𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 | 𝐓𝐨𝐣𝐢 𝐅𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐨

- Chapter 21 -

Three days have passed since her conversation with Gojo about fireworks, and the event is fast approaching.

The members of the clan are buzzing with anticipation and excitement, while the maids and lower-ranking members are left to their regular duties.

The stark contrast between the joy of the higher-ups and the restrictions on Helia and other maids weighs heavily on her mind.

Today Helia woke up feeling a bit off, her head slightly dizzy and her body heavy.

Despite her discomfort, she forced herself to get out of bed and continued her daily duties as a maid. She tried her best to push through the fatigue.

[...]

As the day progresses, her feeling of dizziness only worsens. She can feel her body starting to get hotter, a sign of the developing fever.

She tries to maintain her composure and continue her work, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to focus, and her body is growing weak.

Despite her weakened state and the mounting fever, Helia still manages to clean Toji's toilets, just as she does on any other day.

During her second round of cleaning, she almost stumbles and has to steady herself against the wall, feeling the full effects of the fever starting to take hold of her body.

Luckily for her, Toji wasn't in his room today to make fun of her.

[...]

When she returns to the maid compound, her pallor and sickly appearance don't go unnoticed by the head maid. She takes one look at Helia and immediately can tell something is wrong.

Concern and worry flash across her face as she approaches Helia, sensing the gravity of her condition.

"Oh dear, look at you." She exclaims. "You look terrible."

Helia tries to reassure the head maid. "It's alright it's just a little bit of fever, it'll pass."

The head maid places her hand on Helia's forehead, feeling the heat emanating from her body. She scowls and looks at her with disapproval.

"A little bit of fever?" She says sternly. "You're burning up, child. You need to rest immediately."

Helia shakes her head, but she immediately regrets her action as she feels a rush of pain. "I'm fine I assure you."

The head maid shakes her head, clearly not convinced by her claims. She crosses her arms and gives Helia a firm look.

"No, you're far from fine." She retorts. "You can barely stand on your own, and you look as white as a ghost. You're going to bed right now and you're not getting up until you're feeling better."

"But..."

Without giving Helia a chance to protest further, the head maid firmly grabs her arm and leads her to her bed.

She tucks her in and pulls the covers up to her chin, her expression stern but caring.

"No buts." She says firmly. "You're staying in bed and resting. You need to get better before you even think about doing any more work."

"Alright..."

Helia watches the head maid leave. And as she lays in bed, her thoughts turn to her daily report to Naobito and tonight's training session with Toji.

She knows she won't be able to attend in her current state, and a pang of disappointment and frustration stabs at her heart.

The thought of Toji's anger crosses her mind, and she anticipates his scowling face and gruff words of annoyance.