...
"Lucian-kun, Lucian-kun?"
"Was it a dream...?" Amidst the repeated calls, Lucian opened his eyes, though he could hardly believe the scene before him.
If this wasn't a dream, how could there be a horse girl sitting on his stomach, waking him up—well, calling him to wake up?
She even lowered her head and kissed his lips.
The cool sensation and the dry friction of her lips against his made Lucian considerably more awake. "Suzuka..."
"Lucian-kun, you're finally awake."
"Did I sleep for long?"
"Mhm, it's almost 5 PM. Time to get up for dinner." Silence Suzuka climbed off Lucian. "Lucian-kun, are you feeling better now?"
Lucian sat up against the headboard. "Much better. Just a little dizzy, probably from sleeping too long."
"Then let's eat. I'll bring the udon from the pot. We're having noodles tonight."
"Okay."
As Silence Suzuka left the room, Lucian instinctively picked up his phone. "So many messages..."
Seiun Sky, Haru Urara, and Special Week had all sent multiple texts.
He quickly typed out replies, explaining why he hadn't responded in the afternoon.
As for the fever, he felt it would probably go away after a few more doses of medicine, so he didn't mention it to everyone.
"Phew~" Lucian set his phone down just as Silence Suzuka returned with a bowl of noodles.
"Suzuka, did you make this?"
"Mhm, I know a little about cooking noodles. If there's any other kind Lucian-kun wants later, I can learn."
"I'm not picky. Easy to please." Noticing there was only one bowl, Lucian asked, "Suzuka, what about you? Aren't you eating?"
"I'm not hungry. Lucian-kun should eat first, then take your medicine."
"Alright. I've never tried Suzuka's cooking before..." Lucian twirled a bundle of noodles and put it in his mouth—then immediately froze.
Guh... The saltiness was overwhelming, as if he'd taken a mouthful of salt, spreading until his tongue turned into a "salted fish."
"How is it, Lucian-kun? Does it taste good?" Silence Suzuka asked expectantly.
"It's good." Lucian forced himself to swallow. "Here, have a bite too."
He fed her a mouthful, and she didn't even try to swallow—she spat it out immediately.
"Bleh, bleh, bleh... Why is it so salty?!"
"Haha, ask yourself. Why is it so salty?" Lucian laughed, amused.
Silence Suzuka's mood dampened. "Sorry... I couldn't even do this much right, yet I said I'd take care of Lucian-kun."
Lucian's smile faltered for a moment before softening reassuringly. "The fact that Suzuka was willing to cook for me, a chef, already makes me really happy."
"Did you add too much salt? Or maybe mistook it for another seasoning? You can try again. I'll wait."
"Suddenly saying such sweet things..." Silence Suzuka, moved, straddled Lucian's stomach again. Then, intertwining her fingers with his, she pinned his hands against the wall and kissed him passionately.
When she finally pulled away, she looked at him with a smug expression.
"Taking advantage of me while I'm sick?"
"Even if Lucian-kun weren't sick, I could still do this. After all, Lucian-kun is mine." She gently touched his forehead. "I'll go make another bowl. Wait for me."
Just as Silence Suzuka was about to leave, Lucian grabbed her hand. "I'm still not full."
No finesse was needed—just like how Special Week treated him, being rough worked perfectly on Silence Suzuka.
Under a relentless barrage of kisses, Silence Suzuka finally pushed him away, breathless, her eyes hazy and her chest rising and falling lightly.
Lucian hugged her tightly, taking a deep breath. So this was the sense of security Suzuka could give him too.
Love was always mutual.
Silence Suzuka cradled Lucian's head, feeling his breath, and whispered softly, "Lucian-kun, I need to go cook now."
"Mhm." Lucian responded quietly but didn't let go.
"Can't you hug me again when I get back?"
A tender horse girl, spreading sweetness in real time.
The sugar levels in Lucian's heart were practically overflowing. "What if I say no?"
He tilted his head and pressed a kiss to Silence Suzuka's snow-white neck, marking her as his.
"No. Patients should behave."
"Fine, my dear doctor."
...
This time, the noodles Silence Suzuka made weren't too salty.
After finishing, she tasted them multiple times to ensure they were okay before bringing them to Lucian.
"Lucian-kun, try them now?"
Lucian took a big bite and finished the whole bowl, nodding in approval. "Delicious. A huge improvement over that bowl of salt earlier."
Silence Suzuka smiled but pouted. "What 'bowl of salt'? I just accidentally added too much!"
"Ah, right, right~ Our Suzuka's special 'salt noodles.'"
"Lucian-kun, say that again?!" She glared, though her tone softened. "But this is as good as I can do for now."
"And that's enough. Even if the flavor isn't perfect, the most important seasoning—your feelings—are already more than enough."
"My feelings?"
"Mhm. While eating, I can imagine you working hard in the kitchen, wanting to make this bowl of noodles perfect for me." Lucian thought for a moment, then added, "It's like how you feel when racing, wanting to respond to my expectations."
"What kind of profound analogy..." Silence Suzuka muttered. "Then, does Lucian-kun feel the same way when cooking?"
"I guess? I cook because I want to see you all happy and satisfied. That's why I aim for the best taste—not just cooking for the sake of perfect flavor."
"'You all'?"
"Erm... Everyone's part of the team, right? Suzuka wouldn't get jealous, would you?"
"What if I said I am jealous?" Silence Suzuka repeated her earlier move, looming over him. "Lucian-kun, is your fever gone now? Feeling better?"
"Maybe... just a little left?" Under her overwhelming pressure, Lucian's words came out hesitantly.
Silence Suzuka took out a thermometer and made him check. "38.1°C. A slightly feverish Lucian-kun... I haven't tried this before."
"Suzuka, your thoughts are dangerous."
"Hmph, and who was the one clinging to me just now...?" The curtains, unnoticed, had long been drawn by her.
After a pause, Silence Suzuka's voice came again.
"Shall we?"
"I think I still need to rest properly, uh..."
"Shall we?" Her exquisitely sculpted, breathtaking face drew closer in Lucian's vision.
"It's not even dark yet..."
Silence Suzuka turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness.
"Shall we?"
"...We shall."
...