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Akito walking to his boyfriend’s home should be enjoyable, right? Exactly, it should be, just like all the other times Akito has walked this same path towards Toya’s home with him. However right now…Toya isn’t walking beside Akito, and it’s starting to bother him. Toya keeps drifting behind him, seemingly unable to catch up to Akito; yet every time Akito decreases his pace, Toya still doesn’t catch up—it’s like he’s doing it on purpose. Akito makes a full stop, Toya does so as well, leaving him behind Akito once more.
The sidewalk is wide enough to fit three people all beside each other, so there’s no reason for Toya to stay so far away. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you walking beside me?” Toya shakes his head, the cool air making him shiver. Or perhaps, it was Akito’s hand abruptly holding his that made his body shudder. “It’s nothing, I’m just tired from committee duty, don’t worry.” Toya’s thumb grazes on top of Akito’s skin, and for a split moment, Akito feels as though Toya’s hand felt warmer than it usually does. “Oh, really? I thought it was pretty chill there.” As Toya laughs at Akito’s mindless words, he doesn’t seem to notice the eyes looking at him with an amount of concern that’s not possible. “You’re always so quick to assume things, Akito.” Akito shakes his head. “That’s not true, you-” An abrupt sneeze lays over Akito’s voice, his eyebrow hitching up slightly at the sight of Toya’s tightly shut eyes and tilted head. Toya’s hand quickly leaves Akito’s grasp, his school uniform’s sleeve scrunched up on his hand, using it to block his second, harsh sneeze.
The concern in Akito’s eyes never faltered as he steps forward. Toya sniffles a bit, his eyes opening with watery eyelashes. The free hand Akito now has is being used to fish a handkerchief in his pocket, bringing it up Toya’s nose before letting his partner’s wrist rest back on his side. Akito’s gentle hands dry Toya’s eyes, his thumb doing one swift swipe over the skin.
Only now does Akito notice how scalding Toya’s skin really was.
“Are you okay? Your face is so warm.” No, not warm. It’s burning! He wants to say, although he doesn’t. Akito takes the cloth away from Toya’s nose, worrying how it became red—he thinks he’s at fault for that—all the gentle acts went to wiping Toya’s eyes, the rest of his anxiousness was released on the hand wiping Toya’s nose. “…sorry about that.” Akito quickly adds on. “I’m okay, Akito.” Akito isn’t convinced at all. Perhaps some part of his uncertainty drifts off when he feels Toya’s warm hands caress his own hand, guiding it down from his face. Unfortunately, Akito doesn’t get to feel that (unusual) warm hand holding onto his for long, because Toya lets go again. “We should hurry soon, we’ll miss the train.” Is all Toya mentions, voice somewhat raspy. A frown forms on Akito’s face as he’s forced to move his feet forward, Toya drifting behind him for the nth time already.
***
Toya’s head hurts so much it’s almost unbearable for him. His ears are ringing, he doesn’t know why, what’s with the suddenness of everything? Toya’s face stares blankly at whatever blurry figure is in front of him—he assumes his vision is somewhat distorted because of the bright rays from the sunset hitting his eyes—yet even thinking that, Toya is at a lost at what to do.
“Oi, Toya.” There are people rushing in the train, Toya should do the same, but he isn’t bothering to move, everything feels so heavy. “Toya!” Akito raises his voice just a tad bit louder before taking initiative to pull Toya in the train by his arm. “You’re acting strange.” Akito guides the both of them to sit on the unoccupied seats in the train, despite the frequent looks Akito felt on them as he was practically dragging Toya, he he pays no mind. “It’s just a headache, I think.” Toya sits straight, yet his shoulders slump weakly. Akito blinks at Toya’s state, his partner’s hand is still tightly gripping the strap of his school bag, unaware of even holding it. While Akito gets drowned by the sounds of people idly chatting around them and the indication ring of the train’s doors closing, his focus towards Toya never falters.
Akito’s hand takes hold of Toya’s once more. Instead of Toya fisting at his bag, he mindlessly allows Akito’s palm to place itself on top of his hand. Thankfully, Toya seems to relax in the slightest. His head gently reclines and rests against the train’s windows as his eyes close shut with a slow sigh leaving his mouth. Akito glances at Toya’s pale lips and uneasy eyebrows carefully, wanting to reach out to check his temperature…perhaps he’s sick?
