“Wha— Wait, this is bad. No matter if she has a cold, going into a girl’s room is...!”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Big Sis gives you permission~”
No, even if I have your permission, if I don’t have Kuonji’s permission...!
I was pushed by my back and led to the second floor.
Going up the stairs, on the right side was a door with a plate that said 【KA☆RU☆RA】. On the left side was a plate that said 【♡Riran♡】. This must be Kuonji’s room.
“Ri-ran? We’re coming in~?”
“Wait, I really should...!”
“Now, now, it’s fine, it’s fine!”
It’s not fine!?
She threw the door open and forced us into the room.
Immediately after, a rich and mellow scent hit my nose. The room was filled with the scent of “Kuonji Riran” that I usually only smelled slightly... My thoughts short-circuited.
The room was dim, perhaps because the curtains were closed, and the interior was what you'd call fancy or fairytale-like. Pastel-colored carpets, furniture, stuffed animals, and small trinkets.
Anyway, it was a cute interior, not like Kuonji at all.
Whether it was because I had entered “Kuonji Riran’s” domain without permission, or because we were being noisy (probably the latter).
“Nn... big sister...?”
“—!”
The owner of this room woke up. Her face was so red that I could tell even in the dim room, likely because her fever was quite high. She had a cooling sheet on her forehead. Even so, she seemed hot, as the buttons at her chest were wide open, showing her sweaty cleavage... Wait! Is she not wearing a bra!? At least wear a camisole!
“Rila, your beloved Akito-kun is here~”
“Please stop teasing...!”
“...Akito-kun... Sanada...?”
Her unfocused eyes stared at me. I-Is she okay? She looks so sick that I’m seriously worried.
“Y-Yo, Kuonji.”
“.................. Ah, I see. It’s a dream...”
...A dream? No way, does she think me being here is a dream?
“That’s right... because there’s no way Sanada would be here... fufufu, I see...”
Kuonji had a dazed, entranced expression on her face. I didn’t know if it was because of the fever or because she felt like she was in a dream... but it was an expression she never usually showed.
“! Nuhuhuhuhu. Well then, Akito-kun. I’ll leave the rest to you~”
“Eh. Wait...!”
...She left. Even if you leave me in a place like this...
“Sanada.”
“—! W-What?”
“Come here.”
“Eh, no, that’s...”
“Come here~”
You’ve regressed to a child, Kuonji-san. But if I hesitate here and she starts crying, that would be uncomfortable in its own way. Giving up, I approached and stood by the bed. Then, Kuonji tried to force herself to sit up.
“Wait, stay in bed. You have a cold...!”
I held her shoulders and laid her back down. However, Kuonji seemed to want to get up, and with a pouting face, she flailed her arms and legs.
“Let— go—”
Seriously, are you a kid? Should I take a video and send it to you later?
“Just stay in bed. I’ll stay by your side for a bit.”
“...Only for a bit?”
“Eh?”
K-Kuonji, what are you...?
“Not forever...? Aren’t you going to stay with me... forever...?”
Ah, crap, she’s about to cry. ...Well, since she thinks it’s a dream... it’s okay to be a little honest now, right?
“...Of course. We’ll be together forever.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. We’re connected by the ‘Red Thread of Fate.’ Let’s stay together forever.”
“...Fuhi... fuhihi. Ehehe...”
She would glance at me and smile, then glance again and let out a chuckle.
...Somehow, looking at her like this, she seems more like a younger sister than a Fated Person. Come to think of it, Kotono was like this when she had a cold a long time ago. If I didn’t stay by her side, she would often get lonely and cranky.
Well, no matter how much I say she’s like a younger sister, the person in front of me is my Fated Person, weakened by a cold. Honestly, she’s far too defenseless; it’s nothing but poison for my mental health.
“I-I’ll stay here until you fall asleep, so hurry up and sleep.”
“Nn... thank you... Hey, Sanada...”
“What?”
“...Hold... my hand.”
.............................. Eh. W-What... did you say...!? H-Hold hands, does that mean... I-I have to touch her!?”
What flashed through my mind was what happened on the landing in front of the rooftop.
I still haven’t forgotten the shock that ran through me just from a slight touch. Because of that, I had been trying not to touch her as much as possible, but...
“Is it no good...?”
Those clear, pure eyes...! This... i-it can’t be helped...!
“...Fine.”
“! Nn...”
Kuonji’s hand slowly gripped mine.
“————!!”
It’s here...! The shock from that time...! The nerves in the touched area were exposed, and something like electricity surged from the top of my head to the tips of my toes...!
“...Sanada’s hand is big... it’s calming...”
S-Stop it! Don’t squirm your hand around...!
“J-J-J-Just go to sleep...!”
“Nn... goodnight...”
“Y-Y-Yeah. G-Goodnight...!”
Kuonji’s eyes closed. Perhaps because she was feeling very unwell, she immediately began to breathe evenly and lost consciousness.
When I gently let go of her hand... t-thank goodness. She really seems to be asleep...
Thump-thump-thump-thump—!
My heart was beating faster than ever before. This is bad... I have to go home as soon as possible...!
I hurried out of the room and headed downstairs. Then, I found Karura-san standing in the hallway, leaning her back against the wall with a grinning face.
“Nuhuhuhuhu. You’re so innocent, boy. Your face is beet red.”
“Guh... I-I’m going home. Thank you for having me.”
“Sure, sure. Come again~”
I’ll pass for a while. As I put on my shoes and put my hand on the door, Karura-san called out, “Ah, that’s right.”
“Akito-kun.”
“...What is it?”
“Oh, you’re on guard. But there’s no need to be so wary. I just have one request.”
A request? Karura-san approached me. Then, she stood on her tiptoes, placed her hand on my head, and slowly stroked it. Just like a real older sister.
“Rila is strong, but she’s a fragile girl. Please, do support her.”
“...Yes.”
To hide my embarrassment, I hurried out of the entrance and walked quickly back home.
The setting sun shone on me. However, the heat in my face... was definitely not because of the sunset.