My mom always praised me.

“Amazing, Yuiko. Another perfect score. You’re really smart. Is this what they mean by ‘a hawk born from a kite’?”

She was bright, kind, and gentle.

She was always on my side.

“Did you fight with a friend? Geez, you’re so strong-willed. I wonder who you take after?”

She almost never got angry at me.

If I was crying, she’d stay by my side until I stopped.

My gentle, beloved mom.

“…It’s okay. Mom will never ever leave Yuiko. I’ll always, always be by your side.”

For certain reasons──I didn’t have a father.

I’d never even seen his face.

So for me, my mother was my entire world.

“It’s fine, any high school is okay. No need to force yourself into a high-level one. Of course, if you want to try hard, Mom will support you with everything.”

Studies, lessons, sports, advancing to higher education, getting a job.

No matter what, she respected my choices and supported me wholeheartedly.

She never forced nothing on me.

But.

There was just one thing she taught me strongly.

“Yuiko… have children early.”

It started around when I entered university, I think.

Mom would say that to me whenever she could.

“It’s definitely better to have them early. It’s good to work hard, but… get married as soon as possible, have kids while you’re young, and raise them with all your might. That’s the greatest happiness for a woman.”

That was──Mom’s values.

The only thing she, who never forced anything, ever asked of me.

It might seem like an outdated view unthinkable in the Reiwa era──but Mom had her reasons.

She had circumstances that made her teach me that.

It couldn’t be helped.

After that experience, anyone would──

I wanted to live up to Mom’s expectations as much as possible.

Because she was the person in this world who cared about me the most.

That’s why, while still young──in my twenties, I hurriedly got married.

And I wanted to have a child as soon as possible, to show Mom her grandchild’s face.

But in the end──

I couldn’t meet Mom’s expectations.

I open my eyes.

I’m in my bed at home.

Familiar futon, familiar ceiling. The pillow I always use.

No doubt my bedroom.

Huh. Why am I sleeping?

When did I get home?

Confused, I sit up.

Feeling something on my forehead, I touch it──a cooling sheet is stuck there.

Looking at my phone by the pillow──it’s already 9 PM.

My head is still a bit foggy, body feverish, but much better than when I was in the taxi.

Um… what happened?

“──Ah. Manager Monou. You’re awake?”

Still confused, that’s when the bedroom door opened──and Sanzawa-kun comes in.

“How are you feeling?”

“…Sanzawa-kun.”

“Want something to drink? I bought drinks, jelly, all sorts of things… Ah. Should have a thermometer too, right?”

“I measure basal temperature every day, so it’s right there──wait, no.”

Suppressing my shock, I say.

“H-how are you here, Sanzawa-kun?”

“…You don’t remember?”

“Um…”

“You almost collapsed in front of the apartment. Then I brought you to your room…”

Ah, right right.

It’s coming back gradually.

He caught me when I was about to fall from dizziness.

Then he lent his shoulder to the room, and I collapsed straight into bed and fell asleep.

“Now that you mention it… But wait, why were you in front of my apartment…?”

“…Well.”

He says reluctantly.

“During lunch today, that incident where we got pressed together in the warehouse, right? At that time… your body temperature felt higher than usual.”

I remember.

That slightly embarrassing incident in the warehouse.

I did feel a bit feverish then, but to think he’d notice my poor condition from such brief contact.

…Ah, but yeah.

Sanzawa-kun knows my normal body temperature.

We’ve overlapped bodies so many times, after all.

Ugh… somehow embarrassing.

“Since you live alone, I thought it might be tough… Before I knew it, my feet brought me here… Sorry. Kinda stalker-like.”

“I-it’s fine. You ended up helping me.”

Because of how we parted like a fight at lunch, he couldn’t contact me. But still coming to my home.

Jeez… too kind for his own good.

“I’ll take this.”

“Go ahead go ahead.”

I take the sports drink by the pillow. Seems he bought it. The lukewarm liquid soaks into my heated body.

Delicious.

Reviving.

I sweated a lot, so my body craved fluids──wait?

“──!”

That’s when I finally notice.

I’m not in my suit, but pajamas.

“…Sanzawa-kun, when did I… change into these?”

“Um…”

Again reluctantly.

“After getting home, you went straight to bed. But you seemed really uncomfortable sleeping, and started taking off your suit yourself.”

…Seriously?

What do I do. No memory at all!

