"Okay. I'll let both your teachers know."
"Thank you, Mei."
"Take care. If you need help with anything, feel free to call."
"Will do."
I hang up the phone call with Mei as I focus my attention back on Reina who's still laying in bed. I've been up most of the night caring for Reina as she's still quite feverish. I originally planned on going to school, but when I told Mei that Reina wouldn't be able to make it today, she told me to stay home and take care of her. Even still… I still feel bad missing out on a day of school… even if it's nearly the holidays.
"Sis…"
"Yes?"
"...I'm sorry."
"Don't worry. I don't mind skipping a day if it means you'll be okay."
"...Thank you."
Using a damp cloth, I gently wipe her forehead, getting rid of some of the sweat build up.
"C-c-c-cold…"
"Just bare with it, okay?"
It's a funny thing with fevers. Your body is sweating yet you feel cold. It shouldn't make sense, but here we are… I think back to the time when I myself was sick as I remember feeling the exact same way. But as I look down at Reina's clothes, I notice that it's not just her forehead that's been sweating profusely, but also the rest of her body as I can see her pajamas are sticking to her skin.
"...Reina. I need you to sit up for me."
"H-huh?"
"We need to get these clothes off you."
It'd cold enough as is being the winter season, but add her sweaty clothes on top of it… no wonder she feels cold…
So, I help her sit her up before helping to unbutton her shirt. It's only when I finally peel her shirt off do I realize just how much sweat as built up inside her shirt.
"S-s-sis… It's s-still cold."
"Lay back down, I'll quickly wipe you down and get you under the covers."
"O-okay…"
After rinsing the cloth in the bucket of now room temperature water, I carefully start wiping down Reina's body, starting from her neck.
"It's cold!"
"It's not that cold, trust me. Your body is just overheating. Just try and relax."
"I've never felt like this before…"
So she hasn't been sick until now? I can't help but smile at the fact. I guess this makes two of us.
"Right. Now your underarms."
"HNNGGH!!"
The moment I lifted her arm and apply the cloth to her armpit, she immediately clenches up, catching my hand in the process.
"Bare with me."
"…"
Slowly, she releases my hand from under her arm as I gently finish wiping it down. The other arm went a bit more smoothly now that Reina's getting a bit more accustomed to it, but looking over the rest of her body, her chest and waist, there's still a bit to go. I feel as if I can still see sweat forming even now.
Before continuing, I rinse off the cloth once more in the bucket before squeezing out as much of it as possible, hoping that it won't be too cold for her.
"S-sis?"
"I'll be doing your front now. Can you handle it?"
"M-mm…"
"Good. Then here I go."
I guess firstly I should do the area where most of the sweat is, which would be between her breasts. But approaching that area might too too hard on her. So I decide to start wiping down her collarbone area first to get her accustomed to it.
"Mm-! Mmmm."
She tensed up for a moment before gradually relaxing to the cloth. I quickly finish wiping that area before moving onto the area in question-
"Mm-mmnh!!"
"Reina?"
"I-I'm okay!"
She's clearly not… I need to make this quick.
I pick up the pace, making sure that all the sweat from between her breasts is gone before moving onto each of her breasts themselves.
"Aahn! S-sis!"
"I know. I'm trying to go fast-"
"N-no. Please be... more gentle…"
Oh? Was I putting too much force into it?
"Sorry. Like this?"
"Mnn~ Yes. L-like that."
Isn't this too light though? I feel like I'm more so caressing Reina rather then wiping now. But if it'll make her feel more comfortable, then that's what matters.
"Nnngh- mmmh~!"
I move onto her other breast as she lets out muffled moans, biting down on of her fingers as if to combat against the coldness. Even her legs are rubbing against each other to try and keep herself warm…
"Sis…"
"I'm almost done."
With her breasts now done, I quickly finish off the sweat along her sides and belly before finally rinsing the cloth in the bucket. But even now that I've finish this part, Reina is still panting as it seems like more sweat will pour out of her forehead in any minute.
"Okay, I got one last place to do and then I'll wipe down your back."
"E-eh? I-I thought you were done?"
"No. I need to do your groin as well."
"H-h-huh?!"
I read on google that sweat also tends to build up there, and just looking at Reina's body down there, it does seem like there's a bit. It's not as bad as her shirt, so maybe it'll be fine leaving her pants on. That said, I'll need to really rinse out as much of this water from this cloth as possible.
So, after rinsing it as dry as possible, I slip the cloth underneath her waistband, only for Reina to immediately shut her legs closed.
"S-s-s-sis?!"
"Spread your legs for me a bit."
"...Mmmmm~!"
After a few moments, she slowly opens her legs back up. Her face boiling over. I really need to hurry this up...
"I'll be quick. I promise."
