Icarus pushed open the ward door and saw Yukimiya Kenyu sitting obediently on the hospital bed.
“How are you feeling today?” Icarus sat down beside the bed, moving close to Yukimiya Kenyu, whose eyes were currently covered with gauze.
Although his face was covered by gauze and his expression couldn’t be seen, the sharp five senses of a striker still allowed him to quickly detect Icarus’s approach. Yukimiya Kenyu lowered his head slightly to make it convenient for the doctor to examine him.
“It’s alright; I don’t feel any discomfort.”
“Very good. You are truly the most obedient patient I’ve ever taken care of,” Icarus said with relief.
“Does the doctor have many patients?” Yukimiya Kenyu couldn’t help but feel cheerful upon hearing the good news, and joked.
“That goes without saying; there are countless numbers of people begging me to treat their illnesses,” Icarus curled the corners of his mouth, “So you should count your lucky stars.”
“It is my honor,” Yukimiya Kenyu couldn’t help but laugh.
“Now, I am going to remove the gauze to check the recovery of your fundus.”
The other party’s voice suddenly moved closer. Yukimiya Kenyu quietly controlled his breathing, feeling the other’s cool fingers brush against the bandages on his face, bringing a trace of itchiness.
The bandages were successfully removed, and his vision returned to the light. Yukimiya Kenyu looked at the black-haired youth right before his eyes, his heart skipping a beat.
He had no other intentions; it was simply that the distance between the two of them exceeded a normal social distance, making him feel a bit uncomfortable. Although he knew rationally that this was a necessary measure for a medical examination, seeing Icarus’s face suddenly magnified before his eyes still gave Yukimiya Kenyu a bit of a shock.
As a model, Yukimiya Kenyu had seen all sorts of people, and there was no lack of good-looking ones among them, but Icarus was definitely a standout among them.
The nonchalance in the black-haired youth’s brow had a fatal attraction, as if even if the best things in the world were presented to him, he would only cast a faint glance. Only the things he cared about would be brought into his sight, while the things he didn’t care about no matter how famous or expensive they were would be treated like worn-out shoes.
The excessively close distance between the two gave Yukimiya Kenyu an illusion. He forcibly suppressed his strange thoughts and tried hard to control his breathing.
The other’s movements as he carefully examined his eyes were as if he were treating him like a fragile pearl. Yukimiya Kenyu, who was being treated with such caution, felt his heart descend into a mess of tangles, so much so that he didn’t even notice when the examination was already finished.
“Is there anywhere that feels uncomfortable?”
Seeing Yukimiya Kenyu maintain a posture of sitting perfectly still with unfocused pupils, Icarus frowned.
Based on the results of the check-up he had just conducted, the post-operative recovery was excellent. His examination movements just now had been very careful as well; it shouldn’t have caused Yukimiya any discomfort.
“No,” Yukimiya Kenyu quickly snapped out of his trance and put on a polite smile. “Thank you, Doctor.”
“You’re welcome.” Icarus handed over a glass of water and some pills. “This is today’s dosage.”
Yukimiya Kenyu took them and obediently swallowed them. Icarus nodded with satisfaction.
There were ordinary medicines, of course, and there was certainly also water mixed with blood. Only by combining the two could he achieve a recovery speed that felt like a miracle.
“Ah, found you.”
Nagi Seishiro’s voice sounded from behind. Before Icarus could turn his head, he was already blanketed by an oversized Miffy rabbit.
“Nagi?” Icarus struggled to support the 1.9-meter Miffy rabbit, “Why are you here instead of training? Do you feel unwell?”
“Not really unwell…” Nagi Seishiro said listlessly, “I haven’t seen Ika lately, and I just feel so bored.”
“If you’re bored, hurry and get prepared for the next round of selections,” Icarus rapped Nagi Seishiro’s head unceremoniously, “Go find someone to practice soccer with, or go do some physical training. You are not allowed to come here and slack off.”
