Whispers of Love (No-Curses AU)

Chapter 13: A Warm Meal, A Warmer Heart

As the days passed, Mizuki and Yasuhisa grew closer, their bond blossoming into something resembling real siblings. They kept their promise to each other, and Yasuhisa was becoming better at opening up and addressing emotional needs. By the end of April, as May began, Mizuki was at school when her homeroom teacher announced the dates for mid-terms, final exams, and practical exams for the first semester of their second year.

"Now my day is ruined....God...why do we have exams...", whined Mizuki as she put her head down on the table.

"C'mon, Mizuki, it's not the end of the world," Megumi said, arms crossed and his expression neutral. "You've been studying hard; you'll do fine."

Mizuki groaned, burying her head in her arms. "Easy for you to say! You don't stress out like I do!"

"Freaking out won't help," he replied, his tone flat. "Let's study together. You're smart; you just need to stay focused."

"Really? You'd do that?" she asked, looking up at him, surprised.

"Yeah. It's more efficient than worrying," he said, maintaining his serious demeanour. "And if you get good marks, we'll get ice cream afterwards. My treat."

Her face brightened at the mention of ice cream. "Ice cream sounds great!"

"Just focus on studying; you'll earn the ice cream later," Megumi said, his tone steady as he shifted his gaze back to the books.

Mizuki smiled softly and said, "Fine, fine. I'll focus—just don't forget about that ice cream!"

"I won't.", said Megumi as he looked through his notes.

Mizuki's gaze fell on the textbook in front of her as she scanned the questions that the teacher had asked them to solve. As the bell for the end of the second period rang, Mizuki left the classroom and headed to the dance practice room. Later on, when it was lunch break, Mizuki stowed her bag in the classroom and pulled out her bento. Opting for a quieter route, she took a shortcut through the school's backyard. There, she spotted a girl drinking from the tap, her movements unsteady as she made her way to a bench under a shady tree.

Mizuki's brow furrowed in concern as she approached. The girl appeared fragile, her skin unusually pale with a slight sheen that hinted at dehydration. Dark circles rimmed her sunken eyes, giving her an exhausted, hollowed look. Her breathing was uneven, and a wave of worry washed over Mizuki.

Kneeling beside her, Mizuki gently asked, "Hey, are you okay?" The girl looked up, her wide eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and weariness. Without hesitation, Mizuki helped her to her feet, noting how the girl leaned into her for support, too weak to question the sudden assistance.

As they made their way to the infirmary, the girl swayed slightly, her body clearly struggling to keep up. The effort it took to walk left her feeling dazed, and she found herself trusting Mizuki to guide her. Once inside, Mizuki guided the girl to a bed and helped her lie down. "Just rest for a moment," she said, brushing a stray hair from the girl's forehead. Seeing her frailty tugged at Mizuki's heart.

Mizuki figured the girl needed food just by looking at her; her pallid skin, sunken eyes, and unsteady posture spoke volumes about her lack of nourishment. The way she had noticed the girl drink from the tap further confirmed Mizuki's suspicions; she had heard countless stories of people resorting to this when they couldn't afford food.

An idea popped up in Mizuki's mind. "Here, have some rice balls," Mizuki said, holding out her bento with a gentle smile.

As Mizuki offered a portion of her bento, the girl's eyes widened in disbelief. It had been so long since someone had shared food with her, and she hesitated, feeling a lump form in her throat. The gesture felt overwhelming; she wasn't used to accepting help because she feared being bullied if the other students saw her in such a vulnerable state.