heart. Kenji had never really thought much about his future other than vague goals that seemed so far away. Right now, he could foresee the future laid out literally in front of him. It was no longer on a pedestal that was always out of reach but something much more real and fulfilling.

Their relationship was still very early and perhaps they were moving too fast. Some people were already mistaking them as a married couple, especially with their current situation. But as his cousin Itoko often pointed out, love has its many responsibilities that one must first acknowledge. It wasn't always sunshine and rainbows in any relationship. Where feelings may eventually swell and calm like the waves, their own choices and actions should be the anchor that makes them steady. In time, all things would settle in their rightful places as long as they continue moving forward. With this in mind, Kenji eased into sleep, satisfied with what the future would bring the two of them.

x-x-x

"It won't take me long to deliver this manuscript," Kenji said by the gate. "You sure you're okay by yourself?"

"I feel much better now," Yakumo said. "Give my regards to Mr. Mitsui and also to the Chief if you happen to see him too."

"I'm not as chill as you meeting the chief but yeah, will do! In return, promise me you'll be awake for once when I get home," Kenji said with a laugh. They shared a brief kiss and just as Kenji was about to exit the gate, he suddenly sneezed.

"I haven't gotten far and someone's missing me already," Kenji grinned as he rubbed his nose. Yakumo simply smiled and waved him goodbye as he continued on his errand.

A while later, Sarah returned from traveling with her church.

"Welcome home, Sarah," Yakumo said. "How was your trip?"

"It was splendid! Watching the children sing reminds me of my days at the orphanage. They're doing their best so we must do ours to help them too." Sarah rummaged around in her bag before bringing out a box of cookies. "Here, I got some snacks for you and Harima while you're working on your manga. Did you manage to get a lot done?"

"We've already finished, and Kenji is currently delivering it."

"That's good, but I have to ask: did you get sick again like last time?" Sarah asked, concern in her eyes. Yakumo was surprised by the question - as if Sarah already knew the answer.

"I did," Yakumo admitted. "I'm alright now thanks to Kenji. But, how did you know?"

"Yakumo, I'm your best friend. I noticed something may be bothering you because you were trying a little too hard to act like you were perfectly fine. I bet you didn't want to reveal you were sick because you'd think I may cancel my trip and Harima might not be able to work on the manga properly if he was taking care of you. Rest assured; we won't hold it against you. The most important thing is your health and the both of us will always help you when you need it. I'm glad you seem to be perfectly alright now though! All's well that ends well, am I right?"

"So, you were aware Yakumo was sick and you didn't bother to tell me?" Sarah jumped. Kenji had suddenly appeared by the doorway. Yakumo then went to Kenji to help him take off his winter coat which Sarah found adorable.

"Harima! I didn't see you there!" Sarah said when she caught Harima's stare. "Well, seeing as you were around, I thought Yakumo couldn't be in better hands! And just like last year, you've already taken care of it so it's all good!" Kenji rolled his eyes and then faced Yakumo.

"I've submitted the manuscript. As a reward for our work, the chief editor gave us a 2-week break. Do you want to go skating once you're fully recovered? I haven't tried it myself but we all need to start from somewhere."

"I would love to," Yakumo said.

"Oh! I know a good place!" Sarah said. "Satsuki went there last year and she said it was suitable for beginners to learn."

"It's settled then," Kenji said. "Now, how much is the entra – achoo!"

"You okay?" Yakumo said, handing Kenji a handkerchief.

"I'm fine. I'm not one to brag but a cold is nothing to me! You see, I know their weakness so bring it on!"

A couple of days later, Kenji was lying in bed, too weak from the flu to move and thinking he might be dying.

I really should learn to just keep my mouth shut sometimes, he thought aloud

Author's Corner: That's another side-chapter finished! As always, thanks to my beta-reader sumodog for proofreading the chapter! For sidenotes, the tale Yakumo mentioned in this chapter is from Volume 18, Chapter 228 (b52): A Midsummer Night's Dream. Harima's manga part is based on the short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. This one is shorter than the previous chapter but there are still more to come so stay tuned. Reviews are always appreciated and see you in the next chapter!