Ryota's POV.
Hot............
It seems like my fever is didn't even get away, huh?
But, not as hot when I got first sick.
..............
I was truly unlucky when I got caught up in the storm.
I should've let the storm pass but, well, I just recklessly went home and went on with my work.
This is the worse. Mom, Dad and Saya still need to work at the café.
Luckily though, someone visited me and it's Hayasaka-san.
But enough of these thoughts. I need to open my eyes and wake up.
I slowly opened my eyes and I saw immediately saw Hayasaka-san is sleeping beside my bed.
She's holding my hand as she's sleeping so soundly.
I smiled as I rustled her hair.
Ryota: Thank you for taking care of me.
I slowly went out from my bed and somehow, I feel a little better.
I went out from my room and I saw Dad brewing tea in kitchen counter of our living room.
Tatsuya: Goodmorning, Ryota. Feeling better now?
Ryota: A little bit.
I sat down on the sofa as Dad finishes brewing the tea and served it to me.
Tatsuya: Haysaka-chan told us yesterday that she'll stay here until tomorrow.
Ryota: I see.
Tatsuya: I believe she slept beside your bed.
Ryota: Yeah.
Tatsuya: She really took the time looking out for you.
Tatsuya: Since your mother, Saya and I are busy in the café, we don't know on how are we going to take care of you.
Tatsuya: So seeing Hayasaka-chan visiting you here, we really are fortunate as we don't have to worry.
I smiled at him as I drink the tea.
Tatsuya: Well, I always remembered the time you also became sick when you were a child.
Ryota: Ah, yeah.
Tatsuya: We were so worried that your fever is too high. We wanted you to bring to the hospital right away, but when we consulted the doctor.......
Tatsuya: They said that it was due to overfatigue and you need to rest for a little while.
Ryota: Yeah.
Tatsuya: Didn't we told you that you don't really have to push yourself too hard.
Tatsuya: You gotta take care of yourself.
Ryota: Thanks for the reminder.
Tatsuya: Anyways, I'll be going to work now. Also.........
Tatsuya: Your fellow members from the music club and the student council will visit you later.
Ryota: Eh?
Tatsuya: Well............
Tatsuya: Only a few will visit.
Tatsuya: Tohma-kun and Mio-chan from the music club. Then, Shirogane-kun and Shinomiya-chan from the student council.
Ryota: Tohma-senpai and Mio-senpai. Then Kaichou and Shinomiya-san. I see.
Tatsuya: Well, you got visitors for today. So, don't push yourself too hard, okay? Just rest up.
Ryota: Yeah.
Tatsuya: Well then, I'm off to work.
Ryota: Goodluck for today.
Then dad left the living quarters and went to the café.
I placed the cup back on the table as I lean my back on the sofa.
Ryota: *sigh*
Ryota: But seriously, they shouldn't bother. They are busy and all but........
???: It's because we care about you.
I turned to look in the corner of my eye to see Hayasaka-san who just woke up.
She's even wearing one of my blue hoodies.
Ryota: Oh. Goodmorning, Hayasaka-san.
Hayasaka: Goodmorning, Kaedehara-kun.
Then she sits on the sofa beside me and then she leans towards me as she puts her hand on my forehead and our faces are almost inches apart.
Hayasaka: Hm......your fever went down a little.
She lets go as she stood up and grabbed my apron.
Hayasaka: So, what do you want for breakfast?
Ryota: I don't know. Bacon, eggs, pancake? Either of the three.
Hayasaka: Okay, then.
I then grabbed the remote and switched the tv on watching the news. I can hear the sizzling of the pan in the background and soon after, the smell of pancakes wafting to the air.
Ryota: I see, she cooked the pancakes.
I then went to the dining table as she served the pancakes.
Hayasaka: Eat up, then drink your medicine afterwards.
Ryota: Okay.
I just ate my breakfast and she joined me as well.
After eating the breakfast, I took my medicine and went back to the sofa.
