Rain poured steadily outside Yui's apartment window, tapping gently against the glass like a lullaby. She was wrapped in two blankets, a warm compress on her forehead, her nose red from sneezing.
"Ugh…" she groaned softly.
Her body ached, her throat burned, and worst of all—her phone kept buzzing with messages from Mika.
> Mika: You alive?
> Mika: Don't ignore me.
> Mika: Yuiiiiii answer me or I'm climbing through your window.
Yui weakly texted back:
I'm sick… just resting… don't come.
The reply was instant.
> Mika: Too late. I'm outside.
---
A second later, a loud knock came at the door, followed by Mika's unmistakable voice:
"Delivery for one sick kitten!"
Yui sat up too fast and instantly regretted it. Dizzy and flushed, she shuffled to the door and cracked it open.
Mika stood there, completely soaked from the rain, holding a plastic bag filled with snacks, medicine, and what looked like an entire bottle of honey.
She grinned, completely unbothered. "Surprise."
"...I told you not to come," Yui mumbled, blushing despite herself.
Mika breezed past her and into the apartment like it was her second home. "Yeah, and I told myself to stop thinking about your adorable sneeze. We both failed."
---
Within minutes, Mika had made herself comfortable, drying off with Yui's towel (uninvited), tying her damp hair up into a messy bun, and taking over the tiny kitchen.
Yui lay curled up on the futon, eyes watching Mika dart around.
"I'm making you my famous honey-lemon tea," Mika declared.
"You have a 'famous' tea?" Yui asked, voice hoarse.
Mika smirked. "Nope, but you're too weak to argue."
Yui laughed weakly, her voice cracking. "You're impossible."
Mika looked over her shoulder and winked. "You love that about me."
Yui immediately turned away, burying her face in the pillow.
---
Tea in hand, Mika plopped down beside her and gently lifted Yui's head to help her drink.
Yui flushed but obediently sipped. It was too sweet—but also oddly comforting.
Afterward, Mika insisted on checking Yui's temperature. She leaned in too close, pressing her forehead against Yui's.
"What are you doing?" Yui squeaked.
"Old-school thermometer. Totally scientific," Mika said solemnly, their foreheads still touching.
Yui's heart practically burst out of her chest.
"You're warm," Mika murmured. "But still cute."
Yui pulled the blanket over her head and let out a muffled whimper.
Mika just chuckled and patted the lump that was now Yui.
---
Later, Mika sat cross-legged beside the futon, flipping through a manga she found on Yui's shelf. Occasionally, she peeked over the book to check on the girl snoozing beside her.
Even with messy hair and a runny nose, Yui looked painfully beautiful to Mika.
Soft. Small. Completely unaware of the way her mere presence turned Mika's world upside down.
Mika reached over and lightly brushed Yui's bangs away from her face.
"You're dangerous, you know," she whispered, voice too quiet to be heard.
---
When Yui woke up hours later, she found herself tucked in more carefully than before. Her stuffed bunny was placed gently by her arm, and Mika was curled up on the floor beside the futon, fast asleep, still wearing her hoodie.
Yui watched her for a long moment.
Mika's usual teasing smirk was gone, replaced with soft breathing and gentle calm. Her long lashes fluttered with each breath. A slight smile curved her lips, even in sleep.
Yui felt her chest flutter, the kind of flutter that didn't come from a fever.
Maybe being sick wasn't so bad.
---
The next morning, Mika stirred, stretching and groaning.
"Ugh… my back…"
She opened one eye to find Yui staring at her from the futon, blushing.
"...You drooled on the floor," Yui whispered.
Mika blinked, then broke into a grin. "Worth it."