The morning sunlight streamed through the classroom window, casting dancing shadows on the desks. Misaki sat by the window, her focus sharper than usual. She took notes while occasionally glancing at Kenta beside her, making sure he was staying on track.
Kenta, rarely distracted, was fully immersed in his work. Thoughts of Hiro still lying in the hospital stirred a sense of urgency and responsibility in him. “I can’t let Hiro fall behind too much. He’ll be upset if he does…” he thought silently, jotting down the teacher’s key points.
“What are you mumbling about?” Misaki noticed his lips moving and whispered.
“Nothing… just reminding myself to make sure I get his assignments over to him today,” Kenta replied softly.
“Alright, let’s do our best together,” Misaki nodded, her smile filled with determination.
The morning classes flew by thanks to their unusually focused effort. Not only did they take their own notes, but they also discussed key points together and used break time to finish what they could. Both knew that their efforts were not just for themselves, but for their companion lying in the hospital bed.
Meanwhile, in the hospital room…
Soft light streamed in through the window, and Hiro lay quietly in his bed, breathing steadily, though still somewhat labored. Zero Two sat beside him, gently wiping his forehead with a damp cloth, her eyes filled with tenderness.
“Darling, your fever’s still a little high, but it’s much better than yesterday,” she said softly, adjusting his blanket.
Hiro slowly opened his eyes, still blurry, but his lips curled into a small smile when he saw Zero Two beside him. “You… stayed here all night?”
“Mm, I didn’t want to go anywhere,” Zero Two grinned playfully. “I figured you’d feel uneasy waking up alone here, wouldn’t you?”
Just as she finished speaking, there was a soft knock at the door, and a young nurse in uniform entered with a gentle smile.
“Sorry to disturb you, but it’s time for the routine check-up.”
Zero Two moved aside, and the nurse approached Hiro’s bed, efficiently measuring his temperature, checking his blood pressure, and adjusting the IV drip. “Your temperature has dropped a bit, which is a good sign. We still need to observe for a few more days, but things seem stable for now.”
“Thank you,” Zero Two nodded politely.
“You’re welcome. Are you his sister?” the nurse casually asked.
Zero Two paused for a moment before chuckling. “No, I’m… someone important to him.”
The nurse blinked in surprise but smiled again. “Well, it looks like you’re taking good care of him. He must feel very reassured having you by his side.”
“Of course,” Zero Two puffed out her chest proudly.
Once the check-up was done, the nurse left with a polite goodbye, and Zero Two returned to Hiro’s bedside, her gaze growing even more tender.
“I heard the nurse say I’m doing a good job taking care of you. Did you hear that, Darling?” she said, taking out some porridge she had bought earlier that morning, carefully pouring it into a bowl. “Even though I’m not good at cooking, at least I picked a porridge that’s not too bad.”
Hiro mustered a weak smile. “You… really are trying hard… thank you, Zero Two.”
She scooped up a spoonful of porridge and gently fed it to him. “No need to thank me. I just don’t want you to be sick… So get better quickly. I don’t want to stay in the hospital with you for too long.”
The atmosphere between them was peaceful and warm, like they were quietly building their bond in the simplest of ways.
Around lunchtime, Zero Two opened two picture books she had brought and sat by the bed, beginning to read stories to Hiro. Her voice wasn’t as polished as a professional storyteller’s, but her tone was natural, occasionally adding her own commentary, making Hiro laugh from time to time.
Halfway through the story, Hiro fell asleep again. Zero Two watched his sleeping face, whispering, “Darling, when you get better, we still have to go back to school. There’s so much time ahead of us, and we’ll spend it together…”
She lowered her head, resting her forehead on his hand, closing her eyes to feel the warmth still lingering in his touch.
Outside, the sunlight continued to pour in, and the quiet in the room seemed to freeze time, leaving only the peaceful companionship between the two.
