[-] Ichihime always tells me that cats need to eat to live, and that there's no sickness that a delicious meal can't cure. It's better to eat nutritious food in time when you're sick, so I decide to wake Riu Kujou to eat.
[player] Riu, it's time to have lunch.
[Riu Kujou] *coughs*... Please come in.
[-] In the brightly lit room, Riu Kujou has changed into more comfortable home clothes. She is leaning against the bed with a blanket around her, and her face is still a little flushed.
[-] I'm used to seeing the usual Riu Kujou, so I become a little absent-minded when I see her looking so weak.
[Riu Kujou] I just took some medicine and was sweating... so I changed my clothes.
[player] Oh, do you feel better now?
[Riu Kujou] Yes, my body doesn't feel so hot now...
[player] That's great. Come and have something to eat. I made congee.
[Riu Kujou] ...Congee?
[-] I place the tray I'm carrying on the table and transfer the congee and some simple side dishes onto it.
[Riu Kujou] Isn't there anything else to eat?
[player] Nope. You shouldn't eat food that is too greasy when you're sick. This is what happens when you don't take good care of yourself, so this is not negotiable.
[Riu Kujou] You are so strict... Fine then.
[-] Riu Kujou shakes her head while she compromises, then she picks up the spoon and tastes the congee after blowing on it.
[Riu Kujou] ...
[player] That expression on your face... Does it taste bad?
[Riu Kujou] No... I just suddenly remembered the congee my mom made for me when I was sick at home as a child...
[-] Riu Kujou lowers her head, her long eyelashes concealing her emotions at this time. She stirs the bowl gently with the white porcelain spoon in her hand and seems a little sad. All of a sudden, I realize that although she has been taking care of Chiori Mikami by herself for so many years now, she is still just 19 years old...
[Riu Kujou] Of course. My mom's congee tastes much better than yours.
[player] ...
[-] Riu Kujou's words successfully help me escape the slightly sentimental atmosphere just now.
[player] Okay then, I believe that's an objective evaluation.
[Riu Kujou] Haha, I'm just joking. You've already done very well, but I don't want you to get too proud. You need to leave yourself some room for improvement, right?
[player] Well, I humbly accept your evaluation.
[-] Although she praised the lunch I made for her, Riu Kujou puts down the spoon after having just a few bites.
[player] Do you have no appetite?
[-] Riu Kujou nods, then she shakes her head after seeming to remember something.
[Riu Kujou] ...I'm not feeling unwell physically. I just remembered that Miss Chiori's end-of-term ceremony is being held today.
[-] I was planning on going to her school to record this day for her, but I never expected that I would get sick at the last minute after preparing for so long. When I think about how I'm missing such an important moment... I can't bear to eat anything.
[player] I see.
[-] It seems that while Riu Kujou didn't express this regret in the morning because she didn't want to distract Chiori Mikami, she must have been secretly sad.
[player] So that's why you insisted on doing all those things in the morning to keep yourself busy. You wanted to distract yourself, right?
[Riu Kujou] Sigh, now that I think about it, it's such a stupid method and didn't work at all.
[player] It's okay. Your mind isn't as sharp when you're sick. I understand.
[Riu Kujou] ...Do you think I can't punch you just because I'm sick?
[-] I look at the time.
[player] Haha, I'm just joking. By the way, approximately when is Chiori's speech?
[Riu Kujou] Based on the previous rehearsals, her speech should be in another hour.
[player] I understand... We might still make it.
[Riu Kujou] Hmm?
[player] Some of my friends are students at Aotsuyu Middle School. Although you can't go there in person, maybe we can watch the speech by streaming it live.
[Riu Kujou] !
[Riu Kujou] Really?!
[player] Of course... But you have to promise me one thing if you want me to help you.
[Riu Kujou] It's a deal!
[player] I still haven't told you what it is yet... Aren't you afraid it might be too ridiculous?
[Riu Kujou] Hmm? If you were someone like that, Miss Chiori and I would never have become friends with you.
[player] Damn, you've placed me on a moral pedestal. Fine then, I want you to finish eating your lunch now.
[Riu Kujou] ...Haha, okay then. I'll do what you say.
One hour later
[Ayako Morikawa] A friend from the old school building told me that I have to watch the end-of-term ceremony today because something nice will happen... So this is why... Hehe... I'm really happy that I can help PLAYER... I'll do my best.
[player] Thanks a lot, Ayako.
[-] After Ayako Morikawa adjusts the direction of her mobile phone's camera, the stage of the end-of-term ceremony appears on the screen. Amidst the applause, a blond girl walks up to the podium standing tall and straight. The camera zooms in, giving us a clear view of Chiori Mikami.
[-] Chiori Mikami nods slightly to greet the audience, then she confidently begins her unscripted speech.
[Chiori Mikami] Dear teachers, parents, and classmates, good afternoon. I'm Chiori Mikami, a second-year student in junior high school, and I'm honored to give this speech as the student representative today...
[-] Riu Kujou holds the mobile phone and stares at the screen seriously. To her surprise, just before the speech ends, Chiori Mikami suddenly looks through the audience and keenly notices Ayako Morikawa's camera.
[Chiori Mikami] Last of all, I want to say...
[Riu Kujou] Eh? Miss Chiori is looking this way?
[Ayako Morikawa] Oh, I'm sorry... My phone is about to die...
[-] At this moment, the video connection is lost just as we hear Ayako Morikawa's panicked voice.
[Riu Kujou] Huh?
