{Eating Hot Pot Together 1}

Fortunately, Miyu’s fever went down by the night of the second day.

However, the illness was not easy up to that point; on the first day, she seemed to wake up every hour while suffering from the fever, and I was busy replacing cooling sheets and the ice pillow. Her appetite was slow to return, and she could barely manage to take in fluids.

From the second day onward, we gradually introduced solid food, starting with vanilla ice cream, rice porridge, and simmered udon, until by lunchtime on the third day, she was well enough to eat plain white rice.

“Thank goodness, this rice is delicious…”

Even with such a simple meal of white rice, pickled plum, and tofu miso soup, Miyu was deeply moved.

Seeing her in that state made me relieved, yet my heart ached at how much weight she had lost in just a few days. She even seemed to have hollowed cheeks.

“You’re still recovering, so you shouldn’t push yourself.”

I prefaced my words with that and continued.

“Let’s take it slow and gradually regain your strength. You still can’t go to work, after all.”

“Yeah. I’m planning to start by walking around the area.”

Miyu also had a serious expression.

After all, she had been bedridden until yesterday. If she suddenly tried to walk the distance to work, she would surely be out of breath. Our immediate goal was for her to recover as much as possible before her leave of absence was over.

“I’m really sorry for causing you so much trouble, Atsushi-kun.”

She bowed her head slightly, still bearing the seriousness in her expression.

Of course, I worried about her, but I didn’t think of it as trouble. I had been prepared for this level of commitment when we decided to live together.

Still, I knew that no matter how many times I said, “Don’t worry about it,” she would worry regardless.

So, I half-jokingly replied.

“When I’m bedridden, I’ll count on you, Miyu.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll take care of you the whole time.”

Miyu declared this seriously and then let out a relieved sigh.

“But it’s great that you didn’t catch it, Atsushi-kun. You didn’t have a fever or anything, right?”

“Yeah, I didn’t show any symptoms at all.”

Living together and caring for her raised concerns about the possibility of infection. If that happened, I planned to ask one of our families for support; I had already contacted Miyu’s mother. However, after measuring my temperature daily, I never had a rise, and my health was fine. It seemed I had managed to avoid catching it.

“Once things settle down, I should contact my mom; she was worried.”

“Yeah, it’s been a long time since I was this sick—since high school, actually.”

Miyu nodded honestly and then glanced at the wall calendar.

The November calendar had cyclamen designs, and there was only a month and a half left in the year. She had put a bunch of mouse stickers on the date of my birthday, and seeing that made her gasp.

“Atsushi-kun’s birthday is tomorrow.”

Then she sighed, looking disappointed.

“Haah… to be bedridden at a time like this…”

“I’m just glad you’re feeling better; that’s enough.”

I said this to comfort her.

I had already canceled the reservation at the restaurant we had planned to go to. Even if her fever had dropped in one day, we wouldn’t have made it in time, and if she wasn’t in perfect health, any food wouldn’t taste good.

“But it’s tomorrow! Let’s celebrate something!”

Miyu pleaded desperately.

“Tomorrow, let’s eat something you like, Atsushi-kun. I’ll just watch you eat.”

That didn’t sound enjoyable at all.

Seeing her looking so miserable while waiting wouldn’t let me enjoy any feast either.

“It’s fine if you want to wait until you get better.”

“But birthdays only come once a year, you know? This year, it’s just tomorrow.”

She pressed on earnestly, but I didn’t place much importance on my birthday. I was mostly just happy that Miyu wanted to celebrate it. Last year had felt significant since it marked the end of my teenage years, but turning twenty-one didn’t carry the same weight.

Still, I didn’t think it would help to tell her that honestly, as she wouldn’t accept it.

“Something you want to eat, huh…”

Thinking about it, the first thing that came to mind was the menu that had been occupying my thoughts lately.

“Then, how about we have a hot pot at home?”

Since we needed ingredients that she could still eat after her recovery, we settled on a simple hot pot with napa cabbage and pork belly.

Seafood was still intimidating, and mushrooms weren’t good for digestion. She should be able to enjoy well-cooked napa cabbage.

On my birthday, I finished shopping on my way back from university and started preparing the hot pot once I got home. I simmered the ingredients in chicken broth and prepared thin udon noodles for the finish.

In the living room, I set up a slightly early kotatsu, and we gathered around the hot pot together.