"Mmm... Ah-Aaahn~!!! Nghh~"
She muffles her moans into the pillow as I gently wipe her crotch, quickly wiping off her inner thighs, trying to wipe most of the sweat before quickly removing the cloth from under there.
"Haaah-haaaa. Haaaaah~"
Reina pants heavily as I toss the cloth back into the bucket. It's only then do I realize that I'm also out of breath as I come to realize what I just did.
After flipping Reina onto her front, I manage to wipe the sweat from her back just fine before helping Reina put on a clean shirt. I did offer to change her pants as well, but Reina seemed adamant about keeping her pants on.
"Right. I'll go make some honey and lemon tea. I read online that it's great for fevers."
"M-mm…"
"Let me know if you need anything.
Reina's point of view-
Oh my god oh my god oh my god! What just happened?! Sis didn't notice, right? Just what was that feeling? My heart's still racing like crazy. It felt like an electric bolt just shot up right through my entire body when she was touching me… down there. Even when she was wiping down my breasts, I felt it… but nothing to the extent of that…
"...haaaaah."
Finally though, it feels like my heart is started to calm down as I found myself reaching up to my breasts with my own hands, cupping them the same way that sis did with the cloth.
"Haahn!"
H-huh?! Wait, why am I so sensitive here? It's similar to that feeling from before. It's not painful, if anything it feels… nice.
"MM-! Mnnn…"
Before I knew it, my hands began moving on their own, trying to mimic sis' movements as that same warm, fluttery feeling gradually builds up inside me, sending jolts of shocks throughout my body whenever I grazed my nipple.
"W-what is this…?"
I mutter to myself as my hands refuse to stop. But just as I was about to move one hand down underneath my pants-
"Reina~"
"Y-y-yes?!"
I quickly retract both my hands as my eyes dart straight to the door as I watch sis enter the room.
"You alright?"
"I-I'm fine."
"Here. Taste this for me."
"That was quick."
"Well it's just honey and lemon juice in hot water. Pretty easy to make. Careful though. It's still cooling down."
"Th-thank you-"
Suddenly, I hear a phone buzzing on the bedside table next to us; sis' phone. Sis quickly picks it up before her eyes shoot wipe open.
"Ah! It's Yume."
"Huh?!"
"Here, why don't you answer?"
"U-uhm! O-okay!"
I know sis has been trying to get a hold of Yume for me, but she's been busy with things recently from what sis has told me. Something to do with relationship issues? So to finally get the chance to talk to her… I'm getting a bit nervous. That said, I press the answer button before bringing the phone to my ear.
"H-hello?"
"Luna! Sorry I couldn't get back to you. I was busy with you know what, and my parents also found out about my phone. It took some convincing but they said I'm allowed to keep it when I told them how I can use it for learning things online!"
She sounds so happy… I've never heard Yume like this before. Just how close is sis with her?
"Uhm, actually… This is Reina."
"Eh?"
"H-hi… Yume."
"WAIT! Wait, wait wait wait. Is this for real?!"
"Mm. I'm sorry I was so distant with you…"
I try and immediately set things straight with her, apologizing for being so rude to her in the past…
"Ahaha, that's okay! Haaah~ I'm just glad you're okay."
"Yeah. It's been quite crazy."
"I can imagine. Being in the city must come with it's own challenges, huh?"
"Oh you wouldn't believe it, Yume."
"Hehehe."
Hearing her laugh does ease my worries, but I really wasn't kidding. Not long after arriving I get slashed after getting robbed. Something like that never happens in the country… I don't really want to mention that to Yume though, especially with how happy she sounds right now.
"But I never thought you'd get a phone. You make it sound like it was a secret before?"
"Oh! Yeah. Actually, your sister, Luna bought me this phone. I've been keeping it a secret until now when my dad found out, aha."
"Pfft. I remember you saying how strict your parents were sometimes."
"So you 'were' listening during those times? I thought I was speaking to a wall."
"Yeah… I'm sorry about ignoring you all those times… and thank you for helping sis."
"Like I said, no need to apologize. I'm just so happy that we're actually talking~! Aaaaah~ If only this wasn't over the phone…"
"Yeah- ah-choo!"
"Oh? Wait, you don't sound okay. Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine. Apparently I'm sick."
"That's a first!"
I'm still wondering how I even got sick in the first place. Maybe it was Kanon? Anna told me yesterday that she picked up something from university, but I don't remember interacting with Kanon much besides helping them reconcile a bit. Can I really get sick just from a small bit of interaction?
"Are you doing okay? How bad is it?"
"Mm, it's pretty bad… but sis is taking care of me."
"Luckily it's the holidays! Hehe."
"No. We still have a couple weeks left I think."
"Eeeeeh?! Seriously?"
"Mm. I don't mind though. Gives me time to get accustomed to things."
"Hmmm~ Oh! Then what if you give me your number? I can call you that way! Maybe we can meet up or something when you're feeling better!"
