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Well-balanced. That’s what Kirumi Tojo and Shuichi Saihara’s life could be described as.
Despite not yet dating at the Ultimate Academy, such was already clear back then. The two became good friends early into the year, their personalities bouncing off each other in a calm but clear manner. Kirumi encouraged Shuichi to believe in himself, and Shuichi encouraged her to learn how to cut konjac - that was a much bigger deal to Kirumi than it might sound like.
But, as many high school friends do, they lost contact after graduating. It was only when Kaito threw a big 25th birthday party for which he insisted on inviting everyone he had ever known that the two crossed again. Their friendship picked right back up where it had left, and after a few months of constantly hanging out they started dating. Kaito liked to say it was all thanks to him and he as such held right to the spot of future best man. Though Shuichi would have asked him regardless of how it happened.
After finishing their studies Kirumi and Shuichi had found an apartment of their own, meaning they weren’t in a rush to move in together. Ever the analysts, they wanted to make sure this was going to be something lasting first. It led to a few years of coming over to the other’s, to a point they were practically living together anyway. It wasn’t until someone pointed that fact out that they decided to buy a house together, or, to enter the ultimate relationship test as some people would call it.
But honestly, their balance didn’t change much in the grand scheme of things.
The required renovations went surprisingly smooth aside from the typical set-backs (how come there is always a piece of the kitchen missing when they come to install it?), no doubt because of Kirumi’s tight planning. She did hold a tendency to get annoyed when the smallest thing did not work out the way she had so carefully curated, but luckily that’s where Shuichi could put his use. He’d take her to the furniture store and homeware shop as a means of distraction. The workers were probably relieved not to have her hawk eye on their every movement as well.
Once they moved into their Victorian dressed house everything else quickly fell into place. Kirumi cooked, Shuichi did the dishes. Or when Shuichi cooked - something he was only allowed to do after extensive lessons from the Ultimate Maid herself - Kirumi was the one to do the dishes. Kirumi served tea, Shuichi served water to the plants. Etc. They both did their part in the household so at the end of the day they could sit on the couch together to read a book or simply enjoy each other’s presence.
So, well-balanced. Or as Kirumi would sometimes call it instead; efficient.
Efficiency was also how each side of the bed had been assigned. Since neither of them held a preference, never having slept in a double bed before - yes, sleeping over in the past was incredibly cramped - they decided to do what was most logical.
Shuichi held a perfectly stable 9 to 5 job with an alarm that went off at 7:00. Kirumi, on the other hand, had a job with changing schedules. It all depended on the type of master she was working under. Some were night owls and so she’d work until late, others were early birds and so Kirumi had to get up early herself. It made sense for her to lay on the side closest to the door.
At this moment, an early bird employed her services. He insisted on making long rising sun walks to get his creative brain going, which also meant breakfast had to be served early. You cannot go for a walk on an empty stomach, after all. The alarm went off at the awful hour of 5:00 as a result.
Kirumi didn’t mind it in the same way she didn’t mind a lot of other things her bosses would require. The only worry she held was how it could interfere with Shuichi’s sleep schedule. Worrying over him when she was the one truly affected was a typical behavior Shuichi had seen all too often. It made him worry in turn.
Regardless, Kirumi knew just how to solve things. As opposed to Shuichi, she was an incredibly light sleeper. All they had to do was have separate alarms; Kirumi’s a soft version of a washing machine’s beeps, and Shuichi’s a 440hz live concert song that could wake the neighbours right alongside him.
As she so proudly expected, it worked perfectly. Shuichi never woke up to Kirumi leaving the bed, only registering a few seconds blur as the weight on the mattress shifted. By the time his eyes truly opened, Kirumi was long gone. It’s how things went 5 days a week in a perfect routine.
Except today.
The 5:00 o'clock alarm went off, calling Kirumi to press the button and move to her wake-up shower, one she would respond to in a swift 3 second interaction. No time wasted, no doubts, no complaints.
Yet she broke that virtue now. She groaned at the beeps. And that woke Shuichi.
Instead of 3 seconds, it took at least 7 seconds before her hand moved to the nightstand and silenced the sound. And then, instead of slipping out of bed, she continued to lay in place. Her body shifted continually, subtly, alongside a growing amount of small moans.
Shuichi’s eyes lightly opened. Despite Kirumi’s desperate attempt to hide whatever was going on, he knew her body language all too well. Still half-asleep he thought about how perhaps their late evening caused this, but based on previous experience, that couldn’t be it. He turned her way.
Finally Kirumi made her attempt at getting up; emphasis on attempt. She struggled lifting herself up, continuing to lean on her left hand instead. Her body hunched into itself as her other arm wrapped around her stomach.
Whatever she was dealing with, it wasn’t good.
The haze vanished like snow from the sun and Shuichi carefully said, “Are you okay…?”
Her body perked up a little, surprised. Clearly she’d thought him to still be asleep, or at least had hoped so. “Y-yes, I’m okay. I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
Kirumi’s voice sounded soft, but in a different way than a regular whisper. There was a strain she desperately wanted Shuichi not to notice. It was akin to a prey animal unwilling to show its weakness to a predator. Even though their window couldn’t shed a light in an hour as deep as this one, Shuichi knew her facial muscles were twisting.
He leaned up himself now, worry beginning to control his voice, “Kirumi, you look like you’re in pain…”
She shook her head, a movement she appeared to regret. “I’m fine,” her arms switched position and her now free hand moved to Shuichi’s face. It lovingly cupped his cheek before gently forcing him back into his pillow. “Go back to sleep, dear.”
