Chapter Text
Atop the floor scattered in small white tiles was a disheveled carpet. It folded in places that suggested it got caught in the fire of a fight, or someone had tripped and kicked it forward for it to overlap on itself like that.
Inches away from that lies a slim phone. Its casing a fiery red. The screen had faced upward, the notifications which vibrated his phone piling up completely filling his lock screen with text filled banners.
Inches away from that is a boy. Hurled over the toilet. He grips at the thick seat, his teeth gritting. Saliva of a milky color drips from his agape mouth, being continuously spat into the white bowl.
Tears sting the edges of his eyes where he gags every other ten seconds, prompting more tears to overflow and roll off his face. The more the red head chokes on his throat, the more his head starts to spin.
The thick spit which coats his teeth is being licked off. A taste of the noodles he had merely a couple hours before is now returning to his sensitive tastebuds. He leans to the side, gripping his head as he is near falling unconscious.
A knock harshly echoes in his ears.
Don't come in here. He begins to beg in his head. He couldn't recall. Did I lock the door…?
A second knock ensues followed by a concerned voice. It was a feminine one. Soothing to his ear drums yet distressing to process.
"Fuuta? What's going on in there?"
Nothing. I did… Nothing.
"Fuuta, if you don't answer I'm coming inside."
His eyes shut, wincing from the pain which aches his guts. A hand clutches his stomach, gripping onto the fabric of his shirt.
No… I didn't do anything wrong so don't come in… I'm being serious..here..I'm sorry. I'm really sorry…
She didn't knock a third time. The last thing Fuuta remembers was footsteps entering the cramped bathroom…and the constant repetition of his name being called out.
This..isn't fair.
—
"Awake now?"
Asks a gentle yet stable voice.
Fuuta's eyes flutter open. A sharp poking pains the inside of his head as he seats himself up. The male holds his temple, slowly rubbing it while proceeding to look up at the one who helped him to his bed.
Kotoko. The girl's been spending a majority of her time at his house lately. It's no surprise, afterall, she was his girlfriend. It's gotten to the point where Fuuta let her and Mikoto, his boyfriend as well, keep the password to the app that allowed them to unlock his front door without a key.
He shifts his gaze away from her weirdly concerned face. It was so..off to see her put on that kind of expression. Fuuta has yet to grasp the situation at which he put himself in, which is plainly said by the strained sigh of Kotoko.
"Stop looking at me like that. How long have I been asleep?"
His voice was hoarse and cracking.
"About an hour."
"And you've just been..sitting here?"
"For the most part."
Kotoko hums her response nonchalantly despite the troubled eye she just kept giving Fuuta. It really made him want to scream at her. Unfortunately, he did not have the energy to, and he would've never done so in the first place.
A glass of water was seized in Kotoko's hands. She looks down, remembering that she still had it. Offering it, she passes it over to Fuuta.
"Drink. You're very dehydrated."
Fuuta takes one single glance at the water and groans irritatedly. He can still taste the vomit that left his mouth much much earlier, his memories soon causing his anger to bubble up.
"What? You think I WANT to drink right now?"
The college student snaps in her face. He growls defensively. Though him raising his voice didn't phase the girl, in fact she only continued to harshly stare at his mini hissy fit.
"You threw up all your food from earlier. There was a lot more acid than solids, so drink up."
She pushes the glass closer to him. Admittedly, his throat did hurt. Every time he spoke it felt like he was rubbing his vocal chords against sandpaper. Maybe because it was dry..Fuuta took in a deep breath, reaching to grab the water from her hand.
He took a couple sips, trying his very best to ignore how much it hurt to swallow now that he hadn't had anything to drink until now. Fuuta groans to himself in contemplation of whether he's supposed say thank you (which he feels too prideful to say) or if he should make conversation NOT regarding why he had been over the toilet like that, but Kotoko had beat him to it.
"Your notifications."
Ah shit…
"I didn't read many of them I just did a brief scan. Is there something you want to talk about?"
His gaze lowers to his lap where he retracts his legs toward himself. The male gnaws at his gums as he starts thinking back on what happened earlier today.
"I'm always here if you need something–Hm?"
