The next time Mahiru woke up, the morning sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting a golden hue over her room. She blinked a few times, her fevered mind slowly registering the warmth wrapped around her.
Her body still felt weak, but the unbearable heat from last night had subsided. The medicine must have worked.
She stretched slightly, only to realize that her arms were still wrapped around the plushie Sam had won for her. Her cheeks tinged pink as she hugged it tighter, the memories of last night rushing back.
Sam had stayed with her. He had taken care of her, fed her, and even stayed awake while she slept.
Her chest felt warm at the thought.
As if on cue, she heard faint sounds coming from outside her room. Curious, she slowly sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
She weakly got out of bed, wrapped herself in a blanket, and shuffled toward the door. When she peeked out, she found Sam in her kitchen, his back turned toward her as he moved around.
Mahiru blinked in surprise.
"…What are you doing?"
Sam turned around, startled by her sudden voice. "You're awake?" His gaze immediately scanned her face. "How are you feeling?"
Mahiru yawned, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. "Better… but what are you doing in my kitchen?"
"Making breakfast." Sam turned back to the stove, flipping something in the pan. "You didn't eat much last night, so I figured you'd be hungry."
Mahiru blinked again, feeling a strange sense of warmth in her chest.
"…You're really something," she murmured, leaning against the doorframe.
"Hmm?"
"Nothing," she said, shaking her head.
A few minutes later, Sam placed a plate of pancakes on the table. He turned to see Mahiru still standing there, wrapped in her blanket like a cocoon.
"You're not planning to eat like that, are you?" he teased.
Mahiru pouted. "I'm cold."
Sam sighed, walking over and placing a hand on her forehead. "Your fever's gone down, but you should still rest."
"I'll eat first," she insisted.
Sam smirked. "Alright, come on."
They sat together at the small dining table. Mahiru poked at the pancakes before taking a bite. Her eyes widened slightly.
"…They're good."
Sam crossed his arms. "Of course they are."
Mahiru smiled softly as she continued eating. There was something oddly comforting about this moment—the quiet atmosphere, the warm food, and Sam sitting across from her, watching over her.
But as she gazed at him, she noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes.
Her smile faded slightly.
"…You didn't sleep, did you?" she asked.
Sam paused mid-bite and shrugged. "You had a fever. Someone had to keep an eye on you."
Mahiru's grip on her fork tightened. "…Idiot," she mumbled.
"Huh?"
"You should have at least rested for a while."
Sam chuckled. "Can't help it. I was worried."
Mahiru's heart skipped a beat.
Her cheeks grew warm as she quickly looked away, trying to focus on her pancakes.
A peaceful silence filled the air as they continued eating. The morning sun poured in through the window, casting a soft glow over them.
Mahiru glanced up at Sam, watching as he absentmindedly chewed his food.
They were just sitting together, sharing a meal.
It felt… oddly domestic.
Like they were a married couple.
The thought made Mahiru's face turn red.
"…You okay?" Sam asked, noticing her expression.
"Y-Yeah," she stammered, quickly stuffing a piece of pancake in her mouth.
Sam raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.
As they finished their breakfast, Mahiru found herself staring at Sam once again.
He had been by her side all night.
He had worried about her, taken care of her, and even cooked for her.
She felt an unfamiliar tightness in her chest.
"…Thank you, Sam," she whispered.
Sam looked at her. "For what?"
"For… everything," she said, her voice soft but sincere.
Sam looked at her for a moment before letting out a small chuckle. "You're welcome, dummy."
Mahiru huffed but couldn't help the small smile on her lips.
For the first time in a long while, she felt truly cared for.
And for the first time, she realized—maybe she didn't have to face everything alone.
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