Tadashi's room was warmer than expected, filled with the soft glow of a
bedside lamp. Stacks of books sat neatly on his desk, and a collection of
photos—some old, some recent—lined the shelves. The air smelled faintly
of herbal tea, though the steaming cup beside his bed remained untouched.
"You're making such a big deal out of this," Tadashi muttered, his voice
hoarse as he pulled his blanket up to his chin.
Kei smirked. "We're making a big deal? You were the one who decided to
nearly collapse on the way home."
"Not my fault…" Tadashi groaned, shifting uncomfortably. "I just felt a
little dizzy." Rin crossed her arms.
"Dizzy people don't turn pale like ghosts and almost
fall on their faces."
Nao knelt beside his bed, resting a hand on his forehead. "You're still
burning up."
Daiki scratched his head. "Maybe it's just a cold?"
Haruto adjusted his glasses. "Colds don't hit that fast. It's more likely
exhaustion from yesterday's beach trip. Overexertion plus the cold wind at
night—it makes sense."
Hikaru nodded. "He just needs rest."
Nao, however, didn't look convinced. She glanced down at Tadashi's tired
expression, his breathing slightly heavier than normal. "You should eat
something," she said softly. "I can make some soup."
"You…can cook?" Tadashi teased weakly.
Nao scoffed. "I'm not Rin."
"Hey!" Rin huffed. "I make instant noodles just fine."
Kei chuckled. "That's setting the bar pretty low."
Nao sighed and stood. "I'll be back."
The evening passed in a blur of idle chatter and jokes. Tadashi remained in
bed, occasionally groaning about how everyone was acting like he was
dying, which earned him playful jabs from Rin and Kei. Nao, however, kept
glancing at him between conversations. He looked so much weaker than
before.
When he fell asleep, the group quieted down, eventually deciding to let him
rest for the night.
"We should go," Hikaru whispered. "He'll be fine by morning."
Nao hesitated. "I'll stay a little longer."
The others exchanged glances but didn't argue. One by one, they left,
leaving only her in the dimly lit room.
She sat beside him, watching his chest rise and fall. His breathing
sounded…off. Shallower. Uneven.
Her fingers curled into fists. "You better wake up fine tomorrow," she
muttered.
Tadashi didn't respond.
Morning came, and sunlight filtered through the curtains. The sound of
birds chirping in the distance filled the quiet room. Nao stirred awake in the
chair beside the bed, stretching her sore limbs.
Something felt…wrong.
She turned to Tadashi, expecting to see his usual tired expression, maybe
even an annoyed grumble about how she was still there.
Instead, he lay eerily still.
Her stomach twisted. "Tadashi?"
No response.
She reached out, pressing a trembling hand to his forehead.
Cold.
Her breath hitched. "No…"
She shook him gently at first, then harder. "Tadashi, wake up. This isn't
funny."
Nothing.
A choked sob escaped her lips as she grabbed his hand, squeezing tightly. It
didn't squeeze back.
Tears blurred her vision. "No…No, you said you were fine."
The door burst open, the others returning with their usual energy—until
they saw her face.
"Nao?" Rin started. "What—"
She didn't have to say it.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Tadashi wasn't going to wake up.
And for the first time, none of them knew what to say.