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18/25
Harutaki: I’m having dinner at Shihou’s place today, so I’ll leave things at home to you, Ayaka… [cat bowing] I might not go back tonight either.– Unread
While waiting for the rice cooker to finish the porridge, Harutaki took out his phone and sent a LINE message to his younger sister, Ayaka, letting her know where he would be and what he planned to do tonight.
When Harutaki said he would not be coming home, it was not because he intended to take advantage of Chouko in any way. He was simply worried that something might happen after her high fever. Whether she could manage washing up properly was one thing, but if she needed to use the bathroom at night, in her dizzy state, falling on the way there or slipping inside the bathroom would be no small matter.
Besides, having been through similar situations himself, he knew very well that at times like this, what a patient needed was not only treatment, but also companionship and care.
Lying alone under the covers with a severe cold, even the smallest room could feel endlessly vast, making one keenly aware of how insignificant they were. Thoughts turned like gears without oil, stiff and sluggish. Weak, faintly aching limbs were utterly useless. Just as he tried to nap for a bit, he would somehow fall into a nightmare of plummeting from a great height. He flailed his arms and kicked desperately, but nothing helped. Only at the moment he was about to hit the ground would he jolt awake in a daze, realizing he was still sprawled helplessly on the bed.
If only someone were there with him. That was what Harutaki had thought back then.
There was no need to talk, no need for especially attentive care. Just knowing someone was nearby, keeping loneliness at bay, someone who could lend a hand if he fell from a height or tumbled down the stairs, was enough to make the weakness and helplessness brought by illness far less frightening.
He did not think Chouko was doing any better than he had. Judging from her earlier behavior, what she truly longed for might well be “companionship.”
About a minute later, the unread mark on the chat bubble turned into “read,” but it was only after another half a minute or so that Ayaka’s reply appeared with a buzz of the phone.
Ayaka: Safety measures…– Read
Smack.
Seeing the reply, Harutaki could not help slapping a hand against his forehead.
Even Ayaka, the most normal one among his sisters, why was her head full of such nonsense?
Granted, his message was somewhat easy to misunderstand, but reminding her brother to take safety measures was really a bit… a bit too much.
Harutaki: Shihou has a bad cold, that’s why I came to take care of her. The temperature dropped suddenly these past two days, so take care of yourself too. And remind Chiaki and Fuyuno not to catch a chill.– Read
Ayaka: You should’ve said that earlier! Idiot Aniki! Delete the memory of the previous message along with the chat log!– Read
Deleting memories together with chat logs was asking for the impossible.
Harutaki: Alright, alright, all forgotten. [cat fainting] Good night in advance.– Read
Ayaka: Good night… And don’t take advantage of Shihou-senpai while she’s sick, you’ll get hated for it! [Cinnamoroll with exclamation mark]– Read
Judging that the timing was about right, Harutaki poured the marinated pork loin strips into the rice cooker. They had been seasoned earlier with soy sauce, salt, cornstarch, and a bit of sugar, which would make the meat especially tender. He stirred them at intervals with a resin spatula, and once the color changed, he added minced ginger and the blanched, cooled bok choy.
While the vegetable and pork porridge was nearing completion, he began cooking the tomato scrambled eggs and plating the lettuce that had been marinating for over ten minutes.
…
“Today’s dishes are pretty plain. Sorry for the simple hospitality.”
After serving the vegetable and pork porridge, Harutaki brought it to the table along with the tomato scrambled eggs. As for Chouko’s dinner, he had already set aside a portion beforehand.
“I-it’s fine… If it were just me, I’d probably have gone to buy a bento or eaten at GUSTO again.”
The colorful yet simple dishes were laid out before them, filling the dining area with an irresistible aroma. Izumi’s cute nose twitched slightly, and her stomach promptly let out a series of growls.
Her face flushed red at once, and she snapped back in embarrassment.
“I-it’s your fault for cooking so late! I usually finish dinner long before this time!”
“Yeah, yeah, sure…”
“Um… Hoshikawa, aren’t you eating?”
Seeing Harutaki head back into the kitchen, Izumi put down the chopsticks she had just picked up.
“There’s still a patient in the room. I doubt Shihou can even hold a spoon right now.”
Even if she could, she would probably pretend she could not.
“You mean you’re going to feed Chouko yourself?!”
“What else would I do?”
Harutaki glanced at the suddenly agitated girl and silently prayed. Please, just eat your dinner in peace, miss.
Clatter.
The spoon in Izumi’s hand fell onto the table.
“M-my body isn’t feeling so good either!”
Hey, if you’re not feeling well, why do you sound so energetic?
“I’ll refrain from commenting on that…” Harutaki sighed lightly, then continued. “…Shihou’s desk is right next to her bed. Take the porridge and the dishes over there.”
Because he strictly adhered to his usual practice of separating portions, there were quite a few bowls and plates. With an extra serving set aside for Chouko, he had to make two trips to carry everything over.
“Izumi… Hoshikawa…? W-why did you all come into the room?”
Hearing the clink of tableware, Chouko slowly opened her eyes from her doze, looking at the two of them in confusion.
“Shihou, can you eat by yourself right now?”
“Eh…?”
Startled, Chouko hesitated for a moment before answering timidly.
“...My arms don’t really have any strength.”
