XV.

Kei.

Seriously, what's so special about her? Upon the first time that Mom first laid her eyes on her, she had grown attached to Mikazuki Kinomi... despite the fact that Mom just met her. She even made a bento for her because she knew for a reason that she wasn't eating well. Heck, she'd even make bentos for her every day. This also means that I'll have to endure giving her bentos every day. Every. Single. Day.

Mom... well, she wanted a daughter. Nii-san and I were more than enough because it was part of the family planning. Maybe she found the daughter she never had in Mikazuki-san. Well, if that will make my mother happy, then I guess I have no other choice.

"Mikazuki-san," I called out just as lunch break came. I got a good view of the novel she was reading, it was A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. She can read pure English? Cool. She shifted her attention towards me and God; I wanted to ask her if she ever gets any sleep in her system because of the evident dark circles under her eyes.

"What is it?" She asks, and I'm quite surprised that I couldn't feel the negative aura she usually radiates whenever someone approaches her.

"Here," I gave her the lunch box with a pink strawberry wrap.

Mikazuki-san blinked in surprise, her gaze focused on the bento I was holding then it shifted on me. She pointed to herself. "For me?" She asked, unsure.

"Yeah, Mom made it for you."

I don't know if I just imagined it but I think her eyes changed, as if it suddenly got life at the mention of my Mom. Her hands reached out for the box I was holding and as she did so, our fingers accidentally touched. Her hands were so cold, my chest tightened for an unknown reason at the indescribable sensation of our skin contact.

"Please thank her for me."

I realized that I was still in a trance and her voice brought me back to reality. I slightly flinched then looked away at the sight of Mikazuki-san slightly smiling. "Ah, yeah..."

"Tsukki, let's eat lunch!" Yamaguchi came not long after. "Oh, Mikazuki-san, you have a bento?"

She nodded. "Yes, Kina-san made it for me."

"Eh, really?" Yamaguchi glanced at me then back at her. "Would you like to join us for lunch then?" He invited with a grin.

Mikazuki-san's mouth formed a small 'o'. "Oh, um..." Well, this is new, she's stuttering. "I... I couldn't."

His smile slightly faltered. "Are you sure, Mikazuki-san?"

She glanced at me as if she knew that I had any protests. This is really... surprising. I'm not used to her change of behavior.

"I don't really mind." I said then turned on my heels and walked out of the classroom, the both of them followed until they are walking side by side with me.

I glanced at her through my peripheral vision, whose sight was focused on the bento she was holding, her lips curled up into a small smile... and I couldn't help but also secretly smile to myself for a reason.

You sure are something else, Berry. Without even your awareness, you are turning back to your former self... just as they described. And I have to admit that I prefer you more like this.

However, what's surprising is that she didn't go to class the next day. And the next day... I told Mom about it, she had a hunch that she's sick and so, she immediately made porridge and told me to deliver it to her.

"How are you so sure that she is even sick?" I asked her.

"Mother's instinct." Mom replied with a proud smile which made me internally roll my eyes.

After a ten minute walk on the way to her home, I made my way through her apartment building and walked until I found her surname etched on the side of a door. I took a deep breath then knocked on the door. After a few moments, a lady answered it, to my surprise. If I took a guess of her age, she could be around in her mid-twenties.

She blinked in confusion but offered me a small smile. "Hello. May I help you?"

"I, uh..." I wandered my eyes to different directions, slightly uncomfortable. How am I supposed to introduce myself? "I'm a classmate of Mikazuki-san... and-"

"Oh really?! Thank God you're here! Come on in!" She exclaimed as if she just found her savior. Then without warning, she grabbed my arm and practically dragged me inside the apartment. "Please make yourself comfortable." She said then dashed away and it didn't take too long enough for me to hear the silverwares clanking in the kitchen.

"Sorry for the intrusion." I mumbled to myself as I slipped off my shoes, creating an inaudible sound. I heard the lady babbling something as she was in the kitchen. I only shrugged then sat on the couch, taking in the new surroundings.

After a few minutes, the lady came out of the kitchen carrying a tray of dessert, a slice of strawberry shortcake and a glass of lemonade to be specific. My mouth instantly watered at the sight of those. "Gosh, I have so many paperwork to fill up and Kinomi has a raging fever I don't know what to do anymore-oh wait, I'm sorry for being rude but what's your name?"

"You can call me Tsukishima, ma'am."

Her eyes gleamed at the mention of my name. Her lips lifted into a knowing smile, more like smirk. It was as if she knew something I was oblivious about and that made me feel even more uncomfortable than I already was. She rubbed her chin as she scanned me from head to toe.

"You can call me Tora-san, Tsukishima-kun." She grinned. "I know this might be too soon for me but can I ask you a tiny, little favor, please?"