“I don’t want to slack off,” Nagi Seishiro pouted into a Miffy rabbit shape, feeling aggrieved, “Ika hasn’t come to find me lately, and even when I come to find Ika, Ika always has another appointment.”
Nagi Seishiro… does he have this kind of personality? And he has such a good relationship with the doctor in private? Even the way he addresses him seems even more special.
Yukimiya Kenyu looked at Nagi Seishiro with curiosity.
During the third selection, he had once been in the same dormitory as Nagi Seishiro. At that time, in the time when the latter didn’t have matches, he would always be sprawled out on his bed playing video games; he didn’t seem to be this clingy.
“It can’t be helped; I haven’t been able to leave the infirmary lately…” Icarus ruffled Nagi Seishiro’s hair helplessly.
Not only did he have to regularly check Yukimiya Kenyu’s eyes, but Kunigami Rensuke’s body modification had also begun, and he had to go there to assist from time to time. The accumulation of once or twice gradually became a frequent occurrence of standing Nagi Seishiro up.
“Then, I’ll wait for you tonight?” Nagi Seishiro’s grey pupils ignited with a tiny spark of anticipation.
It’s been so long since I’ve been close with Ika; it’s so uncomfortable.
“I suppose that would work.”
Kunigami’s modification had entered a stable phase for the time being, and Yukimiya’s recovery was also looking good.
“Then I’ll wait for you.”
…
Originally, Icarus had left the evening time for Nagi Seishiro, but he hadn’t anticipated that Kunigami Rensuke’s situation would have another fluctuation, and he had to go back to work overtime in the evening.
But before working overtime, Icarus took a detour and arrived at the field, where he saw Nagi Seishiro practicing soccer.
Nagi Seishiro’s eyes brightened upon hearing the familiar footsteps, but the black-haired youth’s next sentence made him pout unhappily.
“I have to work overtime tonight. I’ll have to stand you up again~”
“We clearly agreed you wouldn’t stand me up. Ika is always breaking your word,” Nagi Seishiro stared silently at Icarus, who was feeling guilty.
“My fault, my fault,” Icarus retreated a few steps until he was pressed against the wall, with Nagi Seishiro approaching from the front, “I’ll give you any compensation you want.”
Nagi Seishiro’s grey pupils brightened, “Anything at all?”
Icarus thought for a moment. “Anything at all.”
He had originally wanted to add “provided it doesn’t violate ethics,” like he had before, but thinking that an oversized Miffy rabbit couldn’t possibly have any bad intentions, Icarus leniently skipped that phrase.
“Then I have something I want,” Nagi Seishiro said earnestly.
“Say it…”
Icarus’s voice came to an abrupt halt. He looked at the fair shoulder presented before him and his breathing hitched.
“Bite me.”
Nagi Seishiro said concisely.
Icarus: “…”
Is this not a bit too proactive?! He hadn’t even started practicing soccer with Nagi Seishiro today yet.
Watching the black-haired youth’s hesitant expression, Nagi Seishiro’s brain moved very quickly, “Just treat it as paying the reward in advance.”
That barely makes sense.
Looking at the smooth neck that Nagi Seishiro had deliberately leaned down to offer right before his eyes, Icarus swallowed his saliva.
During this period, he had been working overtime every day either at Yukimiya Kenyu’s or Kunigami Rensuke’s and had barely had a proper meal. Although he had followed his old routine and gotten a bag of blood from Yukimiya Kenyu under the guise of research, for some reason, Icarus was too guilty to dare draw much.
Yukimiya Kenyu’s gaze was too sharp; even though it was usually covered by his glasses, Icarus was afraid he might actually discern something through the clues.
In short, Icarus had been working overtime every day during this period and wasn’t full. At this moment, such a large piece of meat was dangling before his eyelids, and was proactively offering itself right under his nose if Icarus were to restrain himself further, he wouldn’t be a vampire anymore!
The black-haired youth’s tiny fangs were itching to act, and just as he was intending to take a bite, he suddenly heard a cold voice from the side.
