After finishing today’s activities, Suzuki Yuu was already drenched from head to toe, forming a stark contrast to Shiina Chisa, who stood dry beside him.
The main reason for this was that, just as he was about to reel in a fish during sea fishing, his so-called friends kicked him straight into the ocean.
They kept causing trouble during other activities as well, bringing him no end of annoyance.
“Do these guys not realize how amazing it is for a man to have such strong self-control?”
Thinking about last night’s ordeal, Suzuki Yuu couldn’t help but mutter to himself quietly on the way back.
Of course, it wasn’t that he had exceptional self-control—his body had simply reached its limits due to various factors, causing him to faint.
Looking at Shiina beside him, he couldn’t help feeling helpless.
What string in her head is loose for her to like me this much?
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
But what surprised him more at the moment was that she still seemed full of energy.
Although she nearly fell asleep during pottery class, she’d been enthusiastic throughout the rest of the day’s activities.
He wondered if it was because she could be with him.
Suzuki Yuu guessed as much in his heart.
Now, the sky was already dusk; he figured it wouldn’t be long before night fell.
He hoped she wouldn’t try to force him again after they got back.
That’s what he thought to himself.
After arriving at Katsuragawa Manor, he headed straight for the hot spring.
This time, he took every precaution—he even wore swim trunks.
However, contrary to his expectations, Shiina Chisa didn’t show up.
His preparations were all for nothing.
Rising from the hot spring and changing into his clothes, he walked inside and saw the girl sitting blankly on the tatami mat.
Feeling puzzled, he sat down beside her and asked,
“What’s wrong? What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing… Just feeling a bit dizzy.”
Shiina Chisa’s weak reply immediately made Suzuki Yuu feel uneasy.
He remembered that she was just like this when she caught the flu before.
With that thought, he didn’t dare delay. He immediately stood up and touched the girl’s forehead.
“Hmm?”
Already feeling dizzy, Shiina Chisa was a bit surprised by his action.
“Looks like you’ve caught a cold… I’ll get a thermometer and check.”
Soon, Suzuki Yuu got up and called the manager. The other party quickly delivered a thermometer.
He measured Shiina Chisa’s temperature. Not long after, the result was in.
38.2℃.
Seeing the red digits on the thermometer, Suzuki Yuu frowned deeply. This wasn’t ordinary dizziness—it was a real high fever.
“You have a fever, Chisa.” His voice carried an unmistakable seriousness. “You haven’t slept for two nights, and you forced yourself through a whole day of activities today. Of course your body couldn’t handle it.”
There was a hint of reproach in his words, one even he didn’t notice, but mostly, it was concern.
Shiina Chisa looked surprised after hearing him, her whole demeanor turning confused and helpless.
She opened her mouth as if to speak, but only let out a few weak coughs.
“Don’t talk.” Suzuki Yuu stopped her. He went to the closet, pulled out the bedding that had already been laid out, and quickly set it up.
Then he rummaged through his backpack, which was full of emergency supplies, including medicine.
After taking out what he needed, he sat beside her again, preparing to adjust the dosage based on experience.
Just as he was busy, he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder.
Instinctively turning his head, he saw that Shiina Chisa, at some point, had run out of strength and was now leaning against him, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. Her body was burning hot—even through the thin fabric, he could feel the alarming heat. Her breathing was rapid and faint.
“Chisa?” Suzuki Yuu’s heart leapt into his throat. He gently shook her, but there was no response. She seemed so feverish she was almost delirious.
“Honestly…”
He sighed helplessly, carefully set the medicine and cup of water on the low table beside him.
Then he gently cradled her soft body, laying her in the bedding he had prepared and tucking her in.
The girl obediently curled up under the covers.
“Take your medicine first.” Suzuki Yuu helped her sit up, bringing a few pills and a cup of warm water to her lips.
Shiina Chisa blinked blearily, staring at Suzuki Yuu’s face so close to hers. She didn’t resist; she just opened her mouth and swallowed the medicine and water as told.
“…Don’t go.”
As she lay back down, she suddenly reached out her cool little hand and lightly tugged at Suzuki Yuu’s sleeve.
Her voice was very soft, tinged with a bit of nasal congestion, almost like sleep-talking.
Suzuki Yuu paused for a moment.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He sighed, sat down beside her, and pressed the back of his hand to her forehead again. “I’ll stay here with you. Just sleep.”
As if reassured, Shiina Chisa slowly relaxed her grip on his sleeve, but just as he tried to withdraw his hand, she gently grasped it.
Her palm was burning, yet lacked any strength.
Only after he confirmed her breathing had grown slow and even, and she seemed sound asleep, did Suzuki Yuu notice that his hand was still being held.
But fortunately, her grip had loosened now. He gently slipped his hand free, stood up, and pulled the curtain closed.
By now, it was already night outside. Suzuki Yuu let out a sigh.
At that moment, his phone suddenly chimed.
He quickly took it out and set it to silent mode.
Checking the source of the alert, he saw it was a message from Hasegawa Aoi.
[Junior, is Shiina Chisa with you?]
[She’s caught a cold, just fell asleep. What’s up?]
His phone was silent for a moment, then suddenly buzzed again with a new message.
[( ﾟДﾟ)]
[She actually caught a cold!]
[I always thought people like her were superhuman.]
Three messages in a row—enough to show her surprise.
Suzuki Yuu just smiled at that, and urged her to get to the point.
[So, senpai, did you need something?]
[Yes, junior, are you free to come out for a bit?]
Reading that message, Suzuki Yuu considered for a moment.
He hadn’t eaten yet; going out for some instant noodles was fine, and he figured Hasegawa Aoi probably didn’t have anything too urgent.
[Sure.]
After replying, he glanced at Shiina Chisa again, confirmed she was sleeping soundly, and was about to get up.
However, just then, Shiina Chisa seemed to sense he was about to leave and reached out to grab him:
“Don’t go…”
Her weak voice called out again, making Suzuki Yuu feel reluctant to leave.
Helpless, he took out his phone again, opened the chat with Hasegawa Aoi, edited his message, and sent:
[Sorry, something urgent came up. Looks like I won’t be able to go out.]
After making sure she’d read it, he called Kobayashi Keiko to report Chisa’s condition.