Chapter Text
Small, cold fingers skillfully reached across a mess of papers and pencil pouches, straining to collect a fistful of black, feathery hair. The offender got two good tugs in before Osamu pushed the hand away. “Stop.”
“Osamuuu~”
“...”
“Check my work.”
“No, Kuga.”
“Osamuuu~”
The hand was back with a vengeance.
Osamu frowned and slowly peeked out from behind his folded arms. “I’m not really in the mood, but I’m sure you could ask Chika. I think her class has a break period right now.”
“Chika's outside.”
“Oh.”
“O~sa~muuu. Are you sick? You look a little pale.”
“Mhh.”
Yuma pouted. “You know, it’s not nice to ignore your best friend.”
“Mhh.”
“Mean Osamu.” The boy gave it a few minutes, but when nothing happened, he wiggled his way around the desk, his elbow knocking down one of the pencil pouches. It landed with a heavy thud , a few pencils rolling out.
Yuma grabbed his friend’s face and forced his eyes upward. “Oh, you're cold.”
“I feel warm.”
“That doesn't sound right.”
“Doesn't feel right either.” Osamu snuggled into Yuma’s sweaty palms.
“Osamu’s sick.”
“I don’t think I’m-“
But Yuma wasn’t listening. The short boy grabbed his friend’s hand, and rushed out of the room, completely ignoring the kids he accidentally shoved and knocked over.
Osamu didn’t have the energy to scold him or pull away, so he followed quietly, dragging his feet. They ended up at the nurse's office, only getting lost a few times (Yuma had no sense of direction, despite him saying otherwise).
The nurse checked Osamu and confirmed that he was indeed sick. She left to call his mother, saying something about Yuma going back to class, but that was stupid and so very irresponsible. How could he leave his friend all alone like this? Vulnerable and weak.
“‘M sleepy.”
“Oh? I think my dad said something about sleeping when you're sick. You should do that.”
“Mh...”
Yuma quickly scrambled up next to his friend, who started leaning sideways. Before the sick boy could topple over, Yuma guided his head so that it lay on his shoulder. It was a little awkward, with the height difference, but if Yuma strained his back and pushed his shoulders up, it was almost okay.
When he was sure his friend was secure, he tutted and wiggled his finger (just like he’d seen his dad do). “Bad Osamu~ I bet if you ate your veggies and spent more time outside, you wouldn't get sick so easily.” He sighed, trying to act disappointed. “Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to protect you better, hm?”
His friend groaned.