Blooming Affection (ichika)

Blossoming Affection

ichika's pov:

Every day felt like a battle against an invisible enemy, one that grew stronger with each passing moment. I watched the cherry blossom petals fall, each one a painful reminder of the turmoil raging within me.

Saki's concern weighed heavily on my shoulders, her worried glances like daggers to my heart. I tried to hide my pain, to push away the fear that threatened to consume me, but it was a futile effort. With every cough, every gasp for breath, I felt the truth closing in around me.

I tried to smile, to reassure Saki that everything was fine, but it was a lie, and we both knew it. She saw through my facade, her eyes searching mine for answers that I couldn't give. And as the days stretched into weeks, her worry only grew, a silent testament to the depth of our friendship.

But there were moments, fleeting glimpses of normalcy amidst the chaos, when I almost believed that everything would be okay. We laughed together, shared secrets beneath the cherry blossom tree, and for a brief moment, I forgot about the darkness lurking within me.

But then the pain would return, a cruel reminder of the reality I could no longer escape. I doubled over, clutching my chest as the petals spilled from my lips, each one a silent scream for help. And as Saki's panic washed over me, I knew that I had to act quickly to hide the evidence of my illness. With trembling hands, I wiped away the stray petals that had spilled from my lips, praying that Saki hadn't noticed.

"Ichika, what's wrong?" Saki cried, her voice filled with fear.

I forced a smile, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to calm my racing thoughts. "I-I don't know," I gasped, tears stinging my eyes. "It hurts, Saki. It hurts so much."

Saki's hand found mine, her touch a lifeline in the darkness. "We need to get you to a doctor," she declared, her voice firm with determination.

But I shook my head, panic rising in my chest. "No, Saki, please," I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper. "I-It's not necessary..."

And with that, I pushed away the fear threatening to overwhelm me, burying it deep beneath a mask of false bravado. I couldn't tell Saki the truth, not yet. Not until I knew for certain that she wouldn't turn away from me in disgust.

"Saki, really, it's not that serious," I insisted, mustering up the most convincing smile I could manage. "It's probably just a flu or something. I'll be fine after some rest."

Saki's brow furrowed with worry, her concern palpable in the air between us. "But Ichika, you've been coughing up petals," she pointed out, her voice trembling with fear. "That's not normal. We need to get you checked out."

I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest since she caught me while I thought I did a good job at hiding it, so I tried to come up with a convincing argument. "It's... it's just a weird symptom, that's all," I replied, my voice faltering slightly. "I read somewhere that it can happen with certain types of flu. Trust me, Saki, I'll be fine."

Saki studied me for a moment, her eyes searching mine for any sign of deception. "Are you sure, Ichika?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.

I forced a smile, willing myself to appear calm and collected despite the storm raging within me. "Positive," I replied, my voice steady but lacking conviction. "I promise, if I'm not feeling better in a few days, I'll go see a doctor. But for now, let's just focus on getting some rest, okay?"

Saki hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on mine as if searching for any hint of the truth. But then, with a sigh, she relented, offering me a small nod of agreement. "Okay, Ichika," she conceded, her voice filled with uncertainty. "But promise me you'll tell me if anything changes, alright? I don't want to take any chances with your health."

I nodded, relief flooding through me like a wave crashing against the shore. "I promise," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Saki. You're the best."

And with that, we walked home together, the weight of my secret pressing down on me like a leaden weight. But for now, at least, I had bought myself some time. Time to find a cure, time to come to terms with my feelings, and time to tell Saki the truth before it was too late.

---

...but everything is easier said than done...