After separating from Akane and Aoi, my feet led to the sa bakery where I t Mizuki before. The favor that we had just discussed was already thrown to the back of my mind. That eting that Aoi would arrange still needed so preparation so it wouldn’t happen anyti soon. At least, not during this exam period.
As soon as I arrived at the bakery’s vicinity, the familiar car that always carried the girl anywhere she wanted to was already parked in front of it. Her chauffeur, Suzuki-san, could be seen waiting inside the car with no Mizuki in sight.
Thinking the girl was already inside, waiting for , I peered through the glass window of the bakery. However, she’s nowhere in sight…
Where is she? Did sothing happen?
Carrying that question in my mind, I approached the car.
When her eyes t mine, Suzuki-san swiftly left the car, greeting like she would an important person.
“Onoda-sama, ojou-sama has instructed to give this to you.”
She handed a box covered in cloth. Judging from its appearance and the warmth exuding out of the cloth cover, it’s definitely a lunch box.
“This is?”
“A lunchbox handmade by ojou-sama.”
Did she really make this? That’s so not in her character.
Wait, that’s not the point.
“No. I an… Where’s Mizuki? Did sothing happen?”
I contacted that girl before going out of the house and she agreed to et in this bakery…
“Ah. Wait. My question is wrong. Sothing certainly happened. Otherwise, you won’t be here to give this. But why didn’t she contact ?”
“I believe ojou-sama can only answer that question. I am only instructed to go here and give you that. My apologies.” Suzuki answered, her tone never-changing. “Ojou-sama woke up early and worked on that as soon as she received your call. Please enjoy what she prepared, Onoda-sama. Well then, I have to go back to her side.”
After adding that information, Suzuki quickly turned around to go back to her car.
All of this was a little confusing and Suzuki’s usual behavior wasn’t really helping. She’s always like this, only giving minimal answers. She’s as uninterested as ever in engaging in a decent conversation with anyone other than Mizuki.
Perhaps if I’m not Mizuki’s special guy, she wouldn’t even bother to talk to . That’s where she’s different from Hitomi. She’s soone who didn’t really care about other people except her young lady.
“Please wait, Suzuki-san!” I shouted before she could open the car door and return inside. As that successfully took her attention, she stopped and turned to .
“I believe I haven’t left out anything, Onoda-sama. If there is, please tell.” She tilted her head slightly before answering like that. However, I noticed sothing. Suzuki-san bit her lips. It’s sothing she rarely does. That probably ant nothing but my gut tells that it’s like she’s holding onto sothing.
Even though we agreed to et and she was even pretty excited earlier when I did ssage her, Mizuki didn’t leave any ssage regarding her non-appearance.
That’s why my mind quickly whirled to think. I pulled out my phone and as soon as I tapped the video call button, the other party instantly answered as though she’s waiting for it.
A mont later, Mizuki’s pretty face filled my screen. Her vicinity was dark so I couldn’t make out her expression properly but with the light of the phone directed to her, I could tell that her eyes were only half-opened. And although her lips were curved into a slight smile, she sohow appeared suffering from pain. The screen was shaking and judging from how her arms moved, she was alternately holding it as though she was quickly getting tired from holding it up.
So, this is it. The reason why she’s not here. I knew she was a wise girl and soone who would plan everything before acting. But in this case, it seems like she hastily made a decision and even prepared herself to be seen through by .
Putting on a neutral expression, I started, “Mizuki, is it hard to tell that you’re currently sick? Have you taken dicine?”
Hearing that, Mizuki, who’s trying to look fine even though she’s clearly not, coughed. It’s not a fake one but a clear cough of soone having a cold. It sounded even dry. “T-this… I’m not sick. I’m just taking a rest after preparing your lunch.”
“Yeah, right. You’re not that great at lying, Mizuki. Do you want to worry?”
“U-ugh… If you know then you should’ve known. I didn’t tell you because you’re just going to worry.”
“Well, you could’ve ssaged that you’re not coming. That way, I wouldn’t know that you’re currently bedridden. But that’s not what you did… In truth, you wanted to know, right? Can you be honest with ?”
“N-no comnt.”
“You rarely get sick but when you do, you are always this bad at thinking properly. I wonder what went on your mind for doing this? I bet this lunchbox is also sothing you decided to make hastily… Oh. But don’t worry, I’ll eat whatever you make.”
