294 A Miyagi Unlike Her Usual Self - Story About Buying My Classmate Once A Week

A Miyagi Unlike Her Usual Self Chapter 294 Drifting back and forth between dreams and reality, Miyagi kept repeating this cycle after falling asleep while watching a video of penguins. This is something that often happens when one has a cold, as I have experienced myself. In the middle of an uncomfortable sleep, it's as if a hand reaches into your dreams and yanks you out, waking you up. Yet, you're immediately ensnared by overwhelming drowsiness, pulling you back into your dreams. When breathing becomes difficult, anxieties and pains refuse to let go as they cling to you, driving you to feel the urge to lean on someone. Possibly caught in a similar sensation, Miyagi occasionally called for me, grasping my hand. It was all because of the fever-induced troubled sleep, and though she was still Miyagi, she wasn't quite the Miyagi I knew. Hazuki. That's what Miyagi called me earlier. I understand. She's not the same; she's just a sick person now. Referring to me as Hazuki was merely a delirium—there's no significance in that. I figure I should go to my room to fetch some cooling sheets. I should have brought them along with the tablet, but it's not too late now. I ought to give her something to eat and make sure she takes her medicine. Yet, I find myself unable to stand up. "...Shiori." Sitting at the edge of the bed, I softly utter a name I usually wouldn't call. Miyagi doesn't wake up. Though she usually half-opens her eyes if I try to get up, right now, her eyes remain closed. Neither does she murmur her usual low complaint of "Don't call me by my first name." "Shiori." I call out with a slightly louder voice. Miyagi still doesn't wake up. As I gently touch the plumeria earrings I had chosen, intending to stand up, Miyagi's hand catches my arm. "Sen...dai-san." A broken voice calls me. This time, she doesn't call me Hazuki. Since falling asleep while watching the video, Miyagi has called for me six times, yet only once did she call me "Hazuki." Miyagi remains stingy with her affections, even when she's sick. "I'm right here." As I soothe her with gentle strokes to her head, the grip on my arm loosens. This repetitive act makes me feel that Miyagi relies on me, and I find myself unable to shake off the bad thought that it might be nice if her cold never goes away. I long for her to keep reaching out, searching for me. I want her to call for me. For her sake, even if she calls or reaches out, I should go to my room to get the cooling sheets and prepare a meal. I know what would be good for a sick person, yet I linger, watching Miyagi act spoiled. This temptation is so potent that I find it hard to perform the simple task of walking to the adjacent room, and when I attempt to stand, I inadvertently rouse Miyagi instead. "I'm sorry." I apologize softly, placing the penguin watching over Miyagi onto my lap. Unsure about what to do, I stroke the toy's head. I need a push. Though I want to sit here and watch over Miyagi, I can't remain in this room forever. Even if I look away for a moment, Miyagi isn't likely to slip away, so I should focus on lowering her fever. Therefore, I hope for something that compels me to move. I flutter the penguin’s wings, letting it land beside Miyagi. As its belly touches her cheek, her lips part slightly. "...Sendai, san...hot..." Her raspy voice is accompanied by the penguin being pushed aside. As I absentmindedly ask, "Are you awake?" an indistinct "no" comes as her reply. "Still sleepy?" "Hot." A faint voice reaches my ears, and I place my hand against Miyagi's forehead. It feels warmer than before, so I also press my hand against her neck. Her fever's rising. What seemed to be a mere cold is more severe than I anticipated. I recall Miyagi from yesterday. Since her reluctance to comply isn't unusual, I should have insisted on drying her hair, even by force. Had I done so, she might not have caught a cold. Perhaps she was already feeling poorly, and I simply wasn't aware of it. Miyagi isn't someone who would voluntarily tell me anything important, so I should have realized she might have been hiding her discomfort. Fooled by Miyagi's lively demeanor, thinking she couldn't possibly get sick, was naive of me. Because she's reluctant to show her vulnerabilities to me, I should have been more considerate. "Should I put something cold on your forehead?" I ask, my palm resting against her brow. This is like a spell to make me move, which should be a simple act of fetching a cooling sheet. If Miyagi agrees, saying "yes," I'll be able to spring into action. But there's no response. "Miyagi, do you want something cold on your forehead?" I call her gently, and her head faintly moves. It seems to mean "yes," prompting me to reaffirm by asking, "Can you wait alone for a bit?" "Y-yes." A weak voice returns. "Really?" I wish she would say, "Don't go." Such thoughts aren't good, but they emerge. Thoughts that are best dismissed linger in my head as I clutch the sheets tightly, hearing Miyagi's small voice. "Impor...tant...place..." Half asleep, her voice is unclear. "What? Say it again." "This place is...important, so, Hazuki, you'll come back, right?" As Miyagi's faint words are pieced together in my mind, I understand what she's saying. More so than the fact that she called me Hazuki, I'm startled to learn that she considers this place important enough for me to always return. It's unexpected that she has such faith in that. "I'll be right back, so wait for me." Though it's more about returning than coming back, I say so and leave the room. I go to my room, fetch the cooling sheet, and in the shared space, I prepare some barley tea. It would be nice to have a sports drink, but since we don't have any, there's nothing to be done. Back in Miyagi's room, I set the glass on the table. Placing the cooling sheet on her forehead while she sleeps, I coax her awake. "What is it?" "You should drink some fluids." As I bring the glass over, Miyagi sits up. After drinking about a third of the barley tea, she hands back the glass, saying "Thank you." "Aren't you hungry?" I ask as I return the glass to the table. "Not hungry. Sleepy." Miyagi lies back down on the bed weakly. "I see. But it's better to eat something, so I'll prepare something in a bit." "Okay." "Go ahead and sleep." "...Okay." Slowly, Miyagi's eyes close as she looks at me. After a while, her quiet breathing indicates she's fallen asleep. I rearrange the stuffed animals scattered around Miyagi. A penguin, a black cat, a crocodile, and a platypus. I decide on positions that make Miyagi look cute. "…Is it okay if I take a picture?" Just to be sure, I ask her. There’s no response, but since she isn't refusing, I take a photo. Even the click sound doesn't wake Miyagi. Normally, she would complain, but now she sleeps without a word. Maybe now, I could even say "I love you," and she wouldn't notice. I kneel on the floor, gazing intently at the peacefully sleeping Miyagi. My hand reaches toward her cheek, hovering briefly before retreating. I inch a little closer to Miyagi. The sentence I want to say is just three simple words. I inhale, then exhale. Hesitating slightly, I open my mouth. "Shiori, you're adorable." After whispering something safe and touching her cheek, her weak hand lightly swats me away. "S-shut up." "So that much you can hear, huh." I'm relieved I didn't utter words like "I love you." Rising to my feet, I take another photo before settling down on the edge of the bed again.