The Nurse
I had just returned from the water park with Sia, and it felt like summer break was already over.
School break always passes quickly, I've noticed before.
But since there's nothing I can really say about how fast it flew by, I quietly accepted the start of the new semester.
I figured another ordinary day would drag on, but something huge was happening—the arrival of the two of them right after classes resumed.
"While calling me your boyfriend, you went to the water park together? Get down and take it!"
"...What?"
"Eh? You're pretending?"
"That's just enjoying the game."
As soon as school started, I was being troubled by those two again.
"Some people are dying of heat without even turning on the air conditioner to study, while others are out playing at the water park with their girlfriend. Life is so unfair!"
"Isn't that because your mom didn't let you turn on the air conditioner because you played games too much?"
"Fact is violence, Siwoo."
"What side are you even on?"
"No, but the words are correct."
"Yeah, come on, let's see if you can take it!"
Even after classes started, this kind of bickering felt so constant that I realized how steady they were.
"Anyway, that's enough joking. What did your girlfriend say?"
"She just said we had fun and came back."
"Envious... you die already..."
"Well... everyone seems to have had a good break."
"Pfft, catch a cold, will you."
"Is there even a flu epidemic going around?"
"No flu? Then go wake up and I'll go up?"
After we parted ways, I returned halfway and...
"Siwoo, what story did you come back with?"
"Nothing special, just the usual."
"Hmm..."
Sia paused for a moment, then...
"A lewd story?"
"...Eh?"
"No, guys talk about that kind of thing all the time."
"...I don't."
Of course I do... but I can't tell Sia that I've been spreading those stories.
But when she heard my words, Sia just smiled silently with eyes that said she already knew everything.
"...What kind of eyes are those."
"It's nothing~."
"......"
If it were any other guy, I'd punish them right away.
"...Since it's Sia, I'll endure it."
For Sia, things would be different.
I had no choice but to just let it pass...
"Huhuhu, since I'm stronger than you, there's nothing I can do about it!"
I didn't know what meaning was behind it, but whatever it was, it was the truth, so I decided to just let it go.
After that, the teacher came in and morning assembly started.
From how we had spent the break to wishing everyone good luck in the second semester.
Just as I was preparing for first period...
"Oh, by the way, you all be careful of colds in late summer. If you catch it now, you'll suffer a lot because you're the strong type."
"""We will!!"""
After that, assembly ended.
Well... I thought it was nothing at the time.
But I shouldn't have forgotten that the flu comes for those who are weak.
Since the new semester was in August and the days were still hot, the class had the air conditioner blasting like it was freezing, while the guys would go outside for PE and sweat buckets.
Especially in the second semester, with basketball in the gym, everyone was running around with great effort.
After sweating, I sat in the chilly classroom under the AC wind.
Sweat, cold air, sweat, cold air, over and over.
"Cough cough!"
I had already caught a cold.
A really bad case of it.
One day in early September, when I woke up with a strong cold feeling, I took the medicine at home and went to school.
Even Sia was very worried since I looked bad, but I assured her it was fine and listened to class, only for my head to ache and my mind to get foggy.
Finally, during the break after second period, I went to the infirmary, took fever medicine, and lay down, but it didn't improve, so I ended up leaving early.
Dragging my painful body, I staggered home, roughly took off my clothes, and got into bed.
A heavy sleep swallowed me.
I don't know how much time passed, but I heard a sound and opened my eyes slightly.
In front of me was Sia.
I thought I was hallucinating in my sleep and closed my eyes again.
"Eh, it's cold..."
When I felt something cold on my forehead, I opened my eyes a little.
Sia's face was right in front of me.
Only then did I realize that what I saw earlier wasn't a hallucination—it was the real Sia.
"...Hello."
I greeted her late.
"Why did you close your eyes again just now?"
Sia asked.
"I... I thought I was seeing things."
Sia was silent for a moment after hearing me.
"Then... did you want me to see you like that?"
At that, I unconsciously...
"Yeah, I guess so."
I answered.
At that, Sia's face stiffened for a moment, then slowly started to blush.
I tried to say something, but...
Sia suddenly pushed off the bed and left the room.
I wanted to chase after her to see what was wrong, but... my body hurt too much, so I just stayed in bed.
