"Asuza...you need to take your medicine, okay?" Akira insistently held out the tray of pills to him.
Asuza pushed it away weakly. "No...Eve..."
Akira sighed, tucking stray strands of hair behind her ear. "If you don't take it, you won't recover soon. Come on." Asuza was acting like a child. He had caught a cold and was hence made to stay at home. Akira was skipping school to act as his caretaker for the day. He pushed away her hands more persistently, resisting despite his weakened state. "No..."
"Why not?" Akira stood on his bed, setting down the tray, hands on her hips.
Asuza picked at his bandages agitatedly. "Because medicine is bitter..."
Akira paused, thinking. "Okay then. We'll make it sweet. Are your knives clean?" Asuza gazed at her curiously. "Yes...I clean them everyday..." She grinned and opened his cupboard. She snatched one of the blades and held up her wrist. "What are you...doing...?" Asuza got his answer as Akira slices a shallow cut across her palm. Fresh crimson immediately welled and brimmed against the surface of the cut, threatening to spill. Asuza's eyes widened as he reached for her hand. "Akira..."
Akira held up a hand, jerking her chin at the pills. "Swallow those first."
Asuza stared contemplatively at the medicine. Slowly, he reached out and scooped up the pills, popping them from their tabs and swallowing them in one go, without any water. He wiped his mouth and pointed at her hand. "It's bitter..." Akira let him bring her hand to his mouth as he greedily lapped at the blood till the bleeding had stopped. He grunted. "It still tastes bad..." Akira put down the knife. "Haa...fine."
