I Can't Write a Romance Novel. / Lesson 25: "That Time Flows Gently"

When Yosuke opened his eyes, the sun was pouring in brilliantly through the glass door of the south-facing balcony. When he noticed, the glass door was wide open, and a woman in a jersey with her hair tied back was there.

“Yosuke, are you awake?”
“...Yeah...”
He managed to answer normally, but he felt his heart racing inside his chest. It must be the fever, he thought, coming up with a convenient explanation in his head.
Is it just his imagination that her smile looks so dazzling? For some reason, Ayano's smile made Yosuke turn his gaze away from her.
“How are you feeling?”
“I think it’s settled down a little.”
“Let’s check your temperature with the thermometer just in case. Your face is still red.”
Ayano took care of him as diligently as if she were his own mother. He couldn't help but stare at those white hands that handed him the thermometer.
Something is wrong with me. Yosuke just wanted to be freed from this fever, so he obediently tucked the thermometer under his arm.
However, the electronic beep sounded mercilessly, signaling that the "fever" had not gone away. Ayano stared at the digital display with a frown. Then she said to Yosuke, “Oh dear, it’s still not below 38 degrees. You must stay in bed today! Also, I washed the laundry that had piled up. As for the rest... let me see.”
Yosuke almost fell out of bed at the remark that slipped out of Ayano's mouth.
“Wait! You washed my clothes!?”
“That’s right. Whose clothes would I wash?”
“U-u-u-underwear and stuff were in there, weren't they!?”
“...Are you a child? There’s no need to get so flustered over a man’s underwear.”
Glancing at the blushing Yosuke, Ayano acted as if it were nothing. It’s no use, my strength doesn't work in front of this childhood friend, he thought, and deliberately pulled the blanket up over his head.

◆

“I am very sorry... Yes. I understand. I will contact you again. Excuse me.”
“How was it?”
“They said it’s rare for me to catch a cold.”
“Well, you can’t exactly say you caught a cold because of your own actions, can you?”
“You’re really noisy.”
He had a meeting for a new publication with one company today, but he called to cancel. Even though the publisher was close to his house, he couldn't possibly talk about work in this state. However, although he still had a fever, he felt his body was much lighter than yesterday. He only felt that way, though; in reality, he was completely dependent on Ayano.

Ayano asked Yosuke while holding a vacuum cleaner.
“It’s already noon, but you don’t have much of an appetite yet, do you? Shall I make some rice porridge again?”
“No... I want to eat minestrone.”
“Huh?”
“I have the ingredients. So I want to eat minestrone.”
“Alright, fine. You just missed your mom’s minestrone, didn't you?”
“Something like that.”
Since it was the first time Yosuke had requested something to eat, Ayano was taken aback. However, she felt somewhat happy, thinking that if the person she liked wanted it... The kitchen was starting to become "Ayano’s space."

Today is a holiday. The world is probably bustling with people shopping or hiking in the spring weather. However, the space where Yosuke and the others were was flowing with gentle time. Yosuke in bed, and Ayano inside Yosuke’s home. Even with the fever, the warmth of the sunlight felt comfortable for some reason.

In the evening, Ayano said, “Well, I’m going home now.” He felt lonely for a moment, but he told himself that it was only because the situation of "someone being there" was rare for Yosuke, who had lived alone for a long time.
“I’m sorry. Thank you for taking care of everything.”
“In cases like this, I’d be happier if you said ‘thank you’?”
“...Thank you.”
When Yosuke muttered this like a shy child, Ayano smiled and said,
“You really are... worth taking care of.”
Saying that, she gave Yosuke a soft hug. Yosuke froze.
What is this situation right now? Am I being hugged? He couldn't quite grasp the situation. All he knew was the "fact" that the faint scent of the toilette water Ayano liked to wear was enveloping him.
“You’re like a child, even though you’re so big.”
Ayano said that and pulled away from Yosuke.
“Don’t push yourself yet! And I made plenty of minestrone, so make sure you eat it to take your medicine!”

The front door closed.
As if he had been left behind, Yosuke just stood there in the entryway.

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