...
"Knock knock——"
"Knock knock——"
"I'm coming." The moment Lucian opened the door, a fragrant breeze brushed past him, and a warm softness pressed into his embrace. "Suzuka."
Lucian slowly wrapped his arms around Silence Suzuka's waist, while she held onto him tightly.
"Suzuka, what's wrong?"
It had only been a single day, yet Silence Suzuka already couldn't bear it. The moment she saw Special Week return to the dormitory, she rushed over.
"I missed you. Doesn Lucian-kun miss me too?" Silence Suzuka whispered into Lucian's ear.
"Of course I do."
Silence Suzuka looked at Lucian with suspicion. "Why does Lucian-kun's voice sound strange? And you don't look well at all."
"Mmm... I'm not feeling well. I stopped by the clinic earlier—turns out I have a mild fever."
"You're sick?" Silence Suzuka frowned, a hint of anger in her voice. "Why didn't Lucian-kun tell me?"
"It didn't seem that serious, and I thought it was just dizziness and fatigue."
"But even after confirming it, Lucian-kun still didn't tell me."
"Suzuka, I didn't want you to worry."
Silence Suzuka bit her lip, her eyes turning slightly red. "But isn't it natural for me to care about Lucian-kun?"
Lucian felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry..."
"Being childish about something like this... Hurry up and go inside, or I'll carry Lucian-kun in myself."
Silence Suzuka took Lucian's hand and led him into the bedroom.
She made him lie back down on the bed, then picked up the bag of medicine on the table. "Have you taken your medicine yet?"
"Not yet. I haven't eaten lunch or breakfast." Lucian added, "But I just ordered takeout. My appetite isn't great, so I just got some congee and small meat buns. Do you want some, Suzuka?"
"I've already eaten." Silence Suzuka leaned down and gently pressed her forehead against his. "From now on, you can't hide it when you're sick."
"Mn, I understand."
...
The takeout arrived quickly.
Silence Suzuka looked at the small bowl of congee and three tiny meat buns in front of her. "Lucian-kun, are you really going to be full with this?"
"Come on, I'm not a horse girl." Despite his weakness, Lucian didn't want Silence Suzuka to worry too much, so he forced himself to appear less sickly.
"Lucian-kun, eat." Silence Suzuka stirred the congee with a spoon, scooped up a portion, blew on it gently, then tested the temperature against her lips before feeding it to Lucian. "Ah—"
"I can actually feed myself..."
Silence Suzuka glared at him.
Lucian's voice, like a flame in a strong wind, gradually weakened into silence as he obediently opened his mouth. "It's good."
"Then finish all of it. No more talking."
"Got it." Lucian remembered that when he was sick as a child, his mother had taken care of him like this too.
...
Half an hour after lunch, Lucian took the medicine prescribed by the doctor.
"Lucian-kun, aren't you supposed to have a strong body? How did you suddenly get a fever?" Silence Suzuka sat by the bed, resting her chin on her hand as she muttered, "Could it really be because we've done it too many times...?"
There was no way Lucian would admit any weakness. "It's not because of you. I caught a cold last night while sleeping. Though I hugged—"
He seemed to realize something and abruptly cut himself off.
But Silence Suzuka's interrogative gaze was already piercing through him like a sharp sword. "Hugged what?"
"Nothing. I meant, even though I was wrapped in blankets, they were too thin. The sea breeze blew all night without stopping, so I must've gotten sick from the cold."
Close call. He almost slipped up and mentioned hugging Special Week.
"I see." Silence Suzuka withdrew her gaze. "Are you feeling any better now?"
"The medicine just kicked in. It won't work that fast."
"I just want you to get better soon. Seeing Lucian-kun sick makes me really sad." Silence Suzuka stroked his forehead again.
Lucian smiled. "Where did you learn all these sweet words after just one day apart? From those adult books?"
"What adult books? I haven't read any, and I don't need to learn." Silence Suzuka pressed a light kiss to his lips. "I'm not going back today. I'll take care of Lucian-kun."
"Actually..."
"Hmm?"
"Uh, actually, that's fine. I'm also worried about getting a high fever at night or something."
"Exactly. That's why you need me to take good care of you."
"Mn, mn." Lucian adjusted his position, and his sidelong gaze happened to land on Silence Suzuka's legs.
Silence Suzuka looked down, then pulled off her stockings. "Extra meal?"
Lucian: "..."
"Don't mess around."
"Wasn't that what Lucian-kun meant? Your eyes were saying it just now." Silence Suzuka took off her jacket, revealing the Tracen Academy JK uniform underneath. "Lucian-kun, can you scoot over a little?"
"You're going to lie on a sick person's bed?" Even so, Lucian shifted aside to make space.
Silence Suzuka lifted the covers and slipped in.
"You... why do you smell so nice?" Lucian was still somewhat feverish, and he almost said, "Why do you all smell so nice?"
"Is it my hair? Or maybe, like the books say, it's the natural scent of someone destined for you?" Silence Suzuka also leaned in to sniff Lucian's neck. "You didn't shower yesterday. You smell a little bad."
"No way! I didn't even sweat much."
Besides, he had been hugging Special Week while sleeping last night. If anyone smelled bad, it would've been her—nothing to do with him.
"Stinky or not, I don't mind Lucian-kun." Silence Suzuka wrapped her arms around him, curling her legs and tucking them into his embrace. "You can touch them now."
"Really... no, I wasn't thinking about that." Lucian quickly corrected himself. "But since you're offering, I guess I will."
He gently squeezed the soft flesh of Silence Suzuka's thighs. "I'm feeling a little sleepy. The medicine must be working."
"Sleep, Lucian-kun. I'll stay with you. I'll also make dinner for you tonight." Silence Suzuka pouted and pecked his cheek.
"Alright, I'll look forward to it then..." Lucian slowly closed his eyes, his body and mind finally relaxing.
...