The Road to Recovery

Kazuki slowly opened his eyes, feeling the soft sunlight streaming through the window. He blinked a few times, his head still a little foggy, but the throbbing fever had subsided. His body felt weaker than usual, but at least the constant ache had finally started to ease.

He groaned softly as he sat up, his muscles aching slightly. The fever had taken its toll on him over the past few days, and even though he was feeling better now, the weakness lingered. He glanced around the room, noticing that Aoi had left a cup of water on his bedside table. It was a small gesture, but it warmed his heart.

As he reached for the water, the door creaked open, and in walked Shizuka, her usual playful smile replaced by one of concern.

"Good morning, Kazuki. How are you feeling today?" Shizuka asked, her tone gentle.

Kazuki took a sip of water, feeling the cool liquid refresh him. "Much better. Still a little weak, though. Thanks for taking care of me."

Shizuka walked over and sat beside him on the bed, giving him a soft pat on the shoulder. "I'm glad to hear that. You scared us for a while there. Aoi was especially worried. She wouldn't leave your side."

Kazuki's brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't expected Aoi to be that concerned. Their relationship had been strained recently, but hearing that she'd been there for him during his illness made him feel conflicted. He wanted to fix things between them, but he didn't know where to start.

"Has Aoi been… okay?" Kazuki asked, his voice tinged with worry.

Shizuka smiled softly, a knowing look in her eyes. "She's doing better. But I think she's been feeling guilty about how things went down between you two. You should talk to her when you're feeling better."

Kazuki nodded, though the thought of confronting Aoi still made him uneasy. He wasn't sure if he was ready to face the unresolved tension between them, but Shizuka was right—he needed to talk to her.

Just then, Aoi appeared in the doorway, her eyes still a little red from lack of sleep, but a relieved smile on her face. "Kazuki, you're awake!" she exclaimed, her voice a little higher than usual, betraying her excitement.

Kazuki's heart fluttered slightly at the sight of her. Despite everything that had happened, seeing Aoi so concerned for him made his chest tighten. She walked over to the bed and sat down next to him, placing a hand on his arm.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked softly, her gaze filled with genuine worry.

Kazuki gave her a small smile. "Yeah, much better now. Thanks for looking after me, Aoi."

Aoi nodded, her lips curling into a faint smile. "I'm just glad you're okay. I didn't know what I would do if anything happened to you…"

There was a lingering silence, and for a moment, the tension from the past weeks seemed to fade. Kazuki glanced at her, his thoughts turning over. He had to fix this, to make things right with Aoi. The guilt that had built up within him over the last few days was overwhelming, but seeing her here, so concerned for him, was enough to push him toward the first step.

"I know things have been… complicated between us," Kazuki began, his voice steady but vulnerable. "But I don't want things to stay like this. You're my sister, Aoi. And I don't want to hurt you."

Aoi's eyes flickered, and she seemed to hesitate for a moment before she spoke. "I know. I've been stupid, Kazuki. I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I just… I just didn't want to lose you."

Kazuki felt a pang in his heart. He reached out and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "You won't lose me. I promise."

Aoi looked up at him, her expression softening as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I'm sorry, Kazuki. I was just scared."

Kazuki pulled her into a hug, holding her close as he whispered softly, "It's okay, Aoi. It's okay."

Shizuka watched them quietly, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. She could see the bond between Kazuki and Aoi healing, bit by bit. It was going to take time, but with each passing day, they would rebuild what they had almost lost.