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Ken felt off all morning.
He woke up feeling sluggish, moreso than usual even after tough battles, which there wasn't one the day prior, just a minor scuffle.
He had no appetite, something that he used to not have, but recently developed a rather large one due to Seiko-san spoiling him, plus his own physique that had changed now required it.
He had some weird aches and pains all over, despite not having gotten hurt during the attack yesterday. He didn't even have to go all out! Plus, he had long gotten used to the transformation by this point!
No, even as he finally got to sit at his desk after reassuring his friends that he was fine, that there was no need for concern, he had to face the music: he did not feel okay.
He struggled to stay focused, his sensei’s words drifting further and further from his attention. He felt like he was under water, that his stomach was doing flips, that he was burning…
Oh… was this… a fever?
… he had pushed himself a lot lately, and there was that sudden rainfall for a bit that he got caught in when riding his bike to his apartment… he hadn't dried his hair properly afterwards either, too tired to really care.
He really was an idiot sometimes, wasn't he?
Vamola, Sakata-kun and their class rep all tried getting his attention- ah, he completely missed that the bell had rung for break already. He tried to wave them off, insisting that he was alright, that he'd be okay… but words were suddenly super hard to get out… heh… keeping his head up was getting to be a chore too-?
Huh… when did his head hit his arm on top of the desk?
It didn't matter, it felt way better than keeping himself supported. Heads were too heavy.
He wanted to complain that the others were overreacting when they suddenly got loud, saying his name, or weird nickname in Sakata-kun’s case. He didn't get why they were going through all the fuss of taking him away from his seat. He just needed to rest for a bit…
He must've mumbled that out loud, because Sawaki-san chastised him, “That's exactly why we're taking you to Queen-Sensei’s!! You need to lay down!!”
“Your efforts to stay are commendable to an extent, Private First Class,” Sakata-kun propped up Ken’s arm around his shoulders, definitely not getting a kick out of carrying Ken like a fellow, wounded soldier (he totally was), “but your health is our top most priority! The battles of academia may be lost today, but the war can still be won after your needed rest!”
“Takakura! Sick!” Vamola admonished him in her cheery way, bopping his back lightly, “Lay down! Lay down! I go get Momo!”
“Wait, is that a good idea-”
Sakata-kun cut off their class rep with a zealous shout, unintentionally aggravating Ken’s growing headache, “Excellent idea, Lady Vamola! You always have the best ideas!”
Ken groaned, barely able to think of anything at that point.
Momo noticed that something was off about Okarun. Sure, she knew he wasn't always the most vocal or outgoing guy, especially compared to some in their growing group of friends ( Jiji ), but!! It wasn't like he was completely quiet and shut off anymore!! It was like he suddenly regressed back into the closed off person he was when they first met, only extra spaced out!!
She worried her lip, already having left multiple teeth marks in her pencil from chewing on it instead of writing down notes for her class.
‘Okarun looked really pale today. He was quieter than normal last night, too. He isn't this spaced out, usually. He didn't even say good morning! Ugh, did he get hit or something yesterday? I thought he was getting better at dodging, dumb, dummy dumb… hm, his blushing was a lot more than normal. Weird- is that weird for me to notice? Is any of this too weird for me to notice? Aaaaaargh… I just wanna throttle him. Shake him around for stressin’ me the fuck out.’
She nearly missed the bell, too stuck in her own head to really pay attention. As soon as it hit her though, she immediately began packing up her belongings, set on meeting up with Okarun to shake the answers out of his stupid head, squish those adorable, flushed cheeks, smudge his glasses that perfectly suited him and made him look so cute…
She grabbed her head, uncaring that she was making a scene when groaning at her stupid, mutinous thoughts. It was just a simple observation of his appearance! Like how puppies, kittens and babies in general were cute! There was no need for her stupid heart to get stupid palpitations and make her own face start to match the dumbass with all that stupid blushing!! ‘Uuuuuugh, but I need to see him. Gotta make sure that idiot's okay-’
“Momo!”
