"Ugh... what's going on now?"
Oliver rubbed his eyes, still groggy, as he looked toward the door. His gaze landed on a confused-looking Sakuragi Hanamichi and Haruko, who stood at the entrance holding a steaming casserole pot.
"Eh? Haruko-san? You're still here?" he asked, his voice hoarse and tired.
"I was worried you wouldn't eat properly," Haruko said with a soft smile. "Sakuragi-kun, would you please step aside?"
The dazed Sakuragi, still trying to process what was happening, was gently nudged to the side. Haruko set the casserole on the table, took out a bowl, and sat down next to Oliver's bed with a determined expression.
"I knew it," she said. "If I had just left, you'd sleep the entire day away. A sick person needs to eat something. How else will you get better?"
Haruko ladled out a serving of porridge into a bowl, the steam curling gently into the air.
"Come on, Oliver-kun. Just a few bites. It'll help."
Oliver offered an awkward smile and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Uh… but I don't really have much of an appetite…"
He wasn't lying. The fever made his head spin and his stomach churn. On top of that, Chika had force-fed him so many strange concoctions earlier that he still felt like he was about to burst. The thought of more food made his stomach protest.
"That's perfectly normal," Haruko replied. "Most people don't feel like eating when they're sick. But that's exactly why you have to force yourself a little."
She gently blew on the spoonful of porridge, cooling it down before lifting it to his mouth.
"Hoo~ Hoo~ Just a small bite, okay? It's not hot anymore…"
"WAIT A MINUTE!!!"
Sakuragi, who had finally snapped out of his daze, leapt between the two of them with his arms wide open like a protective wall.
"Wait, wait, wait—why is Haruko-sister feeding this guy?!"
Haruko blinked in surprise at his sudden outburst.
"Because when I came to visit Oliver-kun, I saw no one was here to take care of him," she explained with a hint of frustration. "I felt responsible… After all, he collapsed partly because of something I said."
"Haruko-san, no!" Sakuragi shouted, pounding his chest like a warrior. "I'm the one who forced him to help me clean that day. It's my fault, not yours! I should be the one taking care of him!"
Oliver stared at Sakuragi's back, feeling a mix of gratitude and amusement.
Wow… this guy actually has a soft side.
Though his outer appearance screamed "reckless fool," Oliver knew that Sakuragi's heart was always in the right place.
However, the look in Sakuragi's eyes now…
You scrawny bean sprout… Did you kiss Haruko when I wasn't looking? You almost let her feed you?! That scene is on my top three fantasy moments of all time!!
Sakuragi's jaw clenched. His entire body was trembling—not with fear, but with jealousy and indignation.
Good thing I came just in time. Haruko feeding him? No way! That's my dream!
He turned back to Haruko with confidence.
"That's enough, Haruko-chan. You don't need to worry anymore. I'll take care of this guy!"
"Oh? Really?" Haruko blinked, holding out the bowl thoughtfully.
"Absolutely!" Sakuragi grinned, proudly puffing out his chest. "Everyone in my family says I'm a natural when it comes to caregiving. I'm basically a nurse!"
He took the bowl confidently, grinning ear to ear.
Crisis averted! There's no way I'm letting her feed him! Now all I have to do is—
"IT'S HOT!!!!"
Sakuragi shrieked, completely forgetting that the bowl had just come off the stove. The porridge flew into the air like a geyser and…
SPLAT!
Right on Oliver's face.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! HOT!!! HOT!!!"
Oliver thrashed wildly on the bed, trying to wipe the scalding porridge off his skin.
"Sakuragi-kun, what are you doing!?" Haruko cried in horror, rushing to Oliver's side.
"I-It was an accident! I swear!" Sakuragi stammered, scratching his head sheepishly.
Haruko frowned, her eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"Really? Can't you be more careful? Look what you've done to Oliver-kun!"
"GET ME A TOWEL! ARE YOU TWO JUST GOING TO STAND THERE?! I'M BURNING!!"
Oliver roared, his voice somewhere between agony and rage.
Haruko jumped to her feet and sprinted to the bathroom. A moment later, she returned with a towel and began gently wiping the porridge off his face.
"…Haaaah…"
Oliver exhaled sharply and sat up. Then, without warning, he kicked Sakuragi square in the thigh.
"You idiot!!"
"Ahaha… hahahaha…" Sakuragi laughed awkwardly, eyes drifting toward the ceiling as if pretending none of this had happened.
"Humph. Good thing Haruko-san was here, or I really would've been cooked alive," Oliver grumbled as he held the now-damp towel.
"…Wait a second."
He squinted at the towel.
"Isn't this a foot towel? Chika's foot-washing towel?!"
Haruko froze.
"Oh no! I-I'm so sorry! I didn't realize! I just saw it was pink and thought it was cute…"
Oliver sighed.
"It's fine… It's better than getting a second-degree burn."
He looked down at his bed, now soaked and messy with porridge. There was no way he was getting back in there.
"Oliver-kun… aren't you supposed to be resting?" Haruko asked softly.
"Resting? On a bed soaked in porridge?" he snapped, rolling his eyes as he pulled off the sheet and started dragging it toward the laundry area.
"Wait, let me do it!" Haruko rushed over. "I came here to help take care of you, and instead I've just made things harder…"
"It's not you who made things harder," Oliver muttered, pointing at Sakuragi. "It's him."
"Hey!" Sakuragi protested. "I'm taking full responsibility for my actions! I'll wash the sheet myself! Hand it over!"
He reached out dramatically, puffing out his chest like a samurai preparing for battle.
"I, Sakuragi Hanamichi, will wash this sheet until it's as white as snow!"
Haruko smiled and handed it over.
"Okay. Just remember to add only half a cup of detergent. A bed sheet doesn't need much."
"Pfft! No worries, Haruko-san!" Sakuragi said proudly. "I can use any kind of washing machine! Leave it to me!"
"…You better not screw this up," Oliver muttered as he lay down on the couch.
He pointed limply toward the bathroom.
"The detergent is on the shelf beside the washing machine. You'll see it."
Oliver groaned, sinking into the cushions.
I give up. These two will be the death of me…
"I'll peel an apple for you, Oliver-kun!" Haruko chimed in cheerfully.
Oliver didn't even respond. He closed his eyes and let her do whatever she wanted.
Meanwhile, in the laundry room, Sakuragi had just come face-to-face with the washing machine.
"Heh. This'll be easy," he said confidently, spotting the detergent bag nearby.
He picked it up and paused.
Wait…
If I wash this really well… maybe Haruko will be impressed!
His imagination ran wild.
"Wow~~ Sakuragi-kun is so amazing! He cleaned the sheets perfectly! I love you the most!"
"Wahahahaha! Of course! I'm a genius!!"
He grinned, still lost in his fantasy.
"Alright! Let's make this the cleanest sheet in history!!"
Then, without reading any labels or instructions, he grabbed the detergent and—
POURED THE ENTIRE BAG IN.
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