When Sumomone woke up, it was to the sound of someone sneezing almost directly into her ear. She jerked awake, eyes wide at the loudness of the sound.

She looked to the side, meeting Uiui’s tired eyes. She was doing her best to look apologetic, even as a coughing fit wracked her body.

Sumomone rested the back of her hand on Uiui’s forehead, though by the look of how flushed she was, there was really no need.

Her forehead was hot to the touch, and she drew her hand back. When she climbed out of the bed, she felt a hand grab her nightgown.

She leaned over Uiui, running her hand along her warm face. “I’m gonna get the thermometer, okay?” Detangling her hand from the fabric, she pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be back in just a minute.”

 

When she stepped into the bathroom, she had to rummage through the cabinet above the sink to find what she was looking for. It had been a long time since any of them had gotten sick, and so she found it in the very back, behind a bunch of bottles of perfume that they never used.

She filled a mug with cold water, making her way back to the bedroom.

 

Uiui had moved, clearly feeling too warm underneath the blankets. In her effort to free herself of any fabric covering herself, she’d almost fallen out of bed. It looked uncomfortable.

Sumomone giggled quietly, putting both thermometer and cup on the bedside table so she could help her back into bed, making her sit. “Open your mouth,” she said, voice soft, thermometer in her hand.

Scrunching her nose, Uiui shook her head. Her blinking was slow and hard as she looked up at her through heavy lashes.

“Come on, you’re always so good at opening that mouth when I ask you to.”

The glare sent her way was halfhearted and tired, but finally, she did as she was told. Sumomone put the thermometer underneath her tongue. When Uiui closed her mouth around it, she almost gagged.

“There, there, you’re doing so well,” Suomomne cooed as she waited for the thermometer to beep. When it finally did, she carefully pulled it out, Uiui relaxing when she was finally rid of it.

Looking at the thermometer, Sumomone only confirmed what she already knew: Uiui had a fever.

It wasn’t dangerously high, but enough for her to be uncomfortable.

 

She pressed the mug against Uiui’s lips, but Uiui only kept fidgeting. “You need to drink,” she said, pushing blue hair out of her sweaty face. “You’re sweating too much.”

Uiui let out a frustrated whine. She hated being sick.

Sumomone didn’t relent, keeping the mug pressed to her lips, until they finally parted. She drank in small sips, eyes slipping closed. She stopped drinking way sooner than Sumomone would have liked, but a little was better than nothing.

 

Putting the glass on the nightstand for later, she watched Uiui shuffle around, trying to bury herself in her blanket, feeling far too cold rather than too hot at a moment’s notice.

Sumomone fetched a blanket from the livingroom, spreading it out across the bed before slipping underneath. Uiui continued to fidget, shivering underneath the blankets. Seeking out Sumomone’s warmth, she wrapped her arms around her. Sumomone’s fingers brushed through her hair. Finally, she felt her relax against her, her sweaty cheek pressed against her belly.

Sumomone smiled to herself, feeling her own eyes start to droop.

-

When Rararin opened the door to Sumomone and Uiui’s room, she smiled to herself. Sumomone was sitting in bed, fast asleep, with a snoring Uiui in her lap. Sumomone’s back was definitely going to hate her for that later.

She let the door slip shut again.

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