“If you’re gonna sleep at least use my shoulder, you know? Toya shakes his head, declining. “Why not? It’s more comfortable than that.” Akito sighs, seemingly at his limit. With his other free hand he gently—yet quickly—goes through the space between Toya’s neck and the window. Toya’s eyes open, and before he could even look at Akito, a hand softly pushes his head towards Akito’s shoulder, not bothering to move away. “Seriously, what’s the problem?” Akito whispers, his hands combing through Toya’s hair. For someone who previously said they didn’t want to rest on Akito’s shoulder, Toya sure is snuggling up. “I don’t know. My head hurts a lot, and my ears are ringing.” The stressed eyebrows Toya once carried eases up the moment Akito’s fingers are placed on top of his forehead’s skin.
“I knew something was up with your temperature.” Toya hums, his eyes still closed as he encourages Akito to continue. “You’re burning.” Akito feels his own fingertips secrete the thinnest layer of sweat, however pays no attention to it. “I’m sick?” Toya murmurs, copying how soft Akito’s voice has become. “Seems like it.” His hand leaves the warmth of Toya’s forehead, retracting back to rest on the side of Toya’s head, blocking his ear. Thankfully, it hinders most of the excess sounds from the passengers of the train. Although Toya doesn’t particularly mind the noisy atmosphere in general, the loud chattering of people around him and the overall noise the train itself makes does not aid the ringing his ears are already experiencing.
Toya doesn’t intend on sleeping, yet it’s very tempting. From the way Akito flawlessly manages to take Toya’s bag onto his lap so that Toya wouldn’t bother with it, from the way Akito’s side feels so comforting, and from the way Toya just feels so tired to the point his eyes refuse to open by itself, he can’t help but want to sleep even more. However, before that, he realizes something. “Akito, you should go home so you don’t get sick as well.” This causes Toya to scoot away from Akito abruptly, making Akito pout. “Seriously?” Toya nods once, another would lead to an obvious wince on his face with displeasure from his headache. “Huh? Do you become an idiot when you’re sick?” Akito almost chokes out a laugh instead of a scoff, Toya looks at him with much confusion—it’s harder for Akito not to laugh.
“Excuse me?”
“Toya, this is train leads to the station near your house.”
“Oh…it does.”
Inevitably, Toya cuddles beside Akito in a respectable manner for those around them. His arm shyly hooks itself around Akito’s as his head finds home in Akito’s shoulder. This time, Toya really does fall asleep.
***
Today, Toya’s house is dead silent. His parents aren’t home for the time being, they most likely would be home by the time Toya and Akito are already deep in slumber. That’s of the reasons as to why Akito is sleeping in the Aoyagi’s household tonight. Of course, he’s done this a few times prior. Each time he stood in the same room as Toya’s parents, he would be too scared to move. Embarrassingly so, days like right now are—in Akito’s own words: the perfect time for him to stay over.
The room is cold, and the sun is long gone in the horizon. The dark curtains that were effortlessly closed by Akito blocks off any excess light from outside, leaving Toya’s room comfortably dim to their liking. Medication and a glass of water rests neatly on Toya’s nightstand, a bowl of ice water, and a dry towel is also present. Akito believes he’s got everything beside him in order to care for Toya’s fever…hopefully. He’s sure this is all he needs. He’s sitting on Toya’s bed, waiting for Toya to finish changing in the bathroom.
Once Toya does get back, his body immediately plops down on the bed—rather, he lays down on the side farthest from where Akito is. “What are you doing?” Akito asks, his eyes watch Toya hog up most of the blankets, his back facing Akito. “Sleeping.” Toya replies simply, bringing the comforter over his shoulders and snuggling his face deeply on his pillow. “I know that- but you agreed to lower your body temperature for a bit.” Toya acts like he doesn’t hear Akito, causing Akito’s jaw to fall slightly. Despite Toya’s body language, Akito dips the towel into the ice water, his fingertips leading a cold chill through his body for a moment. Once Toya hears the water getting squeezed from the towel, he pulls the blanket over his whole head fully—as if hiding from the damp, cold towel.
“You can’t be serious right now.” Even if the room is barely lit by the accent lights Toya has, Akito could clearly see how Toya inches his body farther and farther away from Akito as he attempts to get closer. “I don’t like those wet towels, they’re too messy.” Toya tries to argue with Akito the moment he tugs at the thick blanket engulfing Toya. “Too bad! You don’t have any of those cooling pads, just deal with this.” Toya shakes his head in argument with Akito—perhaps a little too quickly as he quietly groans with the pain his headache brings—the second Toya feels the cool air of his room hit his cheeks, the comforter falling on his shoulders like it used to.
