NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 11 - Sleeping Sisters
“A cold?”
“Yes… It seems like she has quite a fever. I put her back to bed, and she should be asleep now.”
One morning, I was informed in the living room that Erika had caught a cold.
No wonder Karen was the only one making breakfast.
“It might be because she’s let her guard down since getting used to her new life.”
“More like, because she’s dressing like that…”
“Dressing like what?”
“Nah, never mind.”
I have no intention of mentioning that she was in my room in her underwear a little while ago.
I don’t know how much her sister knows about her actions, but there’s no need for me to spill the beans.
“Then she should take the day off from school. Should we go to the hospital? Uh, let’s call a taxi.”
“Um, it seems like a regular cold, and she said she’d be fine if she slept, so I think it’s okay. But I would like to take the day off to take care of her today if that’s all right?”
It’s neither good nor bad, I think. Knowing her, she must be frustrated that she can’t do her usual work.
Really, I’ve ended up owing a favor to such an earnest person.
“Of course it’s fine. Just take care of her, and consider it a day off from work.”
“No, I can still work within my limits, so…”
“I said it’s fine. Focus on taking care of her until she’s better; she’s your dear sister, isn’t she?”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
Karen deeply bows, and I can feel a somewhat pleased atmosphere coming from her.
It seems that I can manage to give her the day off by mentioning her sister, and I’m relieved too.
Even if it’s to repay a favor, it’s mentally exhausting if she carries such a heavy determination.
“Well, I’m going to school.”
“Yes, take care. — Cough.”
“Huh? I have a bad feeling about this.”
I guess I should shop on my way back from school. For two.
After school, I opened the door of my house, carrying a plastic bag filled with oral rehydration fluids and cold medicine.
The house was eerily quiet.
Lately, I’ve often been welcomed with “Welcome back” by one of the sisters, so it felt strangely like old times.
Usually, one of them would be home before me.
Well, I don’t want to be seen walking together on the way to school, so I choose a long detour. Of course, we go to school separately.
I quietly went to my room, changed, and headed to the living room.
Then I saw Karen slumped at the desk.
Steam was rising from the pot behind her.
“Hey, I bought cold medicine.”
No response.
Is she sleeping?
Peeking into the pot, it seems she was making porridge.
I don’t know much about cooking, but the water has evaporated, and it’s getting dry… Is this okay?
“Hey! I turned off the stove. Hello?”
There’s no answer, so I shook her shoulder.
She’s quite delicate.
“…Ah, welcome back. I was asleep…?”
Karen raised her upper body and looked at me. Her face was red, though.
“You have a fever, don’t you?”
“Huh?”
I touched her forehead, and it was clearly hot.
I knew it. I thought she might have been coughing this morning.
It wouldn’t be surprising if both sisters were infected since they sleep in the same room.
“Ah, speaking of porridge… It’s burnt.”
Karen stood up to look at the pot but staggered.
She seems to have a pretty high fever. It was a good call to buy a thermometer.
“Forget the porridge; go back to your room.”
“But Erika’s meal-”
“That’s fine too. Now don’t think about anything and go back to bed.”
I gently pulled Karen’s arm to lead her, but suddenly her body wobbled.
“Hey!?”
I inadvertently caught her.
The soft sensation of her body, followed by a warm body temperature, gradually spread over my entire arm. Her scent was faintly fragrant, perhaps because she was sweating…
“Sorry!”
I unintentionally grabbed both shoulders and pulled her away.
“I-I’m sorry too.”
Karen’s face was still red, but I was undoubtedly blushing too.
I usually try not to make physical contact, so I can be conscious without it, but touching like this is bad.
After all, Karen is a genuine beautiful girl.
Facing her at this distance is not an area allowed to me, especially now that her feverish eyes and flushed cheeks are even more tantalizing, making it even worse.
“Ah~, here, just hold my arm.”
I couldn’t leave her staggering like this.
I offered my arm, turning my face away.
“Thank you very much.”
Karen grabbed my arm with both hands, and we slowly walked.
“Eh~? It’s big brother. Cough.”
When we entered the room, Erika looked at us with a slightly hoarse voice.
She looked flushed and lethargic.
“Yo, cold victim number one. I brought cold victim number two.”