I nodded slowly then took the glass of lemonade on the coffee table and took a sip of the cold beverage. I almost spat it out at the next statement she threw at me.

"Will you please look after her until evening?"

My eyes dilated and mouth parted in shock. "What?"

"I have so many works left at the café, Tsukishima-kun! As much as I wanted to do those, I won't feel at ease if I leave her alone while she's sick. So please, please, please, Tsukishima-kun," she clasped her hands together as she pleaded. "Please take care of her for only three hours! I promise to give you a major discount when you-"

"Okay, okay." I cut her off, sighing. I don't think there will come a time for her to shut her mouth.

"Really?! Oh God, thank you so much!" She quickly stood up from her seat and gripped my hands and looked at me as if she was staring at a lifeline. I prevented the urge to grimace but her face suddenly became serious.

~*~

Seriously, Mikazuki-san?

I dipped the cold compress on the bowl of ice water then draped it over her forehead. That had been going on for the past hour. Her temperature has calmed down a bit but I can't help but feel creeped out as the thought of what Tora-san said to me came rushing back to my mind.

"When Kinomi's sick, she becomes different..." She muttered as if she was cautious that someone might hear her.

I sighed then glanced at the clock on the bedside table and it was almost dinner time. I stood up with the bowl in my arms then left her room to change it and heat the porridge I brought for her as well.

While I was busy listening to music and stirring the porridge in the pot, I flinched as I felt a pair of warm arms around my torso. What the? Did she just hugged me from behind?

She buried her face on my back; I can even almost feel her warm and ragged breaths. I couldn't move for a moment, and when I recovered from shock, I craned my neck to the side to get a slight view of her.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Nothing," She muttered. "I just feel like hugging you."

I felt blood rushing up to my cheeks.

"Let's stay like this for a little longer, ne?"

Now I feel like I'm the one with a fever.

"Mikazuki-san..."

"Kinomi." She corrected.

"Ki-Kinomi," I forced my mouth to form her first name, which I did for the first time. "Your porridge is almost ready."

"Hmm," She hummed in response.

"You need to eat so you can take your medicine."

"Don't wanna." She said with a childish tone.

My shoulders slumped in frustration because of her childish behavior. I gathered enough courage to pry her arms away from my body then turned around to face her and she was looking up at me, her cheeks rosy because of fever and a childish pout on her lips.

"Come on, the porridge is ready." I took a bowl from the drawer and poured the warm porridge on it. I placed it on a tray then beckoned her to follow me back to her bedroom to which she obliged.

She crawled on her bed and leaned her body against the headboard of her bed, looking at me with sparkling eyes. I reached out the bowl of porridge but she only stared at it then back at me.

"You can't feed yourself?"

She nodded then let out a wide smile, I had thought for a moment that she was messing with me. I sighed then sat on the edge of her bed, defeated. I stirred the porridge for a bit before I took a spoonful, blew it then hovered it to her mouth. She happily ate the porridge, took her medicine then immediately fell asleep after that.

I massaged my temples and sighed, slightly exhausted. I glanced at the bedside table, signing 6:57 in the evening. Only an hour more and I'll be on my way home. I already informed my parents beforehand that I'll be running home late.

I stood up then stretched, spotting a bookshelf beside the study table. I picked a book whose title piqued my interest, sat on the swivel chair then proceeded to read to kill time. I changed her compress time to time until eight pm. But still, Tora-san hasn't come home on the time she promised.

"Oikawa-senpai, is that you?" she mumbled with her eyes closed right after I draped a compress on her forehead. My actions halted at her words and it made my gaze focus on her face.

It took a while to make my voice work. "No..." I replied with a curt tone.

She slowly opened her eyes then looked into mine and she pouted. She sure pouts a lot... like a little brat whenever she gets sick.

"Oh, it's you again." She sat up and looked at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Why do you always do this to me?"

I frowned. "Huh?"

To my surprise, she took my hand and placed it over her chest where the heart was located.

"This," She mumbled, "making my heart beat abnormally fast..." She closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. "I like you. I really, really like you... do you know that?"

"A-Are you drunk?" I blurted out with wide eyes. I tried to retrieve my hand but she kept her grip firm and strong. I was getting incredibly uncomfortable because... because I can already feel her breast!

Her other hand went up to touch my burning cheek and she gave me a lazy yet creepy smile. "YES! I am so, so drunkenly in love with you!" She giggled like a school girl then she immediately sealed me in a tight embrace, the impact causing my back to land on the bed. "Kei-chan, don't ever leave me, okay?" She sang and tightened her hold on me. She puts drunken women to shame...

But... did I heard her right? Kei-chan? What the hell?