“So that means I have to feed you. Nogami-san isn’t feeling well either, so the two of you will just have to make do.”
Harutaki picked up the porcelain bowl, scooped a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, then looked at the two girls on either side who were watching expectantly. He immediately found himself at a loss.
Who should get the first bite?
He suddenly realized he had fallen into a deadly multiple-choice question.
Chouko was the first to notice his hesitation. She pursed her thin lips lightly and spoke in a small, yielding voice.
“Let Izumi eat first. She’s been really busy taking care of me…”
Hearing this, Izumi hurriedly shook her head and gently pushed away Harutaki’s extended arm.
“Shouldn’t the patient eat first, no matter how you think about it? I’m not that hungry right now anyway.”
Why are you two being polite at a time like this?!
Harutaki looked speechlessly at the spoon in his hand. Then, gritting his teeth, he put the first spoonful into his own mouth.
“That’s enough. I ran out to buy medicine and cooked dinner, so of course I eat first. I’m digging in.”
Mm, it tastes good, he thought. The porridge was a bit light, but paired with the marinated pork strips, it was just right.
“You jerk…”
Izumi pinched the soft flesh at his waist, half annoyed and half amused. Chouko could not help laughing, her shoulders trembling slightly above the covers.
Next, he set the bowl down, picked up a spoon in each hand, scooped up porridge, blew on it, and brought it to Izumi’s and Chouko’s mouths respectively.
“How is it?”
“I-it’s just normal porridge. So-so…”
Though she rated it as ordinary, Izumi’s gaze kept drifting back toward the bowl.
It was completely different from the porridge she usually had when sick. Not only were there tender strips of meat, but the vegetables were not bitter at all. Even as an everyday dish, she would find it quite good.
“I think Hoshikawa could open his own restaurant already. I’d definitely come eat every day.”
Chouko discreetly glanced at her friend and cheerfully praised Harutaki’s cooking skills.
She was not exaggerating.
The tender marinated meat paired perfectly with the light white porridge. There was probably minced ginger in it too, because after drinking it, warmth spread through her stomach.
It reminded her of the famous “seven-herb porridge,” the custom of eating seven herbs on January seventh.
“‘The taste of porridge drips with goodness, spring stirring in the gut.’ Natsume-sensei’s haiku fits Hoshikawa’s porridge perfectly.”
“Mhm, I’m happy to hear that. Here, another bite for you, Shihou.”
In a good mood, Harutaki scooped up another spoonful and brought it to Chouko’s mouth.
Watching this, Izumi bit her lower lip, swallowed, and could not help speaking up.
“Even if it’s just average… as long as it’s made by you, Hoshikawa, average is fine…”
“…Don’t worry, I won’t forget you.”
If she suddenly said things like that, his heart could not take it.
What did she mean by saying that as long as it was made by him, even average was fine?
The way Nogami pouted as she said it was just too cute.
Later, when both Chouko and Izumi had eaten about half their bowls, Izumi took the initiative to pick up her chopsticks and held a few strands of lettuce up to Harutaki’s mouth.
“Open up…”
“……”
Crunch, crunch.
Hearing the faint chewing sounds from Harutaki, Izumi nodded in satisfaction. Wearing her usual haughty, disdainful smile, she explained with smug confidence.
“Hoshikawa, don’t get the wrong idea. It’s normal for an owner to feed their dog.”
“Eh? I thought it was also common for owners to bathe together with their dogs. Want to borrow the bathroom and soak together later?”
“Y-you pervert! Lewd, filthy dog!”
Smack.
Izumi knocked him on the forehead with her chopsticks, producing a crisp sound.
“Pfft… Is this how Izumi always gets along with you, Hoshikawa?”
Chouko looked a little envious, but right now she truly did not have the strength to feed Harutaki herself. And besides…
Doing it in front of Izumi would be no different from provoking her, right?
She did not know how Izumi viewed her, but she knew very well that with Izumi’s personality, she probably had no such concerns at all. After all, Izumi might have a terrible personality, but when it came to friends, her mind was actually quite simple. Unlike Harutaki, this scumbag, who actually told dirty jokes in front of two beautiful girls.
Shameless!
“Isn’t this how normal people are?”
Please go learn what “normal people” actually are!
Harutaki had no idea where to even begin complaining.
“Normal people feed mouth to mouth, you know.”
He joked as he teased Izumi, only to receive a look of utter contempt, as if she were staring at garbage.
“Hoshikawa, aren’t you disgusting? You’re the worst.”
“Eh? Aren’t you the type that looks like you know everything, but is actually an innocent rich girl who’s easy to fool and ignorant of the world?”
“Stop adding random settings to me, are you an idiot? Hurry up and eat…”
While scolding him, Izumi poked a piece of tomato against his lips with her chopsticks.
And so, Izumi fed him, he fed both Chouko and Izumi, and the three of them took a little over half an hour to finish dinner.
Why was it so exhausting?
After taking off his uniform jacket, Harutaki collapsed weakly onto Chouko’s bed, his head resting on what was probably her lower legs, staring blankly up at the empty ceiling.
Thankfully, newly built apartments in the Minato area were generally equipped with dishwashers, so he did not have to worry about washing dishes. Izumi had originally been eager to volunteer for dish duty, but after hearing from Chouko that there was a dishwasher at home, her enthusiasm vanished without a trace.
……