She had just picked up her hastily thrown together bag, when her adoptive sister called out her name, sounding oddly stressed for someone who radiated happiness almost constantly, even in her sleep. “Vamola? Hey, what's wrong?”
The stars in her eyes seemed to have lost their sparkle when the alien girl frowned, “Takakura! Taking him to scary but nice Queen!”
Mīko and Kei both perked up along with Momo at the news. Queen-sensei. The Nurse.
“Woah, is Okarun hurt??” Mīko cried out.
Vamola shook her head, “Sick!”
“What?? But, he lately seems so healthy, though!” Kei covered her lips, alarmed by the news.
Momo blanched; she knew better. Despite all the improvements to his lifestyle, in between getting hunted and targeted by supernatural bullshit, he was far from being at top health. He had awful eating habits if he wasn't provided meals at her home. His sleep schedule was non-existent. He’d been pushing himself both in academics and training constantly. He always pushed himself in battles, especially when keeping her safe. He got caught in the rain and she fucking knew he let his hair stay damp and gross because she wasn't there to throw a towel at his dumb ass…
She bolted for the door, not giving two shits about her teacher tryna tell her to not run in the halls. She only vaguely paid attention to her friends tailing after her, or how her lungs screamed at her for the physical exertion.
“Stupid Okarun! Stupid rain! Stupid bad guys!! Stupid, stupid, stupid!!” She wanted to strangle that idiot for getting her so worked up and worried, wanted to hug away the cold he was probably suffering from, to kick that fever’s ass and curb stomp his headache. She wanted to bury him in blankets and feed him her grandma's rice porridge that she swore by as the perfect cure to any cold, and by the kami it was, Momo herself having multiple testimonies to that fact growing up.
There was absolutely no way in Hell that she was gonna let some stupid fever kick his ass, not when she herself needed to for all the worry he sparked in her chest. She needed to be the one to put him in his place. She needed to be the one to knock some much needed sense into that adorable pain in the neck.
She wasn't gonna let him suffer here. No way, no how.
Ken wasn't really sure when he fell asleep- or rather, fainted. Last thing he remembered was… Sakata-kun and Sawaki-san arguing about something… and then…
… nothing.
… well, maybe the pain from falling over, as his side was a bit more sore in particular.
He winced, hating how his head was throbbing, his neck was itchy, his joints were aching… he had half the mind to transform to relieve the tension building up, and maybe even cool off from the disgusting heat radiating from his body, making him feel nauseous and gross.
He noticed something odd, however… even though the cots in Queen-sensei’s office were very nice quality (for school nurse cots at least), this bed he was laying in… it was very plush. Warm. It simultaneously made him feel cozy and worse, but he knew better than to escape the hot clutches of the comforter draped over him. Besides, the moist cloth being placed over his forehead felt like an angelic touch that helped relieve the burning in his fever ridden brain-?
He groggily opened up an eye, grunting from the effort even that minor action took. “Wha… where…?” His throat was hoarse, his voice sounding as bad as he felt: like shit.
A gentle hand brushed away his sweaty bangs, uncaring to how gross he absolutely was right then. “It's okay, Okarun. You're home. Just rest.”
Well, that wasn't right… he didn't own any blankets this soft and plushy at home, his bed not feeling much better than those cots at school-
The voice that had graced his ears made his blushing grow worse, way beyond the effects of the fever. Even in his delirious state, he knew that voice better than the back of his own hand. He felt sweet cold wash over him, like his soul was too big for his limp body and it slipped out in response to not properly moving enough to address his personal angel, “M-M…Mo…?”
He heard her squeak, before she pressed his shoulders back down onto the bed- funny, he hadn't realized that he was trying to sit up. He obediently laid back down, a part of him enjoying the contact, but now forced open both of his eyes to try and see his amazing caretaker.
“Okarun! Lay down, you dummy!” She was stern, but kept her voice low to avoid aggravating his irritating headache. Ugh, she was so kind and thoughtful. “A-and don't transform! How the Hell are you even doing that right now!?”
