Chapter five. How to properly care for a patient

Anpan-kun checked the address sent to him on the Line by Mizuri-sensei. Yes, it's here, 3-21-6. Indeed, the Ame family home was just a short distance from his own.

The house where Ame lived was the most ordinary. Relatively. Well, yes, it was a little bigger than the Kazume family's house, and there were more parking spaces, and the street looked more respectable, but not too much. However, Kazume's family was also not poor, although it could not be attributed to the rich either.

Anpan-kun swallowed. Still, going into his girlfriend's house less than a week after they started dating was too much for him. Especially considering that this is generally the first time it will be in a girl's house. And in general, the last time he was in the house of a classmate or classmate was about three years ago or even earlier. He hesitantly lowered the bag to the ground and pulled out the printouts given to him by Mizuri-sensei, closed the bag, slung it over his shoulder, and squeezed the printouts in his hand a little more forcefully.

"Of course, Ame is just a fake girl. Her confession was fake. She was fake. Surely her house and the inhabitants are also fake!" Anpan-kun was a little carried away and knew about it, but such dishonest and mean thoughts helped him.

If the girl is fake, there is nothing to be ashamed of. He reminded himself that what would happen later could not be avoided, but it would be later, not now. The fact that their relationship is fake will be revealed later, and later, he will rake in shovels full of shit. Anpan-kun did not know where the collective thoughts of the class would go and turned him on about how best to mock him, but he was sure that the last months at school would be black, vile, physically, and mentally demanding. So Ame Kyoko's minor inconveniences shouldn't bother him. Moreover, if you follow around the house, her family is not small, so if anything and how — she will be supported. Only his sister supported him… And Mato-san, and Mato-san. If at least one person supports you, but ultimately, to the end and in everything, you can take a lot.

Anpan-kun resolutely walked up to the house and rang the intercom. I waited for a ringing "Yes?" and started talking, trying not to speak too quickly and nervously.

"Sorry for the intrusion; I'm Kazumi Hideki, Ame—-san's classmate. — Anpan-kun decided that it was a bit premature to introduce himself to the whole street as Kyoko's boyfriend. Especially if the chances are that she didn't tell her family that she was dating, then you can look at the circumstances.

— Come on in, Kazumi-san. — there was a relatively young and beautiful voice from the intercom, a little like Ame's, clearly the voice of her sister, most likely the younger one, precisely the one who almost bumped into her and Ame not so long ago.

Anpan-kun, exposing the printouts he had pulled out earlier as a shield, walked to the door; there was a click, and the door opened, revealing to his gaze a girl two years younger than Kyoko, seemingly similar to the one they saw.

— Kazumi-san. I am Katari Ame. — she bowed — Come in, my sister is in her room on the second floor. She's sleeping now, so I'll pour us some tea.

"Sorry for the intrusion," Anpan-kun held his face with all his might, trying not to show how excited he was.

The girl did not shy away in his presence but instead treated him like furniture. This feeling intensified during the conversation. In about ten minutes, she got his full name, nickname, past school, and the fact that he and Kyoko were dating. However, I couldn't get any of them to admit it. Having failed in a direct question and several implicit attempts, Katari turned to ridicule, trying to get him out of himself and make him talk.

"Kazumi—san, of course, I understand everything, but your big, slightly round appearance makes me doubt that you would dare to admit it.

"What do you know about looks, a trifle! And how is it related at all." Anger appeared in Anpankun's eyes for a second and then disappeared.

"My appearance, Ame—san, has little to do with my bravery or cowardice.

"So it was my sister, after all, Kazumi-san?! Or are you, despite your appearance, not afraid?

It is not known how their fight would have ended, but suddenly, some noise was heard above them, and a door opened:

"Leave An... Kazumi—san alone!" Kyoko Ame, even though she was staggering and spoke abruptly, did not have the slightest problem understanding what she wanted to say.

As soon as she moved away from the wall she was holding on to, Kyoko Ame staggered, abruptly took a step back, leaned against the wall next to the door, and slid down. Hearing a light knock, Anpan-kun jumped to his feet, almost knocked over a cup of tea, and flew up the stairs.

—Are you all right...— he began, but then stopped himself—everything was not in order. Kyoko had slid down the wall and was sitting leaning against the wall with her legs slightly apart. She was wearing pajamas with a pattern of large irises now because she had slipped down the wall, the pajamas gathered in folds and revealed her stomach, her hair was loose, and miniature legs protruded from the pajamas to about the middle of the shin and were as open to Anpan-kun's gaze as her stomach. Katari also got up after him and watched it now, more with interest than concern. Anpan-kun looked around, and something told him that he would not get any clear help from Kyoko's younger sister in carrying Ame-san.

