Part 1

Hachinoya-san, thanks for giving me a ride. I couldn’t find this adapter anywhere else but that hardware store, so you were a big help.

Don’t mention it. If you want to go out again, feel free to ask.

…But that was some sudden rain earlier, right? Sorry you had to lend me your raincoat.

There was only one, but it’s not fair that you’re the only one who got soaked…

Don’t worry about it. It’s my own fault, or rather, I brought this on myself.

I was explaining the perfect bulbs to grow this season to a troubled lady in the gardening section, and as thanks, she gave me rice vouchers worth tens of thousands of yen… which is how I ended up dragging you into this mess.

After all, getting a little wet in the rain isn’t enough to balance things out. I need to get completely soaked and covered head-to-toe in mud. Luckily, there’s a sewage canal nearby…

N-no, no…! I don’t really get what you’re saying, but let’s just get inside quickly. It would be terrible if you caught a cold.

You’re right, if I catch a cold, it’d be a bother to everyone—

…Ha….a……

?

Ha… I think I’m hungry. Let’s go inside before I collapse.

…Achoo!

(I somehow managed to hold it together in front of Nanaki, but sneezing, chills, headache, sore throat… There’s no mistaking it. These are cold symptoms.)

(There are about eight hours left until Yodaka-san gets home from work. Alright, I’ll get better by then.)

(If that’s the case, there’s only one thing I can do. Like the roots of a hyacinth soaking in water, I’ll just lay quietly in this bed… unnoticed by anyone…)¹

……?

Heyy~! Is Nagi-peko around~?

Nagi-kun, it’s dinnertime. Since you weren’t downstairs, I came to call you with Chii-sama!

(Wow. They actually noticed I wasn’t there. These two have police-level observation skills.)

(But there’s no way I can show my face. Because right now, I’m just a hyacinth root.)

I’m sorry you came to get me. Right now, I’m just… hit by a brutal wave of sleepiness.

…Gotcha~! Then, I’ll set aside Nagi-peko’s portion!

……

Nagi-kun’s voice…

He had a crazy stuffed nose, huh~?

What’s going on with you two?

Ah, Shunin-san!

Shunin-pi~. You see, something happened with Nagi-peko—

Nagi-kun has a cold?

He didn’t actually say so himself, but…

That voice sounded just like when you're coming down with a cold and your throat feels all scraatchy!

When I called out to him, he didn't come out from under the covers at all. Chii's guess is that he didn't want to worry everyone.

Ah…

(Yes, Nagi-kun would probably try to quietly get better without telling anyone…)

Would it be better to leave him be? Though when I catch a cold, Ani-sama always takes care of me so gently…

Nagi-peko might be feeling a little lonely too, right? Is there anything we can do for him?

…Got it. Alright, here’s a suggestion—