The Shards of War: Ascension and Secrets

Chapter 22

The next day, Matsu woke up feeling rather unwell. He had a high fever, and his mind was a bit fuzzy. Blaze and Marina, who had come to check on him, quickly noticed his condition. Blaze told Matsu concerned, "Matsu, you're burning up! We need to get you to bed and call a doctor." Matsu, delirious from his fever, started mumbling, and some of his secrets began slipping out unintentionally. "Yeah... the real reason why... Orca and Angelo... kissed... that time... at the arcade..." Blaze and Marina shared a concerned glance. They helped Matsu to his feet and guided him to his bedroom. "Matsu, you need to rest", says Marina. "We'll contact the doctor about this" As they settled him into bed, Matsu continued to mutter in his feverish state. Matsu says, "And the secret... behind Terry's super sweet cheesecake... recipe... it's not what it seems..." Blaze couldn't help but chuckle nervously, realizing the extent of what Matsu was revealing. Blaze warned Matsu, "You shouldn't utter these things out! Let's get you to bed, please." Matsu soon drifted off into a fevered slumber, leaving his friends both concerned and amused by the unexpected revelations. They decided to keep an eye on him until the doctor arrived, ready to hush any more secrets that might escape his feverish lips.

As they waited for the doctor to arrive, Matsu's friends discussed the secrets he had accidentally revealed. They couldn't help but be curious about what he had said, even though they knew he wasn't in control of his words. "I wonder what he meant by the secret behind Terry's cheesecake recipe? It's always been so delicious," Marina mused. Blaze, who had been watching over Matsu, chimed in, "I know, right? It's like the best cheesecake I've ever had." Terry, who was in the room with them also wanting to check up on Matsu, blushed and chuckled at their curiosity. "Well, the secret is simple," he confessed with a smile. "It's made with a lot of love. That's the key ingredient." They all shared a laugh as they pondered what other secrets Matsu might accidentally reveal. It was a rare moment of lightheartedness despite the concern for their friend's health. The doctor soon arrived and confirmed that Matsu had a bad case of the flu. He prescribed some medicine and advised rest and fluids. After the doctor left, they made sure Matsu was comfortable and resting, with Blaze staying by his side.

"You rest up, Matsu. We'll be here to keep an eye on you. And let's hope no more secrets spill out, at least not until you're feeling better," Blaze reassured him. Matsu nodded, and his friends left the room, with Terry offering to make some of his famous cheesecake to lift everyone's spirits. They knew that even if Matsu's secrets had come out, their friendship was strong enough to handle whatever revelations might follow. Matsu continued to stubbornly refuse the medication, convinced that he could tough it out without it. Blaze, growing more concerned, decided to call for reinforcements. She reached out to Calie, who had the day off and tried to reach out to Marie but Calie told her that she had a modeling job, and then Blaze explained the situation. Within a short while, Calie arrived at Matsu's home with a warm smile. She knew Matsu's tendency to be stubborn about taking medication when he was sick. She approached him gently, holding the prescribed pills and a glass of water. "Matsu, come on," she said in a soothing tone. "You need to take your meds. They'll help you get better faster."

Matsu glanced at her and then looked away, a pout on his face. "I don't like the taste." Blaze chimed in, "We know it's not the best taste in the world, but it'll help, I promise." Calie placed a hand on Matsu's forehead to check his temperature. "You've got quite a fever, buddy. Please, take the meds for me." Matsu sighed, feeling defeated. He reluctantly accepted the pills from Calie and took them with the glass of water. Afterward, he leaned back, his energy drained. Blaze sat beside him, concern etched on her face. "Thanks, Calie. You always know how to handle him." Calie smiled at her friend. "It's all part of the job. Now, let's make sure he gets some rest."Blaze nodded in agreement, and together, they continued to look after Matsu, ensuring he got the care he needed while they waited for him to recover from his illness.