Chapter 80

Before going to Arisa's house, there was something Yugen had to do first.

Yugen called Tachikawa Naoki on his mobile phone.

He apologized for calling during work hours.

He then told Naoki that Arisa had caught a cold.

He asked for permission to enter the house to check on her.

He also requested to use the kitchen to prepare some food for her care.

He conveyed these four points to Naoki.

"Ah, it's fine. ...I'm sorry, Yugen. Please take care of my daughter."

"No, Arisa is my 'fiancée,' so it's my duty."

"By the way, Yugen..."

"Yes... What is it?"

"Yugen, how do you feel about Arisa?"

Why is he asking this all of a sudden?

Yugen tilted his head in confusion.

"I think she's very important to me."

"......I see. Sorry, I asked a strange question."

Since Naoki was also at work, they couldn't talk for too long.

Yugen decided to update him on Arisa's condition later and ended the call.

With Naoki's permission, Yugen headed to Arisa's house.

He rang the intercom to let her know he had arrived.

After a while, the door opened slightly.

Arisa stood in the entrance, wearing pajamas and a jacket over them.

Her usually neatly combed hair was slightly disheveled.

Though half of her face was hidden behind a mask, it was clear that she didn't look well.

"Good morning, Arisa."

"Good morning... cough, cough."

Arisa coughed.

Concerned that the cold air might worsen her condition, Yugen quickly closed the door.

"Sorry, did I wake you up?"

"No, it's fine..."

Yugen followed Arisa to her room.

(She doesn't seem to be feeling well at all.)

Though she tried to appear strong, her steps were unsteady.

Yugen decided that it would be best to stay with her for the day.

"Here is my room."

This was the first time Yugen had seen Arisa's room.

It was cozy and decorated with cute items, very much a girl's room.

If Arisa weren't sick, Yugen might have enjoyed it a bit more.

"I see. I remember the layout. For now, you should rest."

"......Okay."

Arisa must have been feeling quite miserable, as she obediently slipped into bed.

"Have you been to the hospital? From the looks of it, I don't think you have."

"......No, I haven't. I have a fever of around 37 degrees, so I think I'll be fine."

Despite her words, Arisa didn't look fine at all.

However, a fever of 37 degrees wasn't urgent enough to require an immediate hospital visit.

"......By the way, have you had lunch? If not, I can buy some instant congee or canned peaches."

Yugen couldn't make congee from scratch, but he could manage instant congee.

If the house already had some, he could just open it.

"Um... I haven't. It would be a great help if you could buy some. We don't have any of that here... I was a bit at a loss."

"Got it. I'll also buy some throat lozenges and Pocari Sweat. Is there anything else you need? Do you have enough medicine?"

"I have some over-the-counter medicine, so I'm fine. ...If it's not too much trouble, could you also buy some cooling patches? I'm out of them."

"Sure, I'll do that."

Yugen told Arisa to call him if anything happened and went to a nearby pharmacy to buy the necessary items.

There was no call from Arisa, but he hurried back home just in case.

"Arisa, I'm back."

He announced this at the door, but there was no response.

He knocked on the door and then entered Arisa's room.

(...Is she sleeping?)

Thinking this, Yugen peered at Arisa's face.

She looked even worse than before.

"Ugh... Yugen?"

"Are you okay?"

Arisa opened her eyes slightly, her face sweaty and her usually handsome features distorted.

She looked very miserable and weak.

Yugen placed his hand on her forehead.

"You have a high fever... It would be best to take your temperature again. Can you do it yourself?"

Yugen picked up the thermometer nearby and asked Arisa.

Arisa nodded slightly and started unbuttoning her pajamas.

Her white, modest undergarments came into view.

Yugen quickly looked away.

"Did you take your temperature?"

"......Yes."

Yugen took the thermometer from Arisa.

The reading was... 38.7 degrees.

"With this fever, you should go to the hospital. It might be the flu."

"Ugh... But how...?"

"I'll call a taxi."

Yugen used his mobile phone to call a taxi.

Fortunately, there was an available taxi nearby, and it arrived quickly.

"Arisa, can you stand?"

After preparing the insurance card and other necessary items, Yugen asked Arisa.

Arisa nodded weakly.

"Yes, I can."

Arisa nodded and tried to stand, but she wobbled.

Yugen quickly supported her.

"Don't push yourself. I'll carry you."

"A, no... just, just a moment..."

Yugen declared this unilaterally and, ignoring Arisa's confused protests, picked her up in a princess carry.

Arisa, initially surprised, soon grabbed Yugen's shirt with both hands and calmed down.

Yugen carried Arisa to the taxi and asked the driver to take them to the hospital.

Fortunately, it wasn't the flu.

They received prescriptions for cold and cough medicine, as well as a fever reducer, and returned home.

By the time they got back, it was already lunchtime.

"Arisa, do you have any appetite?"

Yugen asked Arisa, who was back in bed.

Arisa shook her head weakly.

"Not really..."

"I see..."

However, the prescribed medicine said to take it after meals.

She needed to eat something to take the medicine.

"Can you eat some canned peaches?"

"......A little."

Hearing this, Yugen went to the refrigerator and took out the chilled canned peaches.

He transferred them to a plate and brought it to her with a fork.

If it seemed too difficult, she could leave some, but he asked her to at least take one bite.

"......"

Arisa stared at the plate blankly.

Then she shifted her emerald eyes to Yugen.

"Um..."

"What's wrong? ...Can't you eat it?"

"No, it's just that..."

Arisa's cheeks turned slightly red.

It seemed to be for a reason different from her cold or fever.

"What's wrong?"

Maybe she preferred yellow peaches to white ones?

As Yugen was thinking this...

"......Please."

"Huh?"

"Please feed me."

Arisa said this with moist eyes.

"Okay, aah."

"Aah♥"

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