Karen slowly stepped forward from behind me.
“Big sister… You’re really sick. I told you so.”
“It’s just that I didn’t have a fever this morning.”
It seems the younger sister noticed her older sister’s condition. Still, Karen insisted on nursing her. Seriously.
“Here, I laid the futon, so move.”
“No, I can-”
“It’s fine.”
I ignored Karen’s objections and pulled out the futon.
She sat down on the floor, looking dazed.
“Here, the futon’s ready, so sleep. Oh, be sure to change first.”
“Thank you for your trouble. I’m really sorry…”
Her face was still red, but she seemed incredibly depressed, almost as if her face had turned blue with remorse.
She seemed quite down about the situation.
“Sis! This is my fault because I caught the cold first. Cough, cough!”
Erika seemed to feel responsible for the situation or wanted to protect her sister.
Are they crazy? Why are they so down about catching a cold?
“Ah, enough with the fuss. Listen, we’re living in the same house, right? I know you have your reasons, but I don’t care about your work or obligations. It’s annoying to be stiff all the time. I’m grateful for the daily cleaning, laundry, and delicious meals. Don’t feel any more responsible than that; just rest when you need to!”
I spoke without knowing what I wanted to say, but the words flowed effortlessly.
The two of them stared at me with feverish expressions, surprised by my excitement.
Oops, I got excited at sick people…
I left the room to avoid saying anything unnecessary.
I heard a faint voice behind me.
“Thank you, Seiichiro-kun.”
“Just sleep.”
I closed the door.
— Thankful.
That word came out naturally earlier. I’m surprised to realize that I seem to appreciate the sisters living here.
“Well, I’m really bad at housework, so it helps, right?”
Convinced, I returned to the living room.
Today I have to do that dreaded housework.
“Even though I say I’m bad at it, this is a piece of cake. Hot…!?”
I bought retort porridge from the drugstore, thinking it would be the meal for a sick person. I had a bad feeling, so I bought enough for two.
I served the warmed porridge on a plate, put it on a tray, and went back to the sisters’ room.
“I brought food. Can I come in?”
I asked before entering, just in case.
They allowed me in, and I found Karen properly in bed, having changed.
“Porridge. There’s enough for both.”
I placed the porridge between the two futons.
“You made this, big brother?”
“Did you make it?”
They both asked in surprise, clearly unable to believe I had cooked something. Well, it’s a retort product, though.
“I just warmed up a bag. If that counts as cooking.”
“Thank you, big brother!”
They thanked me for just warming up a bag; what an easy deal.
Or maybe I seemed so cold-blooded that I wouldn’t even boil water for them? Well, that’s pretty accurate, though.
“Here, be careful; it’s hot.”
“Thank you very much.”
I handed over the plates, and they hesitantly accepted.
But Erika didn’t accept it straightforwardly.
“Big brother, you can feed me if you want?”
See? She’s talking nonsense, and her sister is coughing.
“Erika! Cough, cough!”
“Feed yourself. Also, here’s oral rehydration solution. I’ll leave water for the medicine. I’ve got cough drops and cooling pads too.”
“Wow! Did you buy all this? Big brother, are you experienced in taking care of sick people?”
“I just looked it up on the internet.”
There’s no way someone living alone would be experienced. Of course, I’ve never been cared for either.
“I’m sorry. Later, I’ll pay you back for what you paid.”
“I told you before, stop being so formal with someone you live with. That’s already annoying.”
I hate excessive courtesy.
Even though I’m not particularly close to them, I’ve given up resisting them in my house.
So, at least let me secure a relationship where we can have casual interactions.
“…Understood.”
Karen answered after thinking for a moment.
“Here, I’ll leave the thermometer too, so measure it later.”
I think I’ve done everything I need to do, so I tried to leave the room, but…
“Seiichiro-kun.”
“Big brother.”
I was called again and looked back.
“Thank you very much for today.”
“But thanks~”
Again, they thanked me. No matter how many times I say I don’t need it, they don’t listen.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s give and take.”
I answered casually and left the room.
In fact, if I catch a cold later, I might end up on the receiving end.
Honestly, being nursed by two beautiful girls would be awkward rather than pleasing, so I hope to avoid that future…