After a few minutes, Hayasaka-san sat beside me and then lay her head on my shoulders.
Ryota: You shouldn't do that, y'know. You might get my fever.
Hayasaka: Don't be silly. I won't get your fever.
Hayasaka: I'm here to make your fever go away.
I just smiled.
Ryota: Thanks.
Hayasaka: Save that, after you got well.
We just watched different shows on the tv until she asked me.
Hayasaka: Kaedehara-kun, what do you like to do whenever you are sick?
Ryota: Well, nothing. I mean, my parents always told me that whenever I'm sick, I should just take my time to rest.
Hayasaka: I see.
Ryota: Sorry, for making all of you worried for me.
Hayasaka: I told you, it's fine.
Ryota: Haha.
Ryota: You know, this kinda reminded me of Yuki.
Hayasaka: Your ex-girlfriend?
Ryota: When I also got sick one time, she didn't want go home until I got better.
Ryota: She stubbornly suggested that she's the one who'll take care of me.
Ryota: Haha.
Ryota: To think that she'll do that for me.
Ryota: Well, I also did that when she was in the hospital though.
Ryota: I took care of her, always visiting her after school, giving the handouts and all.
Ryota: It was really tough, especially for her, after all, she's battling with a disease that has a low chance of even surviving.
Hayasaka: You really cared a lot about her, do you?
Ryota: Of course. I guess, it's thanks to her that I became the person that I am today.
Ryota: But at the same time, I wanted to be my own person.
Ryota: The me who is..........just myself.
Ryota: It's quite ironic to think about this but........
Ryota: I hate liars. I really do.
Ryota: But I myself is lying to myself.
Ryota: I always think that, now is not the right time to find love but in reality..............
Ryota: .....................
Hayasaka: In reality?
Ryota: I wanted to find new love.
Ryota: I already broke the chains that shackled my heart. Now that I'm finally free............
Ryota: I was even wondering........
Ryota: How does it feel again to be in love?
Ryota: Hehe.
Ryota: It's been a long time that I even forgot the feeling of falling in love.
Then I noticed that Hayasaka-san is just staring into my eyes with her own eyes.
Hayasaka: You said you forgot what it feels like, right?
Ryota: Yes?
Hayasaka: Then................
It's weird but...........
She leans a little bit towards me as her face and mine are barely an inch from each other, until............
By hearing the slam of the door being opened, we both jumped from the shock of the sudden intrusion.
Ryota & Hayasaka: Ah!
Saya: Oh, Ryota, Hayasaka-san, you guys awake?
Hayasaka-san distanced herself as I casually talked to my cousin.
Ryota: I've been awake for a while.
Saya: What about your fever, has it cooled down?
Ryota: Somehow, I feel a little better.
Saya: Good.
Saya: Hayasaka-san.
Hayasaka: Y-Y-Yes?
Saya: Thank you for taking care of my cousin.
Hayasaka: Of course.
Ryota: By the way, what are you doing here all of a sudden?
Saya: Need to get some sugar here.
Ryota: Oh. I remember that dad is carrying a bag of sugar when he went downstairs.
Saya: Really? I thought he was carrying a bag of salt.
Ryota: Better ask him if, just to make sure. We don't want our customers to put salt in their coffee.
Saya: Oh, that would be funny as hell.
Then she left and went back to work.
It was awkward..........
Awkward silence.................
Until I broke it..........
Ryota: Um, Hayasaka-san...........did you—
But she cut off my sentence.
Hayasaka: I noticed a dirt in your face so I tried to remove it but........
Ryota: I see.
Ryota: Thanks.
It was awkward silence..........again.......until.........
Hayasaka: Sorry. Maybe you got the wrong idea.
Ryota: No, no. It's all right. I understand.
Hayasaka: Oh.
Then she stood up from the sofa, grabbed a thermometer and measured my temperature.
When the bleeping sound was heard, I took the thermometer and read the temperature.