"Yes… I'd like that."
I was too nervous to speak up on that, but I'm glad Yume still seems to want to be my friend. Only this time, I make a promise to myself that I'll be a "proper" friend to her and not be a "wall" like she mentioned…
After exchanging contact information, I passed the phone back to sis when she came back inside the room. They didn't talk much before ending the call as I took the time to finally drink the honey lemon tea sis prepared for me.
The temperature felt perfect as I felt like it was soothing my throat in a single gulp, and the honey made for a sweet and almost syrupy texture, combine that with the acidity of the lemon, I felt like I could drink this non-stop… which is what I found myself doing as I reached the bottom of the cup.
"Pfft. Were you that thirsty?"
"...Is there anymore?"
"Hehe. Coming right up your highness."
"Fufu."
As I watch sis walk out with the empty tea cup in hand, I think back to before the call, when I was touching myself… I feel fine right now thanks to the talk with Yume and the tea, but I feel like if I experiment again and try something, that strange, hot feeling will come back… Wait… just thinking about it has made that feeling come back? Why am I feeling like this?!
"…"
Maybe… just touching a bit longer might help me understand…
Meanwhile at school-
I came to school hoping to use what Nicole said and try and approach Luna, but I haven't see her all day.
"You think she's sick?"
"I don't know…"
Shin brings up the most likely reason, but somehow I don't feel like that's right. She never mentioned anything in her texts to me about it…
"Hmmm~ Maybe it's something work related?"
"...I don't think so."
Her work has never interfered with school before, so I doubt that could be it either.
"…"
Suddenly, a thought came to mind…
"...Maybe she's avoiding me?"
""huh?""
Both Shin and Zhen pause what they're eating when I mumbled those words out. Nicole being the only one that understand what my words mean.
"Seriously? What could you have done to make her avoid you?"
Do I just tell Shin? Thinking that, I find myself looking at Nicole for some guidance.
"...I don't think you need to worry about that, Midori."
"Nicole?"
"Luna doesn't strike me as someone to avoid someone for 'that' reason. She's got too much pride for that."
"Huh? What do you mean by 'that?' Wait, did something actually happen between Midori and Luna?"
Shin, quickly picking up on Nicole's words, asks the question directly.
"...U-uhm. I ki… kissed-"
"Midori. You don't need to-"
"It's fine. I'll say it."
Nicole tried to stop me out of concern for me, but I don't like the feeling of keeping this a secret. Especially to Shin who I know has a thing for Luna.
"I kissed… Luna."
"Oh? Like back when we played truth or dare?"
"N-no… It was on… the lips."
I couldn't take the embarrassment anymore as I buried my face in the palms of my hands, not wanting to look anyone in the face right now.
"Aaaaah~ So that's it."
"H-huh?"
"I was wondering why you've been so fidgety around Luna."
"I-I was fidgety?"
Wait, why is his reaction so… casual?
"Yup."
"Mm."
"Yeah."
All three of them nod in unison as I can feel my face only getting worse.
"Was I that obvious?!"
"Pfft-ahahahaha! You should see your face right now, Midori."
"Sh-shut up, Shin!"
"Sorry, sorry! But wow. To think you also had a thing for Luna."
"...You don't find it weird?"
A big reason why I chose to keep this between Nicole and I was that I was scared Shin might see me differently. I mean, as far as I know, it's not normal to like someone of the same gender…
"Hmm? Why would I?"
It's then that Shin turned his gaze to Zhen as I wound up doing the same.
"W-well… I like guys, so I can relate, haha."
""WOOOAH!""
Both Nicole and I raise our voices as we accidentally caught the other people's attention nearby in the other tables.
"Calm down you two. Yeah, Zhen told me a while back when I was at his place. He wanted to keep it a secret, but I guess after hearing you, Midori…"
So that's it…
"Well our little group just got a little more interesting."
Nicole is the first to speak up as she eyeballs both Shin and Zhen.
"So? Are you two a thing?"
"No of course-"
"No. Shin isn't my type."
"WHAT?!"
Zhen, cutting Shin off, speaks up as it seems like Shin himself somehow took offense to that. I couldn't help but giggle alongside Nicole.
"W-well, in any case, I like Luna. I'm perfectly straight, okay? Wait, but do we even know what Luna likes?"
It's then that all eyes were on me again as I end up recalling a previous conversation I had with Luna.
"I think… Well, I never explicitly asked, but it seems like she's straight as well. It's why I feel like she might be avoiding me at school…"
"I don't think it's that, Midori. I agree with Nicole. Luna's far too prideful to skip school on something like that. If anything I could see her coming to school and putting up her ice wall like she did in the past."
"Mm. I can see that too."
Nicole seems to agree with Shin as well… Maybe I'm just overreacting.