He sighed with a heavy note of grievance. He hated stressing her out. “Didn't mean to, yo… felt good to. Sorry, Momo-chan…” He felt himself shrink down, the tension and heat returning again, but thankfully not in a rush. It was gradual, coming on in a lethargic wave of sludge over his system. “Momo-san… ‘m sorry… I think ‘m sick…”
This earned him a breathy snort. He loved that sound. He could listen to her laugh forever, even at his own expense. “Yeah, just a little bit.” She reapplied the cold towel over his head, not realizing it was sending sparks through his skin, “Don't… don't transform again, okay? That can't be good for you right n- dude, seriously?? Right as I was asking you not to!”
He would've furrowed his brows at her if he could see or even feel his face properly. “Wh… what?”
“You're transforming again.” She carded her fingers through his hair a little- God, that felt amazing. Could she please do that forever? “You look like a middle aged man. Your hair’s caught in between-” She cut off with a sound, before she asked, “Hey, wait; does it actually help you? You look more relaxed… and I can't see anything… wrong, ya know… with your aura.”
He hummed a bit, before leveling with her, “Helps with the pressure… feels colder.”
“Well, I guess-” She shook her head, he could tell from hearing her pretty hair swish around, “Lemme go ask Granny if that's a good idea.”
His heart leapt up and against his already aching ribcage. Feeling like his arm was weighed down by rocks and slowly moving through tar, he grabbed her arm with his sweaty palm, apologizing internally for touching her even more. “N-nooo… don't… don't go…” He put all remaining strength he had into holding onto her, unable to keep his eyes open fully as they both fluttered closed repeatedly. It was getting harder to breathe, despising the idea of being left alone again. Not again. Never again. “Pl… plea…”
“O-Okarun…” She repositioned herself by his side closer than before, fixing the towel over his brows once again. “Okay… I'm not leaving. I'll stay right here, just until you sleep again.”
“Nooo…” He could barely put the effort into properly feeling embarrassed by how desperately he was clinging to her. He probably wasn't even holding on all that tight, but still, she willingly remained in his weak hold, “Stay… please… Momo…” He could almost feel his black hair flicker white again that time.
“I'm here. Calm down.” She turned her head, before looking back at him, “Did you need some water? You should drink some, if you can.”
He knew better than to try and deny that, even though he loathed the idea of sitting up when feeling like any exertion would kill him-!
Massive hands made of spiritual energy, her beautiful magic, propped him up with not a single ounce of strain. ‘She’s so cool,’ he thought as he gasped aloud.
Holding a plastic water bottle to his lips, she began to slowly tilt it for him, “Here. Tell me if I'm going too fast. Try to take it slow. Small sips, okay?”
Him getting choked up had nothing to do with the water. With her generous, thoughtful help, he safely got some fluids back into his system. ‘Just more fuel for me to sweat out… ugh, why is she even bothering? She's too good to me…’
“W-woah! What- why’re you crying? Okarun…”
He sniveled loudly, although it did nothing to stop the tears and snot from running rampant, along with his collar bursting into spiritual flames. “Momo-san’s too kind…”
He couldn't see her well through the downpour of his tears, let alone without his glasses, but he could still pick up on her radiant glow as she smiled with suppressed giggles, “Jeez, Okarun… ‘m just helping ya ‘til you feel better. You're actin’ like I’m saving your life, or something-”
“You did. You did save my life.” He opened his brown eyes wider, the irises flashing crimson from the effort he put into seeing her as clearly as possible. “Repeatedly. So many times… you saved my life over and over… I could never thank you enough, yo. Momo-chan… I… I…”
Dizziness returned with a vengeance, even when transforming fully to negate the pain from his bones aching from the sickness. He felt himself getting reclined back down, Momo tucking him in again on both sides to ensure his body was protected from the air, regardless of how much he wanted the cold.
“Oi… I really think you shouldn't transform.” She rested her soft hand over his forehead instead of immediately laying the cloth back in place, “You're as cold as a corpse-”
He felt a sound leave his chest, but he didn't care what it sounded like; he rubbed against her hand, as much as he could when barely being able to move his head. She made a strange, choked up sort of sound. He didn't know what it was, only that he loved it. It sounded so overbearingly cute coming from her, like everything else she did.
