A Feverish Night

The school day had been long, and Kazuki had barely noticed the subtle fatigue creeping up on him until the moment he stepped out into the cool evening air. His head was heavy, his body sluggish, but he chalked it up to being tired from the stress of the recent test. Little did he know, a much worse feeling was just around the corner.

By the time he got home, his body temperature was rising, and he could feel the sweat forming on his brow despite the coolness of the air. His younger sister, Aoi, was there to greet him as usual, her bright eyes quickly narrowing in suspicion when she saw him walking through the door looking pale.

"Big Brother, you don't look so good," Aoi remarked, her voice laced with concern. "Are you okay?"

Kazuki managed a weak smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired. I'll rest for a bit."

"Are you sure? You're burning up! You might have a fever," Aoi said, reaching up to touch his forehead. The moment her hand made contact, she recoiled, her face scrunching up in surprise. "Big Brother, you're really hot! You need to lie down."

Kazuki sighed, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. "I guess I do feel a little off... maybe I should lie down."

Without waiting for another word, Aoi practically pushed him toward the couch, her concern evident. She grabbed a blanket from the nearby closet, spreading it over him before grabbing some water from the kitchen.

Kazuki closed his eyes for a moment, the fever making everything feel hazy. The last thing he wanted was to worry Shizuka, but the thought of her seeing him like this made him feel even more helpless. He hoped she wouldn't find out—he didn't want to burden her with his illness.

Meanwhile, Aoi was busying herself in the kitchen. Kazuki could hear her moving around, opening and closing cabinets, though he could hardly focus on what she was doing. His head felt like it was pounding in slow motion, and every breath he took felt heavier than the last.

A few moments later, Aoi returned with a glass of water and a thermometer. "Here, Big Brother. Drink some water and let's check your temperature."

Kazuki weakly accepted the glass, taking a sip before allowing her to put the thermometer under his tongue. As it beeped, Aoi looked at the reading and frowned. "38.7°C... You definitely have a fever. I'll make sure you're comfortable while you rest, okay?"

Kazuki let out a long sigh, the coolness of the water helping slightly. "Thanks, Aoi. You're really taking care of me. I didn't expect that today."

Aoi smiled warmly. "Of course! I'm your little sister, and I want to make sure you're okay. Just rest up, Big Brother."

Kazuki relaxed as much as he could, closing his eyes again, though his mind kept drifting back to Shizuka. What if she found out? Would she be worried? He didn't want to seem weak in front of her, but the exhaustion from the fever was making it hard to think straight.

He could hear Aoi humming softly as she flitted around the house, checking on him from time to time, always with a worried glance. The warmth of the blanket and the cold of the water helped, but he couldn't escape the feeling of discomfort that lingered.

Just then, his phone buzzed on the coffee table, and Kazuki reached for it weakly, managing to check the screen. It was a message from Shizuka.

**Shizuka:** *"Hey, how's your day been? I miss you. I was thinking about you. :)"*

Kazuki's heart skipped a beat at the message. He typed back slowly, still feeling feverish.

**Kazuki:** *"I'm okay... just feeling a bit under the weather. I've got a fever, actually."*

He hesitated for a moment before hitting send, unsure how she would react. Would she be upset that he hadn't told her earlier?

A few moments later, his phone buzzed again, and this time, it was a call. It was Shizuka.

Kazuki's throat tightened as he answered. "Shizuka?"

"Kazuki, I just saw your message. Why didn't you tell me earlier? You have a fever?" Shizuka's voice was filled with concern. "I'm coming over. I'll take care of you."

Kazuki's heart fluttered at her words. The thought of her rushing over just to make sure he was okay made him feel both warm and embarrassed. "You don't have to—"

"No. I want to," she interrupted gently. "I'm on my way. Just hang in there, alright? I'll be there soon."

Kazuki smiled, despite the fever. "Thanks, Shizuka. I'll be waiting."

He leaned back against the couch, a sense of comfort settling over him at the thought of her coming to be by his side. It was a small thing, but the idea that Shizuka would go out of her way to help him, even in his vulnerable state, made him feel incredibly lucky.

Aoi, noticing Kazuki's change in expression, smiled softly as she tucked the blanket around him a little more snugly. "You're lucky to have someone like her, Big Brother."

Kazuki gave her a tired but grateful look. "Yeah... I really am."