How could he? She was clearly suffering from something. Maybe she had a stomach flu. Or, where on the calendar were they again? Second week of March, right? Cramps could certainly be the culprit instead.
So, he crawled out of bed. To which Kirumi answered with fuss.
“Shuichi, stay in bed, you need the rest.”
He didn’t reply, instead feeling his way to Kirumi’s bedside and turning on her night lamp. Eyes lightly shut in difficulty and a quivering body appeared to him. She looked worse than he expected.
Another soft groan left her throat, though that might have also been out of annoyance. “Turn that off…”
His upper teeth grinded against his bottom lip. He was going to have to say something Kirumi wouldn’t like whatsoever. “You should stay home for today.”
“... What?”
“You know… Call in sick-”
“I know what you mean.” In spite of her pain, her expression changed to its strict brow and pursed lips combo. A look anyone would be desperate to avoid. “I am not staying home. I have to go to work, my boss needs me.”
“I’m sure he can make his own breakfast for once.”
“It’s not about that.”
“Then what is it about?” His head tilted.
“Maids don’t call in sick. I don’t call in sick.”
So many years had passed, and still Kirumi held such little regard for herself. That selfless devotion couldn’t be taken out of her no matter what. His brow drew together, “If you’re sick, you’re sick. It’s not a matter of what you do or don’t do, Kirumi.”
“I’m not sick.”
“As we’re speaking, you have your arm wrapped around your stomach in an attempt to suppress the pain. You’re not going to be of any use to your boss in this state either.”
Kirumi recognized the topic of how it would affect her performance. It may have been Shuichi’s detective skills, but very early into their friendship he realized Kirumi’s mind could be changed by bringing her boss’ opinion into the mix. She had to be a perfect maid after all, so she always succumbed as a result. Allmost always, at least.
“I’ll just take some medicine,” she politely snapped, shifting in place with difficulty as she made another failing attempt to get out of bed again.
Shuichi’s concern grew at her uncharacteristic movement. He couldn’t let her leave like this. “Remember how last month you insisted I shouldn’t go to work because of how dizzy I was? You argued I shouldn’t push myself for my job because nobody would win in that situation.”
“Well, it’s different for me.”
With every sentence exchanged Shuichi’s brow furrowed more and more. It began to hurt. If this was going to keep up he could join her with a headache. “And in what way exactly is it different for you?”
She looked troubled, which meant she knew very well that Shuichi was right. “... It just is. I am a maid, this is all part of the job.”
He sighed. This wouldn’t get them anywhere. While he wasn’t exactly the assertive type, he knew when to put his foot down when needed. And apparently his girlfriend refusing to listen to her body required one such moment.
“In that case, I’ll inform your boss you’re sick.”
“Excuse me?”
“If you won’t do it, I’ll do it.”
“Shuichi, you cannot-!”
“Kirumi,” His voice lowered as his amber eyes stared at her in conviction, “I don’t want you to put your own health on the line for a job.”
She went quiet.
“I admire all you’re willing to do to help others, but you’ve got to know your own limits. If you won’t set them yourself, I’ll just have to do it instead. I’m your boyfriend. It’s… my job to take care of you…”
For the first time since Kirumi woke up, her body softened. Shuichi presented an argument in which she had no other choice but to bashfully look into the ground in enamourment; him loving her.
He let out a soft sigh of relief at seeing her finally listen to him, but mostly so for her own sake. His hands moved to her shoulders, cradling them for a moment before putting her back to bed. As she had done to him before, he cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb across her flushed skin.
“I'll be back in a moment,” he whispered. “Don’t go anywhere.”
A soft chuckle managed to make its way through. She jokingly replied as she began to accept her place underneath the sheets, “No promises.”
After giving a tiny laugh of his own, he left the bedroom and moved to the kitchen. First things first, message her boss that she’s sick and can’t come in. Once done Kirumi was in no position to change her mind. God knows she would dare to.
Whilst looking through the cabinets for the right medicine and the fuzzy black hot water bottle, Shuichi put on the kettle. Last time he filled the bottle through the tap and nearly burned his fingertips. He hoped this to be more controlled - it wasn’t.
About 5 minutes and a nearly burned hand later he returned with the holy trio; the filled hot water bottle in his right hand, a glass of water in his left, and the pill blister caught between his teeth. Kirumi took the medicine as well as the glass whilst Shuichi kneeled by her side and waited for her to finish.
Once the pills were swallowed he took the glass over again and put it on her nightstand, “Do you need a bowl in case you need to throw up?”
Kirumi’s lip rose in disgust before answering. She’d never been a fan of the awfully chemical taste of paracetamol. “No, it’s not that type of stomach ache.”
“I figured.” He showed the hot water bottle for a moment before lifting the sheets, then Kirumi’s night dress, and putting the bottle against her stomach.
A soft hum left her lips at the release and she quickly clamped to her warm saving grace. Her facial muscles already loosened ever so lightly.
Satisfied, Shuichi turned off the light and returned to his side of the bed with a yawn. Waking up early really wasn’t in his nature.
Just as he intended to drift back to dreamland, Kirumi moved again. His eyes flew open. Maybe she needed that bowl after all.
But it turned out she didn’t move because of sickness. Instead, her body had turned his way to crawl into him.
She laid an arm on his chest and cuddled herself up against him, curling into a cocoon that found safety in Shuichi’s presence. Her face dug into his neck in comfort, her soft breath tickling his skin. Meanwhile the hot water bottle pressed into his side and began to share its heat. That combined with Kirumi’s own surprisingly high body temperature made for a near sauna experience. It was unbearably hot.
Shuichi dug his nose into Kirumi’s messy blonde locks and pressed a kiss on her forehead.
He happily took it.