{A Promise Between Us 2}

After finishing my shopping, I hurried home and first placed a cooling sheet on her forehead.

“Haah…”

Miyu let out a sigh of relief.

The cooling sensation seemed to ease her discomfort just a little.

Next, I set up an ice pillow and made her a diluted sports drink. It seemed she wasn’t hungry at all, even though she hadn’t eaten breakfast. With such a high fever, it was no surprise she had no appetite.

“Atsushi-kun, what about university?”

Now feeling a bit more relaxed, Miyu, lying in bed, asked me.

“I’ll be taking today and tomorrow off to see how things go. I might be a carrier myself.”

When I answered that, she closed her eyes apologetically.

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I couldn’t leave Miyu alone while she was feeling this way, and I had planned to take a break even if it wasn’t the flu. I decided to take care of her and spend the next couple of days quietly.

“Especially since your birthday is so close…”

Miyu continued in a weak voice.

Now that I thought about it, my birthday was just three days away. I had made a reservation at that dining bar, but it would be better to cancel. Even if her fever went down, I couldn’t take her out, and if she wasn’t feeling well, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the food anyway.

“It’s just a little delay.”

I smiled slightly, trying to reassure her.

“When you get better, we’ll go. I’ll make another reservation.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Seriously, it’s fine. Just rest easy for now.”

When I gently placed my hand on her blanket, I could feel the intense heat coming from her, even through the bedding.

It must be tough for her, but she didn’t need to worry about me. Despite my concern, Miyu reached out from under the covers with one heated hand, awkwardly holding out her pinky.

“Promise… we’ll definitely go.”

“Uh, okay.”

When was the last time I did a pinky swear? I couldn’t even remember who I last did it with.

I intertwined my pinky with hers for a simplified pinky swear.

“Alright, pinky swear. When you get better, we’ll celebrate together.”

Miyu looked up at me with dreamy eyes.

Yet, her tone was clear as she said, “It’s a promise.”

So I looked back into her eyes and nodded.

“It’s a promise.”

Not long after, she fell asleep.

Feeling relieved by her peaceful breathing, I quietly moved away from the bed.

Just as I carefully tiptoed out of the room, I suddenly felt like I heard my name called.

“Atsushi-kun…”

I hurriedly turned around.

“Miyu? Did you call me?”

I asked, but there was no response.

When I returned to the bed, Miyu still had her eyes closed and her breathing was calm. It seemed she hadn’t actually called for me. Maybe it was a sleep talk.

While I was watching over her for a while, her chapped lips moved again.

“Birthday, let’s celebrate…”

Her tone wasn’t as strong as when she was awake.

But it definitely sounded like that.

“Yeah.”

My answer surely didn’t reach her. But even in this moment, knowing that she was murmuring about the celebration while battling a fever made me happy.

As I left the room where she was sleeping, I recalled that I had heard similar mumblings in the past.

Those words from back then were honestly complicated, and at that time, all I could do was take her to the infirmary. I was in such a pitiful state, just waiting silently for the school nurse to arrive.

But now, I was by her side, able to care for her as much as I wanted.

And since she was murmuring my name while suffering from a fever, I figured it was no big deal that our birthday plans had fallen through.

However, I still wasn’t used to the silence in this room—so I hope Miyu gets better soon.