“Okarun… you dummy. Quit acting so cute, you'll just fatigue yourself-”
“You're the cute one, Momo-chan,” he corrected.
She again made another choked sound, before she lightly bopped him over the chest, the blanket further softening the harmless blow, “D-dude! Shut up… ugh, now I know you're loopy as Hell. You're sayin’ things that just…” she trailed off, before making a strange, but deliciously adorable series of frustrated sounds, much like how he imagined a keyboard smash to sound aloud. “Just go to sleep, already!”
“Nnnn…” He needed to hold her; he didn't even realize he had let go of her in the first place! It tore him apart. He needed to remedy that. Fighting against the numbness and the coziness of the blankets, he tried to worm his arm out from under the covers-
She stopped his arm’s movement, tucking him in even tighter, “Nope! No more! None of that! No more trying to grab me.” She carded her fingers through his hair, once again pushing his bangs away from sticking to his face and turning his brain into further mush. “Go back to sleep, you dork. You need to rest.”
But he didn't want to sleep! That meant less time acknowledging Momo being right there next to him! “Mooomooooo…” He hated not being able to move, not being able to keep her hands on him and his hands on her, to feel her be there, like actually being there! For him!
“I'm still here, Okarun.”
“S… s-stay…”
“I am. I'll try to get Gran to come up with the rice porridge later… then again, I might have to grab it really quick-” Momo bopped him again when he protested, “Quit whining; I said I'd only be gone really quick. I'm not leaving.” She sighed heavily, grumbling, “‘guess I'll do my homework later. God, you're so needy-”
He felt himself say something, but the only thing he heard was her startled squeak, before the drowsiness he'd been fighting finally won like Momo wanted.
Once she double, triple, quadruple checked that Okarun was finally asleep and not gonna try latching onto her by forcing himself to move again, Momo carefully crept away from the bed, using her powers to pull her body through the air to avoid making the floorboards creak. She just wanted to check how the cooking was going along, but also… she needed to get something off her chest, feeling the pressure build up like a pressure cooker, a volcano waiting to erupt, the fuse to the fireworks inside her lit and quickly burning up on an ever-shortening line. She tiptoed the last portion away from her sleepy, half yokai friend…
… her feverish, loopy, half yokai friend who just told her he loves her.
Once out of the guest bedroom with the door safely closed, then migrated into her own bedroom and then promptly had a stuffed animal shoved into her face, she finally allowed herself to explode. She screamed into her teddy bear, rocking herself side to side as she did so.
‘No way!! Calm down!! He's just delusional from his brain cooking!! A-and friends can love each other!! You even wrote that note to him!! Y-yeah, yeah!! No big deal, it's just him being stupid because of a fever…’
Getting everything out of her system (fat chance at that, she still felt ready to go thermonuclear at any given second), she braved the trip outside of her room and to the kitchen. The entire house already smelled of the wonderful herbal aromatics that her grandma mixed into the rice porridge. Ginger, onion, garlic, celery, parsley, black pepper, bay leaf… all of the herbs, spices and veggies that Granny claimed to help kick virus and bacteria ass and soothe both the spirit and body all mingled together to craft the savory dish.
Momo peeked her head inside of her grandma‘s sacred workshop, “Grandma? Is it almost done?”
“In about an hour, Squirt. Just letting it simmer nice and slow to get all that goodness out of the herbs and veggies.” Seiko chopped up some roasted chicken for herself, her granddaughter and the pesky maneki neko. “If he feels up to it, Four-Eyes can try to eat some chicken too. How is the kid? I heard some talking up there.”
Momo groaned, feeling her cheeks already betraying her. “Ugh, he's definitely not feeling better. He's freaking crazy, saying and doing shit he'd never say or do… he's driving me insane-”
“Keh!” Turbo Granny’s grating heckling unfortunately decided to grace Momo’s ears, “Sounds like to me he's just lost all the energy that goes toward that social filter.”
