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My name is Houtarou Oreki, and I hate the outdoors.
It all started with Mayaka setting us up in that inn. The mountains are gross, and humid, and the hot springs only made it worse. Really, I was set up to fail from the get go.
Who knew that the second we returned home, I would get sick. Guess all that heat didn’t quite leave my system or something because I woke up feeling like death had swarmed over.
Logically, I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to get up and take care of my basic needs, much less go out to get medication or anything for myself. I really should have kept the house better stocked with Tomoe away, but of course, I didn’t think about that. Really, all I had the energy for was to reach for my phone. I knew Satoshi didn’t have anything going on. He sent reminders to my phone, as if I needed them.
So, I opened up his contact and wrote very shortly.
“I’m sick. Come over.”
That would definitely be enough to get him to know what was going on.
–
The front door was unlocked. Typical Houtarou, was all Satoshi could think as he pushed open Houtarou’s front door. Mayaka and Eru were trailing behind him, because he couldn’t just come over to nurse his best friend back to health without the help of their friends. And besides, having Eru there would probably lift Houtarou’s spirits anyway.
Satoshi and Mayaka were set with the task of setting out medication and starting on breakfast while Eru went to wake Houtarou, which is just what she did, setting out nervously for his bedroom.
She felt strange, walking into a boy’s room unannounced. It’s not like Houtarou had given her or Mayaka permission to even be in the house, much less his own bedroom. But, this was for his health, and Satoshi had assured her that he’d probably be happy to see her anyway.
So, she turned the knob slowly and pushed open the door. Eru let out a relieved sigh when she found Houtarou, lying on his side and asleep. He was curled up, with one arm around his stomach and the other bent under his head. His knees were pulled up, feet just poking out from the edge of the blanket. She could tell he was only wearing a t-shirt and some shorts, but his cheeks and neck were red. He had to be burning up.
She stepped forward without too much thought and brushed the back of her hand against his face only to find her suspicions confirmed. Houtarou was running a bad fever. It was a good thing that Satoshi had practically picked apart the whole pharmacy. They were going to need it.
She would leave all of her other questions to be answered when Houtarou was awake, so she placed her hand lower, onto his shoulder, and gave him a gentle shake.
Houtarou let out a rather gross sound as he snorted himself into consciousness at the shake. “Wha-” he gurgled softly, his eyes fluttering open. He picked up his head for just a second, making eye contact with Eru, before he dropped it down once more. The hair on his head was already messy, and the little drop did nothing to better it. He let out a sad whine. That probably hurt.
“Good morning, Oreki.”
“Chitanda, what are you doing in my house?” he croaked unhappily, peeling his eyes open again to look her over. “Where’s Satoshi?”
“In the kitchen, with Mayaka. They’re putting together food for you. Fukube said I should come get you.”
Houtarou hummed in acknowledgment and slowly, but surely, pushed himself to sit up. It ached, she could tell, just by watching the way his joints shook and he put a hand to his head. “Could you.. close the curtain?” he asked her, his voice quiet and strained. She immediately set off to do as told, and he let out an audible sigh once the room wasn’t so bright anymore.
“Just, go sit out with them. I’m gonna get dressed,” he told her, glancing over briefly.
She nodded, bowing to him softly. “Call Fukube if you need any help,” she told him before she left the room. But they both knew him well enough, and he probably wouldn’t.
–
By the time Houtarou eventually left his room, there was a little paper cup holding some pills sitting beside a hot breakfast at the table waiting for him. His friends were sat around that spot, eating from plates of their own and chatting in hushed voices, probably to keep from irritating Houtarou’s headache that he no doubt had. He’d changed into warmer clothes; even if he was running a fever, he felt like he was going to shiver out of his skin. A sweater, some longer pajama pants, and slippers.
He felt uneasy on his feet, and sighed with relief once he was sat down in something he wasn’t afraid was going to sway. Satoshi, bless him, pushed the little paper cup at Houtarou, along with a steaming mug. “I made tea,” he whispered. “Be sure to drink, take those, and eat. Then you can go back to bed.”
Houtarou didn’t make a sound, just nodded. He took the pills, as instructed, and began to eat. His portion wasn’t even that big, smaller than the other three around the table. But he still didn’t finish it. They could all definitely tell he wasn’t well.
It was evident that Satoshi was trying to crack jokes and talk to keep the mood high, but Houtarou wasn’t listening. He was too focused on trying not to pass out into his food. Eventually, he sat back in his chair, pushed the food away from himself, and curled up, hiding his nose in his arms.
“Ya want help going back to bed?” Satoshi offered quietly.
“Couch,” Houtarou huffed back.
Satoshi rose from his seat and rounded the table quickly. Houtarou paused for just a moment, scanning his best friend’s face for any sign of pity or sorriness. But he found none. And that soothed him oh, so much. He allowed Satoshi to help him stand, throwing one of his arms around his shoulder for stability. With his help, Houtarou crossed the room to the couch and was laid down. Satoshi grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch (put there because sometimes Houtarou didn’t want to have to make the effort of getting one from the closet) and threw it over his friend. He double and triple checked that Houtarou was alright before returning to the girls.
He reached down into the bag he’d brought with him and hummed. “Alrighty. Who wants to hear stories?”
“But Oreki,” Eru protested, just like Satoshi figured she would.
