[Part 1/4]
"Haa... haa..."
It took the girl a moment to realize that it was her own breathing.
Her entire body was hot and burning. Her chest was boiling from the inside out. It was heavy, painful, and exhausting. Her consciousness was hazy...
"Haa... haa... haa..."
Her breathing was faint. Her head hurt. It was bitter. Her throat was parched. It was hot. So hot. Very hot...
"It's, huuts..."
It was a strained whisper. Her voice was a little hoarse. She tried to get up and get some water from the kitchen, but she couldn't move. She couldn't even get out of bed.
"Uu..."
She was sweating profusely. Her clothes were drenched. Her futon was too. She was overwhelmed with discomfort. Her patience was wearing thin.
"Someone..."
Someone, help me... She tried to call out, but there was no one in the guest room. She was an orphan, but at the same time, she was a guest, and that was her own choice. She couldn't bear to sleep in the same place as her friends from the orphanage because of the cruel thing she had done. And now, it was coming back to haunt her.
"Someone..."
She whispered again, her voice fading away. Or was it melting away?
She was alone. She was lonely. She was all alone. It was scary, terrifying, and somehow nostalgic.
"Mother, Father... Big Sister, Big Brother..."
She called out into the void, pleading with nothingness. She was seeking comfort from the important people she had lost in the past.
"Princess... Ah, uu..."
And then she called out to the important person in her life now, and the person who finally came to mind was...
"To, mo... Hyaa!?"
Just as she was about to give up, a cold sensation touched her forehead, and she let out a lovely scream.
"Let me wipe your sweat. Can you get up? You should change into some clean clothes and a fresh futon. Can you do it by yourself?"
Her consciousness, awakened by the cold compress, clearly recognized the kind words spoken by the person beside her...
Children are fragile. Even with high metabolism, there's a limit. Due to their immaturity, factors like hygiene, nutrition, and medical technology also come into play, making infant mortality rates extremely high throughout history, even in modern times. That's why events like Shichi-Go-San were born, and antibiotics are praised as great achievements.
"Ugh... ugh..."
"It's no good. You still have a fever..."
I touched the forehead of the white fox lying on the futon. The girl's white skin, which was now slightly flushed, was still radiating heat. Compared to this morning, she was a bit better, but... her gaze was still hazy and distant.
Children are like children of the wind. At the same time, catching a cold is like having a sibling for them. It's an unavoidable fate. I realized it early this morning and rushed to prepare a remedy, putting her to bed before noon. Unfortunately, she still had a long way to go before recovering.
"Is it a summer cold? No, but..."
I don't remember Shiro ever getting a cold since Onitsuki family has been taking care of her. Is it due to Tamaki's influence? Children are extremely sensitive to small changes. Moreover, there is a dangerous person in this orphanage....
"Did something happen to you?"
I thought of a possibility, but her response was a denial. She shook her head slightly. If Azuma Hibari's curse wasn't activated, it was probably true. Was I worrying too much?
"Anyway, rest is the priority... I'll change the cold compress, okay?"
I got her consent before proceeding. I gently removed her pajamas and replaced the cold compress on her sides.
"Ugh... hyaaah!!?"
She let out a embarrassed cry, and a cute voice slipped out. Her fox tail and ears twitched. It was only natural, considering I had used well water to cool her down.
"Ugh, I think it's usually done on the forehead, though..."
"Actually, this method is more effective... I'm not lying, okay?"
A cold's fever is the body's immune response, but if the fever gets too high, it's not good either. We need to cool her down moderately, and the armpits are where the lymph nodes gather. It's a more effective place to cool down than the forehead.
"There, sit up straight. Do you need water?"
I fixed her pajamas, and she slowly drank the cooled-down white tea that I had poured into a teacup. After drinking just the right amount, she lay down and I covered her with a thin blanket.
"What about dinner? What time and how much?"
"...Just a little later, please. A small amount is fine."
Although the fox-like girl was petite and had a small appetite, it seemed like she needed even less food than usual. Nutrition was important, but it was pointless to force her to eat.
"Okay. I'll make some rice porridge with extra water..."
As I thought about the evening meal that the Ako's maid had requested, I gently stroked the girl's head in front of me. I comforted her by softly stroking her hair. Her blue eyes gazed up at me, narrowing slightly...
"Leave the bell on your side. If anything happens, ring it. There's a water bottle, so drink small amounts often?...Sorry, but I won't be able to take care of you all the time."
Surveillance and nursing were too much for one person to handle. Unfortunately, it was impossible for me to devote myself to Shiro's care for several nights.
"I understand. Don't worry about it... I'll sleep quietly."
"...Yeah."
I watched over her for a while, and when she started to doze off, I got up. I quietly slid open the shouji paper door and left the room. As soon as I stepped out, I saw a few kids from the brat group.
"Is Shiro-oneechan okay?"
"I think it's just a common summer cold. Rest is the top priority, anyway....Don't enter the room, okay? Her condition might worsen, and you might get infected. Let's not bother her."
The younger ones looked disappointed at my words, but the older ones nodded in agreement.
"Oh my, that's cold. You're just going to leave her alone in her room with a cold? We can take care of her instead?"
Then, from behind the brat group, the most dangerous person in this orphanage appeared. As always, she showed up in her sloppy attire. One of the kids asked her, "Aren't you going to catch a cold?" and she replied, "I'm sweating, so it's okay."
"...No, that's not necessary. It's just a common cold, after all. There's no need to go out of your way to take care of her."
"A cold, huh?"
"Do you have any doubts?"
"Nothing at all?"
Even if I tried to dig deeper into the mysterious atmosphere, it was just lightly brushed off. Did she do something? But... it was strange that Azuma Hibari's curse didn't activate. It was said that if anyone harmed the protected children, including Shiro, they would immediately retaliate.
(Even if it's magical rod, she can't deceive the former Omnyouji Bureau head, right...?)
The years of experience are clearly different. I don't think I can win with just technique... Ugh, I don't know how far I should be on guard!!
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