Fuuta presses his auburn head into Kotoko's chest. His girlfriend looks down on him as he makes a big sigh. She felt his hand creep up to hers, playing with the rings on her fingers for a second before loosely wrapping it around hers. She does the same, holding it gently as he does.
"Is everything okay?"
Fuuta remains silent as his eyes are stuck viewing the girl's lap. He slowly closes them, leaning himself into her even more. Kotoko takes her free hand and places it atop his mane of hair. She strokes the red strands, twirling some with her fingers as she knows he likes when she plays with his hair. Another exhale leaves the male.
"I didn't mean it."
"Mm. I'm sure you didn't."
He swallows down the lump forming in his throat. This was a lot harder to get out than the throw up from earlier.
"It was a mistake…seriously."
Kotoko's hand releases from the top of his head, tucking some strands behind his ear calmly. Softly humming in response to his concerns.
"It only makes it worse because..it's you here."
Crimson eyes soon perk up at her boyfriend's words. She was able to get a hint of what he was referencing from what she had read earlier.
Comments about a girl and something that had to do with the way she looked. Perhaps it had to do with her outfit. Maybe even her body. Kotoko wasn't completely sure if these assumptions were correct. All she could tell was that the built-up guilt really shook him up.
The raven haired girl could feel him squeeze her hand. She could feel the heat of Fuuta's head against her skin. Lifting his head gently with her finger, he followed, facing a shameful look at Kotoko. She didn't look him directly in the eyes, instead placing the back of her hand against his forehead and focusing on that.
"It might be a fever, you could catch a cold. You should rest for now. I'll make something in the mean time."
His asphalt colored iris' looked into her scarlet ones, searching for any disappointment or disapproval. He couldn't find any, or rather, he was denied from seeing anything because she wouldn't return the look into his. Her eyes shut, retracting her hand.
"Aren't you upset?"
Kotoko opens her eyes again, this time giving his question her full attention. She doesn't smile, nor does she frown. She simply looks.
Fuuta's eyes don't. They look away, trailing down to look at her arm instead of her face.
"You..do a lot for us…Things that make you uncomfortable, probably. You think I don't know?? You dressing up like a girlie girl then posting photos online! Or wearing things you normally don't on our short outings?"
Kotoko's eyebrows furrow just slightly. His immature mention of her attempting to appear more feminine tugged at a certain string in her chest. She was a bit puzzled at Fuuta's point, and she wasn't willing to take it all in one big spoonful. Now really wasn't the time. But he continues.
"And you know what? I just realized that you've been doing all this…weird makeup and picking your clothes or whatever the fuck you girls do for dates…"
Fuuta pauses for a second trying to find the right words to say.
"So..it probably took a lot of effort to do that…You know, either way you're really um.. Uh, prr…..retty.. You really didn't have to go out of your way and do this fake ass crap just to impress us you know, it's just that…"
Fuuta's eyes turn upward to check on Kotoko's expression. She makes a stuffy one, anticipating some sort of follow up comment from the male, but he can't figure out what she's picturing. His chest churns at the sight. Though, better to be honest than cater to her expectations, he quickly thinks.
"By the time I realized…I…..If it was you...It was fucked up of me to… Tch. Whatever dude, you..you get it right? This is getting weird for me..."
The college student spits, pouting at how much he forcibly let out. He was having trouble keeping his chin up the more be rambled.
Kotoko on the other hand has her eyes on him the entire time. He really wants to apologize and even more forgive himself. It wasn't Fuuta if he wasn't giving himself so much trouble over admitting any wrongdoings, she knows. Even so, she gives a brief, understanding nod.
Despite his unapologetic nature, Kotoko really didn't mind it one bit. If the impact of response has gotten him as far as getting physically ill over it, she doesn't find reason to make him regret anymore.
"Thanks Fuuta."
At that moment Fuuta's eyes, that have been gradually sinking to gaze lower and lower, shot up at her response. Her voice felt somewhat warmer than before. It was just a light comment of gratitude but…god..did she sound cute when she said that. It was a singular word, yet faint music to his small ears.
Fuuta watches as the girl tucks some loose strands behind her own ear, facing away from her boyfriend who, yeah, just called her pretty for like the first time ever. —
He never would've done so as a casual compliment any other way. It was a bit of a cruel way to go about it, but she expected no less from someone like him.
