She was probably here to see Nagasaki Soyo.
That was Bai Qiu's guess.
From where he stood, he could clearly see Wakaba Mutsu's expressionless profile.
She stared quietly at the intercom, blinking only occasionally after long intervals.
In one hand, she carried a black shopping bag labeled Chocolate.
With her stylish clothes and delicate, adorable features, she looked unbelievably cute just standing there.
The only flaw was her lack of emotion. She seemed to have very little vitality or expression.
A mischievous thought crossed Bai Qiu's mind.
He walked over briskly and asked,
"Little Mutsu, what are you doing here?"
Mutsu froze for a moment and turned her head toward him in confusion.
When she realized it was Bai Qiu, surprise flickered through her heart.
Is he here to see Soyo too?
But she didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she glanced around as if confirming whether "Little Mutsu" was actually referring to her.
"Little Mutsu, are you here to see Soyo?"
Bai Qiu asked again.
Although she didn't understand why he insisted on calling her that, Mutsu softly replied,
"...Mm."
Bai Qiu glanced at the intercom.
"Can't reach her?"
"...Mm."
There was a trace of disappointment in her voice, though it remained calm.
"She hasn't replied to my messages either."
She couldn't help worrying.
Does Soyo not want to talk to me anymore?
She had always replied almost immediately before.
"Maybe she's not home?"
"I don't know..."
Mutsu lowered her gaze and gently shook her head.
"Soyo hasn't come to school for three days."
"Three days?"
Bai Qiu repeated in surprise.
Now that she mentioned it, he realized he really hadn't seen Nagasaki Soyo for several days.
He had been so busy with live performances and writing lyrics that he hadn't given it much thought.
Missing school for several consecutive days naturally made people wonder whether she was sick—or if something had happened.
Especially since she lived alone.
After returning that night, Soyo had seemed to be feeling better.
But she had still been soaked by the rain.
Although he himself had been perfectly fine...
Mutsu remained silent, looking somewhat helpless.
She looked at Bai Qiu.
After all, he had been the last person to see Soyo.
There was a faint hope in her golden eyes, as though she wished Bai Qiu could give her advice the way Sakiko always had.
At that moment, Bai Qiu said,
"I'll take you upstairs."
Mutsu's golden eyes lit up slightly before she hesitantly looked toward the glass entrance blocking the way.
Bai Qiu pulled out his access card and waved it in front of her with a smile.
"I live here too."
Bet you didn't expect that.
Mutsu parted her lips slightly in surprise.
Holding the bag with both hands in front of her, she bowed politely.
"...Thank you."
Bai Qiu nodded lightly.
Then he noticed that the bag labeled Chocolate didn't actually contain chocolate.
Instead...
"Cucumbers?"
Mutsu nodded.
"Mm. They're for Soyo."
A tiny smile curved her lips.
It was a gentle, beautiful smile.
"You're smiling!"
Bai Qiu exclaimed in surprise.
Looking at the cucumbers, he suddenly noticed the yellow ribbon tied at Mutsu's collar.
It looked remarkably like the little flower at the top of a cucumber.
Curious, he asked,
"You like cucumbers?"
Mutsu nodded, sounding slightly surprised.
"I grew them."
Bai Qiu nodded approvingly.
"They look great."
"Very... shiny."
"Soyo should like them."
Mutsu's eyes brightened, her lips parting slightly.
But before she could say anything, Bai Qiu spoke first.
"Let's head upstairs."
"...Mm."
She nodded softly.
Just as she pushed off with her legs to follow him, both legs suddenly went numb and weak.
A wave of soreness rushed through them.
She almost dropped the cucumbers.
Her body staggered, and she began to fall.
Bai Qiu reacted instantly, catching her from behind.
Her petite body was soft as if boneless.
She looked light...
And she really was.
"What happened?"
Bai Qiu asked in surprise.
Nestled awkwardly in his broad arms, Mutsu stared blankly at him with her golden eyes for several seconds.
After taking a while to recover, she slowly turned her head away and quietly said,
"...My legs don't have any strength."
Her voice was even softer than before.
It sounded almost... aggrieved.
Had she not been standing so close, Bai Qiu probably wouldn't have heard it.
"...Huh?"
He blinked before lowering his gaze.
Beneath her dark green skirt, her knees were slightly bent.
Her slender calves trembled faintly, looking weak enough to give out at any moment.
A realization dawned on him.
"How long have you been standing here?"
"Two hours."
Bai Qiu lowered his head and stared at her, wondering whether she was joking.
Mutsu's delicate, expressionless face showed the slightest crease at her brows, silently complaining about the soreness in her legs.
He believed her.
The corners of his mouth twitched.
No wonder she couldn't walk.
Soyo... you're guilty of this.
You actually made Little Mutsu stand here for two whole hours.
"I'll help you upstairs."
"...Mm."
"Actually, let's rest for a bit first."
"Wait until the blood circulation returns to your legs."
"...Mm."
"And next time, if you can't reach someone, just go home."
"...Mm."
Bai Qiu sighed helplessly.
Little Mutsu only knew how to say "Mm."
He wasn't even sure whether she had listened.
...
Soon, they arrived on the forty-fifth floor.
