By the time I reached the dorm, I looked like I'd just survived a swimming competition fully clothed.
Water dripped from my hair onto the floor with every step. My shirt clung to my body, my socks squished inside my shoes, and my jeans felt heavy enough to qualify as ankle weights.
[Mission report!]
[Operation: Umbrella.]
[Result: Complete and utter disaster.]
Coach Joseph... I'm sorry. I have failed you.
"Achoo!" I sneezed so hard my entire body folded forward. "Ow..."
Great. Now I was probably getting sick too.
Thankfully, my backpack had done its job. It was waterproof, so my wallet, phone, and books had all survived. "At least something won today..." Sadly, my groceries weren't as lucky. Everything inside was soaking wet.
I quickly unlocked the room and rushed inside before heading straight for the bathroom. I peeled off my soaked clothes and stepped into a hot shower.
The warm water washed away the cold clinging to my skin, but it couldn't wash away today's embarrassment.
I buried my face in my hands. "Why did I give Niina the umbrella?"
No answer came. Even my brain had apparently abandoned ship.
After drying myself off and changing into pajamas, I crawled into bed and wrapped myself tightly in my blanket.
Maybe... If I stayed here long enough... Today's memories would disappear.
"Achoo!"
...
Apparently not.
"Achoo!" My nose was beginning to run. My head felt warm. My body felt strangely heavy. I pulled the blanket over my head, hoping Kazuha wouldn't see me or worse... laugh at me.
Several minutes passed in silence before I heard the dorm room door open.
I instinctively grabbed the blanket and pulled it down even farther until my entire head was hidden.
Stealth mode activated.
If she couldn't see me... Then perhaps... I simply didn't exist.
I listened quietly.
She removed her shoes. Set down her grocery bags. Placed a paper bag from the bookstore on her desk. Everything sounded completely normal.
Then... Her footsteps.
They were getting closer.
Closer.
Closer.
My heartbeat sped up.
Was she coming over here? Had she come to ask why I screamed before running into the rain like an escaped zoo animal? Please don't. I don't have an explanation. Not one that would preserve what's left of my dignity.
The footsteps stopped beside my bed.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
"Drink this." Her voice was as calm and gentle as ever.
Something was placed on the small table beside my bed. I wanted to peek, but I was too embarrassed.
The footsteps quietly moved away. A few seconds later, I heard the bathroom door close. Only then did I slowly lower the blanket.
Sitting on the table was a bottle of water, a box of cold medicine, some vitamins. And... A piece of bread still sealed in its wrapper.
I stared at them.
She... Bought these?
For me?
I picked up the medicine with trembling hands. It wasn't something that had been sitting around the dorm. It was brand new. The vitamins too. Even the bread had today's date printed on the packaging.
She... She had stopped by a pharmacy. Because of me... Something warm spread through my chest. "Kazuha... You're way too nice..." I whispered to the empty room.
Without realizing it, my eyes began to sting. "No..." I quickly rubbed them. "It's just... It's just the flu."
Definitely. People with colds cried sometimes. Probably... Right?
A tiny tear rolled down my cheek anyway. I sniffled and laughed weakly at myself. "I'm seriously crying over a bread and medicine..."
I quietly opened the bread and took a small bite.
It tasted surprisingly good. Maybe because Kazuha had bought it for me.
"I'll thank her later." I smiled to myself.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened. Kazuha stepped out, drying her hair with a towel.
She glanced toward me, then paused. "Why are you crying?"
"H-huh?" I instinctively touched my face. My cheeks were still damp. Busted. "N-No reason."
She tilted her head slightly. "Does your cold hurt that much?"
"No!" I sat up a little too quickly. "I mean..."
Now. Now was my chance. Come on, Kaoru. She went out of her way to buy medicine for you. Say thank you like a normal human being. Don't mess this up.
I took a deep breath. "Kazuha..."
She looked at me quietly.
"T-Thank yACHOOOOOO!!" The sneeze exploded out of me with enough force to shake my entire body. A shower of bread crumbs flew from my mouth like tiny fireworks.
"..."
"..."
I froze.
Half-chewed bread was still in my mouth.
Kazuha froze too. Her eyes slowly drifted from my face... To the crumbs scattered across my blanket... Then back to my face.
Neither of us moved.
I wanted to disappear. Not tomorrow, not later, but immediately. Please! Right now!
Kazuha remained perfectly still for another second before letting out the smallest sigh. "Finish chewing before you talk."
She handed me a few tissues before quietly helping me clean the crumbs scattered across my blanket and bed.
"Y-Yes." I lowered my head. "Sorry."
Neither of us spoke as we cleaned up the bread disaster I'd somehow managed to create.
Once we finished, Kazuha gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. "Just get some sleep."
Then she turned off the room's main light, leaving only the small desk lamp glowing softly near her side of the room.
I watched her for a moment. She really wasn't the type to make a big deal out of her kindness.
She simply did it and moved on as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
My chest felt warm again. I smiled beneath my blanket. I'll definitely thank her properly. After I stop sneezing.
Almost as if my body wanted to make sure I kept that promise...
"Ah..." I felt another one coming. "Achoo!"
From across the room, Kazuha sighed once more. "Idiot."
I couldn't even argue with that.