Work Text:
Normally, Akito had no issue with waking up on time. He took pride in that fact, always finding himself dressed and prepared for the day to come minutes before his final alarm blared its warning. However, this morning seemed to be more of a challenge.
He groaned, reaching for his phone, his head pounding at the noise as he struggled with shut eyes to find his phone, missing his nightstand entirely in his efforts. With another defeated groan, he pried his eyes open, crusted over from sleep, the light of his room making his pounding headache worse. He scrambled to finally grab his phone, shutting off the alarm, before dropping it face first on his bedsheets and sighing loudly. That did nothing for his headache, and sent a surprising ripple of pain through his throat as he swallowed dryly. Today was off to a great start.
He closed his eyes again, limbs too heavy to move, convincing himself he just needed one more second before he’d get up and change. One second turned to 10, then 30, then before he knew it several minutes had passed and he was sliding back into a peaceful sleep.
Or, he was, until a horrible recording of his and An’s gimme x gimme cover disrupted him, his prepubescent voice scratchy and making his head thump in annoyance. He held in a groan for the sake of his throat as he rushed to turn off his alarm again. Seriously, when did An set that as one of his alarms?
Getting up served to be a bigger feat than he had so foolishly misjudged it to be. His limbs buzzed with pain, muscles turned to absolute jello despite any of his efforts, like jelly weighing the equivalent of a dumbell. He got up anyway, and the moment he stood from his bed, his head sent him a piercing warning. “God..“ He hissed, a hand clasping his head upon instinct, which only served to make his throat bubble up with pain again, his voice gravelly and barely audible.
Off to a great start! He thought unenthusiastically, dragging his heavy limbs out to the hallway to their shared washroom, irritated to find Ena already occupying it. She was fixing her mascara over and over with a look of impatience and discontent, the door left thoughtlessly ajar. The bright light hurt his eyes.
He didn’t bother to speak, just stood and stared, almost like a corpse. Ena only noticed his presence when he huffed loudly from his nose, leaning on the doorframe for support.
“Hah, wow, you look awful,” She greeted, glancing at his reflection through the mirror as she jabbed her eyelashes with a q-tip to clear the clumps. Akito offered a tired “Hngh.” In response.
“Why are you up so early,” he deadpanned, each word stabbing at the back of his throat. He winced.
“My friends wanted to meet at a new café, which unfortunately only opens early mornings.” She replied half heartedly, too consumed in her current task to pay much mind. “Are you sick?” she asked suddenly, as if he wasn’t slumped against the wall like a sickly victorian child, with red puffy eyes and pale white skin, shivering every few seconds from what looked to be a fever.
“Can you hurry. I need to prepare for school.” Akito managed groggily, his voice unpleasant and alien, and the pain accompanying it unwelcome.
“You’re joking. There’s no way you’re going to school when you can hardly stand up straight,”
Akito mustered the energy to only click his tongue annoyingly, but her glare persisted, ceasing her work on her eyelashes before continuing with a stern voice. “Akito, I’m serious. It’s not worth it.”
He tried to roll his eyes, but that ended up hurting too.
Ena grumbled, thinking to herself for a moment, before setting her makeup down and turning to address Akito properly. She held a hand up, hovering over his face as if to silently ask if she could feel his temperature, and Akito fought his instinct to turn his dead defiantly, with the thought of the guaranteed pain that would accompany the fruitless action. Ena held the back of her right hand to Akito’s forehead, her other hand on her own forehead to compare. Her expression immediately shifted to a frown.
“You’re running a fever.” she stated flatly, already working on ushering Akito out the door (as gently as she could muster, and Akito could do nothing but pathetically hobble ahead of her) and back toward his room to cage him in with her body. She stood at the foot of his bed, arms on her hips, while Akito scowled and leaned against his desk, defiant despite his condition hardly letting him stand properly.
“It’ll pass,” He said nonchalantly, but as a painful sounding cough that resonated from deep within his chest slipped past his lips, causing his entire body to fold inward and his shoulders to shake, Ena was sure of her stance. “I’m calling in to your school and saying you’re sick. Rest.”
And at that, he received no room to complain as the door shut behind her, and Akito was left alone with his buzzing head.
Getting rest was harder than Ena made it out to be. He tossed and turned in bed, body clammy and hot, but at the same time so excruciatingly cold. He shivered, arms buckled close to his body, trying his best to ignore the thumping through his ears, nose and throat. Every time he swallowed a stabbing pain followed, and every few minutes he’d fail at biting down a cough, ripping through his chest in a deep rooted pain. He barely managed to send a text to the VBS groupchat, the bright light of his phone painful, to tell them he would not be at school today, or the following practice. He put his phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ immediately after, praying his sickness would pity enough to allow him a peaceful sleep.