—Sorry for the intrusion," he muttered, squatted down, passed one hand through his knees, put the other under his head and further into his armpit, then lifted Kyoko in his arms and walked to the door of Kyoko's bedroom. Katari, who woke up from her stupor, quickly opened it before Anpan-kun.

Anpan-kun was curious to see his girlfriend's room, but there was a better time. By some miracle, he managed not to knock her head against the doorjamb and walked across the room to the bed.

The blanket was shifted, so he laid Kyoko down and immediately covered her. Then, hesitating, he put his hand to her forehead. Katari did not fail to react to his actions:

— How modest, Anp... Kazumi-san. Don't you want to check your forehead? It will be more accurate this way.

Katari's attempt to embarrass Anpan-kun passed by; after feeling the heat coming from Ame, a worried expression appeared on his face:

— And so I feel that everything is terrible. Ame-san, do you have any ice?

— I am Katari, Ame—san - that's what you can call any of my sisters, including "your classmate and girlfriend" Kyoko. You'd better call me by my first name. And yes, we probably have ice.

— Katari Ame-san, your sister has a high fever… I take it there are no antipyretics?! Anpan—kun looked at the table and bedside table next to Kyoko Ame's bed and found no blisters or pill jars there. I didn't find anything except a bottle with a sports drink. Empty.

Katari thought for a moment:

— There were; I just returned home recently and haven't seen it.

Deciding it would be fine if Ame were left alone, Anpan-kun and Katari searched for medicines. There were no antipyretics in the medicine cabinet. An empty package was found on the table next to it. In response to Anpan-Kun's look, as if saying, "And how are you with your sister?" Katari was able to answer by looking down at the floor:

— We don't get along very well. And Aoi, well, the older sister, she seemed to buy medicines… And Kyoko said that everything was fine. And parents are rarely at home at all…

— I see. — That's all Anpan-kun could say. — Then let's look for ice and do this for now…

Finding ice, finding a bag, and a towel and putting them under my head was a matter of a few minutes. As well as putting a cold bandage on your forehead.

The snag began at the next point — to put cold compresses around the wrists and ankles. More precisely, there was no problem putting on the wrists, but when it was necessary to put cold compresses on the ankles, Anpan-kun hesitated. After he carried Kyoko to bed and covered her with a blanket, she almost instantly fell asleep. Taking the blanket off her legs and touching her legs in any context was highly indecent.

— Ame-san? — he looked at his fake girlfriend's sister uncertainly — you need to put compresses on your ankles.

"Kazumi—kun, you did a great job. I'm not sure I can do it that well. But I will help you a little. And Katari pulled back the blanket, revealing her sister's legs to about her knees. — Hurry up, Kazumi-san. You don't want my sister to stay open for a long time. Or do you want to? Katari didn't stop teasing him.

Anpan-kun once again reminded himself that Kyoko Ame was a fake girl for him, literally and figuratively. And he didn't have any options. Most of all, he wanted to look away, but putting cold compresses on without looking would be, firstly, inconvenient and, secondly, foolish. If he gets into such a situation and cannot escape it, he remains only to take advantage of it. And he doesn't do anything like that — he takes care of the patient... but how did he end up in such an idiotic situation?!

But the very tenacity that allowed him to continue and cope with his father's contempt and his mother's indifference, the very thing that helped him go day after day at the end of elementary school, knowing for sure that nothing good was waiting for him, that very tenacity pushed him forward earlier. It won't let him back down on such a trivial matter.

— It's done. There was a hint of worry, arrogance, and... envy in Katara's eyes as she looked at him.

"You're not wrong, Kazumi-san.

"Ame—san, we still need to buy an antipyretic. I'll go now. Anpan—kun ignored the strange remark from his girlfriend's younger sister and got down to business.

Katari didn't have time to say anything as Anpan-kun got up, and half a minute later, there was a sound from the hallway:

— I left.

The family of the Anpan-kuna lived nearby, and he knew perfectly well the location of the nearest pharmacy where you can buy antipyretics. It was still time, so there were only a few problems. The walk took him about half an hour, so when he returned, he found a car in the parking lot, for some reason vaguely familiar to him. Anpan—kun shook his head as if he had never seen any cars at work. Of course, getting to know your parents (if it's them) is a little premature, but don't run away now.

He didn't hesitate as long as the first time he pressed the intercom button.

— It's a hit…

— Yes, came from the intercom — come in, Kazumi-san.

— If you think that an outsider can hold me back…

Anpan-kun went to the door, which was open, took off his shoes, and looked around—added a pair of women's shoes. There were sounds of a small quarrel coming from the living room.

— Sorry for the intrusion.

