The moment Kuro Kurogane noticed how quiet Aoi had become, he knew something was wrong.

She wasn’t simply quiet in the usual way, she seemed worse than that.

Because Aoi Tachibana would always go about the daily routine of her life in a very relaxed manner, such as cooking breakfast ,making tea ,telling Akari she forgot her homework ,calling Kuro for dinner.

But tonight she was just staring blankly in silence at the soup in front of her that she hadn’t touched.

And she looked pale.

Kuro could tell by looking at her that something was wrong.

"...Aoi?"

She blinked slowly at him.

"...Huh?"

"You alright?"

"...Yeah."

That part was a lie.

And it was an obvious lie because even Akari noticed.

"You’re sweating."

As Aoi gently touched her forehead, she seemed to realize it for the first time.

Then she said, very gently,

"...Maybe a little tired."

Just as she said that one more step forward, she almost fell.

Screaming erupted.

"AOI!"

Kuro caught Aoi before she hit the floor.

She was warm.

Way too warm.

Her body was burning against him instantaneously.

Kuro could feel his chest tighten up tremendously.

"...She has a fever."

Akari, who was standing right next to him, started to panic.

"WHAT DO WE DO."

"WHY ARE YOU CALM."

"WHY ARE YOU CALM."

"KURO, WHY ARE YOU CALM."

"I’m not calm."

He absolutely was not calmed down.

However, getting in a panic would not help.

So he carefully picked up Aoi and started walking towards her room with Akari quickly following behind.

And, unfortunately, Aoi had her hand on his shirt the whole time.

Even though she was in a semi-conscious state, she still reached for him without even thinking.

The sound of raindrops falling lightly onto the window was the only sound in the room, except for the low hum from the heating system.

Aoi was now lying under the blankets.

Her body was so weak and tired.

While lying curled up and shivering she looked very different from her usual self.

Kuro was next to Aoi’s bed sitting down and moving a wet washcloth from her head to her shoulder gently mopping up.

Akari was watching Aoi nervously; but said nothing.

"She never gets sick." Akari said quietly while Kuro looked at Aoi who was sleeping; unable to respond.

"I know. However, some people push themselves too much." Kuro replied in a soft voice to Akari.

Akari looked away from Kuro’s eyes and downwards as they shared this unspoken and well-known truth between them.

Aoi always took care of others before herself.

Including Kuro.

Especially Kuro.

A short time later Akari went downstairs to get medicine for Aoi, leaving Kuro all alone with Aoi.

There was complete silence between them.

Only the sound of rain outside the window, Aoi’s slow deep breaths, and the sound of quiet thunder in the distance could be heard.

Then suddenly Aoi stirred under the covers and spoke very weakly.

"Kuro."

Kuro’s heart stopped.

"I am here."

Aoi’s half-opened eyes turned slowly to see Kuro sitting next to her bed and upon seeing Kuro.

Then Kuro knew that his being in the room made Aoi feel safe.

"Sorry." Aoi said weakly while crossing her arms over her chest.

Kuro felt an urge to shake Aoi and then had to remember to remain calm as she had only said, "for what" .

Kuro’s eyebrows knitted together when Aoi said to him, "for making trouble."

Kuro’s mouth turned down as he said this softly but it was still spoken with a very gentle, soft tone, and Kuro took care to move the blankets around Aoi’s shoulders gently.

All the feelings from earlier had now come to a head.

"...You stayed."

Direct hit.

Kuro blinked.

"...Obvious."

But Aoi shook her head against her pillow.

"...You always stay."

Silence.

All of those words sat heavy in Kuro’s chest.

Because out of nowhere he remembered as well.

Storms at night coming home alone after she left with her father.

In the past Aoi would always search for him first.

And he would always end up next to her.

All of a sudden Aoi lifted her hand weakly to him.

And Kuro instinctively grabbed it.

Warm with a slight tremor.

Immediately Aoi was able to relax from merely having this small amount of contact.

Dangerous.

Extremely.

Then she said quietly

"...I love this moment."

Kuro’s heart nearly stopped.

Because the fever totally stripped her of any filter.

No ditches. No holding back.

Only pure emotion.

As she lay there holding his hand weakly, she closed her eyes

"...Like right now."

Silence.Kuro stared down at her.

The girl who always recognized how he felt.

Lately, always sat quietly next to him understood his thoughts without any explanation.

It finally dawned on him, how scary this really was Aoi has already made a major home in his heart.

It was probably bigger than he was ready to admit.

Then the bedroom door opened a crack.

Akari popped her head through the opening holding medicine.

Immediately Akari froze at the sight of.

Aoi’s Hand in the Kuro’s Hand .

Kuro sitting next to Aoi tenderly an incredibly intimate vibe filling the room

There was no talking.

Akari smiled at Kuro weakly after.

"... Wow. I think I’m really losing."

Direct emotional destruction

Kuro immediately turned to look at her.

"...Akari..."

Akari shook her head gently as a response.

Akari was still smiling.

However, Akari’s eyes were filled with sadness.

"...It’s okay."

A bold-faced lie.

A painfully obvious lie.

Then quietly Akari put down the medicine and walked to the front door.

Before she left, Akari looked back at Aoi, who was asleep.

Whispering softly, Akari said "... You loved him first, didn’t you?"

After this point, the room was silent.

Kuro’s chest ached suddenly.

What Kuro had just learned is that these weren’t childish feelings any longer.

For any of them.

For Kuro either.

The following evening Aoi woke briefly once more.

Feverish. Weak.

Immediately Aoi began to thrash through the bedding next to her looking.

Kuro was still there.

He hadn’t moved since Aoi had left him.

Immediately upon realizing that Kuro was still there Aoi’s face softened with the smile she wore.

An infinitesimal smile.

Evoking great beauty in her.

Completely vulnerable in that one gaze.

And without thinking Aoi said, still half-asleep"...Don’t go."

Without hesitation Kuro answered.

"...I won’t."

This unfortunately, felt alarmingly similar to a promise.