Chapter Text
Kouko's head nods a little as she tries to keep her eyes open through the lecture. It was on the book of Job. She shakes herself awake hastily, lest she get rapped by a ruler on the hand again.
"You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
The book of Job... a righteous man that had his life changed wildly because of the Devil and God making some bet...
The words on the page seem to swim and blot before her eyes, as if they were too wet when written.
"The lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life. So Satan went out from the presence of the lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, 'Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!'”
"Kouko. Keep that head up!"
Her eyes snap open just before her head hits her desk and she sits up straight with a small gasp.
She's... not there, at the Home, anymore... she's in her dorm room in Myoujou...
Ah, she was just dreaming? Glancing at he clock on her desk, she sees it is already 1AM. No wonder.
Before her are blueprints she had diligently been updating. These are the plans for her attempt to win the Black Class. She can't fail... that's why she has to prepare as perfectly as possible. She can't make any mistakes.
She took a hasty shower and only dried herself with a towel. Suzu is already asleep and Kouko didn't want to bother her with the noisy dryer.
It's about 3AM when she finally collapses on her desk.
The next morning, Kouko woke up with a strong headache that made her even clumsier than usual. She couldn't be bothered to tie her hair since she was so sluggish and she had to get to class earlier than everyone else. Her arms and legs felt like they were weighed down or stuck in honey. She also had some congestion, and she's half sniffling and coughing the entire time.
"K-Kaminaga, are you okay?" Mizorogi asks worriedly as class is about to begin and she hands him the roll call from last night, "You look a bit pale..."
"I'm fine," Kouko lightly coughs into the back of her hand and goes to her desk.
If concentrating in her dream was hard, class was nearly impossible. She can barely focus on the board as Mizorogi drones on about a bunch of scientific names of some plants. Kouko normally kept good tabs on the slackers in class, like Haruki, but she can barely even take her usual notes today.
"Heeyy, class rep," Nio stops by her desk during break time, "Got some papers for ya to deliver to the teacher's lounge."
"... alright," Kouko takes the papers.
"Gee, you're not looking so hot," Nio tilts her head, "Figures. You didn't even scold Takechi for playing with paper puppets during lecture!"
"Oh shut up, snitch," Otoya sticks her tongue out at the arbitrator.
"... I'll go now," Kouko stands a bit shakily and goes out the door.
For some reason, the hallway felt like it was swaying as she walks. Determined not to let it deter her, Kouko picks up her pace... or at least tries to. Time feels like it is slowing down. There is pounding in her ears. That can't possibly be her own heart, right? Why is it so fast and loud?
Gasping a little, she grabs onto a nearby wall for support as a strong wave of nausea topples her resolute step. She's vaguely aware of hands that come to support her and a soothing voice that tells her it's alright as her vision grows too hazy to discern.
Is that... Irena-senpai...?
And then Kouko passes out.
"... mh..."
She didn't dream again... or so she believed, when she wakes up in that familiar dorm room. She's in bed, with something cold on her forehead. The bedside lamp is open, illuminating the dark. It's nighttime?
Beside the lamp is a pitcher and glass with something like tea. There is also a note.
Kouko sits up and realizes the weakness she feels. Did she eat? Ah, right, she skipped breakfast this morning and... she didn't remember lunch at all.
As she sips a glass of the herbal tea, she looks over the letter.
"Kouko-chan. There is some warm okayu in the rice cooker and namul in the fridge. Please eat something! I stepped out to go pick up medicine and I will be back soon!
-Suzu
P.S.- I already delivered your papers to the teacher's office."
Kouko blinks and sighs. It seems Suzu needed to pick up her slack. All because she was careless and got sick...
As she shuffles into the kitchen, Suzu enters the dorm room. Her roommate smiles seeing her.
"Ah, up and about already?" Suzu holds up a bag, "I got some fever medication and some things for cold as well... so we'll have these at hand whenever we need them for the future."
"... thank you," Kouko resists the urge to say that medicines expire.
"Did you eat yet?"
"No... I just got up..."
"Sit down. I'll fix you a bowl. I'll bet you're starving!"
Kouko wants to object, but her treacherous stomach lets out a weird groan. Blushing slightly, she goes to sit at the couch provided in their room.
"You gave me quite a scare when you collapsed in the hallway earlier..." Suzu says as she assembles a bowl of boiled rice and pickled vegetables, "Kouko-chan works too hard."
The noirette sighs and gratefully takes the hot food as it comes. Suzu sets some water to boil for tea and sits down beside Kouko as she eats.
"... sorry about this, Shutou," Kouko says softly, "You had to cover for me, didn't you."
"Oh, it's fine. I'm more disappointed that you even went to class in your state! You should have stayed in!" Suzu scolds like a worried parent.
"I have responsibilities in class," Kouko says stiffly, "It's just a ... slight cold."
"... You shouldn't downplay your burdens, Kouko-chan," Suzu chuckles and rubs Kouko's back gently, "Everyone in class knows how hard you work as class president."
"... It's nothing special."
The hot food feels a lot better as it settles her stomach. Suzu gently presses the back of her hand on the noirette's forehead, much to Kouko's surprise. Suzu seems satisfied and goes to make the fresh tea once the water boils.
When was the last time she was sick, Kouko wondered.
Back in Clover Home, she remembered being confined in the sick wing once with a fever. The nuns took care of her along with several other children that caught the same illness. It was a room of crying kids, essentially. Irena snuck in once and brought her a small milk candy from outside.
Kouko's eyes glance to Suzu's back as the bluenette pours the hot water.
This is a ... very different experience.
"Here you are. Some vitamin C ought to help," Suzu brings over two hot cups of tea, handing one to Kouko. Kouko can smell something like lemon in the tea.
"Thank you... Shutou," Kouko sighs and curls her fingers around the warm cup.
Suzu sighs with a smile and settles in next to her with her own cup, "I'm glad you can relax a bit today, Kouko-chan."
Kouko looks to her from the side and feels her cheeks warm a little.
Just around this person... maybe it's okay to give herself a bit of leeway...