Rain poured all night after the festival ended.By the next morning, Ren Takahashi's immune system waved a white flag.
He woke up dizzy, throat burning, head spinning like the school festival ferris wheel from yesterday.
"...I'm dying," he croaked into his pillow.
"Don't be dramatic," came a voice.
Ren blinked.
Emi Tachibana stood beside his bed in a tidy apron, holding a steaming bowl of miso soup.Behind her, Yui Sakamoto was glaring while trying to plug in an electric kettle.And at the door—Rika Minami, arms crossed, looking suspiciously like she'd organized this whole invasion.
"Why—why are you all in my room?" Ren rasped.
"Because someone caught a fever after pretending to be a hero in the rain," Rika said flatly."Your temperature was 38.9°C. That's basically a death flag."
"I told them not to come," Emi added softly. "But they insisted."
"Lies!" Yui barked. "You texted first!"
Emi froze mid-stir. "…Traitor."
Ren groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "Please… just let me die in peace."
"Denied," said Haruka Aizawa, stepping in with a tray of sliced apples arranged like sakura petals. "You still owe me two lab reports."
"…Even now you're thinking about assignments?"
"I'm thinking about revenge."
Mei Kanzaki appeared last, wearing her glasses and holding a clipboard.
"I created a rotation schedule so no one fights," she announced. "Two-hour shifts. No overlap."
Rika nodded approvingly. "Finally, someone with structure."
Yui squinted. "Define no overlap."
"Meaning," Mei said coolly, "you'll have to leave when your turn ends."
There was a full five seconds of silence.
Then all of them: "No."
The First Shift: Emi
For the first two hours, Emi sat beside him quietly, wiping his forehead with a towel.The scent of her shampoo was soft—like green tea and nostalgia.
"You always try to do everything alone," she murmured."You even caught a fever like a solo mission."
"I didn't mean to," he said weakly.
"Then next time… mean to let me help."
He blinked up at her.For a second, he forgot the pain in his head—and remembered the warmth of the last time they almost kissed.
Then the door slammed open.
Second Shift: Yui (and Chaos)
Yui barged in with a thermos, a stack of manga, and no patience.
"Move, Emi. Nurse Yui's here."
"I still have ten minutes—" Emi began.
"Ten minutes over budget," Yui said, flipping open her book. "Now drink this soup. I added ginger, garlic, and a bit of… mystery."
Ren sniffed. "What kind of mystery?"
"The fun kind."
He took one sip.Then coughed violently."I think I tasted shampoo!"
"Oops. Wrong bottle."
"YOU—!"
Rika popped her head in. "Oh good, he's still alive."
Third Shift: Rika
By afternoon, Ren was nearly recovered—until Rika arrived.
She didn't bring soup or medicine.She brought a camera.
"For memories," she said sweetly, setting the timer. "Say ahh~."
"Why are you taking a photo of me eating porridge?!"
"For my blog."
"You have a blog?!"
"Not yet. But when the world sees how adorable you look sick, my followers will double."
"Please don't—"
Click.
Flash.
Rika grinned. "Perfect. Hashtag: #FeverBoyfriend."
Ren almost fainted again.
Fourth Shift: Haruka
Evening.
The room quieted when Haruka stepped in.She placed her sword bag near the wall (why she brought that to nurse him, no one knew).Then sat cross-legged beside him.
"I'll guard you while you sleep."
"That's… unnecessary."
She looked down."Maybe. But if I leave, someone else will take my place."
Her tone wasn't playful this time.It was quiet. Honest.The kind of voice that made Ren's heart thump harder than the fever.
He wanted to say something.But the warmth of her hand brushing his forehead shut him up completely.
Final Shift: Mei
Night had fallen.Mei was the last one left.
She tidied up silently, turned off the desk lamp, and sat at the edge of his bed with her notebook open.
"You're not writing data, are you?"
"Observation notes," she replied calmly. "Subject Ren Takahashi appears to have recovered. However, new symptoms observed: accelerated heartbeat, irregular breathing, possible cause—social overstimulation."
Ren buried his face in his pillow. "You're documenting my embarrassment?!"
"Purely for academic purposes."
She closed the notebook and sighed.
"…You're impossible, you know that?"
"Why?"
"Because even half-dead, you make everyone fight over you."
He peeked up.
"Mei…"
She looked at him, her usual composure softening for just a second.Then she smiled faintly.
"Get well soon, Ren. Before the next disaster finds you."
He didn't remember when he fell asleep.Only that, before his eyes closed, someone gently pulled his blanket higher—and whispered so softly he wasn't sure if it was real.
"Idiot… stop making us worry."