Does This Love Suit Your Taste? - Volume 1 Chapter 7.1

Fever 1

After the clash between Toui and Tojoin.

Due to Kazama’s whistle-blowing, the teachers discovered the duel caused by Tojoin.

Tojoin, the main culprit who caused the incident with a wooden sword was suspended from school for a week. On the other hand, Toui was not punished thanks to Rira’s strong defense. Thus, the situation came to an end.

“Hey, hey, did you see it, Ichigo? The duel between Tojoin-senpai and Kiminami Toui!”

“Ah? Well, yeah…”

Naturally, the duel became a topic of conversation in the classes, and the area around Ichigo, who was both Toui’s coworker and a classmate, was buzzing for a while.

However, Ichigo was already tired of hearing about it.

“But still, I can’t believe that S-Hime is very close with such a dangerous guy. Maybe she likes the thrill?”

Her friend talked about it so much that Ichigo also ended up remembering the figure of Toui, which she had etched in her mind among the many onlookers.

『The feeling of liking someone, the desire to do something—all of it, every bit of it, belongs to Shirahime alone!!』

She looked around the classroom, searching for Toui. Incidentally, Toui was absent from school today.

According to their homeroom teacher Hirai-sensei this morning, there had been no prior notice to the school, so both the teacher and classmates seemed to view it as his usual skipping.

However, under Rira’s influence, his absences had decreased recently, so it had been quite a while since Toui had not come to school.

She slumped over her desk sulkily and turned on her smartphone. However, having no particular reason and no topics to contact him about, she quickly put it in sleep mode.

She felt frustrated wanting to be involved with him yet being told not to be involved.

Like a mirror, a faint reflection of her sullen face appears on the black LCD screen.

“——Toui, you idiot…”

The feelings Ichigo harbors for Toui.

Needless to say, they are simple and clear, yet complex and intricate to convey—it’s her affection for him.

◇

『I thought I told you not to skip school!』

That’s the LINE message from S-Hime that flew in when I didn’t go to school. But I don’t have the energy to reply.

It’s not just a matter of skipping. My body is hot. Maybe I have a fever.

“Shoot… I should at least contact Mabuchi-san about school…”

Maison is currently running on a three-person team consisting of Mabuchi-san, me, and Ichigo, with Ichigo working three days a week and both Mabuchi-san and I working every day.

Originally, we had a very lenient system thanks to my father’s lax management. If either Mabuchi-san or I had plans or one of us fell ill, we would just temporarily close for the day.

Of course, this only works because none of us prioritizes personal plans over the store.

“Ah, no… that’s right, today is the day we rented out the place…”

Actually, today is the day a group that had made a reservation in advance is coming to our place.

Our cotton candy-like rules don’t apply to clients who’ve booked in advance, especially not to group customers.

“I can’t leave the hall to Ichigo alone… Maybe I’ll get better if I sleep…”

I collapsed onto the bed, wriggling inside the futon like a caterpillar.

“Ah~ I’m dying… dying dying dying~”

It’s been a while since I’ve had a fever. My head is pounding, and I’m drenched in sweat yet freezing cold.

I’m too sick to even think about going to the hospital.

Being alone at times like this is tough.

I felt like I needed someone’s help, even to the point of resenting my past self for pushing everyone away and stubbornly insisting I could handle living alone.

But there’s no one in this house. There’s no one outside either. I’ve always lived this way, always chosen this path.

I replied to Shirahime with just 『Fever』 and, exhausted, I closed my eyes.

◇

The intercom at home is ringing.

Who the hell is it, especially at a time when I’m feeling like crap…

From the way I feel getting up, I realize I’m far from recovered. In fact, I think it’s getting worse.

My skin stings just from rubbing the sweatshirt, and despite the temperature supposedly getting warmer, I’m shivering.

In such a state, I peek at the monitor.

“Uh…? What, why…”

To my surprise, the visitor is Shirahime.

She’s looking around restlessly, seemingly waiting for a response. Judging by her uniform, she must have come straight here after school.

The entrance that leads to my room is hard to find, yet she figured it out…

“I can’t even pretend to be not home… I already told her I have a fever…”

My already hot body feels even hotter with this surprise.

I hesitantly press the button to respond.

“…Yes?”

『…um, it’s Shirahime. Toui-kun, I’ve come to visit you.』

“It’s okay, you don’t need to…”

『Come on… I came all this way. Open up, I’ve brought all sorts of things for you…』

Shirahime hesitantly shows the gifts she’s brought from beyond the screen. She’s unusually polite today.

Well, let’s just get through it somehow.

Leaning against the wall as I went down to the entrance, there was the face of a woman who looked as strong-willed as ever when I opened the door.

Seeing her face while I’m sick like this is a bit overwhelming…

“…Hmm, it doesn’t seem like you’re slacking off.”

“What… are you doing here…”

My speech is surprisingly slurred.

“What do you mean ‘what’?… I’m saying I came to visit you… Are you okay? If you want, take this.”

Shirahime hands me a plastic bag filled with something.

“If you really are really sick and resting, I thought I’d bring you something to make you feel better… I’m glad I bought it.”

“No, that’s not necessary—ugh…”

The moment I try to take the plastic bag, dizziness hits me. Moving any further seems dangerous.

I barely manage to lean against the door to keep my balance.

“…Wait? Toui-kun, are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine-I’m fine… Then, I’ll just…”

“Whoa! Toui-kun!?”

Again, dizziness. This time it’s worse than before, and Shirahime caught me.

“Sorry… I’m going to sleep…”

“You’re clearly not okay! Um, what should I do… Should I go upstairs too?”

“No, you don’t need to…”

“No way! You live alone, right? You might die if I leave you alone!”

Such an exaggeration. But I don’t have the energy to argue it off, nor the strength to push her away anymore.

Shirahime took me by the shoulders and carried me upstairs to my room and took me straight to my bed.

How pitiful.

Before I can even berate myself, I collapse onto the sheets.