“Don’t worry about him,” Satoshi cooed. “Really. Houtarou wouldn’t want us sitting around worrying about him. He’d probably say it’s a waste of energy; you know how he is.”
The looks on Eru’s and Mayaka’s faces told Satoshi that they knew he was right.
So they sat around the table and told stories.
–
My couch is much softer than my bed. Much better to take naps on. Satoshi even tucked in my feet, where I like it. He’s such a good friend. I’m lucky to have him.
The girls are worried about me, especially Chitanda. I feel bad for worrying them, for being so much trouble. But they don’t mind. Well. Maybe Mayaka minds. But I know Satoshi and Chitanda care enough not to.
I can hear their conversation. Satoshi is talking about more rumors he heard at school before vacation, while Mayaka and Chitanda are just refuting the flaws in his story.
Even though I’m on the couch, sleeping off whatever this is, it still feels like I’m with them.
It still feels normal.
–
It’s not even an hour later before the group is alerted by a frantic rustling of the blankets and retching before disgusting splat noises. Satoshi pulled his head away from the two girls and glanced over, and there was Houtarou, half sat up and emptying his stomach over the edge of the couch.
He sighed and stood up, stretching. “Mayaka, get the cleaning stuff from under the kitchen sink. Chi, go get him a new change of clothes from his room. I gotta get him cleaned up.”
Eru gave Satoshi a little mock solute while Mayaka just rolled her eyes before they walked off to do their respective tasks. Satoshi approached Houtarou carefully. The poor boy was just getting done, gagging dryly and coughing. The edges of his mouth were messy and the floor was gonna be a bitch to clean, but at least the couch and blanket remained unscathed.
Satoshi helped Houtarou to sit up and stood him up. “Come on, bud. Let’s get you all cleaned up.”
Houtarou moaned unhappily, clearly dissatisfied with having been moved. However, they didn’t even get halfway through their walk to the bathroom before Houtarou started to look green in the face. “Satoshi..”
“On it!” thankfully came Eru from down the hall, handing a small trash bucket off to Satoshi. He helped Houtarou down to his knees and handed him the trash can, watching sadly as his best friend was sick again.
When the second wave ended, Satoshi took the bin from him and helped him the rest of the way to the bathroom. He left the bin outside, calling for Mayaka to take and clean it, if she would, and locked himself in the bathroom with Houtarou.
The guy looked rough, like he might faint any second if unsupervised. It was obvious he was trying to stay awake and alert, but he was starting to find it hard to keep his eyes open. “Hey,” Satoshi soothed. “It’s okay. You can rest your eyes. I’ll take care of everything, okay?”
That was right. Houtarou could trust Satoshi.
Maybe he could rest a bit.
–
When Houtarou opened his eyes once more, he felt limp, and his stomach was rumbling horribly. He pushed himself weakly to sit up and lean over the bed so he didn’t ruin his sheets. He was pleasantly surprised to find his trash can there on the side of the bed.
He pulled it into his lap on the bed and retched. Nothing was coming up; there was hardly anything in his stomach anyway. Finally, he got up some bile, and his bedroom door opened once more.
Sweaty and dizzy, Houtarou picked up his head to find Satoshi standing in the doorway, an empathetic smile on his face. “Hey, man. Lay back down now. I brought you some water.”
Houtarou then remembered everything that had been going on. God, Satoshi was being such a good friend to him. He allowed Satoshi to take the trash from him and basically pour water into his mouth. He felt so weak, and so hot. Satoshi reached out and touched his forehead. “You’re still pretty feverish. I called your sister. She’s on standby for you, okay?”
Houtarou absolutely hated how badly his chest warmed with the thought of his sister’s comfort. That sounded great. And without the normal filter he had, Houtarou opened his mouth and mumbled mindlessly, “cuddle.”
“Cuddle?” Satoshi repeated back. “I gotta keep track of everything in the house with Mayaka. Why don’t you cuddle with Chitanda?”
That sounded even better.
Satoshi laughed. He could probably see the look on his face. Houtarou was awful at masking when he was sick. Always had been.
“Alright. Sit tight, I’ll grab her.”
It took about two minutes for the door to open again. There stood Eru, a concerned grin on her face. “Hello, Oreki. Satoshi sent me to snuggle with you?” she laughed.
She was probably nervous.
Houtarou didn’t say a word, simply shifting over on his bed and opening the blanket for her to crawl in. She didn’t hesitate, knowing this was what he wanted. Eru tucked herself under his arm and snuggled up to his chest. His skin was hot, but he was shivering, and feverish. He definitely wasn’t well.
But his body sagged so much when she pressed against him, comfortable and finally relaxed.
“Chitanda,” he mumbled hoarsely.
“Yes, Oreki?”
“You comfortable?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” And Houtarou fell back asleep like that.
Eru just smiled and burrowed herself closer. Houtarou’s guard was down, and much lower than Eru thought ever possible. He almost looked like a little kid, all curled up, snoring, and sniveling. He was.. really cute.
–
It took nearly four days of the three of them Houtarou back to health, and when he was finally healthy, all he could do was sigh and ignore it when Satoshi and Eru began teasing him for how he acted.
But he wouldn’t have it any other way. They’d taken such good care of him. Why shouldn’t he be appreciative?