— Kotoko doesn't seem too flustered though since she cleared her throat one moment and the next she was off the bed. Her hand still clutched in his even whilst she stands.
"Like I said, you should go get some sleep. It'll be nice to wake up to some food, no?"
If she was going to forgive him, he would've expected a more clearer reply like a normal person would, but maybe that would've been more awkward coming from someone like Kotoko herself. Fuuta suddenly quirks an eyebrow at the offer she pressed on.
"Are you sure you're not going to burn another pan of mine? That shit's hard to clean you know."
"I won't. Just don't expect anything impressive."
Fuuta sighs, accepting the fact that whatever happens in the kitchen after this will be his responsibility later. Right now, the fatigue was sure catching up to him and therefore he gives almost zero craps about what mess he will encounter from this point onward. He slides down from his seated position, into lying under his thin blanket.
Kotoko releases her fingers from Fuuta's so she can turn and leave, but he doesn't seem to let her go so fast. He squeezes her hand even tighter than before. The girl turns back to look at her boyfriend, whose face is cherry pink. She tilts her head to the side, unsure of what else he wanted. He seems quite hot, was it an ice pack he needed? Or a cold drink?
"Yes?"
His gaze diverts away from her face, half of his own buried in the pillow below.
"Oi, Kotoko. If you kiss me right now..you know I might start feeling better."
Kotoko watches as Fuuta's cheeks nuzzle into the pillow. He's..way too embarrassed to look her in the eye. How cute.
The young woman takes a step closer to the bed. She leans forward, pushing back some of the male's red hair, planting a gentle kiss right below his forehead. She runs her fingers through his fluffy bangs one more time before pulling back.
"Feeling any better?" She hums.
"...Yeah. I guess so."
Fuuta hesitantly huffs, containing the immense joy he felt being held like that. The male turns to stuffing his face even deeper into the cushion to hide. Kotoko cracks a small smile from her thin lips.
These reactions of his were really priceless to the girl. His messy locks, his flustered expression, and most of all his childish flush. Maybe she should tend after him more often while he's sick. This was a treat to witness.
For now, she should focus on getting him something to eat. Kotoko turns to a nightstand that sits right next to Fuuta's bed, grabbing a short white controller. She presses a few buttons, upping the temperature and lowering the fan speed of the room's air conditioning.
Kotoko reached the door. Before she departs, she looks back to Fuuta.
"Rest well for now. I'll wake you up later."
From the bed, Fuuta waves his hands up and down to shoo her away.
"Sure, sure. Thanks mom."
Kotoko rolled her eyes and slowly shut the bedroom door behind her. Finally outside, she gave a heavy exhale. Rolling her shoulders she thought of what kind of meal would do him good.
Frankly, Kotoko wasn't the best cook ever. Like Fuuta had concerned over, she did in fact burn one of his shorter pots while trying to make soup. Neither one of her boyfriends could believe it when they saw the ash black marks staining the bottom of the pan. Even she herself couldn't tell them how it came to be that she could screw up this badly on chicken broth.
Ever since then it was always Fuuta handling the cooking and Mikoto if not him. Kotoko was the last resort to preparing a meal at all and any times. If Kotoko told any boyfriend that she was going to cook something, they would try so very hard to steer her away from the kitchen. It's just the precautions they took to not possibly burn the apartment down.
Maybe there was something in the snack cabinet. He already had noodles so maybe something warmer for the stomach. The woman tapped at her chin, thinking of the numerous things that she knows she's able to make without risking her life. Nowadays meals are so convenient to make, everythings instant and in a box. How about curry? No..maybe I'll get some bread?
Oh. I know. I think there's some instant porridge in the cupboard. Would he have preferred oatmeal? Kotoko starts to walk a ways from the bedroom door. She's slow and steady, taking up much of the delayed time on mapping out her plan to cooking this properly.
Busied with her own thoughts, right in the smack middle of her journey toward the kitchen she hears the clicking of locks from the front door. Conveniently she stood right next to the hall which lead to the doorway to the apartment's entrance. She stared at the door as it was being unlocked. Hm?
