My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 69

Thanks to Yukina’s devoted care, I was feeling much better by the next day.

At school, Haru approached me with a creepy grin, saying, “Glad to see you’re back to full health.”

“The power of love from Yukina-chan, huh?” he teased.

“Huh?”

“After you left yesterday, Yukina-chan asked me what people usually want when they have a cold. I just gave her a random answer, and she rushed off after that.”

Haru laughed, asking if she’d caught up to me. In truth, Yukina had stayed by my side the whole time to take care of me, but explaining that would be a hassle. So, I simply answered, “Yeah, she caught up.”

Considering how slow I was walking yesterday because of the fever, and how athletic Yukina is, it’s not strange for people to believe she caught up.

Still, I didn’t realize she did all that for me.

Thinking about how much she took care of me yesterday made me feel warm inside.

“But Yukina-chan is late today. The bell’s about to ring,” Haru commented.

He was right. The bell was about to ring, but Yukina still hadn’t shown up. It’s rare for her to arrive after me, and she’s never been late before. Yukina’s had a perfect attendance record until now.

That made me worried. What if something happened to her on the way to school? This kind of concern is something I never would have thought about before.

“Maybe Yukina-chan caught a cold this time,” Haru joked.

His laughter was hard to join in on. After all, with how close we were yesterday, it’s entirely possible she caught my cold.

And as it turned out, Haru’s joke became reality.

The bell rang, and Yukina still hadn’t arrived. During roll call, the teacher muttered, “She’s absent due to a cold.”

I should have told her to go home right away. No, that’s wrong. It’s my fault for not refusing when she said she’d take care of me. Even though I was out of it, I shouldn’t have accepted so easily. After school, I’ll take her something nice.

A day without Yukina felt strange. Time passed as usual, yet it felt unnaturally slow.

Still, before I knew it, the day’s schedule was over, and it was time to head home. I packed my bag quickly, ready to rush out.

“Yusuke.”

Though I was in a hurry, I responded to Haru, my voice a bit impatient. “What?”

“It’s your turn now.”

He was indirectly telling me to bring Yukina something. That sly way of making me realize things without saying it outright is typical of Haru.

“I know. I’ll take something over.”

“Oh? For someone usually so dense, that’s surprising. Have you finally shed your cluelessness?”

“Shut up. Even I understand this much.”

“Haha, hope it doesn’t rain again.”

With a glare at Haru, I left the classroom.

I rushed to the convenience store near our apartment complex. Based on the tips Tadokoro gave me earlier, I picked up some items and headed home.

I arrived at Yukina’s door and rang the bell. After waiting a bit, there was no response, as if no one was home.

She might be sleeping, or at the hospital. I should send her a message. Moments like this make me glad Yukina and I exchanged contact info.

I pulled out my phone, opened the LINE app, and started typing in our chat.

“I rang the bell, but are you out or asleep? I bought some things to thank you for yesterday. If you don’t reply in five minutes, I’ll hang them on your door handle. Take them when you can. Don’t push yourself.”

After sending the message, I put my phone away and waited. Standing there in front of her door might make me look suspicious, but fortunately, everyone on this floor was out at this hour, so I didn’t have to worry.

Then I heard some noise from the other side of the door, confirming Yukina was inside.

The door creaked open, and Yukina peeked out. Her breathing was heavy, and her face flushed, likely from the fever.

“Y-Yusuke…”

“Hey, still alive?”

Yukina blinked at me a few times, then quickly realized something and shut the door until only her eyes were visible.

“…What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want you to think I’m a sweaty, smelly girl.”

I understood instantly. She hadn’t taken a bath. But honestly, I didn’t mind. I never thought Yukina smelled bad in the first place.

“It’s okay.”

“I’m the one who doesn’t like it.”

She stubbornly refused to come out, so I decided to respect her feelings.

“Should I just leave this here, then?” I said, raising the bag of items I brought. The door opened slightly wider, and Yukina stretched her arm out to take the bag.

Just as I was about to hand it over, the door swung open, and Yukina fell forward. I instinctively reached out and caught her.

She was light.

Yukina didn’t have any unnecessary or excessive weight on her body, so it was only natural that she felt light.

“You okay?”

“Y-Yeah…”

She said she was fine, but her body wobbled, and her breathing was even more ragged than before.

“…Can you make it back inside?”

“I-I’m okay…but let go of me.”

I let go of Yukina, but I couldn’t help worrying as she staggered and walked toward the wall.

“Yukina…Can I help you get to your bed?”

Whether it was my wording, her wariness, or her dazed state, Yukina didn’t answer right away.

“I won’t do anything. I’ll just help you walk there. Is that okay?”

“…Fine. But promise you won’t look around my room.”

“Got it.”

Telling myself not to feel awkward like yesterday, I opened the door wider. I took Yukina’s hand and led her inside.

To my surprise, the room wasn’t as messy as I expected. Even in her current state, she was keeping things together. Seeing her struggle made me admire her efforts.

“Here, Yukina. We’re almo—”

I remembered she didn’t want me to look around, so I kept my eyes closed as I opened her bedroom door. Once I got her to her bed, my job would be done.

Or so I thought, until I couldn’t move.

I expected her bedroom door to be closed, but it was wide open. She must have left it open in a rush when I arrived.

And I saw it.

“Wha…?!”

The walls of her room were covered with photos of me.