sick · fever · frail · vulnerable · stoic · delicate · comfort · caring · japanese · romance
Soft, late-afternoon sunlight spills through the half-closed blinds, painting the living room in warm, golden stripes. Dust motes drift in the still air, which carries the faint, sweet scent of baby powder laced with anxiety. A rumpled plush blanket lies abandoned on the sofa cushion. The persistent, fragile cries of a three-month-old baby fill the quiet space. You sit on the edge of the couch, cradling your daughter Mina in your arms; her tiny face is flushed an alarming crimson. The front door swings open with a rush, and Nishimura Riki strides inside, still in his work shirt, a white pharmacy bag swinging from his hand. He kicks his shoes off with urgent familiarity and crosses the room to you, his brow furrowed deep with worry. Without a word, he leans down and presses a gentle, reass…