Unsurprisingly, the one who was opening up the door was an exhausted looking Mikoto. His head was facing down as he turned around to push the entrance shut. Even while he slipped his shoes off and started trudging down the hall toward Kotoko, his head hung low.
The woman remained stood there even when the brown haired male placed his head on top of her shoulder, sighing heavily once he got there. Kotoko looked at the top of his head curiously. He hadn't muttered a single word and he's acting all drowsy.
"Did you also need a head stroking?"
Mikoto doesn't say much, for a moment he's silent. But he nods his head into her skin, definitely in search of that sort of attention right now.
Kotoko raises her opposite hand to the top of his head, rubbing smoothly back and forth. She runs her fingers through his straight hair, sometimes stroking the back of his head.
She hears another sigh, this time a bit softer. His shoulders steadily drown down to a weak hunch. The grasp he has on the bag in his fist growing weaker and weaker. Kotoko reaches for the bag, stealing it away from his tired arms. She clutches its handles in one hand.
"Work's tiring, isn't it?"
Mikoto blinks, looking up just a bit.
"Come on."
Her free hand extends to one of Mikoto's. She grabs it and gently pulls him away from the apartment entrance. His head completely lifts off of her, his person following her wherever she's taking him.
They meet the couch in front of a TV screen where Kotoko seats herself, Mikoto following. The two sit for a moment in silence. It was mostly out of Kotoko watching her boyfriend look to the floor, blinking sleepily.
Without any warning, the male slowly sinks his head to rest upon his partner's shoulder. His eyes flutter closed as he audibly breathes. The bag still clutched in Kotoko's hand is released letting her move her hand toward Mikoto's face. She moves some of his bangs away from his eyes and looks on his dark circles.
She hasn't seen the male since yesterday when the trio was hanging about in Fuuta's apartment, as per usual. He did leave earlier than her, admitting that he had to wake up early the next morning to head to work, which, wasn't abnormal. The question was, how early did he have to wake up to gain such heavy eye bags?
"Hey."
Kotoko lightly squeezes Mikoto's hand, which was still held in hers.
"Hm..?"
"Work was stressful today, huh?"
Mikoto lets the silence following her question ring out for a couple seconds before humming an 'mhm'. He rubs his cheek against her shoulder, wishing he could melt right on top of her warm skin.
Kotoko lightly sighs.
"It's been quite the day for all of us. Fuuta's in the bedroom. He's a bit sick at the moment, which is why I was going to make him some porridge. Would you like some too?"
The woman raises her hand up to Mikoto's forehead whilst he thinks. At her warm touch, Mikoto's eyes open up. He watches as she feels for any heat from his head. Slowly, the male nods, but he also shifts his eyes to hers, where he gives her the faintest look of confusion. Kotoko already knows what she has coming.
"You're going to cook?"
"You don't have enough energy to cough up a yes, yet you will take the opportunity to tease my weakness?"
"I'd have to do my best into not allowing you Koto-chan..!"
Mikoto starts with a smile, which turned into a small giggle. Kotoko quirks her eyebrow, seemingly not entertained by his brief speech, though relieved he has enough in him to speak. She was, oddly, starting to fret. She releases another sigh, this one a bit more puffier.
"I'm sure Fuuta set you up for that one."
"Hehe, did he?"
"Oh, you."
Kotoko pinches Mikoto's cheek, gently tugging it away from his face. Mikoto's smile tugs at the opposite side of his lips, paining the part that the girl has pulled. More giggles started to erupt from the older one's throat. At first her tease was gentle, but it got a bit firmer the more he stalled an apology.
"Heheh…Owiee..!..Waaa, I'm showwy Kotwo-chan…Pyease fworgish me-!"
Finally after a few more seconds, Kotoko felt satisfied, releasing her grip on his cheek. The male rubbed a couple fingers at the spot, a pinkish mark forming. He whined playfully as if he was in pain. She knew he wasn't actually hurt, but she really hadn't expected a reaction to form from a mere tug.
"Ah,"
The female reached for his cheek again, prompting Mikoto to avoid her touch by leaning a bit back. Kotoko suddenly huffed, her eyebrows turning inward in a growing mix of frustration and concern. She..really didn't mean it.