Momo violently shook her head, “No way, ya old hag! He's totally braindead! That was way more than zero-filter. He's only got no filter when transformed-! Oh,” she turned back to her grandmother, “he keeps transforming! Is that a bad thing?”
Seiko turned to look at her, pausing her knifework, “Huh… wouldn't know, kiddo. Does it seem to be putting any strain on his body or aura?”
Momo hesitated, but shook her head, “N-no… actually, he seems to look more relaxed like that.”
“Makes sense.” Turbo Granny began climbing the cupboards and drawers to reach the countertop, “My powers are a reflection of me, ya know. I'm rather jealous, I'll admit it; I don't like the presence of wannabes or other marks against humanity. My powers are probably helping that boy fight off that fever, if not a bit… differently.” She shrugged, “Wouldn't know; never got sick.”
“Using spiritual energy and Ki does help with preventing sickness. Maybe that's the same for Four-Eyes.” Seiko shrugged as well, before moving to the pot of porridge, lifting up the lid and providing all the ladies with a fresh draft of the delectable aroma. “Yep… that'll be perfect in a bit. And you know what they say: good food is the key to a man’s heart, mind and soul.”
“Uuuugh… stop being gross.” Momo rolled her eyes, but chuckled anyway, sniffing at the wafting deliciousness with a hum of delight-
His hum, almost a purr, vibrated through his skin into her hand-
She groaned, burying her face into her hands.
“Woah there, Sport. Did you go and catch his funk?” Seiko snickered, a knowing smile resting on her face. It looked odd without a cigarette hanging from her lips, mercifully sacrificing her afternoon smokes for the sake of the suffering boy upstairs.
“No, ya old bag.” Momo pointedly glared at her teasing grandmother, “He just said some really stupid stuff. He probably won't even remember saying them later, because he's totally out of it. There's just… no way…”
“What did he say?”
She scowled at the cat, “I ain't tellin’ ya!”
“Sheesh… touchy.” Turbo Granny sniggered under her breath, “Don't be so stuck on the idea that it's only from the fever though, ya idjit. What? Said something sappy, didn't he?”
She couldn't respond to that, growling under her breath-
“He was asking you to stay, wasn't he?” Seiko had returned to slicing the chicken up into bite sized pieces, noticeably refusing to let her face be seen. “From what the nurse told me, he's basically got no emergency contacts, since his parents almost never respond. She put me down as his primary, despite it being against the rules to a degree.” She set down the knife briefly, “Kid’s got no one at home most of the time. I already knew, but sometimes… it just hits harder hearing it confirmed out loud.”
Momo openly stared at her grandmother, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders steadily increase as it all settled in. He… he had been desperate. He tried so hard to hang onto her, and he didn't calm down until she promised to stay by his side, even before transforming completely.
Was this… possibly the first time he had someone to help him when he was sick? At least (hopefully), in a long while…?
Seiko grumbled under her breath, “That kid's gonna give me wrinkles at this rate… he better feel better by tomorrow, or I'm kicking his ass.”
Momo sputtered, somehow surprised by how her grandma had the same exact thought. “Yeah? Well get in line. I wanted to kick his ass first.”
“Really? Gee, couldn't tell from how you demanded to leave school early to take care of him,” Seiko taunted, although a subtle, inner smile returned to her voice.
Momo stuck her tongue out at her-
“Count me in…” Turbo Granny sat down on the edge of the counter, kicking her feet a bit as she avoided eye contact with everyone. “Keh… that brat's got my powers. Can't have him going and dying on me before I get them back.”
Both Ayases had their quiet laugh at Turbo Granny's stubborn attempts at hiding her true feelings on the matter of Okarun's health.
Momo patted Old Turbo’s head, “Shut up, ya crone. He's not dying.”
“Hmph… quit it with that, you damn brat. You should learn to respect your elders.”
The cat doll made no attempt to shoo her off and Momo made no comment on it.
The bowl with the steaming meal was hot in Momo’s hands, but not unbearably so. It wouldn't take much waiting until it was a safe temperature for Okarun to eat…
‘Will he even be up for eating it by himself? Will I… have to spoon feed it to him?’