After school, the hospital corridor was as quiet as usual. Misaki and Kenta, carrying their bags, quietly approached Hiro’s room. They arrived a little earlier than last time, both worried about Hiro’s condition.
“Looks like he’s doing better today, right?” Misaki gently pushed the door open, revealing a smile.
Inside, Zero Two was looking at Hiro, softly talking to him while he rested with his eyes half-closed. Upon hearing the door, Zero Two turned her head, offering a warm smile. “You’re here.”
“Mm, feeling better today?” Kenta stepped inside and placed the homework he’d brought on the table beside the bed.
Hiro opened his eyes and sat up slightly, smiling. “Much better, thanks for your concern. I feel a little more relaxed today, but I still need some rest.”
Zero Two kindly offered him a glass of water. “You still need to rest more. Don’t push yourself.”
Kenta and Misaki sat down, and the conversation lightened the mood.
At that moment, the door to the room was knocked on again, and a middle-aged doctor in a white coat entered. With his arrival, both Zero Two and Hiro became slightly tense.
“Sorry to interrupt. I just need to do a routine check-up and give you an update on the condition,” the doctor said, smiling, and nodded to Zero Two.
“Thank you, doctor,” Zero Two and Hiro both nodded in acknowledgment.
The doctor flipped open the medical chart, examined Hiro briefly, and spoke in a calm tone. “Hiro’s condition is more stable than we expected. The fever has gone down, and his temperature has stayed in the normal range today. We’ll continue to monitor him and keep the IV drip going. However, his strength is still weak, so he’ll need to stay for a few more days.”
“When can he be discharged?” Zero Two asked urgently, her anxiety clear.
The doctor glanced at Hiro and smiled. “If there are no symptoms of relapse in the next couple of days, we can consider discharging him over the weekend. Of course, it will depend on how he’s doing over the next few days.”
“Weekend, huh? Finally some hope,” Zero Two sighed in relief, her eyes lighting up with a smile. Though still worried, she felt lighter seeing Hiro’s condition improve.
Misaki, overhearing, joked, “Well, Hiro better rest up these next few days. We don’t want to worry about him again!”
Kenta chimed in with mischief, “Yeah, hurry up and get better so we can catch up on all the homework!”
Hiro smiled faintly and nodded. “I’ll rest properly. Thanks, everyone.”
The doctor nodded and left, reminding them to call the nurse if there were any problems.
Once the doctor was gone, the atmosphere lightened again. Misaki sat down in a chair and suddenly asked, “By the way, Zero Two, have you been making anything delicious for Hiro lately?”
Zero Two squinted her eyes and laughed. “Actually, I’m not that great at cooking, but I did learn a thing or two from him this time.”
Kenta teased, “Looks like Hiro’s the one who’s teaching her how to cook, huh? Haha.”
Hiro appeared a little helpless but smiled and shook his head. “Alright, stop teasing me. I need to focus on getting better.” He looked at Zero Two, his eyes soft. “I’m lucky to have you here. Thank you.”
Zero Two lowered her head, her voice gentle. “It’s my honor to take care of you, Darling.”
Her tone was tender and full of care, making Hiro feel more at ease. He gently held her hand, and their feelings for each other flowed through the quiet room.
Misaki, watching the sweet couple, sighed, “Really… it’s a little too sweet.”
Her words made the room’s atmosphere even warmer, and Zero Two couldn’t help but laugh.
Kenta, pretending to be overwhelmed, fanned himself exaggeratedly. “I’m being blinded by all this sweetness!”
Hiro and Zero Two laughed together, and the mood in the room became lighter and more joyful.
As time passed, the hospital room was not only filled with medical care but also with the warmth of friendship and affection. Zero Two’s meticulous care for Hiro made this difficult time feel a little less heavy.
In this moment, Hiro’s mood lightened, and Zero Two’s attention gave him warmth like never before. Though more challenges lay ahead, in this hospital room, the two stood by each other, supporting one another, making their love even stronger.
To be Continued…
