All the Heroines Who Showed Their Overwhelming Emotions on Me Have Mentally Broken Down and Gone Insane, so Now My Only Choice Is to Pamper Them Endlessly to Avoid Total Chaos — Sweets Work Best on Lovesick Heroines - Chapter 5.2: Nursing a Weakened Heroine Is Effective

Chapter 5.2: Nursing a Weakened Heroine Is Effective

Her breathing was feverish.

Sweat trickled down her neck and pooled in the hollow of her collarbone.

The moment he noticed that, his senses sharpened unconsciously.

The glimpse of white skin at the collar of her pajamas.

A raw, weighty scent like sweat evaporating.

The scent of Raimu Tendo’s body.

This was bad.

Staying in this space would be dangerous. He’d get swallowed up.

“Kaname.”

Her fever made her vision hazy, and her languid eyes gazed at him.

Yet it felt like she could see only him clearly, with that look.

“I like you.”

“–!”

“I love you so much.”

When weakened, Tendo was truly a different person from her usual self. The mad obsession and the commotions that dragged everyone around were absent now. There was just one girl who wanted him.

It was dangerous. If this continued, he’d get swept into Tendo’s pace.

Something, anything to change the subject.

He averted his gaze as if fleeing, and his eyes stopped on the bedside table.

A glass of water and a bowl of ice water for the damp towel.

And an unopened bottle of medicine.

Right. The medicine.

“Uh… did you take your medicine?”

“Not yet.”

“You won’t get better if you don’t.”

“But I hate pills.”

Tendo made a troubled face.

“My throat hurts too, so swallowing is tough.”

Now that she mentioned it, her voice was hoarse.

The cold must have gotten to her throat.

Perfect. He took the bag of jellies with his left hand.

“Get-well gift. I bought jelly, so use that to wash it down.”

“Jelly?”

“Grape and peach flavors. I think you like grapes.”

“You remembered my favorite?”

Damn. He’d said too much.

“I’m happy.”

Tendo smiled softly.

It wasn’t her usual pushy smile; it was like a sunbeam.

“Then, the grape one.”

So the peach one… well, she’d eat it whenever she wanted.

“I’m letting go of your hand now.”

She looked a bit dissatisfied, but unusually, she didn’t resist.

She really was subdued today.

He peeled off the lid of the jelly and tried to hand her the spoon from the supermarket.

But Tendo opened her mouth while still lying down.

“Ahh.”

“Huh?”

“Feed me.”

“Eat it yourself.”

“Sitting up hurts.”

Tears welled up in Tendo’s eyes again.

“Please…”

She looked up at him with moist eyes.

This was foul play.

No, wait. Was she doing this on purpose?

Probably overthinking it.

“…All right.”

Either way, refusing here would make her cry, and to avoid the hassle, he’d go along.

His daily life with her was truly a series of passive choices.

He scooped up some jelly with the spoon and brought it to her mouth.

Tendo took it in, lips closing around it gently.

When he pulled the spoon out, he could see her swallow the jelly with a gulp.

“Delicious.”

“Throat okay?”

“Yeah.”

He scooped up more jelly and brought it to Tendo’s mouth.

He knew this situation was odd.

But since she was sick, it couldn’t be helped.

Maybe it wasn’t really unavoidable, but that was the only way he could distract himself.

When only a little jelly remained, he picked up the medicine from the table.

“Here. Take it properly.”

“Ehh.”

“Use the jelly to wash it down.”

“That somehow feels like treating a baby.”

Too late for that.

She’d already demanded “ahh” like an infant.

“Deal with it.”

“Then, help me sit up a bit.”

Once it got this far, it was all or nothing.

He removed the damp towel from her forehead and soaked it in the bowl of ice water.

Then he slipped his left arm into the gap between her back and the sheets, tilting her upper body up.

Her hair, gathered outside the pillow, cascaded down onto his arm with a soft rustle, and a dense scent pierced his nostrils.

Stay strong, me.

This was just nursing. Nothing more, nothing less.

Medical care. Yes, medical care.

But from this angle above, he could see down her front… He averted his eyes as much as possible while using his free right hand to put the jelly and pill into her mouth.

Finally, he had her drink some water from the glass.

As he moved her long hair back outside the pillow, he laid Tendo’s body flat on the bed again.

He wrung out the damp towel and placed it back on her forehead.

It was done.

“Being with Kaname makes it feel like even my illness will heal.”

Unaware of his feelings, Tendo smiled.

Her reaction eased his mind a little.

“That’s way too placebo.”

“But you came to visit, held my hand… treated me so kindly… it really feels like a dream. Wait, is it a dream? Everything feels all floaty.”

As if confirming reality, Tendo gripped his hand again.

“Kaname. Don’t go home.”

“I’ll stay until your mom gets back.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But I’ll have to head out before nightfall.”

He had a promise with Kokoa. That was non-negotiable.

“So, you rest quietly and sleep, Tendo.”

“Okay.”

Tendo’s eyes softened in relief at the corners.

“Then, hold my hand until then.”

“Just until you fall asleep.”

The heat transmitted from her palm felt a bit cooler than before.

Whether her temperature had dropped or his had risen, he didn’t know.

“Kaname. Thank you for today.”

Tendo closed her eyes. She regulated her breathing while holding his hand.

He didn’t know how many minutes passed before it turned into sleeping breaths.

Outside the window, the sky had begun to tilt.