I tried to sleep again on the bed, but for some reason I couldn't sleep and only the ticking of the clock filled my ears.
Usually I wouldn't notice it, but now the house felt incredibly quiet and lonely.
Mom and Dad came home late, so there was no one in the house, and after school ended, I often came home alone.
Still, I hadn't thought the house was quiet or lonely before, but with my body aching, my thoughts were drifting in a slightly negative direction.
Then, at the moment when the lump in my heart started to stir.
**Squeak squeak, clatter!**
A sound came from outside.
Then, it started to clatter, the sound began.
It seemed like Sia was doing something in the kitchen, and with Sia there, the quiet our house started to feel alive.
The life came, and something in my heart disappeared.
I removed the lump in my heart and closed my eyes with a refreshed mind.
"Sia? Siwoo? Wake up."
I slept until Sia woke me.
I roughly got up, and Sia placed a tray on my bed.
"What is this?"
"It's juk, you have a fever, so you have to eat juk and take medicine and sleep."
"Ah... thank you."
I opened the lid of the bowl on the tray, and steam was rising from the white juk.
My nose was blocked, so I couldn't smell it well, but given Sia's usual cooking skills, it looked delicious.
"...I'll eat it well."
"Eat quickly and take the medicine too."
"...Yeah."
I started eating the juk Sia made, slowly blowing on it.
My appetite was gone, but thinking it was made by Sia, it went down smoothly.
When I finished the juk, Sia had brought the medicine, and I took it.
"Siwoo, change your clothes and sleep. You must have sweated a lot."
"...I understand."
Honestly, it was really bothersome, but since I really sweated a lot and my body felt unpleasant, Sia's words were right.
"I'll just... wash up quickly."
"Eh? Ah! Yeah, that's right!"
I got up from the bed and staggered to the closet, gathered all the clothes to change, and headed to the bathroom.
After washing from head to toe cleanly in the bathroom, I put the clothes in the laundry basket and headed back to my room.
"Quickly lie down!"
My bed was neatly made.
As I lay on the bed as Sia said, Sia properly covered me with the blanket.
"Quickly sleep! You caught a cold!"
"Yeah... but Sia..."
"Yeah? What do you need?"
"...What about school? Why are you in our house?"
I hadn't noticed because I was sick earlier... but now the time was 2 o'clock, during class.
But Sia being at our house at 2 o'clock...
"I took early leave."
Sia smiled as if it was nothing.
I was very grateful to such Sia, but... at the same time, I felt incredibly sorry.
"If I took early leave because I'm sick... what would the school do... I could have just come after school ended..."
When I said that.
Sia said with an unwavering gaze and tone.
"Nothing is more important or precious to me than Siwoo."
Her words right now clearly showed that her heart was sincere more than ever.
It meant she valued me that much... I had no more words to say.
So.
"Thank you... Sia..."
"If you thank me, get better quickly. Understand?"
"...Yeah."
I tried to sleep as Sia said, but.
"Cough cough!"
The cough didn't seem to stop, and because of the fever, with just one summer blanket... I couldn't cover my whole body.
"Siwoo... are you cold?"
But I didn't want to make Sia worry that much.
"...No, it's fine... I just coughed..."
I tried to brush it off in front of Sia.
"Liar... your whole body is trembling even if you say something like that?"
"......"
My lie was useless.
"Hmm... right... since the blanket is thin, there's nothing I can do..."
"I'm fine, so... quickly go back... you might catch a cold too."
"I'm a succubus, so I don't catch colds."
"...Really?"
Since I had never heard such words before, I was curious and asked if it was true.
"......I rarely get sick."
I corrected my words again.
Looking at her like that, it seemed she had higher immunity than normal people, but it seemed she could still get sick.
"It's fine, so quickly..."
I tried to say go back.
"Eek...!"
Sia suddenly lay down next to me.
I was startled and tried to get up, but I was caught by Sia's arm and couldn't move.
At that moment.
"I'll keep you warm from the side..."
"No..."
Of course, sharing body heat was nice, but I hadn't expected her to do it like this.
"I'm fine..."
I tried to refuse by saying I'm fine, but.
**Pat pat**
With Sia's hand gently patting my back while hugging me...
Unconsciously, slowly, slowly.
I started to be swallowed by the heavy sleep.