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“Dude, where is he? The first bell just rang and Miyamura-kun still isn't here!” Tooru groaned, before turning to Hori. “Did he text you?”
Hori blinked before realising that no, Miyamura didn't message her.
“Kyouko-Chan?”
“No… I guess he didn't….” She muttered, placing a hand upon her chin in confusion. Miyamura always messaged her if he was running late or if he had to miss school to help his parents.
The worry continued to grow throughout the day as the minutes sped past and there was still no sign of the black haired boy.
At lunch, she finally caved and made the trek to the Miyamuras’ residence, an apartment on a higher floor. She didn't know what was up with her boyfriend, but she brought a sports drink in case he was ill.
She swiftly made her way to his door, and rapped the door.
“Miyamura?” She called out, before realising that if his parents were home, they would also answer to Miyamura. She got no answer.
“I-Izumi?” She stuttered, his given name feeling heavy and foreign to the tongue so used to calling him Miyamura.
She heard rustling and movement from inside the apartment, and heard the quiet voice of her boyfriend on the inside.
“Giv’s a minute… can find th’keys” She heard him slur from inside the door. Her worry increased tenfold.
“Izumi? Are you okay?” Panic gripped her voice.
“I'll let’cha in, Mama… one sec… don’be mad…” He slurred out again, before she heard the clanging of keys being picked up. “Foun’em”
Hori’s worry was growing by the second, much similar to the breaking of her heart. Did Miyamura think she was his Mom? Why did he tell her not to be mad?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the lock clicking, and the door slowly peering open, revealing a feverish and dishevelled Miyamura.
His face was red and dripping in sweat, his eyes squinted and puffy. He was shaking as he stood, and he was in his uniform for school.
“Izumi…” She started, the name still feeling strange on her tongue, but if her boy was as sick as she thought he was, ‘Miyamura’ felt too wrong to use.
She reached a hand out to his forehead, hissing at the sudden contact.
“You're really burning up… You need to go back to bed, come on…” She doted, reaching to wrap her arm around his waist.
Until he very nearly collapsed into her.
“I-Izumi!” She exclaimed.
“Hurts…” he mumbled, digging his head deeper into her neck.
“What hurts, sweetie?” She stroked his hair, although it was damp with sweat, she didn't care.
“Evr’ywhere…” He muttered, voice shaking.
“Okay, let's get you to bed, and we can go from there.”
“Thanks f’r comin’ home, Mama… ‘m sorry…” He said, voice still wobbling.
“Izumi, it's Hori. Kyouko Hori, your girlfriend.” She said quietly.
“ ‘Ori? ‘s she here? Can I see her? I wan Hori…” He sniffled, clearly delirious from fever. Speaking of which, where did the Miyamuras keep their thermometers?
She led her boyfriend to his bed, ducking briefly into the bathroom to grab a thermometer she saw in the corner of her eye, hastily left in the sink.
“Did you take your own temperature? Do you remember what it was?” She asked kindly.
“Thirty-eight, or thirty-nine.. ‘m not too sure, sorry…” He mumbled, eyes glazed over, hutched in on himself.
She simply tutted at him. “Don't apologise, silly boy. You're sick, it's not your fault.”
Eventually, she got him laying down, still somewhat awake.
She carefully placed the white instrument under Miyamura’s tongue, waiting for it to beep.
It let out a ring indicating it was finished, and that it was a high temperature. She sighed, before carefully removing it from his mouth.
“Let's see…” She started, turning the thermometer to the right side.
She let out a soft gasp.
“Thirty-nine point four?” This was bad. If it went up by even one degree, she would have to call an ambulance.
“Izumi, didn't your parents notice this in the morning?” She asked sternly. She was mad. Not at Miyamura, but his parents, for not noticing, and herself, for not being here earlier.
“I tried… told’em I di’nt feel good… they told me to be quiet ‘n go t’school like a good son…” He stared off into the distance, as if, even in this delirious feverish state, he knew that his parents didn't care.
At the sound of Hori’s gasp, he quickly babbled off.
“‘S okay Hori, ‘m used to it… ‘S not the first time I was sick without ‘em…”
He really didn't know how to make it sound better than what it really was. Neglect. She knew it all too well. Hori loved her mom, and knew she was trying her best, but it didn't excuse how she was never there.
Hori sighed, before standing up.
“I'm going to get you a cold towel for your forehead, water, and cold medicine. Hopefully your fever will go down soon.” She said, as she turned to leave.
Her exit was interrupted by a soft whine.
“Izumi?”
“Don’ go… please…” She turned to see Miyamura with tears in his eyes.
“I swear… I'll be good this time.. I won' be a burden this time… please…”
Hori rushed over to his side and quickly grasped his shaking hand and locked it into hers.
“Izumi. I will never leave you alone. You are never a burden. How long have you been feeling this way?” She spoke, her free hand reaching to caress her boyfriend's teary face, making circular motions with her thumb.
“All the time, really…” He started, looking away. “I don’ deserve you, ‘Ori… I'm too much f’r anyone… even my Mama and Papa… they told me nobody wans a clingy boy… they said i’s bad… makes me look unloveable” Hori gasped. He continued. “ ‘m not even smart… I have nothin’ good about me…”
Hori heard a soft tapping and saw tears littering her boyfriend's pillow. She reached out and wiped his eyes clean.
“You silly boy… silly silly boy… when you're all better I'm gonna…” She started, angry tears welling her eyes. “I'm gonna be so mad!” She all but whisper-yelled.
Eventually, she was able to sneak away to grab some water and some medication. Slowly, she returned to his bedroom and kneeled beside him.
“Sweetie, can you sit up, maybe?” She asked softly. She never used pet names for anyone, not even Souta.
She heard a mumble as her sickly boyfriend mustered up the strength to sit up. Very quickly she went to help him up.
She coaxed him to open his mouth slightly, placing a pill in his mouth as he dazed.
Oh… she thought. This is usually what Miyamura does to me… She never truly realised how much Miyamura did for her, and it all came back to her now. A pang of guilt rang out in her chest.
She tipped the water into his mouth, carefully placing the glass back down. He looked exhausted.
She sighed. “I'm going to ring the school, and then I'm going to ring your parents.”
Miyamura visibly tensed.
“They need to know that you're unwell. This isn't a cold you get over with a day of rest.”
“I guess so… thanks, Hori… ‘preciate it…” He muttered, sinking deeper into his covers.
She ruffled his matted hair, placing a gentle kiss onto his forehead.
“Get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up, okay?”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Mmh… ‘kay… love you Hori.” Miyamura said softly, before his eyes dropped, and then shut.
“I love you too, Miyamura. Get well soon.”