The mental image left a fuzziness in her chest. It wouldn't be the first time she offered to feed him when he couldn't use his own two hands. But this? It felt… different. More… intimate. Instead of him being busy with his workout regimen, he would genuinely be unable to lift up his own spoon, let alone without making a mess if he were to drop it.
Momo had gone up after talking to the two grannies to make sure he was sleeping alright, and to stay true to the promise he roped her into as best, albeit realistically, as possible, satisfied that he wasn’t fitfully moving around whatsoever. Sure enough, he stayed fully transformed and relaxed, his face the most peaceful she had ever seen on him when in his Turbo Mode, even with the sweat and dark blush over his maskless face. Really, the only downside to using Turbo Granny’s powers to fight off that fever was the fact that his ethereal hair kept moving and getting stuck on his skin, forcing her to brush his bangs back repeatedly.
She carefully pushed open the door with her ghost hands, ‘I probably should just do it. I don't think it'd be a good idea to even offer that he tries. Not yet, at least.’ Wondering how best to wake him up gently, she allowed her footsteps to carry the natural creaking sounds with each step taken. “Okarun,” she called softly, “hey, wake up. You need to eat.”
He didn't respond right away, but she saw the spirit flames around his collar flicker more as he started to stir. His relaxed expression tensed, but to her surprise, it released again even as he croaked, “Mo…mo…?” A thin line of red spilled out from between his eyelashes, the markings on his face and vibrant streaks in his mostly white hair throwing more light as he sensed her coming closer.
“Easy, big guy. I wasn't gone long. Just grabbed you some porridge.” She set the bowl down on the nightstand, turning to him, “Here, maybe drink some water first.”
“… ‘kay.” He cracked the single eye more open, humming as he patiently waited for her aid in sitting up again… that or he realized that he simply couldn't do it on his own and gave up trying.
She scooped him up with her powers, being as delicate as possible with her exhausted friend. “Here you go. Lemme just,” she grabbed a few of the extra pillows, before reaching behind him to prop them up for a makeshift backrest, “there we go. I need you to be comfortable. Tell me if you need any extra cushion or if this is ok-!!”
He leaned over without any fanfare, collapsing his head and chest up against her. “Okay, babe… you've got it.” His cheek, despite being in his colder, yokai form, burned in a strange way against her neck.
“Ack!! O-Oka… wh-what are you doing?? You could've dropped to the floor with that bullshit!!” She strained to keep her voice from reaching a shouting pitch, grabbing hold of him and directing him back to the pillows, “Stay!! You need to be careful.”
“But… Momo-chan,” his voice was quiet, but it still rang out like church bells in her ears, “you wanted me to be comfortable. You're my comfort, yo… just doing what you want-? Momo-chan? What are you…?”
She had to turn around and bit down on the side of her hand. ‘HOW IS THIS FAIR!? HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE LOOPY AND DUMB FROM FEVER, NOT SUAVE AS FUCK!!’ She forced her stupid heart to calm down, before lashing out and grabbing the water bottle hard enough that it made awful crinkling. It helped distract her from the blood rushing behind her eardrums. “J-just shut up… you dummy. Here.”
He obeyed and followed her lead the best he could to get a proper drink of water like she instructed. Afterward, she did her best to ignore him licking his lips to catch the last beadlets of the liquid before they could stain his (borrowed from her) shirt.
“O-okay,” she wheezed out after doing her best tea kettle impression under her breath, “Th-the rice porridge is still a bit hot, but it tastes better that way. I'll blow it off, though. Don't worry.” She carefully cradled the bowl in her lap as she sat closer to him, her thigh touching his hip as her other leg hung off over the side of the mattress. “Make sure to tell me if it's still too hot. Don't force it down.”
“Yes, Momo-chan.” He fidgeted in place, looking like he was trying to sit up more.
“No, stay reclined. No need to come closer. I'll come to you.” She scooted a bit more as carefully as she could towards him. Grabbing the spoon with a reasonable helping of the porridge, she blew gently over the top of it until she saw no steam lifting up from the small amount. “There. ‘kay, open wide-?”
