My Childhood Friend Is Just Too CuteโI Canโt Have a Normal Relationship!!
โIโm home. She might still be asleep.โ
Keeping my voice down, I made my way back to my place. Then I knocked and went into the room where Fumika was sleeping.
โSheโs asleep, huh? Well, itโs probably best for her to sleep when she has a fever. I guess Iโll just let her sleep.โ
Seeing Fumika sleeping peacefully, her gentle breathing soothing me, I decided to head straight to the kitchen to make some rice porridge.
Since I didnโt have any uncooked rice, I decided to use a pack of pre-cooked rice for now.
โIโve already contacted the school, so all thatโs left to do is make some rice porridge.โ
I moved quickly and efficiently to prepare the porridge.
It had been a while since Iโd cooked, but I was relieved to find my skills hadnโt gotten too rusty.
โโฆWell, I guess itโs kind of weird to be so proud of making rice porridge.โ
Rice porridge is actually pretty easy to make.
Iโm not even sure if you can really call it cooking anymore.
โHmm, I think it turned out pretty well, donโt you?โ
I took a small taste to make sure it didnโt taste off. Since it had been so long since Iโd cooked, I was a little worried about the flavor, but it seemed my concerns were unfounded.
โFumika~ Do you think you can eat some rice?โ
โMakoto? U-uh-huh. I think I can eat it.โ
โGot it. Iโll bring it over, then.โ
Fumika seemed to have already woken up; she looked at my face with a puzzled expression. Maybe her memories from right before she fell asleep were a little fuzzy.
Thatโs pretty common when you have a fever.
โHere you go. Rice porridge. I hope you like it.โ
โSo you really can cookโฆโ
โIโm not sure if you can even call rice porridge โcooking,โ though.โ
I set the tray with the rice porridge and tea on Fumikaโs lap.
I sat down in a chair, thinking Iโd just watch over her while she ate.
But she didnโt start eating right away.
โIs something wrong?โ
โโฆFeed me.โ
โHuh?โ
Fumika said this in a sweet voice, different from her usual sharp tone. If thereโs a man who could refuse her in this situation, he probably isnโt a man at all.
โFeed meโฆ Is that okay?โ
โโฆFine. Just donโt accuse me of sexual harassment later, okay?โ
โI wouldnโt say that. Iโm the one asking you, after all.โ
โAlright. Here you go~โ
I moved closer to Fumika, scooped up some rice porridge with a spoon, let it cool a bit, and then fed it to her.
โItโs delicious. Makoto, you really can cook.โ
โI told you. I can cook a little. Iโve said this many times, but I feel like bragging over something as simple as rice porridge is a bit much.โ
When it came to cooking, my parents had taught me the basics, so I could manage the bare minimum.
By โbare minimumโ here, I mean the absolute essentials for survival. I canโt guarantee the taste at all.
โThatโs kind of surprising.โ
โItโs not that surprising, is it? Anyway, how does it taste?โ
โItโs delicious. Itโs kind of comforting.โ
โIโm glad to hear that.โ
Watching Fumika eat so happily made me feel somehow at ease.
I remember taking care of Fumika like this back when we were in elementary school, too.
โThat was delicious. Thanks.โ
โIt was nothing special. I also got some over-the-counter cold medicine from the convenience store earlier, so please take it.โ
โOkay.โ
I hand Fumika the over-the-counter cold medicine I bought at the convenience store a little while ago, along with a glass of water. She drinks it and hands the glass back to me.
โAfter that, just get some rest and youโll be fine. Iโm going to tidy up a bit.โ
โOkay. Come back, okay?โ
โOf course. Iโll definitely be back, so donโt look so worried.โ
Fumika, whoโs usually so feisty and always has strong words for me, looked very fragile right now. Seeing her like this, I realized that sheโs just an ordinary girl after all.
โIโm back. Youโre probably not feeling great, but are you okay?โ
โIt wouldโve been really tough if I were alone, but Iโm fine because youโre here, Makoto.โ
โGot it. Iโll be in the living room, so call me if you need anything.โ
โWaitโฆโ
As I started to walk away from Fumika to head to the living room, she grabbed my hand. Her hand was much hotter than mine, and I could feel her fever.
โWhatโs wrong? Is there something you want me to do?โ
โI want you to hold my hand until I fall asleep.โ
โOkay. Got it. Iโll hold it tight until you fall asleep.โ
I pulled a chair closer to the bed where Fumika was lying and took her hand. She had a cooling patch stuck to her forehead, and her skinโwhich was usually so pale it made me worry a littleโwas flushed.
โThanks, Makoto. Hehehe.โ
โIt feels like itโs been a while since Iโve seen that smile.โ
It really does feel like itโs been a long time since Iโve seen Fumika with such a carefree smile. It might even be since we were in elementary school.
โIs that so? I donโt think so.โ
โI wonder. Well, get some rest tonight. Iโll be right here with you.โ
โOkay. Thanks, Makoto.โ
As soon as she finished saying that, Fumika began to doze off, and within a few minutes, she was breathing steadily in her sleep.
โGood night, Fumika. Sweet dreams.โ
I stood up from my chair, ruffled Fumikaโs hair, and left the room.
ใโ
โThereโs absolutely no sign that Iโm going to get a girlfriend.โ
After Fumika fell asleep, I returned to the living room and sat slumped on the sofa, lost in thought. I donโt think my standards are too high. Maybe itโs just that I donโt have any opportunities to meet people.
โBut if Alice found out by some chance, itโd probably turn into a real hassle.โ
Alice is usually really energetic and good-natured, but sheโs scary when she gets angry. Sheโs gotten seriously mad at me only once, and at that time, there was no handling her.
โI wonder what I did to make her mad back thenโฆโ
I closed my eyes and tried to think, but nothing came to mind. Maybe I just donโt remember.
โWell, thereโs no point in dwelling on this. For now, Iโll cook some rice for lunch, and since the supermarket should be opening soon, Iโll go buy some groceries there.โ
As I was making plans for what to do next, my phone suddenly vibrated.
โItโs Alice. Hello? Is something wrong?โ
โNo, itโs just that Makoto and Fumi-chan are absent from school, so I was wondering if something had happened.โ
โFumika collapsed from a fever, so Iโm taking care of her. Iโve already called the school, so donโt worry.โ
โHuh!? Really? Is Fumi-chan okay?โ
โShe looks pretty rough, but she seems to be okay for now.โ
Since Alice sounded worried, I reported the current situation to put her at ease.
โThatโs good to hear. Also, no matter how cute Fumi-chan is, you better not try anything, okay?โ
โI wouldnโt do that. You know I wouldnโt, so donโt even say it.โ
โWell, you never know, right? You never know when a guy might lose control of his desires.โ
โNo way. I donโt want to become the kind of scumbag who tries to take advantage of his childhood friend when sheโs vulnerable.โ
โHearing that puts my mind at ease. Take good care of Fumi-chan, okay?โ
โLeave it to me.โ
After hanging up, I thought about what Alice had said.
You never know when a guy might lose control of his desiresโฆ huh.
โSheโs right, though.โ
I know there are plenty of men who think that way, but as I thought to myself that I didnโt want to become one of them, I pictured the faces of my two childhood friends.
Maigetsu