Chapter 6 Warmth of Kindness

Warmth of Kindness

——I suddenly realized that it was already morning.

“… Haah!”

I look at the morning sun coming through the window and sigh.

I feel terrible. I hadn’t slept at all.

It was no surprise. When I close my eyes, I can’t help but have flashbacks of yesterday’s events, so I can’t sleep.

The image of Takeshi and Kaori embracing n🬀🬀ed stuck in my mind even though I wanted to forget it. The sound of them laughing at me and the sound of her charming voice, which I didn’t want to hear, stuck in my eardrums and wouldn’t go away.

(I can’t use my room anymore.)

I slept on the sofa in the living room last night. My room on the second floor is across from Takeshi’s room, so whenever I look out the window, I can’t help but remember that scene.

I didn’t use my room to forget as soon as possible, but I still can’t sleep…Perhaps my mood is worse than I thought.

(…Should I take the day off from school today?)

Was it lack of sleep or stress?

I don’t feel well. My head was really dizzy, so it’s not like I’m pretending to be sick.

I should take it easy today and take the day off from school.

I thought if I did that, I wouldn’t have to see Takeshi and Kaori…So I turned on the TV.

I was lounging around watching a morning variety show when.

Bingbong—

The intercom rang. Who is it so early in the morning?

The only people who come to my house are either relatives who live far away or delivery men. It was strange for either of them to come at this time of day, so I opened the front door suspiciously and…found Hana-san there, dressed in an apron.

“Oh, good morning. Takumi-kun, sorry for the sudden appearance.”

“… let’s see…”

How did she know I was home?

It was after nine. I would have been at school by now.

“I thought maybe you were home, so I came to see you.”

“How did you know?”

“If you weren’t home, that would’ve been fine, but I came to…just in case. I’m glad you’re home.”

Hana-san said so, and this is where I finally read what she really meant.

(…She was worried about me.)

If I attend school, it means that I’m in good health.

But if I’m at home, it means I don’t have the energy to go to school.

Hana-san must’ve pressed the intercom to check on my condition.

“Can I come to your house? I thought I’d make you breakfast. I also want to do some cleaning and shopping that I didn’t get to yesterday.”

You really are a very disciplined person.

Hana-san told me this yesterday.

(Let me atone for Takeshi’s sins.)

She said she would do anything for me. True to her word, she lightly cleaned my messy house yesterday. However, it got late and Hana-san went home without doing any serious cleaning.

It seems that she will continue to do so today.

Well, there was no reason to refuse.

I nodded and invited her in, and Hana-san bowed politely and entered the house.

“Sorry to bother you…Speaking of which, Takumi-kun? You look pale, are you okay?”

“No. I’m not well enough to go to school.”

“I see. Ah. Can you stop for a second? I’d also appreciate it if you’d squat down.”

“…haah!”

I stopped and squatted as I was told.

It was good that I was now at eye level with the shorter Hana-san, but…what on earth did she want?

As I watched her suspiciously, Hana-san suddenly brought her face close to mine and put her own forehead against mine.

“What?”

I was a little startled.

It was not surprising. A beautiful woman suddenly put her face close to mine.

“Umm…what are you doing?”

“Hmm? I’m checking to see if you have a fever…you look a little feverish. Maybe I can make you some porridge to help with your digestion.”

That’s what she says…But if you want to take my temperature, you can use a thermometer, so there’s no need for skin-to-skin contact.

I thought she was defenseless or unaware…and as usual, she had a lot of gaps.

But I don’t feel bad.

(…I wonder when was the last time someone worried about me.)

Maybe since my grandparents died a few years ago.

To be honest, there was a part of me that wanted to spend time alone for now.

But I wondered if I would feel better if Hana-san was here.

The warmth of a person after a long time was so gentle that I couldn’t help but think about it——