Chapter 51
Suddenly, let me ask—what’s the hardest part about living alone?
Cooking? Cleaning? Or maybe laundry?
Some might even say waking up in the morning.
I’ll admit, those things are tough.
Especially if you’ve been living at home, relying on your parents for everything.
Even I struggled when I first started living alone, and until Yuu came along, I did all those chores grudgingly.
But if you ask me what the hardest part of living alone is—I’d say it’s none of those.
Housework and waking up are difficult, sure, but you can manage once you get used to them.
The real hardest part of living alone is something you just can’t handle by yourself.
…Enough stalling—here’s my answer.
The hardest part of living alone, in my opinion, is getting sick.
This is the one thing you truly can’t deal with on your own.
“…Cough, cough…”
Every time I cough, my throat burns and my head throbs.
The fever leaves me dizzy, and even thinking feels like a chore.
I reach for the glass of water on the bedside table.
Just lifting the cup to my lips is exhausting.
“…Haaah…”
I’ve caught a cold.
A really bad one, at that.
Probably because of the sudden temperature swings as the seasons change.
The past few days have been erratic—hot one moment, cold the next.
…And, well, certain circumstances kept me from sleeping much lately.
The weather’s been awful, so Yuu hasn’t been able to air out the futon, either.
“…Cough… cough…”
Each cough sends a sharp pain through my skull.
I took medicine, but it doesn’t feel like it’s helping.
I’m so miserable, part of me wishes I could just sleep it off—but unfortunately, I’m wide awake.
All I can do now is close my eyes and wait for time to pass.
“Shin, I’m coming in.”
Just as I’m lost in thought, I hear a knock at the door.
Seems Yuu’s here.
“Shin, I made you some porridge.”
Yuu carries a tray with a small earthenware pot on it.
I turn my heavy head to check the clock—it’s already noon. Guess it’s lunchtime.
Yuu sets the pot down on the bedside table.
…Honestly, I don’t have much of an appetite, but I can’t not eat when she went to the trouble of bringing it.
“Shin, say ‘ah~’.”
“……”
Yuu scoops up some porridge and holds it out with a smile.
I open my mouth, and the warm porridge slips inside.
It’s embarrassing, sure, but she already did this at breakfast.
Resisting didn’t work back then, so I’ve given up.
“How’s the taste? Good?”
“…Yeah.”
I genuinely think it is.
Even though my nose is stuffed and my sense of taste is dulled, it’s still good.
The warmth of the porridge spreading through me feels comforting.
With each bite, it’s like my body’s regaining strength.
…Really, I’m so glad Yuu’s here.
Where would I be without her right now?
I wouldn’t be able to eat, wouldn’t be able to go to the hospital.
I’d probably just be lying here, surviving on stored medicine and water.
“Ah~”
“……”
I swallow the last bite.
I didn’t have an appetite, but before I knew it, I’d finished the whole thing.
“Your fever… still burning up.”
Yuu presses her hand to my forehead.
The cool touch feels soothing.
She hands me a glass of water and more medicine, which I take.
“Guess you’re still not better, huh? I’ve finished the housework, so maybe I’ll stay here with you this afternoon.”
“…Huh?”
Stay here? Wouldn’t that risk her catching my cold?
If both Yuu and I were bedridden, that’d be a disaster.
“Don’t worry. My body’s not the kind that catches colds.”
When I voice my concern, Yuu just smiles and says that.
“Not the kind that catches colds”—what an odd way to put it.
What does that even mean?
“Alright, Shin, time to sleep.”
“Ah—”
Yuu pulls the covers over me.
Then, gathering the dishes from the bedside table, she leaves the room.
Seems in Yuu’s mind, staying here this afternoon is already decided.
…Is she really going to be okay?
As I’m wondering, drowsiness creeps in.
Probably because I ate. My eyelids grow heavy.
Just like that, I drift off to sleep.
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