Chapter 2: The Ice Lady and Stomach Growl

After stocking up on cooling pads, sports drinks, and other materials needed for a sick person from a nearby convenience store, Asahi hurried back home and saw a scene that was the same as when he left the house, yet clearly unusual.

“I can’t eat anymore, munyamunya…”

What kind of dream does this girl have, with that adorable face while sleeping on the bed where I should be sleeping?

Her glazed hair was as beautiful as silk, and her clear, fine untainted skin.

Behind her tightly closed eyelids were large, brown eyes with a charming expression, long eyelashes, a straight nose, and thin, cherry-red lips. Her face, which couldn’t have been more flawless, surpassed that of a celebrity.

Taking advantage of the fact that the other person was asleep, he studied her beauty without any hesitation. It was no wonder that Fuyuka was still very popular, despite being called the “Ice Lady.”

“…There’s always room for deserts…nya~”

In the first place, it was hard to believe that the girl who was sleeping happily in the bed, dreaming about eating to her fill was that “Ice Lady”.

The cold atmosphere that always existed around her was nowhere to be found, and instead a soft, gentle, sweet scent could be felt throughout the room.

Her glossy lips, which were static at school, moved a lot and spoke a lot of words that couldn’t be imagined from her normal appearance.

“The Ice Lady, huh?”

Mumbling Fuyuka’s nickname, which had somehow stuck onto him, Asahi remembered his best friend’s words.

―If the Ice Lady’s personality was the exact opposite, every boy in the school would fall in love with her in a heartbeat.

At the time, I just ignored it, but now I understand it a little bit.

Possessing the beauty of a goddess and cuteness of an angel.

Slender and petite, but has feminine curves that were visible at various places.

Even for Asahi, who didn’t have feelings for her, the girl sleeping in front of him seemed attractive from the perspective of the opposite s*x.

It was not hard to imagine Fuyuka being surrounded by many people in a world where “if” was a reality.

After watching Fuyuka sleeping defenseless for a while, Asahi gradually got the feeling that he was looking at something he shouldn’t, and consciously averted his eyes.

Turning his back from the bed he quickly headed towards the kitchen.

“…Mom…”

That faint and meek voice did not reach anyone’s ears.

Just as the midsummer sun was setting, Asahi heard a noise coming from the previous room and left his seat, cutting off his studies for the exam.

The apartment where Asahi lived was a 1LDK apartment with a very ordinary structure.

The living room and the bedroom were separated only by a single door. The sound leaking through the gap was enough to grasp what was going on inside.

“You’re up.”

He slowly opened the door and peeked into the room where the bed was placed, and as expected, Fuyuka was awake.

As expected as well, her eyes are showing a strong sense of caution.

Of course, anyone would be wary of waking up in a room of a opposite s*x.

However, the only thing that denied Asahi’s expectations was her atmosphere.

Expecting her to have her usual cold mood, unapproachable atmosphere, but so far her attitude seemed to be conveying otherwise.

“…I told you not to…bother with me, didn’t I..?”

The words spoken out in a clear voice that sounded like the rolling of a bell were as harsh as ever.

However, it was not a voice that pushed anyone away.

Seemingly she clearly understood the situation as she was asking a question to which she already knew the answer to.

So, Asahi responded without any hesitation.

“I can’t exactly leave you alone when you suddenly collapse in front of me. Seeing that you didn’t want to go to the hospital, I decided to take care of you at my apartment. Or what, do you want me to carry you inside your room and leave you there?”

“…No, it was very helpful. Thank you very much…”

Asahi froze for a moment, not expecting to be thanked so honestly.

“You’re welcome.” I replied bluntly a little bit late, but inwardly feeling rather itchy.

Whether it was the state of being sleepy, or the effect of being sick, the usual cold-ice response did not show up and it messed him up.

Before long, caution around her had faded, and her eyes had become vaguely vacant.

It isn’t that I’ve been forgiven, and I understand that it’s the cold along with the pain making her do this, but it’s very uncomfortable to deal with Fuyuka, who looks nothing like the “Ice Lady”.

“Stay there a little longer, I’ll get you something to drink right now.”

Asahi left the room and headed towards the kitchen without saying a word as if running away from her.

Taking out some food and drink from the refrigerator, such as sports drinks, jelly, and ice cream bought from the convenience store.

The sound of a doorknob being twisted was heard just as Asahi was about to head back to the bedroom with his hands full of chilled food and drinks.

Slowly, the wooden door opens and he sees Fuyuka emerge out of the room.

Her footing was still unsteady and she looked as if she was about to fall.

“Hey, you’re still rather sick, aren’t you?”

“…I’m fine..”

“Don’t lie, you’re not. Just behave and rest.”

“I can’t bother you more than I already have…kyaa―”

A short scream echoed throughout the room, followed immediately by a thud. Then, just as I thought there would be silence, I suddenly heard the pounding of a heartbeat in my ears.

He realized that it was the sound of his own heart beating, and at the same time, he understood the soft feeling that enveloped his entire body and the slight heat that came from the skin he touched.

“…Are you hurt?”

“..No, thanks to you…”

He said his words nonchalantly and feigned calmness, but Asahi couldn’t help but worry that Fuyuka would hear the pounding in his chest.

Sure enough, Fuyuka lost her balance and almost fell, and I made an impulsive decision to pull her into my arms, which I can say was a good job on my part.

The food and drink I was holding in my hands were scattered on the floor, but that was barely an inconvenience.

However, I didn’t know how much force to apply, so I hugged her as hard as I could, which was bad in many ways.

Her sweet, slightly heated breath and the touch of her soft skin directly stimulated Asahi.

“…I’m fine already so can you let go now?”

“My bad…”

Although it was an accident, I apologize because it was still a delicate matter. Fuyuka, who was a few steps away from Asahi, nodded her head silently, with a bright red face shaking from embarrassment.

‘The Ice Lady can make this kind of expression, huh?’

Fuyuka, who usually kept a straight face to the point where one would wonder if her facial muscles were dead, now it had turned bright red from embarrassment.

It was strangely endearing, the gap between her appearance now and her usual self.

However, he wasn’t the kind of person who could honestly express his thoughts. He swallowed his words, thinking that calling her cute would only make her look at him suspiciously and coldly.

―grooowwwll…

Fuyuka was looking down with her mouth shut, and Asahi was standing there staring at her.

The awkward silence that had stood was broken by the sound of a large, loud insect buzzing(?).

“…Are you hungry?”

It was not sure if it was Asahi’s fault for being so blunt, but it seemed that he had hurt Fuyuka’s pride in some way.

Fuyuka’s face turned red and she stared at Asahi with eyes that looked like she was about to cry, her face that showed no sign of her being the “Ice Lady” anywhere.

What Asahi saw was just a cute, hungry girl.