The Beautiful Girl Who Asked Me to Pretend to Be Her Boyfriend Didn’t Want to Break up With Me for Some Reason - Chapter 36

“…But in a way, catching a cold right after summer vacation started might be considered lucky. You’ll have me by your side the whole time, after all.”

Lying in bed, Shirafuji murmured softly, her cheeks faintly flushed.

It was probably due to her fever.

She reported her symptoms as just fever and fatigue, with no coughing or sore throat.

However, she seemed so weak and listless, lying there limp.

And yet, Shirafuji looked up at me with a faint smile.

Seeing her in such a state evoked indescribable feelings within me, but I made an effort to not dwell on them.

Well, as Shirafuji said, it was fortunate this happened after the break started.

If school were in session, I would have had to leave her behind, which would have worried me.

Leaving Shirafuji, whose daily life skills are already precarious, to fend for herself while sick would likely mean she wouldn’t even manage proper meals.

“Stop saying silly things and just rest. Do you have any appetite?”

“I feel like I could eat a little.”

“Got it. Let’s keep it simple with some rice porridge for breakfast.”

“…That sounds good. Sorry for the trouble.”

“Cooking porridge is no trouble at all.”

I decided to make egg porridge.

Topping it with some pickled plums from my lunch stash would add a nice touch of color.

The mild sourness might help stimulate her appetite, but who knows?

As for me, I’d settle for toast with fried eggs or some bacon.

But it seemed I’d need to go shopping later.

I should get some sports drinks and other easily digestible foods.

There should still be cold medicine and cooling gel sheets left over from last time.

The expiry dates shouldn’t have passed, but I’d better double-check before preparing breakfast.

Leaving Shirafuji alone to go out was a bit worrying, but it couldn’t be helped.

I’d need to butter her up a bit before I leave, though. That much is kind of cute.

When someone’s unwell, they tend to crave human warmth.

The last time Shirafuji caught a cold, it was the same.

She looked so lonely, always watching me when she was awake, asking me to stay close, hold her hand, and so on.

Given her family situation, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. Now that I know the full story, even more so.

“There’s no hospital open today since it’s a holiday.”

“I’m not that bad. Medicine and rest should do the trick…”

“I hope so. But if you’re not better by the weekend, we’re going to the hospital.”

“…Alright. I’ll do my best to recover. I’d rather not go to the hospital.”

Shirafuji furrowed her brow slightly as she muttered that.

Apparently, she wasn’t fond of hospitals.

Her reason? As a child, she had a painful experience getting a vaccination.

It was such an adorable reason that I almost laughed when I first heard it.

It’s not like they give you shots for a cold.

Still, it seemed like one of those conditioned responses.

…Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing her resist going to the hospital, just a little.

“…I’m sorry for causing trouble for you again.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s the second time, so I’m more prepared. Plus, it’s summer vacation, so I have the time to stay by your side all day. Brace yourself.”

“…I only worry about passing my cold to you, but I’m fine with that.”

“Don’t overthink it. I’ve got a strong constitution.”

It’s been so long since I last caught a cold that I can’t even remember when it was.

Reassured, Shirafuji murmured, “You’re right,” and smiled faintly.

Her normally reserved expression was softer and more relaxed, likely due to her illness and the comfort she felt around me.

She usually had a slightly more composed air about her.

If she made that face at school, her image would surely change—or so I thought, only to feel a pang of jealousy at the idea.

I wanted to be the only one to see that face.

While pushing down such possessive feelings, I decided to keep them to myself.

“Alright, I’ll go make breakfast. Can you wait here alone?”

“I’m not a child; I’ll be fine.”

Though she pouted as she said it, there was a slight air of unease about her.

Her eyes seemed to say, “Don’t go.”

Shirafuji liked to act cool, but at her core, she craved affection.

It wasn’t surprising that being sick would amplify that.

“Want me to hold your hand for a bit?”

When I offered my hand, she hesitantly reached out from under the blanket and grasped it weakly.

Her hand, warmer than usual, conveyed her fever to me.

I met her gaze and silently encouraged her to hold on as long as she needed.

But as soon as our eyes met, she quickly looked away.

She seemed embarrassed to be clinging to me after insisting she was fine.

“You can lean on me more, you know. I won’t get annoyed or disappointed. It’s reassuring when you depend on me, even for small things.”

“…You really are a meddlesome person, Hakuto.”

“Don’t need my forced care?”

“…I do.”

Though she seemed exasperated, Shirafuji eventually let go of my hand with a hint of reluctance.

She appeared satisfied for now.

After making sure she was comfortable, I told her, “Call me if you need anything,” and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Caretaker Level: 99