She looked at me and smiled. "You look so cute~! Let me kiss you! Mwa, mwa, mwa!" Before I could even realize what she just said, she leaned down and kissed both of my cheeks, nose and forehead with exaggerated sounds. She grinned at me as if a devious idea came into her mind. She was already aiming for my lips and my hand immediately grabbed a hold of her face, preventing her from kissing me.

"Ugh! God!" I groaned in disgust as I let go of her face. She licked my hand!

"Hahaha, your hand tastes salty... like your personality!" She laughed out loud and I couldn't help but face palm myself in frustration. I sat up and stared at her with a bland expression.

"Mikazuki-san..."

"Why won't you let me kiss you? Do you hate me?" She went from happy to sad real quick and I don't know if I could handle her much longer.

I sighed. "No, I don't hate you, Mikazuki-san... but to get what you want... well, you have to do something for me first." I said sternly.

Her eyes gleamed in excitement. "Ooh, what is it?" She scooted closer to me and I instinctively backed away a little bit.

"You have to rest. Sleep."

"And then you'll kiss me when I wake up?"

It took me a while to reply. "Y-Yeah..."

"Okay~" She sang and immediately laid down on her bed. "Don't leave me, okay?"

When she finally dozed off, I let out the breath that I didn't know I was holding and I stared at her, my fingers went to move the stray hairs away from her face. I don't know if it's just the fever talking when she said that she liked me or she just thought that I was Oikawa-san. And I don't know if it was me whom she was telling to stay but...

Kinomi.

I woke up and was greeted by the dark and the moonlight going through my window like fluorescent lights were my only source of sight. I sat up and as I did so, the compress on my forehead fell on my lap. I placed my hand over my forehead, feeling myself and was quite relieved that I don't have a fever anymore. But wait... did Tora stayed up all night long just to take care of me? I thought that she had a lot of work to do...

With a sigh, I pushed the covers off me then got out of my room to quench my thirst. Well, she might have left the moment my fever had calmed down-wait, who's that person sleeping on the couch?

It was dim on the living room so it was quite hard for me to identify the person on the couch but as I got closer, I was so shocked that I couldn't help but blurt out his name in a loud voice.

"Tsu-Tsukishima!"

He groaned in annoyance then moved to his side, covering his face with a pillow. "Geez, will you please shut up? A person is trying to sleep here."

"Wh-what are you doing in here?! Where's Tora?"

"She has a lot of work to do and she asked me to stay and look after you for three hours. Never thought that three hours meant overnight for her." He muttered through the pillow but I caught the sarcasm dripping from his tone.

He finally sat up and massaged the bridge of his nose then took his glasses on the coffee table. He patted the side of the couch beside him, motioning me to sit beside him to which I obliged.

I knew for a fact that he was tired because whenever I catch a fever, it is unusually high and hard to calm down. And they say that... I become weird. Wait, weird?!

As those thoughts bombarded my mind, I flinched when he suddenly placed his hand over my forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"F-fine." I stuttered, feeling my temperature rise again.

"You should be. I stayed up late just to change your compress every thirty minutes. That's what you get for abusing your body." He flicked my forehead.

"Ow! You jerk! What was that for?" I whined as I rubbed on the part he hit.

"For being a stubborn idiot." He deadpanned. "Stop overworking yourself. You are not a robot to study at day and work at night. I'm the one who's getting in trouble because of your recklessness."

I crossed my arms with a huff. "Hah! You don't tell me what to do, Stingyshima."

"I took care of you all night long. And this is how you thank me? Real smooth, Berry." He teased as he clicked his tongue in disappointment which made me roll my eyes.

"What do you want me to do then? Kneel down and worship you?"

He flicked my forehead once again and called me an idiot.

He left at two in the morning because he has classes in a few hours. when I reassured him that I'm fine now and can handle myself from this point. He told me to stay at home and rest.

He had done a lot of things for me and he didn't even realize that. And I'm the idiot who's only receiving them... how can I ever return the favor?

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! TSUKKI, I'M SO VERY PROUD OF YOUU! YOU LITERALLY BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES! I'M SMILING LIKE AN IDIOT AS I WATCHED THE LATEST EPISODE. OHMYGOD, I CAN'T EVEN ;------------; I wanted to join their screaming session when tsukki blocked ushijima's spike XD but my sister's sleeping and she will catch me secretly watching the latest ep when we're supposed to watch it together hahahaha. You even made that block not a big deal. . . but you don't know how happy you made us //sobbingcryinglaughing I love you even more now. . .

Anyways, I'm sorry for not updating for months. School has been so rough on me lately and praise the lord I survived the first semester. I might go on hiatus again next month though so I'll spend my whole sem break writing and making up for the wasted days. :)

Thank you for reading! It means so much to me if you're still reading and waiting for updates! I have so many thoughts in store for this story so. . . :D

Catch you later!

Lyn :>