“Is this the so-called pay.ment.for.ser.vices?”
Icarus, whose vision had been obscured, couldn’t see the newcomer, but based on the voice, he determined it was Chigiri Hyoma.
Nagi Seishiro, who had been holding his breath in anticipation of that moment, was suddenly interrupted and frowned impatiently. He turned his head to look at the red-haired youth who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“Why are you here?”
Chigiri Hyoma was practically so angry he could laugh at Nagi Seishiro’s airy question, which lacked any emotion.
“You’re asking why I’m here? The training field is public property, isn’t it? Anyone can come.”
Only then did Icarus snap back to reality.
He had just been so intoxicated by Nagi Seishiro’s blood scent that he hadn’t noticed they were still on the field, and a field where someone might pass by at any moment.
No, no, if this keeps up, I’ll be exposed.
Icarus struggled, trying hard to keep his distance from Nagi Seishiro. The latter stepped back compliantly, and only then did Icarus see Chigiri Hyoma, who was currently frowning.
But soon, the moment he locked eyes with those pink pupils, all his impatience melted into a smile.
“Icarus,” Chigiri Hyoma greeted.
“Chigiri,” Icarus nodded. “Are you here to train?”
“I was originally intending to train,” Chigiri Hyoma shifted his tone, “But there is something more important at the moment.”
“Something more important?” What could be more important than training?
“Let’s change places; Ika,” Nagi Seishiro saw the two chatting and, feeling impatient, tugged secretly at the black-haired youth’s shirt hem.
Distracted by Nagi Seishiro, Icarus also remembered the familiar blood scent that had just been transmitted to the tip of his nose through the thin skin, and swallowed his saliva.
Before he could speak, a voice interjected.
“Changing to where? Count me in.”
Nagi Seishiro frowned, “Don’t you have something important to do?”
“That’s right,” Chigiri Hyoma stared fearlessly into Nagi Seishiro’s grey-brown pupils, “This is the important thing I have to do.”
The two locked eyes, and it was as if crackling lightning appeared in the air.
Icarus, still out of the loop, was completely baffled.
How come these two suddenly started chatting? Why does this atmosphere feel so weird?
Icarus lowered his head, trying to reason with the oversized mascot around his waist, “Nagi, it’s already very late, and I have already received your reward. How about you go back and rest?”
“No,” Nagi Seishiro chose to bury his head in Icarus’s waist, “Can’t hear you… unless you chase Chigiri away too.”
Watching Nagi Seishiro’s refusal to communicate, Icarus sighed deeply.
Seeing that it wasn’t early anymore, Icarus could only say, “Whether it’s you or Chigiri, it’s time to rest and time to go back. What will happen to tomorrow’s training otherwise?”
“I won’t chase you away. Whether Chigiri wants to come for a knee re-check or you want to find me for soccer practice, I am happy to accompany you whenever I have free time.”
After all, they were both seeds for the world’s number one striker that he had his eye on.
Seeing the atmosphere broken, Chigiri Hyoma understood that he likely wouldn’t be able to achieve his goal today. He took the initiative to yield and said goodbye to Icarus. “Then I’ll go rest first. See you tomorrow.”
Icarus nodded and lowered his head again to look at the most troublesome Miffy rabbit.
Watching Chigiri Hyoma’s figure disappear outside the door, Nagi Seishiro let go reluctantly.
“Accompany me.”
Icarus took a deep breath, then raised his fist.
“Nagi Seishiro, you better stop while you’re ahead. If you act up again, you won’t need to sleep tonight.”
Nagi Seishiro pouted aggrievedly, slowly climbing down from the sofa. His curled-up body stretched out rapidly, his 1.9-meter height bringing a substantial sense of oppression.
“See you tomorrow, then.”
Nagi Seishiro’s grey pupils stared earnestly at the black-haired youth before him.
“See you tomorrow, see you tomorrow; hurry and go rest.”
Watching Nagi Seishiro’s dragging figure disappear outside the door, Icarus sighed in exhaustion.