"Chasing Warmth: Are You Okay?"

Approaching Fuyumi with a newfound determination, Shiriku took the bento box from her hands, expressing genuine gratitude. "Thank you, Fuyumi. This is amazing, and you're amazing," he said with a warm smile, challenging the unexpected turn of events. In his thoughts, Shiriku couldn't help but revel in the notion that Fuyumi might not get the satisfaction she sought.

Fuyumi, in response, tilted her head with a bright, warm smile directed at Shiriku. As he gulped nervously, Shiriku observed, "Well, that almost looks genuine." Despite his internal skepticism, Fuyumi's hands shifted behind her back, hinting at a subtle sense of insecurity or nervousness.

Meanwhile, Shiroe, who had been observing the scene, decided it was time to make his exit. He casually announced, "Well, I should go on first now." Shiroe started walking away, but before completely leaving, he turned back to Fuyumi and Shiriku. Fuyumi, still facing Shiriku, was unaware of Shiroe's gesture.

Shiroe, with a mischievous smile, gave Shiriku a two thumbs up as he continued walking away. The gesture was a silent endorsement, a playful acknowledgment of Shiriku's unexpected handling of the situation. Only Shiriku, who could see Shiroe walking away, received this subtle encouragement from his older brother.

.

.

.

Shiriku couldn't help but laugh at Shiroe's playful encouragement and then turned his attention to Fuyumi, who appeared nervous with her hands still behind her back. Breaking the tension, he remarked, "It's okay now, Fuyumi. You can stop the act of being a bright girl and go back to your cold attitude."

Surprised but quick on her feet, Fuyumi attempted to revert to her usual cold demeanor. She stood beside Shiriku, resting her head on his shoulder, and sighed, "Well, that was tiring."

Perplexed by her sudden change in behavior, Shiriku questioned, "What are you doing? Why are you resting your head on my shoulder?" Fuyumi, looking at Shiriku with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, giggled and replied, "But still, I'm glad you accepted it," accompanied by a warm smile.

Shiriku, maintaining a serious look, sighed and pondered, "Of course, I accepted your bento box. Shiroe swayed me to it. But then again, seeing her smile like this sure does feel genuine." Despite his initial reservations, Shiriku couldn't deny the subtle warmth emanating from Fuyumi's sincere expression.

.

.

.

Breaking his serious demeanor, Shiriku smiled warmly at Fuyumi and expressed, "Thank you for this. You're welcome, and you're amazing for doing this." His sincere words and cheerful smile seemed to catch Fuyumi off guard. Quickly, she removed her head from his shoulder, adjusting her composure, and began walking away from Shiriku.

However, Shiriku, not ready to let the moment pass, started walking to catch up with her and called out, "Hey, wait!" Fuyumi, slightly surprised by Shiriku's positive response, couldn't help but feel a subtle sense of defeat. She started to walk away, contemplating, "Damn it, did I just lose to him again? Why did this stupid heart of mine skip a beat from that idiot?"

As Shiriku caught up, he noticed Fuyumi picking up her pace, and he continued, "Hey, stop running! The bento box you gave me would be destroyed if we move fast." Despite his playful tone.

.

.

While with his classmates, Shiroe noticed the amusing sight of Shiriku and Fuyumi running. Chuckling to himself, he responded to his classmates' inquiries, saying, "Oh, it's nothing, just some fledgling rivalries."

Meanwhile, Fuyumi, having finally stopped, walked slowly, and Shiriku, slightly exhausted from protecting the bento box during their run, expressed, "Phew, good thing you finally stopped." Fuyumi, walking with her hands aligned at the front, remained silent, avoiding eye contact with Shiriku.

Not willing to let the moment pass, Shiriku put his arm on Fuyumi's shoulder, gently turning her around to face him. Fuyumi, still avoiding eye contact, seemed hesitant to engage. Shiriku, snapping his fingers in front of her, playfully said, "Hey, Fuyumi! Hello!? Hey, look at me."

Realizing Fuyumi's reluctance, Shiriku decided to address the situation. He carefully placed the bento box in his bag, then placed both hands on Fuyumi's shoulders. With a determined yet gentle tone, he said, "Okay, that's good. You're finally looking at me properly. Now, I just need you to talk." Shiriku waited patiently for Fuyumi to break her silence, but she continued to look at him, adding an air of mystery to the encounter.

.

.

.

Concerned about Fuyumi's well-being, Shiriku noticed her reddened appearance and instinctively placed his hand on her forehead. With a thoughtful expression, he remarked, "Wait, are you okay, Fuyumi? You look red." Checking her temperature, Shiriku continued, "Well, your body heat seems normal, but just to be sure, let's go to the school infirmary."

Taking the initiative, Shiriku gently grabbed Fuyumi's arm, guiding her as they walked towards the infirmary. Amused by the situation, Shiriku grinned inwardly, thinking, "Heh, looks like that nice warm girl act of yours destroyed your body. You should have really just stayed at your cold attitude, Fuyu."

However, before Shiriku could finish his internal commentary, he observed Fuyumi growing even redder and appearing bashful, her eyes averted. Puzzled, Shiriku placed his hand on her forehead again, noting her increased body heat. Encouraging her to move quickly, Shiriku quickened their pace.

After a swift minute, they reached the school infirmary. Shiriku, still concerned for Fuyumi, addressed the school nurse, saying, "Sen-sensei, please treat my friend." The infirmary, devoid of other students, was attended only by the school nurse. She instructed Shiriku to guide Fuyumi to the bed.

Gently guiding Fuyumi to the bed, Shiriku ensured she was seated comfortably. Following the nurse's guidance, he closed the curtains for privacy. The school nurse then attended to Fuyumi, thoroughly checking her condition, while Shiriku awaited the assessment

.

.

Relieved to find nothing serious with Fuyumi's condition, the school nurse questioned, "So, what happened for you and your friend to come here this early?" Fuyumi quickly responded, "Oh, it's nothing, sensei. I was just tired from running..." She added a nervous laugh, attempting to downplay her situation.

The school nurse, seemingly convinced, assured Fuyumi that they were done, and she could join her friend. Meanwhile, as the nurse attended to Fuyumi, Shiriku paced back and forth in the school nurse's room. His thoughts raced as he considered, "Damn... was it bad that I was grinning while thinking this happened because of her usual warmth act? But then again, her body heat was literally not normal. I hope she's okay."

Upon seeing the nurse move away the curtain, Shiriku immediately inquired about Fuyumi's condition. Looking concerned, he asked, "Well, sensei, how was she? Is she alright?" The nurse smiled reassuringly at Shiriku and affirmed that Fuyumi was okay. Shiriku sighed with relief, placing his hand on his chest as he exclaimed, "Whew, good." The mix of worry and relief played out in Shiriku's gestures and expressions, reflecting the genuine concern he felt for Fuyumi's well-being.