Angel's Nursing

In the summer afternoon, Sora's voice reading a book by the window softly blended into the quiet of the room. The sunlight filtering through the swaying curtains and the breeze from the electric fan flowed around Sora like an embrace.

"...and then, the little fairy said: 'No matter how far apart we are, our hearts will always stay connected.'"

Sora's gentle voice echoed in the quiet room. Unlike ordinary reading, it was beautiful like a melody itself, as if making the air shimmer and dance.

Asuka lay in bed, listening to the voice with a peaceful expression. The sunlight streaming through the window seemed to mysteriously glow only around Sora.

"Sora-san... I like that book..." Asuka whispered, her voice faint with fatigue.

Sora closed the book with an innocent smile. "Yes, I like it too. I'm happy you enjoyed it!"

Sora moved closer to Asuka's side and gently held her hand. Mysteriously, the warmth from that hand seemed to envelop Asuka's body like a soft glow of light.

"Huh? Somehow... my body feels lighter," Asuka murmured with slight surprise.

Sora tilted their head and offered an innocent smile. "Really? That's good then. But remember, no overdoing it, okay?"

As Sora stood up, they noticed something peeking out from under the bed.

"Oh? What's this...?"

"Ah!" Asuka hurriedly pulled the blanket closer. "Th-that's..."

What was half-visible was a doujinshi of "Magical Girl Angelic Heart." Asuka dove under the covers with a bright red face.

"Wow, what a cute cover! Is this a manga?" Sora innocently picked it up.

"Y-yes... but it's a secret from my brother..." Asuka said bashfully. "It's something I enjoy while resting..."

"Oh, interesting! Should I read this next then?"

"Eh!?" Asuka suddenly sat up from under the covers. "N-no, no! This is... um...!"

"Why not? The cover is so cute."

As Sora tilted their head in confusion, Asuka frantically tried to string words together.

"Well, um... this isn't a normal manga, it's a bit special...!"

"Special? What makes it special?" Sora asked with genuine curiosity, tilting their head while trying to open the pages.

"No!" Asuka nearly leaped out of bed reaching for the doujinshi.

At that moment, the door quietly opened, and Yuta and their mother Haruka entered with warm smiles, carrying tea and snacks.

"My, what are you two up to?" At Haruka's gentle voice, both Sora and Asuka turned around. Sora smoothly closed the doujinshi and returned it to the pillow. Asuka's expression shifted instantly from despair to relief.

"Sora-chan, thank you. It's such a help having you look after Asuka."

"Hehe, I enjoy spending time with Asuka-chan too♪"

Haruka smiled at Sora's innocent response and began pouring tea. Asuka remained red-faced, clutching her blanket, but her gratitude for Sora's casual gesture was evident.

---

Some time later, the door opened again, and Yuta returned, wiping away sweat. The summer heat and sense of accomplishment radiated from him after his club activities.

"I'm home. Sora, you're here again?"

"Welcome back, Yuta! You're really sweaty. Good work at practice!"

Sora quickly stood up and grabbed a towel, rushing over to Yuta. His soccer club uniform showed signs of another day of intense practice.

"Here, you'll catch a cold if you don't dry off properly." Sora innocently began wiping Yuta's face with the towel.

"Whoa! Wait, Sora! I'm all sweaty!"

"Hehe, I don't mind♪ I like Yuta's smell!"

Amid some laughter, Sora suddenly stared intently at Yuta's face.

"Huh? Yuta, your face is red. Do you have a fever?"

Yuta hurriedly looked away from Sora's concerned head-tilt.

"I-is it? Must be because it's hot."

But Sora, completely unconcerned, gently rested their forehead against Yuta's. For a moment, the delicate fragrance of Sora's hair enveloped him. The sweet smell of shampoo mixed with Sora's uniquely pure fragrance. At such close distance that their lips could almost touch, Yuta could clearly see Sora's long eyelashes.

"Hmm, doesn't seem like you have a fever♪"

"W-wait, Sora...!" Yuta's face turned bright red. Desperately trying to suppress his racing heart, he backed away slightly.

"Oh, uh, I was just thinking about the bread rising process!" Yuta began spouting nonsensical words in panic.

"The bread talk again?" Haruka laughed playfully. "Yuta always talks about bread when he's embarrassed."

"That's not true!"

Asuka giggled too. "Big brother, your face is completely red."

Sora, completely failing to understand the situation, pressed their forehead against Yuta's again. "Hmm, maybe you are a bit feverish after all. Yuta, make sure you rest properly, okay?"

Haruka watched the three with warm eyes as she poured tea. Since Sora had started coming around, there had definitely been changes in this house. Asuka smiled more often, and Yuta had started pursuing his dreams. However, she was concerned about the complicated expressions her son occasionally showed.

"Oh yes, we got the results from last week's regular checkup," Haruka brought up. "The doctor had some good news."

"Apparently, an anonymous supporter has offered to fully cover Asuka's treatment costs."

"An anonymous supporter...?" Asuka's eyes widened in surprise.

Haruka smiled but shifted her gaze to Yuta standing beside her.

"Yuta, you must feel relieved too, right?"

"...Ah, yeah, that's right." Yuta answered briefly while staring out the window. Haruka caught a glimpse of an unspoken burden shadowing his profile.

"That's amazing! I'm so happy for you, Asuka-chan!"

Sora innocently rejoiced while gently taking Yuta's hand.

"Hey Yuta, aren't you happy too?"

Despite Sora's pure smile right in front of him, Yuta felt a constricting sensation in his chest. The warmth of that hand was kindness itself, like a healing light. However, each time he touched that light, he felt his shadows deepen against her radiance.

(What am I... thinking about such an innocent soul?)

Yuta looked out the window. The asphalt shimmered white under the summer sun, appearing hazy. He wondered if he had any right to step into her world of such purity. He was afraid that his touch would taint it.

---

As evening approached and Sora prepared to leave, Yuta walked them to the entrance. In the hallway lit by the setting sun, Sora's hair took on a mysterious glow.

"Sora, thank you, really. Since you started coming here, Asuka and I... everyone's lives have changed."

"Eh? I haven't done anything special?"

Sora tilted their head, offering a pure smile backlit by the sunset. That gesture was so innocent that Yuta felt a momentary tightness in his chest.

"I just enjoy being with everyone. I like talking with Asuka-chan..." Sora looked out the window at the darkening sky. "And I think it's really wonderful to see Yuta pursuing his dreams."

In the entrance garden, the gray kitten Ten watched the two intently. The sunset seemed to shine with a special radiance only around Sora.

"Well then, see you tomorrow! Can I come watch your practice tomorrow?"

"Yeah, of course."

Sora walked away into the sunset, lightly waving. Their retreating figure blended into the thin orange light, gradually becoming indistinct.

Watching that figure disappear, indescribable feelings welled up in Yuta's chest. He realized that these feelings—both for this too-pure being and his own conflicted emotions—would probably never reach their destination.

Ten quietly swished his tail and left as if following Sora. The summer evening seemed to stretch endlessly into the horizon. Yet somewhere in Yuta's heart, he understood with a touch of pain that this time too would eventually come to an end.

(Sora... that radiance is surely in a place I can never reach.)

Those words dissolved into the evening sky, reaching no one.