Outburst

    *Kachak*    

    "Okay, done."    

    As soon as the clock struck 6, Aoi handed his paper to Kokona for her to check.    

    "O- okay! L- Let's see, let's see!"    

    She stuttered for a bit somehow looking unwell. Aoi who noticed the changes asked her in concern.    

    "Kokona?"    

    "Y- yeah?!", she startled, turning redder than usual.  

  

    At first, Aoi thought that her sudden behavior was caused by him, for suddenly reaching out to her while she was reviewing the textbook, so he just dismissed it.    

    But then, her breath became more and more heavy.    

    "K- Kokona?! What's wrong!?", Aoi quickly stood up in worry, inching closer towards Kokona.    

    Expecting her to be sick, he immediately moved onto the table, raising his hand to measure her forehead.    

    "Eh?! Hot!?"    

    As his hand reached her, Kokona swiftly grabbed it, and moved it away from her in panic, which startled Aoi for a bit.    

    What he felt wasn't normal even for a fever. If a normal body temperature stands at 37°C, then hers would be about 40°C. This alarmed him to do something about it.    

    "Kokona! We need to go to a clinic!", he persuaded her.    

    "N- No! I- I'm fine! I'm... fine...", she rejected, trying to convince Aoi of her health. But that didn't work out, as she almost smacked her head into the table.    

    Confused by her sudden retreat, he tried forcing himself to pick her up. But the more he tried, the more she avoided him.    

    "Kokona!? What's up with you!? We need to go to a clinic!", he raised his voice in anger, thinking that he needed to be assertive to dispel her sudden behavior as soon as possible. Looking at her weakened state was the first time for him, Kokona might think of Aoi as a bastard for raising his voice on a girl, but that doesn't matter right now, he just wanted to help his friend – no, his dearest partner.    

    "n- no... please don't make that face... not again...", she cried, about to shed a tear.    

    "Eh?! S- Sorry! I- Is my face really that scary?!", he tried to reassure her, however, that wasn't the case. Looking at her sorrowful eyes, he felt that she wasn't talking about his abrupt rage – but instead, something else. Something that he himself, wasn't aware of.    

    Nonetheless, it became quite problematic for him. Aoi needed her to listen to him one way or another.    

    *Buzz*, ICHIGO appeared from behind.    

    "Eh? ICHIGO..."    

    In its tiny robotic arm was the cellphone. The drone paused, hovering in front of him statically, as if offering the cellphone as a way to persuade Kokona.    

    It could work, but it also wouldn't. There's only one way to know. And that is to test it right here, right now. But what if it doesn't? The thought would haunt him for the rest of his life, for trying to use a fake hypnosis device on her sickly friend.    

    But what can he do now? Calling an ambulance sounds extreme, or is it not? Kokona even said that she's fine, or is she? He could try picking her up again. But it would be dangerous if she suddenly threw another tantrum. Just persuade her again? But he already did that.    

    (Sorry, Kokona...), he thought to himself.    

    Grabbing the cellphone from ICHIGO, he pointed it towards Kokona. A bit hesitant at first. But he wishes. He wished to help her. He wished to help Kokona.    

    Her life could be in danger, but it could also turn out to be a false alarm, due to how she's avoiding him. How could he know? He can't. That's why he hoped, with a press of a button.    

    *Beep*    

    ...    

    Silence filled the room.   

 

    It's tough to decide whether it was caused by the cellphone, or the sudden halt made by Kokona. Aoi couldn't see her face, as she was facing away from him, holding to the edge of her bed.    

    [ SUCCESS ]    

    He looked towards the text displayed on the cellphone. Did it work? Is it real then? The atmosphere had already answered his question. Though he needed clarity. But not about the cellphone, rather, for her health.    

    "Kokona?...", he asked, inching closer towards her.    

    "..."    

    Only her silent returned. Which scared him for a moment. But then,    

    "...y– yeah...", she answered, a bit faint, but at least she did.    

    Aoi breathed a sigh of relief. As he continues,    

    "Kokona, I want you to come with me to a clinic.", he ordered her.    

    "..."    

    Yet again, she returned another silent.    

    "Kokona?...", he repeated, with a bit more concern.    

    "n- no...", she opposed.    

    By that time, he recalled.    

    [ Rule 2 - Anyone under the effect will be under a semi-conscious state, so make sure not to issue commands that may stress them out, or the effect will be canceled instantly. ]    

    Afraid that he had just issued a command that would 'stressed' her, he tried to come up with a different one.    

    "Kokona, I want you to–", as he was about to issue another command, he stopped.    

    Somehow, his wordings felt wrong. It left a bitter taste in his mouth. The one in front of him wasn't a stranger. It's Kokona. His friend. His precious friend. The one he grew up with. The one he spent most of his time with. He enjoyed her company. And he enjoyed all of her mischief, one after another. His one and only precious childhood friend.

    He hated it. He hated himself for not being able to understand what's going through her mind right now. He hated to see her cry herself out. He hated to see her happy-go-lucky persona turned into one that is fragile and delicate.    