“No. It limits me from sleeping on my side, and even if I do find a way to sleep on my side with that on my forehead, It’s going to keep dripping water, then my pillow would get all wet- that’s not a pleasant thing to sleep on, you would agree, right? And then-” Suddenly, Toya feels a cold, damp towel touch his mouth. Yes, his mouth. “What the hell…” The way the smallest droplets of water start to drip down Toya’s neck and start to get soaked by his shirt is only proving his point further, so he groans in order for Akito to see his eyebrows are knit and how his eyes are piercing through the towel. Now, Akito’s jaw is fully on the floor, he almost laughs at Toya’s ramble, but refuses to. “I…have never heard you speak about somethin’ with that much annoyance.” Akito feels the slightest bit scared even when whispering, yet he’s also really fond of this side of Toya.
“You’re an idiot sometimes.” Toya hums, questioning Akito. “You do know that you don’t have to sleep with this on your forehead, right? I know it won’t stay still on you forever.” Akito laughs a bit, especially with the way Toya blankly stares at him. Akito feels Toya’s jaw go slack in the slightest, fueling his laughter even more. “I’ll hold it for you until you’re asleep, so just keep close to me.” Toya nods slowly this time, and the towel on his mouth leaves as well. It seems reasonable enough for Toya, until it’s not.
“But if I stay close to you, you’ll get sick…”
“You cannot be serious right now!”
“Toya, j-just let me take care of you.” Akito blurts out, slumping the weight of his body on the headboard beside him. “I’m already here, aren’t I? If I get sick then so be it, but I’m sure I won’t.” That’s a lie; Akito would be considered lucky if he doesn’t get an itchy throat or a runny nose from this. Although he thinks the way Toya processes things right now won’t expose him of his lie. “Okay. I’ll let you take care of me.” Akito manages to smile despite how warm his face is becoming. Toya’s body latches onto him in an instant, his warm arms emerge from the comforter to easily wrap them on him.
With a fond sigh, Akito gently moves the both of them to the side of the bed closest to the nightstand. Akito submerges the cloth back in the bowl of ice water and leaves it for the time being. Akito takes his previous spot after ensuring Toya is comfortable on his side. Toya’s eyes seem like they could sleep with each heavy blink he does, and Akito feels that if he continues staring at Toya’s eyes, he’ll be fast asleep sooner than Toya. Yet for the sake of his sick partner, Akito holds out for a bit more. One of his hands is already softly brushing away Toya’s bangs from his forehead, leaving an open space for the towel. Toya seems to not react, his body relaxes, even. Akito takes the towel from the bowl and squeezes it as dry as he could without taking away its coolness, and once he thinks he has achieved it, he places it on Toya’s forehead.
For a few seconds, Akito purposely pats the cloth over Toya’s whole face before properly folding it to fit nicely on Toya’s forehead better. “It’s cold.” Toya starts, to which Akito hums at. “Yeah, that’s the point.” Akito answers, poking at Toya’s cheek (that’s starting to get warm again) for such an obvious statement. “My hair is wet.” Toya points out this time, making Akito sigh. “Well, sorry about that.” Akito isn’t actually sorry, and Toya knows that. “Akito,” Absentmindedly, Akito pinches Toya’s cheek, he feels like he’s talking to a kid. “…yeah?” Toya’s body tenses up beside Akito, his voice in a rush as he says: “I’m going to sneeze-” Akito doesn’t even realize his hand is moving to grab the towel and use it to block Toya’s sneeze before any of their bare hands even come close. He hears Toya laugh, he doesn’t understand it at first, then he realizes what he’s done.
“You- I’m too tired for this.” A smile is plastered on Toya’s face, almost like he didn’t have a fever in the first place. Perhaps it’s the medicine easing Toya’s headache that’s making him smile so freely. Toya contently lets the sound of Akito dropping the used towel back into the bowl, his body sinks back down onto the mattress while he feels Akito shift beside him. “You seem too happy to be a sick person.” Akito humors, playing with Toya’s hair until his bangs fall back into its rightful place on his forehead. “Mhm, it’s only because you’re willing to take care of me. Thank you.” Before Akito allows himself to finally rest for the night, he admires Toya’s face for a little while. Even in the lighting, he’s able to define Toya’s features clearly as his hand caresses Toya’s cheek for the last time tonight.
“Good night, Toya. You better get well soon.”