Sunday was a bright, clear day with a gentle, refreshing breeze.
Okabara Kyogumichi stood downstairs at Yukinoshita's apartment building, carrying a gray cat plushie he'd brought back from the arcade.
After stating his purpose to the doorman, he was let in, though he noted the doorman's curious glance.
Walking to Yukino Yukinoshita's front door, Kyogumichi straightened his clothes and rang the doorbell. The intercom quickly came to life with a slightly hoarse voice.
He had originally only intended to drop off the plushie and leave, but it seemed that wouldn't be possible now.
The door opened quickly. Yukino Yukinoshita stood in the entryway, wearing a cream-colored wool sweater, her hair casually draped over her shoulders, and her cheeks pale.
She clearly froze when she saw Kyogumichi, her eyes a little unfocused, obviously not in good condition.
"Why are you here?" Yukino's voice was heavily nasal, and she couldn't help but cough twice as she spoke.
"Your voice sounded off, so I came to check on you," Kyogumichi walked into the room, answering indirectly. He sniffed, and a faint scent of disinfectant wafted over him. "Do you have a fever?"
"It's just a small cold, nothing serious," Yukino turned her face away, trying to hide her discomfort, but she felt dizzy from the sudden movement and instinctively leaned on the wall.
Kyogumichi quickly stepped forward to support her: "You can't even stand steadily and you say you're fine? Go lie down in bed."
"No, I still have competition problems to finish organizing," Yukino struggled to push him away, but her voice was too weak.
"Rest is the most important thing right now," Kyogumichi's tone was unyielding. He half-supported, half-carried her to the bedroom. "Be good, lie down."
Yukino wanted to retort, but met Kyogumichi's firm gaze, and the words on her lips were swallowed back.
She reluctantly lay on the bed, but as Kyogumichi turned, she quickly pulled the blanket over her head.
Kyogumichi shook his head helplessly, placed the cat plushie he'd brought on the bedside table, and turned to walk into the kitchen.
There weren't many ingredients in the fridge, but enough to make a light bowl of plain congee.
He tied on an apron, skillfully rinsed the rice, added water, and turned on the stove, all in one smooth motion.
While waiting for the congee to cook, he found a thermometer and gently lifted a corner of the blanket, carefully tucking it under Yukino's armpit.
A muffled protest came from under the blanket, but she didn't actually push him away.
Kyogumichi sat on the bed and looked through the competition problems spread out on her desk. The notes marked in red pen were still neat, but the handwriting was a little shaky, clearly written with great effort.
Ten minutes later, he took out the thermometer. The reading of 38.6 degrees Celsius made him frown.
The congee had just finished cooking. He scooped a small bowl onto the table to cool, and then found fever medicine and antiviral oral solution in the medicine cabinet.
"Time to take your medicine," Kyogumichi gently patted the blanket.
The person inside the blanket stirred, but didn't show her head. Kyogumichi sighed helplessly and raised his voice: "If you don't get up, I'm going to pull off the blanket."
This statement was effective. Yukino slowly lifted a corner of the blanket, revealing flushed cheeks and wet eyes.
She obediently took the pills and swallowed them, her hands still trembling slightly as she drank the warm water.
"The congee has cooled down, do you want some?" Kyogumichi brought over the congee bowl, gently stirring it with a spoon.
Yukino shook her head, but when she smelled the aroma of the congee, her stomach uncooperatively rumbled.
Her cheeks grew even redder, and she turned her face away, not daring to look at Kyogumichi.
"You need to eat something to build up your resistance," Kyogumichi scooped a spoonful of congee to her mouth. "Open up."
Yukino hesitated for a moment, but finally opened her mouth obediently.
The warm congee slid down her throat, carrying a faint rice aroma, which relaxed her tense nerves a bit.
Kyogumichi patiently fed her about half a bowl of congee, and only after seeing her lie back down did he tidy up the dishes and return to the kitchen.
He scooped the remaining congee into an insulated container and wrote a note to stick on the fridge, reminding her to heat it up before eating when she woke up.
When he returned to the bedroom, Yukino was already dozing off, but her brows were still slightly furrowed.
Kyogumichi gently covered her with the blanket, placed the gray cat plushie next to her pillow, and then took out a sticky note to write a message: "I'm leaving now. This is a gift for you. There's leftover congee on the table; don't forget to heat it up when you wake up, and remember to take your medicine. Take care of yourself."
After writing, he placed the note next to the plushie, carefully checked the doors and windows, and then quietly left.
By the time he walked out of the apartment building, it was completely dark.
Kyogumichi encountered a curly-haired woman in a red trench coat downstairs. She had an elegant demeanor and a playful smile on her lips.
As they brushed past each other, the woman gave him a thoughtful glance. Kyogumichi didn't pay it any mind and quickened his pace towards the bus stop.
After an unknown amount of time, Yukino woke up feeling thirsty.
The room was very quiet, with only the moonlight from outside the window spilling onto the floor.
She sat up, feeling much better, but noticed a fluffy object by her pillow.
Picking it up, she saw it was a gray cat plushie, exquisitely made, with cute round eyes.
Next to it was a note, and the familiar handwriting on it made her cheeks instantly turn scorching hot.
She hugged the cat plushie, her fingers gently poking its face, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curved upwards.
"Idiot..." she mumbled softly, but her earlobes were flushed.
The plushie in her arms was soft and carried the scent of sunshine, making her feel very secure.
Yukino buried her face in the plushie, repeating the same phrase under her breath. But there was no hint of anger in her voice, only a touch of sweetness.
Moonlight shone through the window onto her face, revealing the girl's rare shy expression.
Yukino hugged the plushie and lay back down, a faint smile still lingering on her lips, and soon drifted into sweet dreams.