[-] Feeling nervous, I call her again and hear a cold voice saying: "The number you dialed is currently unavailable."
[Riu Kujou] It looks like her mobile phone is dead...
[player] Yes...
[Riu Kujou] It's okay. I'm already very satisfied that I was able to watch so much of Miss Chiori's speech today. Thanks for arranging that for me.
[player] You're welcome, h-haha...
[-] ...No, you don't know what this means!
[-] Earlier, after contacting Ayako Morikawa, I contacted Chiori Mikami, who was preparing for her speech backstage, and told her about Riu Kujou's situation and what I was arranging.
[Chiori Mikami] ...You want to stream my speech so Riu can see it?
[Chiori Mikami] Hmph, that's considerate of you! I'll reward you well for taking care of Riu after I get back today.
[Chiori Mikami] But since we're going to do this, I have to do something for her too! At the very least, when it comes to caring about Riu, I definitely won't lose to a fool like you.
[Chiori Mikami] I'm not going to tell you what I'll do, but you have to get Riu to watch until the very end!
[player] Haha, that's great! Riu will definitely get better sooner with your surprise, Chiori. Let's both give Riu an unforgettable live stream.
[player] Sigh, this is bad...
[Riu Kujou] Hmm? What's wrong?
[-] Chiori Mikami calls us sooner than I expected. I haven't even thought of what to tell her yet.
[Riu Kujou] Is it Miss Chiori?
[-] With Riu Kujou urging me, I bite the bullet and turn on the speaker.
[Chiori Mikami] Riu, are you really happy right now?
[Riu Kujou] Of course! Miss Chiori's speech was so touching. I'm sure you conquered everyone there!
[Chiori Mikami] I'm talking about the last part where I was talking to you, Riu, not the speech!
[Riu Kujou] The last part? What happened at the end?
[Chiori Mikami] ...Hmm? You didn't see what happened at the end? PLAYER???
[-] Chiori Mikami's voice suddenly gets dramatically louder.
[player] Umm... something unexpected happened at the end.
[Chiori Mikami] What? Didn't you say that nothing would go wrong? That's the reason I went all out and said such embarrassing things... ARGHH! PLAYER! You're dead meat!
[-] I can feel Chiori Mikami's rage radiating through the mobile phone, so I guiltily turn down the volume. Just as I'm thinking of what to say to appease Chiori Mikami, a pair of warm hands reaches over and takes the mobile phone from me gently.
[-] It is Riu Kujou.
[Riu Kujou] There, there, don't be angry.
[Riu Kujou] Although it's a shame that I didn't get to hear what you said to me today, Miss Chiori, I can guess what you were thinking. You didn't need to give me a special surprise, because I feel like I've received a lot of support just by being able to see you.
[Chiori Mikami] Riu, you're such a fool. It's not the same...
[-] With just a few words, Riu manages to instantly calm Chiori Mikami down from her furious state.
[Riu Kujou] Miss Chiori, the truth is that you're not really angry, right? I remember that you called PLAYER's number without hesitation when you said you wanted to find a trusted friend to take care of me.
[Riu Kujou] Although I was still against the idea of having someone take care of me at that time...
[-] Riu Kujou pauses and glances at me quickly before continuing seriously.
[Riu Kujou] I now think that you were right, Miss Chiori.
[Riu Kujou] It's just like what you said, Miss Chiori. I also think that PLAYER is an extremely trustworthy and reliable person now. PLAYER also completed today's task of taking care of me very well.
[Chiori Mikami] ...Argh! Riu, you must have a really bad fever! I never said anything like that!
[-] Beep... Beep... Beep...
[Riu Kujou] ...Hello? Miss Chiori?
[player] Umm, she hung up on us.
[Riu Kujou] Oh, I see. But you have nothing to worry about. Based on my understanding of Miss Chiori, she just got caught up in the heat of the moment and won't really do anything to you.
[player] Actually... compared to that, I'm more concerned about what you just said.
[Riu Kujou] Hmm?
[player] I didn't come here today because Chiori asked me to.
[player] I came because I heard that you were sick and was worried about you. That's all.
[player] I'm very happy to hear you say that I'm a trustworthy person, but if I am to be rewarded... the only thing I want is for you, Riu, to keep trusting and relying on me in the future.
[player] It's because I'm willing to support you at any time, not just when you're sick.
[Riu Kujou] Huh?!
[Riu Kujou] ...
[Riu Kujou] Wh-What are you saying all of a sudden...?
[-] Riu Kujou looks at me blankly for a moment. After coming to her senses, she suddenly hides under her blanket in a panic with her back to me, revealing only her ears that have turned red.
[Riu Kujou] I'm a little sleepy and need to rest now. Y-You should go now.
[player] So that's a yes?
[player] I'm going to assume that you agree with me if you don't say anything.
[player] That's great! By the way, are you starting to burn up again, Riu? Your ear looks very red.
[Riu Kujou] ...You!
[-] As if her embarrassment has turned to anger, Riu Kujou stands up instantly and punches me on the shoulder, but it is soft and has no deterrent effect at all.
[Riu Kujou] If you don't leave now, I'll punch you after I get better, and it won't be this soft!
[player] Okay, okay.
[-] It's a good thing that Riu Kujou has fully recovered from her cold after several days, and she becomes energetic and lively again.
[-] As someone whom Riu Kujou can trust and rely on, in addition to playing mahjong with her, I've naturally become that special person with whom she can try more fun things and share all her happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy.