She’s not that good at cooking. Ah. No. That phrase is wrong. She just didn’t have a polished repertoire when it cos to cooking. And more often than not, the food she eats is prepared by soone else; by their cook or Suzuki.
Anyway, whatever’s inside this box, knowing that she made it for was enough reason for to treat it as a delicacy.
“… F-fine.” And another cough. “… You’re right. I’m sick. I’m sick but I want to see you, Ruki. I should’ve been honest from the start but… I can’t think properly when I am…” The girl coughed again but she forced herself on putting on another smile.
How stubborn.
“Alright. That’s enough. Don’t talk too much and wait for there… Before I go to school, let take care of you.” I declared while putting on a calming smile.
Mizuki weakly nodded. “Y-yes, please.”
“Mhm… Put down the phone now and cover yourself properly, I’ll be there soon.”
After saying that, I turned to Suzuki, “Please take to her, Suzuki-san.”
Since she clearly heard our conversation, Suzuki’s neutral expression already broke. She’s looking at with an apologetic expression as though she also committed wrongdoing. “Right away, Onoda-sama.”
She opened the door to the backseat but before I entered the car, I handed the box back to Suzuki before running towards the bakery. I ordered atbuns for the sick girl. It’s her favorite after all.
And when the car started to move, I interrogated Suzuki about Mizuki’s detailed condition. I had already seen through the act so, for once, I got to hear Suzuki’s voice for an extended ti.
She was not there when I called Mizuki. But when Mizuki started making a noise in the kitchen, Suzuki spotted her and hurried to assist her young lady.
Apparently, although they claid that the lunchbox was made by Mizuki, half of the effort in making it could be attributed to Suzuki. She shadowed the stubborn girl, who didn’t want to rest until she finished cooking, to make sure that no accidents could happen.
I have to thank her for that…
Furthermore, Mizuki didn’t plan to stay at ho. The girl still prepared for school. Not because of the midterm exams for today but because she wanted to see .
However, halfway through the car ride, the girl was already wobbling on her seat, losing out to the fever that accompanied her cold. Suzuki thought of bringing her to the hospital but Mizuki rejected that with her waning consciousness. In the end, before Mizuki lost consciousness, Suzuki successfully brought the girl to the condominium unit. And there, she was instructed to co to our eting place…
Hence, the reason why Suzuki also appeared in a hurry to go back…
With how unusual the situation was, I would be an idiot if I failed to stitch it together and solve the puzzle.
Twenty minutes later, I reached the unit. With Suzuki coming in with as well as having the sa guard as before, no one or nothing blocked my way.
As soon as I saw the girl shaking in the cold while covered up with our blanket, I hurriedly moved to the bed and sat down on her side.
“R-ruki…” Even with difficulty, as soon as she felt my presence next to her, Mizuki opened her eyes and called out to . “I miss you. D-did you miss ?...”
“Mhm… I miss you too. Alright, before scolding you for pushing yourself like this, let first take care of you.” I put my hand on her forehead and even though I couldn’t accurately guess her temperature, it was scalding hot. She’s even in a worse condition than Coach Ayu last Sunday.
“Y-yay!” Mizuki languidly cheered. And with her pleading eyes, she weakly tugged on my sleeves.
Understanding what she wanted to do, I slipped inside her blanket and hugged her tight, tight enough to make her sweat faster.
Well, I knew this was a dumb move and I could catch her cold instead of treating it. However, having been in a similar situation a few days ago and was still completely fine, I would believe in my immune system once again.
“R-ruki is here. My Ruki… I won’t let you go. Ehehe~ In a few years, I’ll be making you the most influential man that no one will ever question our complex relationship… When that happens, my wish to be with you forever will be fulfilled…”
And once again, Mizuki exhibited another unusual trait. She’s spilling everything in her mind… And she’s doing so while her currently weak self slowly settled herself inside my embrace.
A few seconds after that, her hot breath assaulted my neck followed by her lips. And a few seconds more, her tense body relaxed as she quickly fell asleep.
“I see. Ojou-sama is telling the truth. You’re the only dicine that can cure her, Onoda-sama.”
Appearing by the door of the room, Suzuki-san said as she attentively watched over us.
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