…
The next time he awoke he felt dizzy, his skin covered in an awful glaze of sweat and his sheets kicked to the side, his entire body impossible to move the slightest bit without experiencing the most mind numbing exhaustion. It took him awhile to realize that some of the buzzing in his head wasn’t only internal, but coming from nearby. Two feminine voices ghosted through the tiny home and invaded the thin walls of his room, and he couldn’t even muster the energy to cover his head with his pillow to try to tune it out.
He identified one voice to be his sister’s, or he thought it to be, in his barely conscious state. The other voice was familiar, carrying a warm glow, but he couldn’t quite place a face or name with it as his mind continued to fog over. He only lay there, motionless, staring at the ceiling with half lidded eyes.
Then a gentle knock carefully wrapped against his door, and when he continued to lay unresponsive, it inspired another. He dragged an arm over his eyes, which managed to absorb the small remnants of his energy, before huffing a weak reply.
“Yeah. ‘m here. Come in,”
The light from the hallway was blinding, contrasting the darkness he created in his gloomy room, curtains drawn tight and air smelling thickly of sickness. The intruder didn’t seem to mind, the door creaking as they nervously stood for a moment, as if hesitant, before stepping a foot inside.
“Uhm, Hi Shininome-kun.”
This caught Akito’s attention. He removed his arm the rest of the way, the light stabbing at his eyes and making his head hurt, but it was nothing in comparison to the drumming of his heart from within his chest. Wow, this was a new sickness symptom. He hadn’t experienced this one yet.
“Hey,” Akito choked, swallowing hard and following with a tired groan at the pain. “You, uh. What are you doing here?” He tried to sit up to see her better, but his muscles still lacked any power, buckling under his weight and making him slide further down his pillow, defeated.
“Well, Aoyagi-kun wanted to hand you the work you missed, but he had last minute duties to attend to, and An had to rush to Ken’s, soo..” she held the stack of papers out to Akito meekly, as if to prove her point. “.. and we were all worried, so I figured I’d check on you, since I was the only one free.”
Akito could feel his cheeks burn, the bubbly feeling infectious as it crawled its way to the tips of his ears as well. Thank god for his fever, which hopefully covered for his embarrassing reaction to such a simple gesture.
“Wow, uhm, thanks,” Akito cursed himself for how uncool he sounded. “Could you just put them on my desk? I’d get up, but, uh,” It was obvious that was enough of a struggle. Kohane only giggled lightly, before setting the papers down where he had weakly gestured. Akito’s stomach flipped, and he wondered if he would puke soon. The fever was making him feel oddly… sensitive? Emotional? He didn’t have the energy to mull over it, not when Kohane was approaching his bed side to put a careful hand to his forehead, sweeping his bangs aside carefully with the other to feel his temperature. He probably rose by several degrees from that alone.
“Wow, you’re really burning up.. I’m glad you stayed home today,”
Just as his limbs, his brain was reduced to jelly as he pathetically mumbled “yeah, me too.”
“Don’t worry, you didn’t miss much today. And we canceled our practice since An had to take a shift last minute,”
Akito nodded along, or tried to, moving his head the slightest bit to show he was listening, the pain of the action stopping him from moving it very much. Kohane seemed to notice.
“Can I get you a glass of water, or a towel for your head?” She tried to suggest, unsure what to do with her hands as she went to fiddling with his sheets instead to make sure he was warm.
“Sure, a towel would be nice..” He mumbled, though quickly adding on, “I don’t want to make you run around for me, though.. It’s nice enough you came.”
Kohane’s cheeks burned similarly to his, and she smiled. “Okay! I’ll fetch one for you,”
After briefly explaining where the spare towels were, to the best of his ability, Kohane set out to retrieve one. Akito was now able to process the situation, covering his face with his hands as he groaned like an absolute child. Kohane came to deliver his homework. Kohane wanted to check on him. Kohane was standing in his room. Kohane was caring for him. It was so embarrassing, but also warmed a part of him that he didn’t even realize existed.
Not long later, Kohane returned, a wet towel in her arms and a glass of water. She set the glass on his nightstand, before folding the towel into a smaller rectangle to put on his forehead. Akito couldn’t tear his eyes from her all the while.
“I hope that helps,” she smiled afterward, her hands awkwardly bent behind her back, no longer knowing what she should do. She almost wondered if she should be leaving now that she had no further excuse to stay, but at the same time, she didn’t yet want to.
“Yeah.. thanks,” Akito replied gruffly, reaching a hand up to feel the coolness of the towel on his forehead. It felt refreshing, as opposed to the uncomfortable clamminess covering the rest of his body.
They stood in silence for a moment, Akito glancing at Kohane through his peripheral every so often, before fixing his gaze at the ceiling, while Kohane looked around his room idly.