    Something. He needed to say something. Something to comfort her. Something like,    

    "Kokona... ...I love you..."    

    "!..."    

    ...    

    It wasn't a command. It's just a word that he felt the need to let out.    

    The room was yet again, consumed by another silent. But he noticed it, just now, albeit for a brief moment. Kokona twitched, in response to his word.    

    For that, he waited.    

    A second passed. Then five. Then ten. Then,    

    "i-...", she muttered.    

    Giving her a chance to finish her word, he waited, yet again.    

    "... i... ...i love you too..."    

    His notion was confirmed. A mix of emotions filled his head – overjoyed. Maybe because the device worked, or maybe – just maybe, because his feelings were acknowledged.    

    Nevertheless, he needed to somehow make her agree to go to a clinic with him. With that, he–    

    "I love you!", Kokona yelled, full determination.    

    "Eh? K– Kokona?"    

    His worries disappeared for a moment, after Kokona gave a second confession – or was it the third?    

    (T– That's weird, I haven't issued any command yet...), he thought, now even more confused.    

    "I LOVE YOU!!! AOI!!", another one.    

    "Eh?!?! K– Kokona?!?! W– Wait!!!"    

    He was happy, truly – but that isn't the case right now. He needed to do something about her fever.    

    "IIII!!! LOOVVVVEEEE!!! YOOOOUUUU!!!!!"    

    As if a sumo wrestler set on taking down an opponent – she rushed towards Aoi, giving him a hug filled with her maximum strength and love. Although the hug itself wasn't really powerful, he was troubled, trying to maintain his balance.    

    "K– Kokona! Stop! STOOOPPP!!!", he tried ordering her.    

    "NO!! I LOVE YOU!!", which failed.    

    "BUT YOUR FEVER?!?!"    

    "IT'S ALRIGHT!! MORE IMPORTANTLY!! I LOVE YOU!!"    

    "IT'S NOT ALRIGHT THOUGH?!?!"    

    "I'M FINE!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN!! I LOVE YOU!!"    

    The silence was broken by the two, as if lifting the room from a curse. Looking at Kokona who returned to her usual self brought comfort to Aoi, however...    

    "III!!! Iii!!~ LOooOooVveeee~~~ ugh~~~...", her eyes spun.    

    "EH?!?! KOKONAAAAA?!?!"   

        * * * * *    

    ...    

    Warm...    

    How warm...    

    I like this...    

    *sniff sniff*    

    Ooohhh...    

    This smell...    

    *sniff sniff*    

    Soup?...    

    Delicious...    

    I want it too...    

    Wait...    

    What was I doing again?...    

    It's a bit dark...    

    "..."    

    Woah!? Who are you?!    

    "I'm you..."    

    Huh?!...    

    (There's no way that's me, she's small.)    

    "..."    

    ...    

    "..."    

    Um... I think it's a bit dark in here...    

    "How was it?..."    

    Eh?!...    

    "How was your knight?"    

    M– My knight?...    

    "..."    

    ...    

    I...  

  

    "..."    

    I love him...    

    "Why?"    

    I don't know...   

 

    I... still don't understand it much...    

    "..."    

    But one thing I know for sure...    

    "?..."    

    I don't need a reason to love him...    

    "..."    

    "Is that so?"    

    Yeah...    

    "Good luck then..."    

    Thanks...    

    ...    

    You too...    

    ...    

    Ack!    

    Bright!    

    * * * * *    

    A savory scent wafted through the air.    

    "Ugh...", Kokona muttered.    

    She opened her eyes, squinting against the bright light coming from the fluorescent lamp above the ceiling.    

    She scanned around her room, seemingly looking for something – no – someone. Unable to see his face, she glooms.    

    However, as soon as he saw him entered the room – holding a tray with what she would assume where the scent came from – her face turned bright as if a child who got their wish granted.    

    "Oh! Kokona, you good now?", Aoi was relieved, which, in turn, fluttered her heart. That is... for a few seconds.    

    "Eh? K– Kokona?"    

    She pulled her pink blanket to hide her face. And when her hands touched her forehead, she could feel the wet towel, nicely placed on her.    

    (He... did this?...), her heart skipped.    

    The room stayed silent, yet, it wasn't as bad as the one before. Aoi placed the tray on a nightstand next to her bed, within her reach. Then,    

    "I'M SORRY!!!", Aoi apologized with one powerful commitment.    

    "eh?", she was confused, so she took a gentle peek from her blanket.    

    "Y– You see... I... Um... I used this thing...", he pulled the cellphone out of his pocket revealing it to Kokona.    

    "So.. You know...", he stuttered trying to explain the situation.    

    "It's fine!", Kokona interrupted him, as she had already known about it from the start.    

    "Eh?... I– It's fine?... But..."    

    As Aoi was filled with guilt, Kokona interrupted him – yet again.    

    "I made that!"    

    Revealing her usual little smile towards Aoi.    

    "..."    

    "EEHHHH?!?!", which surprised him.