“H-hairu.” Ui’s teeth chatter. “I hurt all over.”
Hairu wakes up immediately. She flicks on the light. It’s four am, and Ui looks like hell.
She presses her hand against his forehead. “You’re hot in more than one way.”
Ui moans. “Probably poisoned by ghouls.” He knew he should have had someone look at that kagune scrape on his arm.
“Ui, your scrape is gone.” Hairu leaps out of bed. “Wait here.”
“Come back,” he whines. “You were warm.”
She returns with a steaming cup of tea and two Tylenol. “For your fever, my sweetheart.”
“I feel like I’m dying. I haven’t been sick for ages.”
Hairu rubs his back. “You do realize you’ve only caught the same cold Hirako had last week?”
“No. I’m dying. Use me to sicken the ghouls.” Ui finishes the tea and collapses onto the pillows.
Hairu laughs. “You’ll sicken them with how healthy you are. Now, sleep.”
When he awakens in the morning, he’s surprised to find Hairu still here. “Aren’t you working?”
“Hmm? I called out.” Hairu lends him her most winning smile. “With you sick and dying, I need to take care of you.”
She’s so sweet, he almost feels better already.
Mercy and Magic 