A Sudden Visitor　

When I returned from the pharmacy, Mikoto-san was sound asleep.

The fever must have sapped her strength, and it would be good for her to get a good night's sleep.

She had changed into a white T-shirt and shorts, probably because she was sweating.

 

Cooling sheets and masks would be fine if Mikoto-san used them after she woke up.

 

Realizing that I had forgotten to humidify the room, I refilled the humidifier with water and turned it on.

I tend to forget to use it, but I should at least use it properly when someone is sick with a cold.

 

I then took out a couple of mystery novels from the bookshelf.

 

I had bought them but hadn't gotten around to reading any of them, so this would be a good opportunity to get a little reading done.

 

I brought a chair next to Mikoto-san and sat down with a paperback in my hand.

 

After a few hours of me reading a mystery novel, I received a tug on my leg.

Mikoto-san was sleeping in a T-shirt nightgown in the futon, and then she looked up at me.

 

"Akihara-kun."

 

"What?"

 

"I want some water."

 

"Got it."

 

I got up and filled a glass of water and handed it to Mikoto-san.

Mikoto-san put her lips to the glass, drank it down, and said, "Thank you."

At that moment, I realized something.

 

I thought that was the first time she had honestly asked me for a favor.

 

I stared into her blue eyes.

 

"What is it?"

 

Mikoto-san asked me with a confused look on her face.

I shook my head.

 

"It's nothing."

 

"Is that so?"

 

"Is there anything else you want me to do?"

 

"I need to go to the bathroom..."

 

"Can you walk?"

 

"I think I can walk, but I might wobble on the way..."

 

"Do you need help?"

 

Mikoto-san nodded her head in a sincere manner.

I wondered if Mikoto-san suddenly became more honest because she was weakened by a cold or because I told her to accept goodwill with an open heart.

I held out my hand to Mikoto-san, and she took my hand and got up.

 

Her beautiful silver hair swayed softly.

 

I did as she told me and walked to the bathroom.

 

"I'm sorry, but it's so embarrassing..."

 

"I won't wait for you in front of the bathroom."

 

I laughed, and Mikoto-san retreated into the bathroom.

I kept a little distance from her and waited for her to come out of the bathroom, and when she did, I took her back to the futon.

When she got into the futon, Mikoto-san coughed.

 

"I have some cough medicine, do you want some?"

 

"Yes..."

 

I went to get another glass of water and handed it to her.

She took it, but just as she lifted it up to drink it, it slipped out of her hand.

The glass tipped over, splashing all of its contents onto Mikoto-san's body.

 

"Hyannn!"

 

Mikoto-san screamed cutely.

I looked down and saw that her T-shirt was soaking wet and her underwear was showing through.

 

"Sorry."

 

I hurriedly looked away, but Mikoto-san looked at me strangely.

 

"Why are you apologizing, Akihara-kun? I'm the one who spilled it."

 

"No, it's a lot of things... Anyway, you can dry yourself off later, so go change your clothes. It's cold, right?"

 

"Why are you being so nice to me, Akihara-kun?"

 

Mikoto-san asked me in her wet pajamas.

She didn't have to ask me in that outfit, of all places.

 

I looked away and answered.

 

"There is no reason."

 

Hearing this, Mikoto-san asked in a doubtful voice.

 

"Look me straight in the eyes. Why are you looking away?"

 

I couldn't say that it was because I could see through her T-shirt, so I had no choice but to make eye contact with Mikoto-san.

The fabric of her wet sleepwear was clinging tightly to Mikoto-san's white skin, making her underwear more and more clearly visible.

 

She was wearing a pink bra with a floral design, which was surprisingly pretty, I thought to myself.

 

It would be more trouble than it's worth if Mikoto-san finds out first, so I had no choice but to say.

 

"Mikoto-san, your underwear is showing through."

 

At my words, Mikoto-san looked at her chest and her face turned bright red.

Then, in a panic, she tried to pull the blanket closer to hide it and seemed to realize that her body was wet.

I guess she didn't want to get the blanket wet, too.

She was at a loss as to what to do.

 

I thought that her flustered attitude was more pleasant to see than her underwear.

 

"I'm going out of the room, so go change your clothes."

 

I said this and pulled back the sliding door separating the room where Mikoto-san was sleeping from the rest of the apartment.

Surprisingly, I thought, Mikoto-san is often careless.

 

At that moment, the intercom rang.

Who could it be?

 

Just as I stood up to respond, I heard, "Haruto! Are you there!?"

Then I heard the sound of a door being unlocked.

 

It was obvious who the visitor was.

 

It was one of the three people who had the key to this apartment.

It was my childhood friend, Kaho Sasaki.