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“Kanroji is sick.”
Shinobu quirked an eyebrow. Iguro was staring her down with his piercing, mismatched eyes. He had barged into her estate earlier demanding to see her and refused to leave until he had talked to her.
“How do you know that?” Shinobu questioned.
“When we ate together a few days ago, she only got ten orders of the sakura mochi when she usually gets twice as many, and she looked kind of pale. When I sent her letters one or two days after, she never answered them. So, I went to her house, and when she answered the door, she looked sick.”
Has this man ever heard of giving someone space?
“I see. So, I assume you want me to go to her estate and check up on her.”
“So you can use that head for something. Yes, you’re the doctor. You have medical expertise. You need to go to her estate and help her.”
Shinobu pursed her lips. Iguro was being as rude and persistent as always. Normally, she wouldn’t concede to his demands, but Shinobu was genuinely concerned about Mitsuri. And she would never pass up an opportunity to go to her estate.
“Alright. I’ll go see her. I just need to pack up some tools before I leave. Your business should be done here, yes? Aoi, go ahead and show Iguro-san out!”
“You—”
“Have a good trip, Iguro-san!”
-----
Shinobu walked up to the door of the Love Estate. She knocked firmly on the heavy wood.
“Mitsuri-chan? It’s Shinobu.”
Shinobu heard the faint sounds of shuffling and thumping coming from inside. After a few seconds, the door opened, revealing one very messy Mitsuri. She was clearly sick; she was wrapped in a thick blanket, her face was pale and a bit sweaty, her breathing was a bit more labored than usual, and her eyes were devoid of their usual intensity and vigor. Even so, Shinobu still thought she looked like an angel.
“Shinobu-chan? Why are you here?” Mitsuri said in a hoarse voice.
“Iguro-san came by and told me you were sick. I came to help treat you.”
“Iguro-san did? Ah, that’s so sweet of him.”
Shinobu clenched her jaw. Mitsuri always seemed so impressed by him. It made Shinobu’s heart ache every time Mitsuri mentioned him or glanced his way.
“There’s no need for you to treat me though. I don’t want to be a bother, and I don’t want to get you sick. It’s okay, I’ll be totally fi—”
Mitsuri was interrupted by a coughing fit. Shinobu waited until it was over and raised an eyebrow.
“You were saying?”
Mitsuri lowered her head. “Please, come in.”
Mitsuri walked back into the estate, and Shinobu followed suit. They made their way to Mitsuri’s bedroom.
“Please sit down. I need to examine you,” Shinobu instructed.
Mitsuri obediently sat on her bed. Shinobu opened her bag of tools and medicines.
“Excuse me for a second.”
Shinobu reached out her arm and gently placed the back of her hand on Mitsuri’s forehead. She almost missed the nearly imperceptible widening of Mitsuri’s eyes and blush on her face.
Mitsuri skin was blazing.
“Well, you definitely have a fever, and you were coughing earlier. What other symptoms have you been having?”
“I’ve been really cold and really tired, and my body aches everywhere. I also have a stuffy nose and a really bad headache.”
“I see. And how long has this been going on?”
“A few days now.”
“Okay. Well, I think I have some medicine that could help you. Just give me a moment.”
Shinobu took out a vial of purplish liquid and a small cup. She poured it into the cup and held it out for Mitsuri.
“Here. Drink this. I promise it doesn’t taste terrible,” Shinobu chuckled.
Mitsuri gave her a small smile.
“Thank you,” she said. She reached out to grab the cup, but it fumbled in her grip. Shinobu managed to catch it before any of the liquid spilled out.
“Careful there, we can’t afford to spill any of this. This is your health we’re talking about. Here, I’ll help you,” Shinobu said.
Shinobu gently placed her fingers on Mitsuri’s chin and guided her mouth open. She brought the cup to Mitsuri’s lips with her other hand and slowly tipped it, allowing the medicine to flow out in a slow, steady stream.
Shinobu watched Mitsuri’s throat bob up and down as she drank the medicine. When it was all gone, she took the cup away from Mitsuri’s lips. Her fingers lingered on Mitsuri’s chin for a moment before dropping down, lightly tickling Mitsuri’s skin in the process.
Mitsuri looked down at the floor. She kept her eyes trained on her feet, not meeting Shinobu’s gaze. Shinobu couldn’t see her face, but the light pink dusting on her ears betrayed the fact that she was blushing.
“The medicine should take effect fairly quickly. You’ll have to take it daily until you’re completely better. There also may be some side effects, like drowsiness and other symptoms similar to intoxication. Why don’t you sit there for a moment and wait while I make some tea?”
Shinobu began to stand up, but stopped when she felt a slight pull on her haori. She looked down to see Mitsuri weakly gripping her sleeve.
“Don’t go. Don’t leave me, Shiiinobu-chaan.”
Mitsuri’s words were a bit slurred. It seemed like the medicine was already having an effect.
“Okay. I’ll stay here with you, if that’s what you want,” Shinobu said. She sat down next to Mitsuri’s bed.
“Yay! I’m glad Shinobu-chan is with me,” Mitsuri smiled. She stared at Shinobu for a moment before poking at the butterfly pin in her hair.
“I loooove this pin. It’s sooo pretty.”
Shinobu giggled. “It is pretty, isn’t it?”
“I looove your haori too. And your hair! It looks so soooft.”
Mitsuri reached out and lightly brushed her hand against the side of Shinobu’s head. Shinobu’s giggling ceased.
Mitsuri continued to rub her hand on Shinobu’s hair, and then brushed her fingers through Shinobu’s bangs. Shinobu felt heat rising to her face. Her skin was probably blazing even hotter than Mitsuri’s.
“Sooo silky. Soooo smooth.”
Shinobu was frozen in place as Mitsuri’s hand traveled down her hair to her cheek.
“I loooove your face. It’s so pretty too.”
Shinobu blushed even harder. She took deep, careful breaths in an attempt to regain her composure and tried to ignore her heart jackhammering in her chest.
“You seem to love a lot of things about me,” Shinobu said lightly.
Mitsuri poked Shinobu’s cheek. “Of course! I love you!”
Time stopped. Shinobu blinked. Birds chirped in the distance.
“What?”
“I looooove you, Shinobu!”
Shinobu breathed out a skeptical laugh. “Alright, Mitsuri-chan, I think it’s time for you to lie down and—”
“I looove you! More than spring, and bunnies, and my socks, and even sakura mochi!”
“Mitsuri—”
“I love everything but I love you even more!”
Shinobu’s heartbeat was deafening. Blood rushed through her ears as loudly as a raging waterfall.
Did she mean what she was saying? Was this just something induced by the medicine or was it the truth, finally exposed once Mitsuri’s insecurities and inhibitions were removed?
Shinobu turned to face Mitsuri.
“Mitsuri, I—”
Shinobu stopped. Mitsuri was fast asleep, her chest rising and falling slightly in her sitting position. The medicine must have knocked her out.
Shinobu gently laid Mitsuri down fully on her bed and pulled the blankets over her. She brushed back Mitsuri’s bangs and gently kissed her forehead.
“I love you too, Mitsuri.”