“But half-asleep, you couldn’t change properly… So, um, I helped a bit…”

“…I-I see. But… this side…?”

I look at my chest.

Inside the pajamas──no bra.

“N-no! I-I hesitated, you know? After taking off the suit, you started removing your bra yourself… but then fell asleep. I don’t really know but… probably uncomfortable sleeping? So, um, I properly removed it before putting on pajamas…”

My face heats up matching Sanzawa-kun’s bright red one.

Aah~!

Wh-what am I doing!

Even if fever made me hazy!

“Sorry… for everything.”

“D-don’t mind it! Totally fine! Doesn’t bother me at all seeing you naked now…”

Of course it bothers.

We only ever have sex in dim rooms. In bright like this, unconscious… probably sweated tons too.

Ah geez.

Why did this happen…!?

Sanzawa-kun apparently stayed in the room the whole time after I slept.

Buying drinks and food, checking on sleeping me, changing cooling sheets occasionally. Not just bringing me home, but nursing me the whole time.

“Can you eat okayu?”

“…Somehow. Sorry. Even making you prepare food.”

“It’s just a ready to eat pack.”

I eat the prepared okayu.

No appetite but managed the small portion.

Temperature──37.5°C.

“Still a bit high… Better rest properly.”

“…Yeah. No point forcing, maybe take tomorrow off.”

“I think so.”

I’m a workaholic but not the type to go in with fever.

I heard in the past that fever + painkillers = praised for dedication… but that’s not trendy now.

Better rest to not spread virus.

“Let me know if I can help with anything. Shopping, chores, anything.”

“…Why.”

I say.

Still slightly hazy from fever.

“Why are you… so kind to me, Sanzawa-kun?”

“Eh…”

“Nursing me gives you no benefit, right?”

“Benefit. I’m not…”

“…Can’t even have sex in this condition.”

“Bu!”

Sanzawa-kun chokes.

“Wh-what are you saying suddenly!”

“Because.”

Can’t think of anything else.

So kind, don’t know how to repay.

Only thing I can do to make him happy is this body──

“A-anyway… I’m not being kind. This is normal.”

Sanzawa-kun smiles troubled.

“You’re always helping me at work. Let me return favor at least this once.”

“…I see.”

Warmth spreads gently in chest.

My heart calms──dark feelings rise faintly too.

His kindness is too dazzling, I feel sorry for my selfishness.

“…Sorry, Sanzawa-kun.”

I say.

My voice was small, but that’s all I could squeeze out.

Ashamed to face him, I lie back turned away.

“Don’t mind it. Nursing was nothing…”

“Not that.”

I say.

“Lunch break… warehouse.”

“…”

“I said mean things, took irritation out on you… sorry.”

“No…”

He pauses, then says

“Sorry from me too. You were unwell and I called you, just for making excuses.”

“No, my fault.”

Condition may have affected a bit… but no excuse.

“Probably… got jealous. You and Kanomata-san… looked like a perfect couple.”

“………”

“Thought you probably… prefer younger same-age girl over someone like me…”

“I’m not──”

“Hey, Sanzawa-kun.”

Cutting him off, I continue.

Words won’t stop.

My emotions uncontrollable.

Ask things I’d never normally.

“After that, did you go to a hotel with Kanomata-san?”

“…Eh!?”

“Or… took drunk her home, and accidentally spent the night?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“…Nothing happened. We parted at station right after.”

“I see…”

Relieved sigh.

Good… wait?

Why am I so relieved.

“You were thinking that? That me and Kanomata… maybe went hotel.”

“I c-can’t help it? Seeing that… And you… went hotel with me quick too.”

“Guu…”

He groans like hit where it hurts.

Ah no no.

I’m not trying to blame.

“…If you did it with Kanomata-san… you’d compare right? Me and her in all ways? Compared to young cute girl, I’d have no chance… so I got really frustrated…”

What am I saying…?

Gross.

Saying really gross things.

Like a guy who can’t forgive non-virgin girlfriend.

From lack of confidence, fearing comparison… saying terribly troublesome things.

“…Sorry. Must be annoying hearing this. You can sleep with whoever, I have no right stop or blame…”

Probably because of fever.

I can’t control emotions at all.

Saying incoherent, extremely selfish things.

What troublesome annoying woman.

Deserves abandoned──

“Um… how to say.”