Ryota: 37.7°
Hayasaka: Oh. You're almost there.
Ryota: Yeah. I really need to rest up a bit.
Hayasaka: So, what do you wanna eat for lunch?
Ryota: Hm? I don't know............
Ryota: Well..........why won't you decide?
Hayasaka: Me? Hmmmmmmm............
Hayasaka: I can't even decide.
Ryota: *sigh*
Ryota: I'll just think about it when lunchtime comes.
Hayasaka: So, about what you're saying earlier, Kaedehara-kun.
Ryota: About being in love and how I forgot what it feels like?
Hayasaka: Yes.
Ryota: Well, I guess I need to go back with the basics.
Hayasaka: With the basics?
Ryota: Well, to the ones who never had a boyfriend or girlfriend before, the basics I'm talking about it courting.
Ryota: Well, friendship is also crucial but when that person confesses, it's a different story.
Ryota: It depends on the answer on what route shall it go. It's either to the "friend route" where the two of them stay as friends.
Ryota: Then the second route is "love route" where the courting begins. This is the "basics" that I'm talking about.
Ryota: Then, we have the "End Route" where it just ends there. No more further interactions. That's it, you're rejected.
Ryota: Well, I already chose the End route a lot of times to the girls who confessed to me.
Ryota: I mean, I don't even know them, I didn't even know they existed.
Ryota: Why would I even date a girl who I just literally met. Some might say that dating is the stage of getting to know each other but that is wrong.
Ryota: It starts with friendship.
Ryota: Friendship is also a key in developing relationships.
Ryota: Then, on the other hand, I chose the Friend Route on another girl.
Ryota: Well, I just don't know what should I do when she confessed to me. I mean, I'm still having that internal strife within me.
Ryota: That girl isn't really bad either. I know her being that she's in my class and all.
Ryota: I just don't know if I can truly reciprocate her feelings properly. So, without hurting her feelings, I decided to properly reject her by saying I am not yet ready to enter a new relationship.
Ryota: But deep inside, I know she's hurting inside. I am also hurting inside, too.
Ryota: That's how cruel fate is, huh?
Ryota: But then, that girl..........
Ryota: She told me that she's going to throw away her feelings for me.
Hayasaka: Throw away her feelings?
Ryota: And she said that she'll fall in love with me again.
Ryota: And she will make me fall in love with her.
Hayasaka: I see..........
Ryota: The thing is............
Ryota: I'm still trying to remember how to fall in love. That's why, right now, I don't know what to do.
Hayasaka: Hmmmmm?
Hayasaka: That's hard. .
Ryota: I know right. I mean, that girl is a precious friend of mine. I don't wanna lose a friend all because of me, rejecting her love.
Hayasaka: Then, why don't you think of this way.
She then points in my chest on where my heart is.
Hayasaka: Try listening to what your heart says?
Hayasaka: Is your heart really ready?
Ryota: ..............
Ryota: I don't even know.
Hayasaka: I'm sorry but, I really can't help you find the answer.
Ryota: It's alright. It's for me to find out after all.
Then she mumbled something.
Hayasaka: Can I just be the answer you've been looking for?
Ryota: Huh?
Hayasaka: Nevermind.
A few moments passed as it's already afternoon. Hayasaka-san decided to go home now as she feels like her mom is worried about her.
I understood the situation and I know she already done more than enough in taking care of me.
Soon after she left, the prez and Shinomiya-san visited me but not for long.
They stayed for a few hours and then went home because they wanted me to get some rest as much as possible.
Well, I really got a lot better.
It was nighttime.
I'm lying on the bed, again..........
Staring at the ceiling of my room.
Ryota: What does she meant by that?
Ryota: "Can I just be the answer you've been looking for?"
Ryota: *sigh*
Ryota: Forget it.
Ryota: Like that's got anything to do with falling in love or anything.
Looks like finding the answer............
..........is going to take a long time.
I'd better take my time.
To find the answer among the confusion in my heart.