I released a loud ugly sneeze, snot flying in every direction.

"I hate this." I sniffed, eyes glossed with tears. I wiped my nose with the back of my hand and then wiped the back of my hand on the bed sheets. Shame to whoever will do the laundry.

After that incident with me almost drowning, my body reached its limits. I'm sick. I'm bedridden. I'm so hot. I'm going to die.

The last two of those statements are a lie, by the way.

However, I actually have a fever of 38 degrees Celsius. It's pretty high but I can work just fine. Everything just a feels a bit wobbly and blurry but I can still function well. I did repeat that I'm fine twice but I just need to assure myself.

With me being sick, I have nothing to do. I can just stare at the boring ceiling, wearing my pajamas while tightly wrapped in my sheets like a burrito. Rei went to my school to observe Takehiko and how he will act in my absence. The only person I can annoy is Shintaro and he's not even bothering to check up on me.

Just as I was thinking of the leek, my door opened which announced Shintaro's presence.

"Shintaro! I'm bored!" I whined, sitting up.

"Good for you." he answered as he entered, tray with food on top in his hands.

He was wearing a green sweater with a white dress shirt underneath it. He also have this cute black jogging pants with basketball prints on it. He's also wearing the bunny slippers Rei and I bought for him.

"Oooh. Do I have a fried chicken? Or katsudon! Or yakisoba?" I asked while he inched closer.

My face dropped once he showed me my food.

"Porridge? Are you kidding?" I asked in disbelief. "Are you mocking my carnivorous tendencies!?" Being a blabbermouth, I would have said more. But my head hurts. It's like someone's hammering a nail on it.

"I wasn't the one to cook this so shut up and eat it, idiot." he scolded, settling the tray on my side table. "Your medicine is already in the tray. Just take that." he continued as he turned for the door.

"Hey! Don't leave!" I pleaded, making him stop.

"I still have cleaning to do-"

"Please don't leave. I can't eat." I said.

He turned back to me, eyebrows furrowed. He looked so confused.

"I don't have a proper grip on things." I answered his gaze with a smile. I may be lying in order to be babied by him. Who knows.

He gave a sigh before timidly walking to my bed and sitting on it. "I'll feed you then."

"Yay! Thanks."

He just released another sigh and took the bowl of porridge and spoon from the tray. He carefully scooped a serving and lightly blew on it. I couldn't help but stare at his lips that were slightly jut out. His eyes were half-lidded, his long eyelashes lightly fluttering. Is it just me or did the room get hotter?

Or maybe it's just Shintaro Midorima being hot. As usual.

Wait. What did I just think?

"Are you going to open your mouth or what?" he suddenly asked, making me return to reality.

"Ahhh." I opened my mouth which he turn as a cue to slowly feed the porridge to me.

He continued to feed me, occasionally giving me water to drink. I wanted to stop eating but he just forced me to finish that bowl of goo. It doesn't taste bad but it also doesn't taste good. Hell, it tastes nothing. It just feels weird in my mouth. It's like a slimy substance with occasional bits here and there. Yup. It's like tasteless puke.

"You finally finished eating." he said, slowly licking his thumbs to get rid of the porridge that probably got in there. He did it so s l o w l y. I swear. I'm not hallucinating! "Take your medicine."

I stuck my tongue out. No way. Even though you're hot. "I don't like it. It's bitter."

"Well, if you don't want to be stuck here in your room, you need to recuperate."

"Recu-what?"

"Recuperate!"

"Say what?"

"It means to recover!" he said in frustration.

"AHHHH--!" he quickly did a three point and threw the tablet and pill in my mouth. 

Fuck, it's bitter!

I quickly took the glass of water that was resting on the tray and drank all of its content.

"That's much better." I sighed in relief, settling the glass back on the tray.

I absentmindedly rubbed my belly, looking at Shintaro with a nonchalant smile. His eyes were wide open and a tick mark was on his forehead.

"What?" I asked with a frown.

"I thought... You.. me..."