The dark grey splotches over his cheeks and nose were shifting color, the pink hue they took on accentuating the increasingly glowing red stripes running up and down both sides of his face. Even his ears and neck started to turn that alarming color. Was his… was his fever starting to take over even in his yokai form!?
“O-Okarun?? Are you okay?”
She was about to set the bowl aside and force him to lay back down, but he was spurred back to life, “O-oh! I'm… I'm fine, babe.” He cleared his throat, the pink spreading even more, removing all intimidation factor he could've possibly had in his yokai form, probably even with the toothy mask, had it been showing.
She wasn't convinced. Not remotely. Her voice was as deadpanned as ever, “You sure about that, buddy?”
He nodded his head, unwilling to make eye contact all of the sudden. “I’m sure, babe. J-just… had a stupid thought. Don't mind me, Momo-chan.”
Momo was still reasonably skeptical, especially since he was more pink than grey at that point. She could feel heat radiating off of him against her leg! Warmth! In his yokai form!! She sighed, though. He needed food in his system, and the faster he got over the fever, the sooner he would stop making her want to swoon, or freak out over him dying in front of her. “Whatever… here.”
He glanced at her, but quickly shut both his eyes, hesitantly opening his mouth. His sharp canines poked from underneath his upper lip, the image so unfairly adorable.
She loved him so fucking much…
Momo carefully carried the still warm spoonful over and tapped his bottom lip with it, “Come on, dork. Open your eyes. I don't want you choking from not seeing when the spoon’s comin’.”
He let out a strange, high pitched sound, but obediently opened one eye. The red and gold glowed brighter as he looked straight at her, both eyes now slightly opened as he found something worth staring at on her face. It wasn't just one thing, she saw his event horizon eyes flitting about as he looked her all over, his rapid momentum of his thoughts shown as plain as day, before he jerked forward just enough to take the bite of porridge.
His eyes flashed wide open the second the flavor hit him, before fluttering closed again as he moaned, leaning closer towards her as he melted on the spot. Momo caught him with her powers, squeaking as he warbled quietly, “So gooood…”
She couldn't help herself, laughter bubbling up in response to this weird reaction of his, “Hah hah, Okarun! You dork.” She gently pushed him back against the pillows, “You're gonna fall over! Knock it off.”
“But… it's so yummy… and Momo-chan's so sweet…” He licked his lips yet again, a bit too close to her face for her liking, humming in content, “It's like having dinner and dessert all at once, yo…”
Her giggles cut off with a hitched breath. Momo stared at him with wide eyes, trying her best to not freak the fuck out over his words and antics. He… he had a fever! Surely this was all just her projecting meaning on everything! She broke eye contact with him, internally screeching at herself, ‘He doesn't mean it like that, Momo! He just loves you as a friend! That's all! Quit being so weird about it; he's literally sick and in need of help, while you're more focused on stupid feelings! Get a grip-’
The realization that her thigh was burning snapped her out of her thoughts.
Okarun now was completely rosy with fluster all over. Steam started to puff out from his gaping mouth, his ears and even his pores, the pink in his blushing skin almost perfectly matching his intensely shining marks and highlights, all the while his flaming collar and smokey hair flailed and wavered wildly.
“Woah!! A-are you… are you okay!?” Momo cried out, moving her leg away from his burning skin.
He stared at her gawking like a mindless fish, before murmuring, “I… I actually… tasted… indirect… ki…” He sounded about ready to faint again.
“What? What are you…?” She scrunched her brows together, shaking her head a bit when she failed to understand what he was getting at. “Damnit; hang on a sec,” she grunted, moving to set the bowl aside to properly check him over-!
“Momo-chan!” He held up a shaky, quivering hand, weakly pawing at her as his skin started to gradually cool off, “I-I’m… I'm okay. I'd like… to continue eating… please.”
She frowned, “No way, dude! You're still glowin’ all funny! Your aura’s all over the place, and you keep looking like you're gonna pass the fuck out!’
He gave the tiniest shake of his head, “No, ‘m fine. R-really… just got excited, yo.”