Just then Mikoto fully understood her reaction and leaned into her touch, letting her graze her thumb softly across his cheek. Kotoko released the tension from her expression at his non-verbal permission.
"My bad. I didn't mean to pull that hard."
"It's okay, I know."
"No, seriously–"
"Kotoko, I'm not hurt."
"...Yeah."
Kotoko hummed her response under a mutter. Her boyfriend looked into her averting eyes. An idea popped into his head, a smile growing upon his face. He lifts his head up, happily thinking to himself before he shares.
"Hm…How about for compensation, you do a little something for me!"
The female looked up, returning an easy gaze back into Mikoto's eyes.
"Hm?"
"I heard if a loved one kisses the spot which ails me, it will heal faster!"
Her eyebrows raise slightly at his proposal. Huh. Is this why Fuuta asked for the same thing? It's kind of an immature saying though. I'm not surprised Mikoto would request with that sort of reasoning.
Kotoko looks at the little mark on his cheek, then back into Mikoto's eyes. She stares him down as he joyfully looks back at her with those mischevious eyes of his. Grumbling, she turns away for just a second.
"If it makes you happy."
The young woman returns to look into his eyes as she leans in. Her lips soon come into contact directly at the spot where she had pulled at oh so forcefully. This wasn't meant to span for more than a couple seconds, though after she kisses his cheek once she returns back again, pecking his warming face many more times than twice in affectionate movements. She inches closer to him the more she's able to steal kisses from his recovering bruise; The one she felt sorry for.
Mikoto, who obviously doesn't want to make it clear he's very much enjoying this pleasant surprise (but he's doing a bad job at it), starts giggling again, muttering "stop, stop!" every other peck she gives. His drowsiness melting the more times he feels her gentle lips against his face. One of his eyes had to stay shut while the other witnessed Kotoko's apologetic exchange become more than he had wished for.
"Eheh..! Koto-chan, stop stop!! It's ticklish, come on!!"
The girl slowed to a halt to pull away, gently rubbing any wetness from his pink cheeks with her thumb. She slipped her fingers away from the hand she was holding to stand up from the couch. She wiped her lips, feeling the warm blood that rushed to her face on her typically cold hands. An exhale escapes her, taking a moment to calm down she stands still.
"I have to make Fuuta some food. I don't want to leave him on an empty stomach for too long."
"Awh…I wish you had actually gotten to my lips." Mikoto pouts.
"Not tonight love. You're prone to catching something with that exhausted look on. That being said, rest up on the couch. I'm sure you're hungry too."
Kotoko makes her way away from the sofa and toward the kitchen. Mikoto remains seated, his silver eyes following her as she makes her way there.
"Then..can I go see Fuuta?"
"Didn't I say he's ill?"
Kotoko opens up two small doors and starts rummaging inside them, in search of a certain few boxes.
"Yeah, but, I wanna see him! I'm sure he's lonely in there all by himselfff."
"I'm sure he is too." She echoes back.
"Pleaaase! I won't get sick I promise."
"How can you make a promise like that?"
Kotoko backs out from the cabinet with two boxes in her hands. Popping her head up from behind the counter, Mikoto now has full view of the girl. The adult male dramatically drapes himself across the couch for Kotoko to see, which, doesn't really catch her attention at all.
"I just won't! It's that easy."
Kotoko turns up from the boxes she's been fumbling with, giving him a doubtful look. He returns the look back with a sly grin, but one made of full puppy spirit. She wasn't necessarily weak to it, she just found his nagging annoying. She rolls her eyes, her focus ending back up on her hands.
"Whatever. Be careful, he might be taking a nap right now."
"Yes-!" Mikoto exclaims under a breath.
Raising from the couch he waddles his way to Fuuta's bedroom. Kotoko eyes his back, watching as he slowly turns the knob, taking quiet steps into the room. Mikoto looks back to Kotoko and smiles.
"He's asleeeep!" He shouts in a hushed whisper.
The girl coldly faces her box again.
"Shut up and go away. Wake him up and you know what happens."
"Huh…meanie~"
No longer being able to see any remains of Mikoto, the door shuts with a silent click. Suddenly Kotoko is left alone with two boxes of instant porridge and a whole kitchen to kill.