"Hmm?"

"You told me that you can't feed yourself!" he angrily shouted. Oh crap.

"Umm. Maybe the medicine worked so fast that I got my strength back almost instantly?" I innocently asked.

He looks so annoyed. His eyebrows were really slamming themselves against each other. But instead of shouting again, he released a sigh and said, "Whatever. At least you ate."

He gave me one final look that did not have any emotion in it before walking to the door.

"Shintaro! Why are you avoiding me whenever we're alone!? You still won't talk to me normally ever since that day I brought red bean soup for you! I don't like it one bit!" Okay. I did say that I'm a blabbermouth. But speaking my feelings out is not my thing. It may be my fever speaking.

That made him stop walking but he still had his back turned against me. "Stop saying foolish things and rest." and with that, he started moving again.

No way will I let him escape! With a jump from my bouncy bed, I landed on my feet. It freaking hurts but I won't let him leave this room without talking to me. I rose up from my kneeling position, only to trip over the sheets that went down with me.  With that stupid moment, I came flying down on to the ground.

"Ouch." I flatly complained.

"Idiot-! Are you alright!?" came Shintaro's worried voice before I felt a pair of strong arms hoisting my body up.

I was in his arms. It feels so warm despite the fact that I feel cold. I feel like I belong in his arms. It's just like how I felt when he came rescued me in my dejected state back when my supposed to be date with Takehiko was a  failure. It feels so nice. And my heart is throbbing.

It may be just the fever. I closed my eyes and leaned on his chest.

"Why won't you talk to me just like how you used to?" I carefully asked. "Did I do something wrong? Please tell me. I want to know you more, Shintaro. I really do. You're so warm and welcoming despite your OCD and shit attitude."

I felt my soft bouncy bed against my back as the male I was talking to gently laid me down.

"Tell me, Shintaro." I opened my eyes and sat up, holding onto one of his hands.

His eyes remained unreadable. I can't understand those alluring green eyes staring back at me. But I want to understand them. I want to understand him.

"You're making this so hard for me." he finally said. He gripped on my hand that was holding his while his other hand held my cheek as tenderly as his calloused hand can.  "Did you know that I'm already a disabled in my world?" he suddenly asked.

I was confused by his question but I chose to remain quiet and continued to listen.

"I suffered a spinal chord injury due to my carelessness." he bitterly said, looking away for a moment before turning his gaze back to me. "I lost my ability to walk; thus, also my career in basketball. I'm an invalid. A waste of space."

"I feel so insignificant without my legs. I lost my will to live." he then released a dry chuckle. "And this opportunity that mage gave us is what I needed to continue my obstructed life. I can go back to my old life. And now that I have felt what it feels like to be alive and walking again, there's no way that I'll back down."

He stared at me, eyes determined. My mind is hazy and I couldn't understand half of what he's saying. But hey, I'm trying here.

"That's why I won't let you nor my feelings get in the way." he said. "You will end up with that guy and I will get my old life back."

I really can't understand much... My vision was turning to a blur. But I understand one thing.

He will leave me.

And I don't want that.

My free hand went for his hand that was touching my cheek. I gingerly held it. "Shintaro. Please don't leave me." I whispered.

"I'm sorry that... you felt like there was no other way to live other than the way you used to." I continued. "But don't you think that living a life with me isn't that bad?"

"Because, for me, basketball nor your ability to walk doesn't define who you are. It's your warmth that does." 

"I need your warm hands that comforts me, Shintaro." I shook my head, trying to shake all my drowsiness away. His face got a little bit clear. 

He... He was crying. Tears are gently cascading down his eyes.

"Was that a confession, you stupid girl?" he quietly whispered in such a way that only he and I heard.

I wasn't able to answer his question for his lips melted against mine. It was warm and soft. I slowly closed my eyes, drowning against this blissful sensation. He smelled like the strawberry scented soap that my father uses. I couldn't hear anything except for my throbbing heart.

Ah.

I'm losing consciousness.