Sanzawa-kun says.

Choosing words carefully.

“Manager Monou──is b-beautiful.”

“…Eh?”

“Really beautiful, attractive, wonderful woman I think.”

“…~~!?”

Haa!?

Wh-what!?

What’s he suddenly saying, this guy!?

“Wh-wh…”

“No, um, so… I wanted to say no need to feel inferior comparing.”

He says, while I remain speechless from the sudden embarrassing words.

Looking embarrassed but straight at me.

“Monou-san, do you think that maybe… I’m only accepting this pairing because I have zero experience in love and you’re my only option – there’s no other woman I can have sex with?”

“……….”

I did think that a bit.

He was virgin──didn’t know other women, so went along with my invitation.

If other women, younger, prettier, offered sex, wouldn’t even bother with woman who’s almost ten years older.

“…Well, I can’t deny lust factor… but it’s not like I decided from elimination process.”

He says.

“Because it’s Manager Monou, I thought to accept.”

“………”

“Not any woman is fine. Because Manager is a really wonderful woman, I──”

“………”

“Ah… um… sorry. What am I saying…”

Being embarrassed to limit, Sanzawa-kun laughs to cover.

Honestly, I was saved.

Any more direct feelings, and I might’ve broken.

My heart’s already pounding unbelievably.

Body heating up, fever might return.

“…Anyway I don’t plan on making girlfriend while doing this.”

Pause, then Sanzawa-kun continues.

“Not skilled enough to think about other women while with Manager.”

“…True. You’re pretty clumsy.”

“Eh.”

“Joke.”

Can’t help smiling.

He gives a troubled smile too.

Then──

After preparing drinks, food for tomorrow, cooling sheets, towels etc., Sanzawa-kun went home.

Left alone, I lock door, and get back to bed.

Living alone with fever usually hits fierce loneliness. Fever drains energy, feels abandoned by world.

I was so scared, heartbroken, and sad that I often couldn’t fall asleep even though I needed to.

But.

Today.

I fell asleep quickly in a very peaceful mood.

Slept soundly nearly ten hours, next morning my fever was completely gone.

Took one day off just in case, but probably could’ve worked. Oh well. Plenty paid leave days left anyway.

The day after.

Fully recovered, I go to work as usual.

I pass the gate, enter elevator,

“──Ah. Manager Monou.”

and meet Sanzawa-kun.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.”

“How’re you feeling?”

“Completely better.”

Greeting each other, we ride elevator together.

Just us two.

“…I’m really indebted to you, Sanzawa-kun.”

Seeing that we are alone, I say.

“Thank you, it really helped.”

“No no. I didn’t do much.”

“I want to thank somehow, anything you want?”

“Eh, no… fine, no need thank. Really nothing.”

“I won’t feel right unless I thank you.”

It really helped.

Without his meddling… I might’ve collapsed in front of the apartment and caused a scene.

I deserve punishment if I don’t thank properly.

“But…”

“No holding back. Anything, say it.”

“Anything.”

Then──

He who always held back, bit interested.

“Really… anything okay?”

“Uh, yes. Within reason…”

“…Got it. I’ll think.”

Really starts thinking hard.

Even after leaving elevator, he has a serious thinking face.

Huh?

Did I… say something wrong?

Morning work.

Handling yesterday tasks… but a corner of my mind is still stuck on thanking him.

What to do.

What will he request?

I said “anything” lightly… but reasonably, not money or luxury probably.

Considering our relationship, his personality──

Probably… something sexual?

Actually, maybe only that…!

“……!”

Possible.

Likely.

Not like he’s especially pervert, but considering our weird relationship, a sexual request is natural… and he has very average… or slightly above average libido I think.

Uwaa… wh-what do I do.

I said it lightly, but what is he going to request!?

Maybe… uniform play again?

Or naked apron?

Anime cosplay?

N-no way… nurse cosplay while collecting semen!?

Or more explicit extreme play…!?

Writhing with worry──phone vibrates.

Message from Sanzawa-kun.

“About your thank you reward, I thought about it”

Heart thumps.

It’s here.

What to do.

What request?

“It’s a pretty big request

It’s really okay to say no to it.”

Big request!?

No way… what extreme thing is he planning!?

Please…!

At least, naked apron level…!

Desperately praying, but his next message surprises me.

His request was completely unexpected.

“Next day off

Won’t you go on a date with me?”