“Are those my pictures?” She asked suddenly, breaking the silence. She gestured toward just above Akito’s headboard, and he struggled to crane his neck to follow her gaze. “Oh, yeah. Those were the pictures you took of us at PxL on your birthday. I also have the group picture Tsukasa took for us, though it’s rather blurry.”
Kohane grinned, nodding along. “That was really fun!! I’m so glad you still have them,” She shuffled a bit closer to look at them, smile reaching her eyes and making them crinkle slightly, and Akito tried not to fluster more as her legs nearly pressed his bed frame the closer she got. “I really like the candid photos I took of you and An fighting over seats at the rollercoaster. You both look so determined,” she giggled, musing over the memory.
Akito rolled his eyes, but his smile said otherwise about his feigned annoyance. “She was so adamant of not letting Toya and I sit in front of you guys, in case I puked and got it all over her while the ride was moving— her exact words,”
“Ah, is that why?” Kohane giggled, shaking her head. “Well, I’m not so great with roller coasters either.. So I wouldn’t be so unforgiving if that were to happen,”
“Really?” Akito was almost taken aback by the confession. “The resident PxL super fan? No way.”
Kohane averted her eyes, suddenly bashful. “Yeah.. I can see their appeal, I suppose.. I just can’t say I’m very good with them,”
“Well, neither am I. If we ever go to PxL together, we won’t have to ride those if you don’t want to.”
If we ever go to PxL together echoed in his head. Just him and Kohane at PxL? He had hardly gone anywhere as just the two of them, so he wasn’t sure how awkward that would be. Not to say that he hated the idea, or that they never hung out at all, it just felt natural to have An and Toya accompanying them as well. Then again, they were alone together now, and it didn’t seem at all awkward. In fact, it was oddly comforting.
Kohane nodded, a smile on her face that just about made Akito melt, though maybe it was his fever that contributed to that.
“Ah, how are you feeling, by the way?” Her eyes darted back to Akito’s pathetic form, crumpled in his own bed with an expression much resembling a wounded puppy. She had almost forgotten the reason she was here in the first place.
“My head is absolutely killing me, and I’m just really fuckin’ drained..” Kohane’s expression made his stomach twist. “..But I’ll live, so..” he added quickly, voice quieter.
Kohane thought a moment, nodding with her eyebrows knit. “Mm.. try to get lots of rest. I should probably head out now, so you can get some sleep.” She backed up a little, suddenly conscious of how close she had been standing, and Akito’s heart rate suddenly doubled.
“Wait— I mean, well, I don’t mind you staying..” That was a severe understatement. He needed her to stay, but that was way too embarrassing to admit.
Kohane’s eyes widened the slightest bit, as if surprised by his response. “A-are you sure? I really don’t mind going, I’d hate to make you feel worse—“
“I’m sure,” Akito interrupted, eyes almost pleading. He really did look like a kicked puppy.
“Right, okay,” Kohane smiled, laying her hand over Akito’s softly. “I’ll stay for as long as you need me to,”
With the way Kohane spoke, along with the softness of her actions, his heart ached in a way he had never experienced before. What was it about sicknesses that made you feel so vulnerable, so starved of the touch of another person? Did he always feel this way around Kohane, and it was only amplified by his current state? Or was this normal?
They sat in silence, and at some point Kohane got tired of standing and turned Akito’s desk chair around to sit in. The silence was peaceful, not at all awkward, and Akito’s eyes grew heavier by the second. Kohane’s hand remained on his, providing warmth to his otherwise cold one. It also served as a reminder of her company, and it helped him ignore the buzzing pain coursing through his body.
“I’m going to go replace your towel, I’ll be right back,” He could faintly make out, the sleepiness tugging at his body making it difficult to process. He did register her hand moving from his though, and in his sleepy daze, eyes still shut tight, he reached out for that warmth to return. He managed to reach the edge of Kohane’s sweater, pulling at it weakly.
“Stay,“ He mumbled quietly, voice hardly audible. Kohane flustered, mind faltering as she internally debated between getting him a new towel, or staying for his comfort. With a heavy heart, she decided to push forward. “I’ll be quick, I promise. I’m not leaving just yet,” She continued to say, voice soft and careful as she went to remove the towel from his forehead.
Akito groaned, eyebrows furrowing. “Why?”
“Your towel isn’t cold anymore, I’m going to get a new one for you,” she repeated patiently, squeezing his hand reassuringly to encourage him to let go.
Akito grumbled something inaudible, before slowly softening his grip, letting his arm fall back down to the bed.
“Thank you,” She said softly, carefully cupping the towel in her hands to prevent the water from dripping, before tiptoeing out of his room. It didn’t take long before she arrived at the Shinonome’s shared bathroom, sighing as she rang the towel out and switched the tap to cold.
