Thank you!

"I'm back."

"You're back—Wait... eh!?"

The sound of footsteps echoed from the living room.

"Yusuke—!?"

Sayu, clad in pajamas, rushed to the entrance, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Kato Yusuke.

"Why so early? Are you not Working?"

"Well, I got off early today since I was on leave... uh."

The air was filled with the scent of shampoo and a hint of orange.

Kato Yusuke lowered his head, his gaze landing on a cascade of brunette hair, gleaming under the sunlight.

"Girls are made of sugar, spice, and everything nice."

He mused, then cautioned Sayu Ogihara in a teaching tone.

"...Don't jump like that all of a sudden; it's dangerous, alright?"

"Um..."

Soft arms wrapped around his sides, looping behind his back. Sayu rested her head against Yusuke's chest and murmured.

"If you're worried, just catch me."

Her tone was a bit lazy, like a cat nuzzling its owner.

"I'm sorry." She lifted her head, her eyes moist, and whispered, "I haven't made dinner because it's too early, but I've cleaned up well..."

"Sayu."

"Um...?"

Yusuke gently pinched Sayu's cheek, pulling it slightly.

"...ow!"

Ignoring her mild protest, he tugged at her soft, delicate cheek briefly before letting go.

"Why do such unnecessary things? Are you over your cold?"

"But..." Sayu covered her cheek with a slight pout and replied, "I'm just home alone with nothing else to do..."

Yusuke paused, his gaze shifting between Sayu's figure and the spotless room. Eventually, he ruffled her hair, seeming a bit annoyed.

"...Patients should rest properly."

He bent down, scooped Sayu up by the waist, and carried her towards the living room.

"Where's your bedding?"

"I put it away; it was in the way while I was cleaning."

Sayu spoke nonchalantly, resting her head on Yusuke's arm, studying his profile intently.

Yusuke sighed, hesitated for a moment, then laid Sayu on the bed, covering her with a quilt.

"I brought a bento back, do you want to eat it now?"

Sayu's delicate fingers clutched the quilt's edge, her face half-hidden as she peeked up at Yusuke with shimmering eyes, shyly suggesting.

"It feels like we're a newlywed couple..."

He paused, then touched her forehead.

"...No fever."

He murmured, then playfully flicked her forehead.

"Since you're not eating, I'll read a book."

She tugged at the corner of his shirt.

Yusuke looked down: "Want to eat?"

She shook her head slightly.

"Want to drink water?"

Again, a shake of the head.

"...Then what do you want?"

Yusuke asked, baffled.

"...Here."

Sayu wriggled, making space for him next to her, her gaze flitting as she suggested, "...Let's read it here."

"Have you been getting a bit cheeky lately..."

"Cough, cough, cough... ah-choo."

"..." Observing Sayu suddenly coughing, Yusuke's expression turned suspicious: "...Are you pretending?"

"Cough, cough, cough... It's so uncomfortable, I can't seem to muster any strength."

"..."

After a pause, the room filled with a long sigh.

Yusuke took out his notebook from his schoolbag, propped his head against the headboard, and sat down without a word.

The mattress shook briefly, then settled.

Sayu inched closer, tugged at his sleeve, and whispered in a faint voice, "...may I borrow your arm?"

Another sigh.

Yusuke bent one leg, steadied the open notebook on his thigh with his left hand, and extended his right hand toward her.

Sayu immediately grasped it, hugging his arm tightly to her chest, her eyebrows curved in a smile.

"Yusuke..."

"What is it?"

"Thank you..."

"It's alright, just rest."

Gazing up at him with eyes as bright as stars, Sayu softly admitted, "...I like you."

'And you're my favorite.'

His heart raced non-stop.

The scene before him blurred slightly, and he felt limp on the bed, but the solid reality of her in his arms anchored him between dream and reality.

Thirty minutes passed.

Yusuke focused intently on his notebook as if it contained treasures. His posture was still, the only sound being the occasional rustle of pages turning.

Annoyed, Sayu suddenly bit his hand.

"Ah...!"

A clear red mark quickly formed on his palm.

Before Yusuke could react, Sayu immediately showed regret.

"Does it hurt...?"

She asked while gently stroking his palm.

Yusuke shook his head: "No."

"But it's all red here...!"

She kneeled, placed his hand to her lips, and softly blew on it, her breath warm and comforting.

Yusuke abruptly closed the notebook and lightly tapped Sayu's head: "Don't move."

"…Okay."

Sayu sat down obediently.

"...This is for you." He leaned over to pick up a paper bag by the bed, looked into her eyes, and said, "I hope you can accept it."

"Why so formal...?" Sayu took the paper bag and eyed Yusuke suspiciously: "...What's this?"

"Open it and see."

Yusuke urged calmly.

Curious, Sayu opened the bag herself.

"Hey, this is..."

Her eyes widened as she saw the contents.

"A cell phone?!"

She looked at Yusuke: "What's this about?"

"I bought it for you."

Yusuke stated simply.

"Why...?"

Sayu inquired.

"Why..." Yusuke rubbed his fingers over the notebook cover, looked back at Sayu with a profound gaze, and said, "Because when you disappear without a trace, it troubles me."

"This is..."

'That was because I saw someone kissing with another girl.'

Thinking this, she turned her head away with a huff, but her gaze fell on the box in her hand, and her expression became complicated.

"This..." She hesitated, pointing to the phone case, "...isn't this very expensive?"

"It doesn't matter," Yusuke said, "A friend's sister works at a phone store, so I got a good discount."

"...Oh." Sayu nodded slightly, looked into Yusuke's eyes, and asked for confirmation: "...Can I really accept it?"

Yusuke nodded affirmatively.

"That's why I bought it."

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