My Friend Doesn't Hesitate 37

ACT37     What Is This Feeling?


「Akami, I'm coming in.」


With a voice as soft as possible, Mashiro opened the door quietly and entered Akami's room.

Right after that, Mashiro's nose felt tickled by a light, reassuring scent. Mashiro hadn't learned about fragrances and aromas yet, so she didn't know the details of the scent.

However, she knew this was the scent she often smelled when Akami was nearby.

In other words, it was Akami's scent.

It was incredibly calming.

　

「............」


Overall, the inside of the room wasn't flashy, but neat and tidy; even her uniform on a hanger didn't have even a single wrinkle. Akami's meticulousness was very evident.

And then, on the bed close to the window, which had tied up beige curtains, Akami was sleeping.

From what she could see, her breathing was slightly shallow and her face was red. Had her fever not come down yet?


「Let's leave the loose leafs and printouts for today's lessons on the desk.」


For now, she would fulfill her purpose of delivering the items entrusted to her by the school.

Then, Mashiro once again looked at Akami's face.

Her eyes were still closed. There was no sign of her waking up for now.

However,


「It's fine if you stay asleep, so listen, Akami.」


Even so, Mashiro couldn't help but talk to her.

In order to not wake her up, as quietly as possible.

What happened at school today. Becoming a little closer with Kiriko and Natsu. Being happy about meeting Aisa.

The entire day spent without Akami was a little fresh, and it was still quite enjoyable, but,


「Even so, in the midst of all of that, I was worried about Akami the entire time.」


Yes.

As expected, she was worried.

No matter how fresh it felt, no matter how enjoyable it was, in the end, she was always uneasy deep down.


「That's why, right now, even if it's in this way, being able to see Akami's face is incredibly relieving. Moreover――」


After she was about to speak, Mashiro's words stopped.

Moreover, what?

What should she say?

... No, not what she should say.

What did she want to tell her right now?


「............」


Once again, Mashiro felt a stir in the depths of her chest.

It was a sensation that had been showing up repeatedly for quite some time, and it was very pleasant, so up until now she had surrendered herself to it, but.


Right now, something about it felt a little different.

So to speak.

――It was a sensation like her heart was being squeezed.

　

As for why this happened... it was probably due to the addition of feelings of anxiety?

Like the time when that person disappeared long ago.

What if Akami disappeared from her side?

The other day, when she cried at the movie (see ACT09), she had a similar anxiety, but this time, probably because it overlapped with the memory from the past for a moment, it felt much more real.

The distress in her mind felt heartrending.

That was why.

Now, just by looking at Akami's face...


「...」


Uneasy, distressing, pleasant, heartrending; positive and negative emotions both seemed like they would overflow from the depths of her chest, and there were many things she couldn't quite understand.

Probably, as things were, even if Akami immediately felt better tomorrow, from now on, every time they met, she might end up like this.


Truly, what was this feeling...


Before, she had a relaxed attitude, thinking she would understand sooner or later, but.

She wanted to know the answer.

If she asked Akami, Aisa, or her mother, would they tell her?


「No......」


She felt that for this, she had to find her way to the answer herself.

Think, think, and think even more thoroughly.


And work out the answer herself.


Like that, the moment she strongly made up her mind――she felt the depths of her chest, which had been overflowing with all sorts of emotions, suddenly calm down tremendously.

It was a little strange.

Was this also an Akami effect that occupied Mashiro's heart?

If that was the case, this was another amazing thing.

... In any case.

She thought she shouldn't stay any longer.

　

「............」


One last time, Mashiro looked at the sleeping Akami's face... and suddenly, one thing she wanted to do came to mind.


「Akami, for just a little, please excuse me.」


So saying, Mashiro brought her face closer to the sleeping girl's red face.

It felt like she saw Akami's face getting redder little by little the closer she got, but without caring about that, she brought her lips close to her ear,



「Get well soon.」



And whispered that.

She felt like Akami's shoulders twitched.

Perhaps she woke her up?

Although she felt sorry for a moment, Akami was still asleep... or rather, it felt like she started sleeping a little more deeply, so it seemed she hadn't woken her up.

She was a little relieved.

She wanted Akami to have good dreams.

While Mashiro wished that,


「So then, see you at school.」


Although she felt a little reluctant to part, leaving those final words behind, she left Akami's room.


　　☆　　★　　☆　　★　　☆　　★


... I thoughtlessly pretended to be asleep.

No, well, the sudden rise in the fever that had come down left me dazed, so even if I had gotten up, I probably wouldn't have been able to speak properly, but.

Perhaps because I was in such a state, I was practically asleep as I listened to Shiro-chan talk about today.

I'm glad she seemed to have an enjoyable time today.

... I was just a little jealous about the Aisa-senpai matter, though.


And.


When she paused her story for just a little while.

What was Shiro-chan thinking...?

I was very curious.

I was curious, however.



――At that time, when Shiro-chan brought her face close to me and whispered into my ear, my consciousness was blown away!?



The next time I came to my senses, it was 9:00 at night. How should I put it... I was amazed.

Also, at that time, my fever had already gone down, so my body had already felt quite a bit better, but despite that, surprisingly, I felt twice as good as before.


...... Shiro-chan, how much did you power up during this day without me?