She tried to ignore the way her heart pounded in her ears, and as she looked up to meet her reflection in the mirror, the way her face was stained pink. He was just sick and very very tired, and she was being a fool for getting so flustered over it. She was sure that when she was sick, she felt just as clingy. She thought so, at least.
She washed her face off under the cold water for safe measure, attempting to cool her cheeks and let the blush die down, before folding the towel and walking out towards his room again.
When she returned, Akito seemed to be out like a light, lips slightly parted as he frolicked in a world beyond his eyelids. Kohane smiled at the view, quietly announcing her return in a whisper before settling the towel on his forehead again. Akito hardly stirred, eyebrows twitching at the coldness, his eyes remaining shut.
She sat down on Akito’s desk chair once again, taking in the peace and quiet with only Akito’s gentle snores disrupting it. It was weird, being all alone with Akito like this. They rarely had an excuse to hang out as just them, unless it was a last minute decision.
She spent this time just watching; the way his chest would rise and fall with each breath, his natural hair color poking out between his signature ginger, to the moles kissing his neck and forearms. She wasn’t even conscious of the smile she wore, nor the time that had passed, till Akito slowly blinked awake, yawning loudly.
It took him a second to regain slight consciousness, turning over on his side to grab his phone from his nightstand— a bad habit of his. Instead, he met Kohane’s gaze, eyes widening as he was forced fully awake by the shock of it. It took him a moment to recall her arrival, and Kohane giggled slightly as she watched Akito’s slow realization through his facial expressions alone.
“Hey,” He offered awkwardly, voice dry and scratchy from sleep, as well as his cold.
“Hi,” She offered in return, giving a small wave. “How are you feeling?”
It took Akito a good minute to register the question, then another to form a reply.
“Like shit.” he replied flatly, a lazy grin spreading over his cheeks.
“I’m glad you got some rest, at least,” Kohane tried, matching Akito with a sympathetic smile. “You definitely needed it.”
“Oh hell did I,” Akito sighed exasperatedly, rubbing his face with a hand, a second too late to remember about the towel. “Oh shit, it’s still cold. I forgot you put that there,”
Kohane grinned softly, “Ah, I got up to replace it while you were asleep. You may not remember,”
Akito seemed to think for a moment, eyes squinting as he tried to recall. “I really don’t, but I do appreciate you doin that. You didn’t have to,”
“Mm, I really don’t mind,” She spoke honestly, holding back the tinge of blush that snuck it’s way onto her cheeks when recalling her earlier departure. Maybe it was good he didn’t remember.
“Nah, seriously, I’ll make it up to you. We could go out— to, like, PxL… or something,” He physically faltered the more he spoke, seeming to double think his wording and how exactly to propose such a thing. Normally he wouldn’t care as much, but when it came to a girl— not just any girl, actually— a girl he really liked, everything felt five times harder.
“Yeah, we could,” Kohane grinned, seeming to find Akito’s embarrassment rather endearing. “There was this clothing store I've been meaning to check out, maybe we could look together!” She seemed really happy about the idea, and It made Akito’s total uncoolness worth it. Just a bit.
“Oh sure, I’d be down. Been meaning to get some new additions to my wardrobe, the yellow hoodie and black jacket are starting to feel a bit old, y’know?”
Kohane chuckled. “Is it really? I don’t know, I’ve sort of gotten attached to it. I’m not saying you shouldn’t get something new, but it’s just.. really you.”
He couldn’t help flushing a bit, his words a bit jittery. “R-really? Well, I mean, I guess I have warn the same outfit for most of our shows since, like, way before we first met,”
“Gosh, you’re right,” Kohane agreed, both of them marveling at their realization for a moment. “Maybe it is time for it to retire, huh?”
“Yeah,” Akito chuckled lightly, his chest suddenly hurting with the action, as if to remind him of the reason for her visit. “I trust you’ll help me with that decision,”
“I think a cap would do nicely,”
Akito couldn’t hold back laughing again, properly now— which kind of hurt, but he ignored that. “Alright, are you thinking for me, or yourself now?”
“We could match!!” Kohane replied with reddened cheeks, mouth agape in mock offense at Akito finding humour in her honest suggestion.
“Alright, maybe we should go to PxL afterall,” she huffed, though she really just looked like a pouting hamster.
“Hey, come on, I would enjoy going with you. I think it would be fun,” Akito’s persisting grin didn’t really help to convince Kohane, but she tried to ignore it. Kohane sighed.
“Well, we won’t be doing that till you’re all better, so focus on recovering first,”
As Akito’s laughs died down and a coughing fit began, which led to Kohane having to hurriedly reach for the glass of water she had retrieved earlier, their hearts burned warm and full. No matter if these were just symptoms for his sickness or not, Akito quite enjoyed indulging in that flame. Even when Ena knocked on his door, concern in her voice and making him nearly choke on the water and escalate the situation further, he wouldn’t have had it any other way.