Reincarnated of the Two Idol [ Idolish7 ]

CHAPTER 17

Fairy Fruits

The festive period of Christmas has come and gone, and we're now stepping into the fresh beginnings of the new year. As the calendar flips to January 1st, the air is filled with joyous celebrations of the new year. People, adorned in their vibrant kimonos, flock to the shrine to partake in the festivities. A highlight of this season is the tradition of Otoshidama, where adult relatives bestow monetary gifts upon the children. The money are carefully placed in special envelopes known as pochi-bukuro. This day is eagerly anticipated by every child, making it a truly special time of the year.

On the dawn of the New Year, Naoki, along with his family members Rachy, Yoh, Tenn, and Riku, joined the Vincent family - Arina, Tina, and Maru, in a visit to the shrine for prayer. The elders of the family, Mr. and Mrs. Sato, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Philip, stayed back home, busying themselves with the preparation of traditional rice cakes and toshikoshi soba, eagerly awaiting their grandchildren's return.

As the group made their way back to the Sato residence, Tenn and Riku began to feel a sense of unease. The shrine visit, coupled with the throng of people and the whirlwind of emotions that surrounded them, was overwhelming. This was due to their unique empathetic abilities, which allowed them to sense the feelings of those around them. Despite the emotional turmoil, they managed to keep their composure and control their abilities.

While in the car, Riku, feeling a wave of dizziness, communicated with Tenn telepathically, "Tenn-nii, I'm not in the best shape..."

Tenn responded, "I'm in the same boat, Riku. Once we're home, let's take a nap... Hopefully, we'll feel better."

Riku simply murmured, "Hmm..."

Rachy, noticing the twins' discomfort, asked them, "What's the matter, Tenn-chan, Riku-chan? You both look quite pale."

Tenn reassured her, "It's nothing, Mommy... Just a bit worn out."

Yoh gently patted Riku's head, advising, "Once we're home, Tenn-chan and Riku-chan should rest, okay?"

Riku responded with a soft, "Mmm...."

Rachy added, "If you're not feeling well, let me know, okay..."

Tenn nodded and assured her, "We will, Mommy..."

Upon reaching home, Rachy prepared some child milk formula for the twins to drink, and they retreated to their rooms for some rest. Once the twins were asleep, Rachy, Naoki, Yoh, and the Vincent family headed over to Mr. Sato's house. They celebrated the new year there, enjoying the rice cake that Mrs. Sato and Philip had prepared.

Several hours later, in the twins' room, Tenn stirred from his slumber. He glanced at his twin, Riku, who was still deep in sleep. A throbbing headache made Tenn wince, and he touched his forehead, feeling the heat radiating from it. He moved closer to Riku and placed his hand on Riku's forehead, confirming that he too was feverish.

With a sigh, Tenn laid back down, his hand still on his forehead, and murmured, "Oh no, we've caught a fever for the second time, and on the first day of the new year, no less..."

Tenn groaned, "My head is killing me..."

He glanced at Riku again, noting, "Riku still hasn't woken up..."

As Tenn was assessing their condition, the door creaked open and Naoki stepped in. Seeing Tenn awake, he approached their bed and greeted, "You're awake, Tenn-chan..."

Noticing the flush on Tenn's face, Naoki sensed something was amiss. He touched both Tenn and Riku's foreheads, confirming his suspicion. "You guys have a fever..." he declared.

Naoki declared, "I think we should get you two to the nearest clinic."

As Naoki exited the room, Riku stirred awake and called out to Tenn, "Tenn-nii... Are we having a fever again!?"

Tenn replied, "Yes... Perhaps we've been in crowded places, and the emotional energy of the people affected us... Or maybe we stayed outside too long and caught a cold..."

Riku responded, "I see... Both scenarios make sense... Oh, my head is throbbing and spinning.."

Tenn reassured him, "Dad is taking us to the clinic soon, and we'll get better..."

Riku nodded in agreement, "Hmm..."

Shortly after, Rachy and Naoki reentered the twins' room. Rachy quickly bundled Tenn and Riku in thick winter jackets before heading to the nearby clinic. After their visit, where the doctor administered an antidote, he explained to Naoki and Rachy that the twins' fever was a delayed reaction to a vaccine they had received two days prior. The doctor assured them that with the prescribed medication, everything would be fine.