Chapter 23: Back into the Shell

The next day, Ayaka walked to campus feeling anxious. Although she tried to convince herself that Akira just needed some time, she had a bad feeling. Her instinct was proven right. At campus, Akira's seat was empty. It was very unusual; he never skipped class.

During the break, Reina, Mika, and Sayo gathered. "Could Akira be feeling unwell? What if we visit him tomorrow?" Sayo suggested.

"I don't know, Sayo. I don't think this is the right time," Ayaka replied, her voice filled with hesitation.

Mika narrowed her eyes. "What's going on with you two?"

Ayaka was forced to tell them about the reunion incident from last night. They were all shocked.

"It must be so hard for Akira-kun," Sayo said. "I went through something similar with my husband!"

Reina gave her a flat look. "Sayo, he's a real guy, not 2D. This is no time for jokes. We have to cheer him up."

The four of them agreed to go. Renji and Kazuma, who happened to overhear, joined in. Renji felt he owed a debt of gratitude, and Kazuma just wanted to make sure his friend was okay.

When they arrived at my apartment, they were shocked to see an ambulance and a police car. Panicked, they ran up the stairs. "Could it be... Akira did something to hurt himself?" Ayaka whispered, her face pale.

However, when they got there, they saw a camera recording the scene. It was just a local TV show prank. Everyone sighed in relief. Suddenly, Yui appeared from the apartment door.

"Huh? Are you Ayaka-chan and my brother's friends?" Yui asked. Her eyes lit up when she saw Mika and Sayo. "Wow, there's Mika-chan! Can I please have your autograph? I'm your biggest fan!" Yui also stared at Sayo, her face full of excitement. "Sayo, the voice actress with the golden voice! My prayers have been answered again!"

Smiling, Yui let them inside. Inside, I was lying weakly on the bed. A cold compress was on my forehead.

"Akira-kun, are you sick?" Ayaka yelled, her voice filled with worry.

Reina immediately pulled out a thermometer from her bag. After checking, it was confirmed that I had a fever.

"I'll make him some porridge!" Ayaka ran to the kitchen.

"No, I will!" Reina shouted.

"My cooking is better!" Mika shot back.

"My love-filled cooking is the best!" Sayo retorted.

Kazuma and Renji could only shake their heads. "Hey, we should just go home. Let him rest," Renji said, but the four girls' unified "URUSAI!" stopped him.

In the kitchen, the porridge battle began. Ayaka focused on tenderness, Reina on nutrition, Mika on presentation, and Sayo, somehow, just followed her instincts. Yui was the judge, and the result was... no one could win. Ayaka's was too salty, Reina's too spicy, Mika's too sweet, and Sayo's had a very strange taste. Renji and Kazuma tried it, but immediately spit it out.

"It looks like we've just made more of a mess," Kazuma muttered.

They finally gave up and decided to go home. However, Ayaka stayed behind. She asked Yui to continue watching TV so she could clean up the mess in the kitchen herself. Ayaka took a broom, mopped the floor, washed the dishes, and tidied up my messy apartment.

While she was wiping the table, she heard me mumbling in my sleep.

"Mom... Dad..." I whispered weakly. "Where are you going... don't leave me..."

Suddenly, my eyes opened. I screamed. "MOM! DAD!"

Yui and Ayaka were startled. Ayaka immediately came closer. "Akira-kun, you still have a fever. Eat this, then take your medicine," she said softly.

I ate the porridge she made, took the medicine, and fell back asleep. Yui, now calmer, went back to watching TV. Ayaka looked at me intently. In my sleep, my face looked so peaceful. Ayaka leaned down and slowly kissed my cheek. She then quickly left.

The next day, I was back to normal. I went to campus as usual, returning to my old routine. But the peace didn't last long. At the entrance, a tomboyish girl, the head of the campus and a very strict disciplinarian, was scolding some students. She had short brown hair, blue-lensed eyes, and dressed like a boy. She was Haruka Minase, a woman who felt she had the soul of a man trapped in her body.