Bai Qiu led Mutsu to Nagasaki Soyo's apartment.
Mutsu glanced at the nameplate that read Nagasaki, confirming that this was indeed Soyo's home.
She had never visited Soyo's new apartment before.
She pressed the doorbell.
They waited.
No response.
Like someone searching for reassurance, Mutsu turned toward Bai Qiu.
He analyzed calmly,
"Maybe she's really not home."
Still, he wasn't ready to give up.
He pressed the doorbell again before knocking on the door.
Receiving no answer, he even called out toward the apartment.
"Soyo."
"Soyo, are you home?"
Mutsu looked at him in surprise and gratitude.
Just like Sakiko used to.
Whenever she didn't know what to do, someone would always try their best to help her.
Bai Qiu, on the other hand, didn't feel embarrassed in the slightest.
After all...
Only he and Nagasaki Soyo lived on this floor.
There wasn't anyone else around.
What was there to be embarrassed about?
Still...
No response came from inside.
Since no one seemed to be home anyway...
With a might as well try attitude, Bai Qiu reached out and turned the doorknob.
Then—
There was almost no resistance.
The door...
Opened with a simple twist.
Bai Qiu and Mutsu exchanged startled looks.
Don't tell me something really happened...?
A trace of unease rose in both of their hearts.
Together, they pushed the door open and entered.
Passing through the entranceway—
They immediately saw Nagasaki Soyo.
She was wearing loose pajamas, lying face-down on the dining table with her head resting on one arm.
...Was she asleep?
Bai Qiu and Mutsu quietly walked over.
On the table sat an unopened box of cold medicine and a bowl of plain rice porridge.
There were no side dishes.
The porridge was no longer steaming—it had already gone cold.
Could Soyo also...
Lying there, her complexion looked poor.
Her face was pale and devoid of color.
"Soyo..."
Mutsu called softly, her voice filled with concern.
Bai Qiu couldn't help wondering.
Was she really sick?
He reached out and gently touched her fair forehead, brushing aside a few loose strands of hair.
Sure enough.
She was running a fever.
Thinking it over, Bai Qiu suspected it was because she had been caught in the rain a few days ago.
Japan's rain was practically cursed.
The locals always seemed to get sick after being drenched.
Luckily...
He wasn't a local.
Still, considering Soyo's emotional state back then, along with the heavy rain, it wasn't difficult to understand.
What Bai Qiu didn't know...
Was what had happened afterward.
After taking a shower upon returning home, Soyo received a call from her mother informing her that she wouldn't be coming home that week.
Her mood sank once again.
Without even drying her damp hair, she sat down on the cold floor.
She barely touched her dinner.
The following day, she began feeling unwell.
Yet she had no desire to take care of herself.
She simply forced herself to endure it.
Only after Bai Qiu and Mutsu gently shook her and repeatedly called her name did Nagasaki Soyo gradually regain consciousness.
Her head still spun violently.
Barely managing to open her weary eyes, she looked utterly dazed.
When she saw Bai Qiu and Mutsu standing right in front of her, she thought she was dreaming.
Wasn't I eating...?
She hadn't had the energy—or even the motivation—to prepare any proper food.
She had simply reheated the leftover rice porridge from that morning.
But the plain porridge had tasted utterly bland.
Even bitter.
Feeling dizzy, with aching limbs, she had rested her head on the table...
And somehow fallen asleep.
Seeing Soyo wake up, Mutsu remembered what had happened the previous week.
She felt timid.
But even more than that...
She was worried.
"Soyo... are you sick?"
Soyo rubbed her eyes.
Her face was filled with surprise and confusion.
"You two... why are you here...? Cough... cough..."
Her voice was hoarse, interrupted by violent coughing.
She looked even more fragile than Mutsu.
"You forgot to lock the door."
Bai Qiu shook his head.
Even if no strangers usually came here...
It was still dangerous.
Mutsu nodded in agreement.
Soyo's expression stiffened.
She remembered that she had struggled outside that morning to buy medicine.
When she returned...
She had forgotten to lock the door.
"I forgot..."
Bai Qiu looked at the dining table.
"You haven't eaten... or taken your medicine?"
Soyo nodded weakly.
"Let's help her lie down first."
Bai Qiu said to Mutsu.
Mutsu obediently helped Soyo to her feet.
She originally intended to take Soyo back to her bedroom.
But Soyo chose to remain on the living room sofa instead.
Watching Bai Qiu walk toward the kitchen...
She blinked in confusion.
Was he... going to cook?
-------------------
The fully completed English PDF of this fanfic is available on my Patreon shop for readers who want to support me and own the full story at once.Just grab the PDF and binge-read the entire fanfic from start to finish without waiting for updates.
I've also uploaded some new fanfics based on reader requests.If you're interested and would like to support my work, feel free to check them out and grab a copy on Patreon.
Recently uploaded fanfic titles:
" Game of Thrones : Heroic Invincible System "
" Rock Girl Won't Let Me Go "
" Villain: Suppressing the Protagonist and Stealing the School Beauty "
" Cartonist in Doraemon "
" Swallowed Star: Heaven-Defying Comprehension, Joins Chat Group "
" System Rewards Iron Body "
"A Summer Night Tainted by Love"
Patreon.com /Ramzane