“Excited…?” She scrunched her nose.
“N-never mind.” He pointed to the bowl still positioned over her lap, but his eyes were strangely fixed upwards towards her face, only he didn't meet her eyes. “It's really good… I want more… please.”
She glanced down at the bowl and back up again briefly, before her eyes drifted off to the side, unable to handle those puppy dog eyes he was giving her now that he finally looked up fully. ‘Stupid punk!! He shouldn't be able to do that when powered up!! Yokai are supposed to be scary!! Not friggin’ adorable. Stupid, stupid, stupid! GAH, and I'm totally falling for it!!’ She thrusted the spoon into the porridge, stirring it around with a few angry swirls, “Ugh, fine. But only a little bit! I don't trust your dumb ass enough to let you stay awake.”
“If that's the case… wouldn't eating all of that ensure that I'll sleep more comfortably?” He gave her a loopy, lopsided grin, once again staring her in that wistful way that kicked her in the heart and lungs. If she hadn't known better, she would've assumed he was the definition of down right smitten!!
The delirious dork had a point, though, but that also meant she’d have to put up with that drunken look of his longer… but rest would also bring back her normal Okarun sooner… “F-fine! Open up, you jerk.”
Spoonful by spoonful, the portion of the delicious meal disappeared. He watched her blow away the excess steam with a sort of subtly obsessed fascination, something she really did not know if she wanted to explore the meaning of once she noticed it. Oddly enough, he insisted a few times that the bites toward the end of the bowl were still too warm for comfort, and she obliged his ridiculous requests to “cool down” the already cooled off food. The pinkness of his full body blush gradually retreated back to only coloring his cheeks, hums of bliss and content rising with each bite, his breaths tickling her hand each time she lifted the spoon for him.
Momo cleared her throat, now completely unable to look at him and his dopey smiles and mischievous tongue that repeatedly swiped over his grey lips. “A-alright. That's the last of it.” She ignored his startled squawks when she abruptly shifted off the bed, “I need to take this bowl down before the gunk turns to cement. Granny won't care if you are sick; she'll kick both our asses if I don't at least pre-rinse-!!”
Momo felt herself get pulled back, Okarun's grip much stronger than before. ‘Oh shit… the porridge worked fast!! Dang it, Grandma!! Your cooking is too powerful!!’
“Momo-chan… just for a bit longer…” He pleaded with her with those alarmingly big eyes of his. When in his yokai form, they never seemed so big, but now as he held onto her wrist with his elongated hand and limb with his strength rapidly returning to him, the scarlet and gold in his eyes shimmering with terror at the thought of her leaving him… she could see her Okarun peeking through the cover of Turbo Granny's powers and veil of the remaining fever. “Please,” he begged, “just… until I fall asleep. Please.”
Momo watched him as he trembled, and not from fatigue.
She hated it.
“… you don't have to beg. Scooch over.”
Wonder flooded those all consuming eyes of his, gasping as he realized that she was answering his longtime prayer for comfort. She wanted to capture that moment and keep it tucked inside her pocket and carry it with her wherever she went. He was everything she wanted to keep sacred and safe in life, and when this was all over and he was back to himself, she'd still hammer it in that he had her always.
After setting the bowl down with a noisy plinking next to his glasses, she situated herself right next to him on the guest bedroom bed. She wasn't surprised in the slightest that his gangly arms snatched her up and pulled her in closer as he rested his head over the nook of her arm and chest. Some steam wafted up, but the blush on his face did not spread much, only to the tip of his ears as he nuzzled up to her.
“Momo…?” He cooed, already sounding sleepier as he succumbed to the coziness the blankets, good food, and her warmth provided, “May I tell you a secret…?”
Momo chuckled, brushing his bangs back once more from his forehead, already showing less perspiration than before, “Sure, big guy-!”
He murmured quietly, before pressing his grey lips to her neck, Momo only hearing the faintest, “I love you…”
Momo didn't even know when he fell asleep like that, she was too frozen in place to register anything.
Maybe… she should've taken what her grandma said about good food being the key to a man’s heart a bit more seriously.