— Yes, why ... — an older girl was saying in the living room, — so you are the same classmate of my sister and like her boyfriend, who took care of her? — she said, looked around, and they recognized each other.

—Junior Mechanic Kazumi-san, good evening.

— Aoi-san? Kazumi blurted out.

Katari looked from one to the other:

"Does he call you by your first name, sister?" What is the relationship between you? Does Kyoko know?

If the name were without a suffix, then there would be no doubt, but considering that Kazumi called her "Aoi-san" and not "Aoi," options are possible. They may have crossed paths somewhere since she called him a mechanic. And "Aoi" can be either a first or last name.

A hoarse but sane voice rang out from the top floor:

"What exactly should I know?"

The sight of Ame Kyoko in pajamas was no longer unusual for Anpan-kun, but it was still beautiful, no matter who he was to her or how he treated her.

Kyoko's eyes focused on those below; she identified the younger sister, the older one, and... Anpan-kun. Anpan-kuna with a package from the pharmacy. Anpan-kun, who was staring at her now with all his eyes. Ame made a strange sound and disappeared into her room, covering herself with a blanket.

"Do I understand correctly," Aoi Ame's voice rang out in the silence that followed, "that Kazumi—san took care of how to bring down our sister's fever?" — the word "our" was highlighted and was an attack on Katari. After that, he went to get an antipyretic, which was not at home.

Katari just nodded, not starting a new cycle of controversy in front of outsiders.

Aoi Ame stood up and bowed to Anpan-kun:

— Thank you very much, Kazumi-san. And I'm sorry that you had to worry about our family. It's entirely my fault. I usually live near the university. I've been home rarely lately. Although I try to stop by at least three times a week. Parents are even less likely to come home. " Aoi lowered her eyes, "Katari has a club and some side job. So it turns out that Kyoko turns out to be the one who most often does household chores. Well, that's how it turned out... thanks again, Kazumi-san.

—You're welcome," Anpan-kun shrugged. — I was glad to help.

— By the way, — said Aoi Anpan-kun, — where did you learn to bring down the temperature so deftly?

—Little sister," Anpankun shrugged, "Our parents work a lot, too. But I had to care for my sister several times — she often catches a cold in the fall. The first time, I was terrified and went online. In some countries, they generally go to a cold shower or ice bath; in Russia, they generally wipe with vinegar…

—Ugh,— Katari grimaced. — He smells!

— And if we don't have antipyretics, we have a cold pillow, a compress on the forehead, and cold compresses on the ankles and wrists. If Ame-san got up, the temperature dropped slightly, and you could remove the compresses. Well, what I brought to give. I took several types — I don't know if Ame-san has allergies.

—An..." Katari began but stopped herself, "Kazumi-san, why do you call Kyoko by her last name?" You, as a guy, should call by name.

By the way, Aoi's face had changed, it was news to her and, judging by the smile on her face, rather pleasant.

"Is that true, Kazumi—san?" Are you and Kyoko still dating? She couldn't resist asking.

Anpan-kun could only nod. Hoping very much that he could keep his face.

— And yet… Not by name yet?

"I'm not used to it,— Anpan-kun said truthfully without focusing on the fact that I'm not used to it to the point that I've never done it.

Anpan-kun decided that he had done everything he needed to do today and even more. He stood up and bowed:

I'm glad to meet you. Please take care of me.

"Take care of Kyoko, Kazumi-san. And..." The eldest hesitated for a second. Please give me your phone number. It's a little ugly, but I may ask you to stop by your sister's when Katari and I are busy.

Anpan—Kun had no choice; soon, his Line was replenished with the contact "Sister Aoi".

—Goodbye," Kazumi Hideki said only after that, picked up his school bag on his shoulder, and disappeared into the darkness of the evening city. He decided to walk home.

— I'm at home.

— Welcome home! Brother, you're late," he heard after he entered.

— I'm sorry, sis.

The girl who met him at home was Yumiko Kazumi, his younger sister. After he entered, she deliberately sniffed the air:

"My brother smells like women...brother, is there anything you want to tell me?"

Anpan-kun didn't want to lie. There was no point in telling the truth. And where is it, this truth? He's indeed dating. But not all of it. To the point that it makes his relationship with Ame-san untrue. But again, not really. It was true that he liked her. Whether he likes her now is a difficult question.

Anpan-kun sighed. Nevertheless, his sister wouldn't leave him alone if he didn't say something to her.

— I liked a girl. We're dating now, but it's not very simple, and I don't want to talk about it. She caught a cold, the teacher sent me to take the assignment to her, and I looked at her house. That's it.

— A girl?! And what is he like? And how? Brother?!

Anpan-kun went up to his room, ignoring his sister's indignant questions. Damn, why did he just say that? It only got worse.