CH 40

“Mio-san, have you taken her medicine already?”

“Huh, medicine…?”

“Yes. I bought some headache medicine, so please take it if you haven’t already. It might be too late to take it now, but it’s better than not taking anything.”

Toma took out a packet of headache medicine and a 500ml bottle of natural water from the shopping bag.

When taking medicine, water or lukewarm water is the best choice. Taking medicine with other drinks can cause unexpected side effects or reduce the expected effectiveness.

(Toma-kun is really knowledgeable…)

Although it’s called headache medicine, it doesn’t just work for headaches. Menstrual pain is also listed as one of its effects.

However, I think few men are aware of this fact. Menstrual pain is a symptom unique to women after all.

“Thank you, but it’s okay. I took my medicine before you arrived,Toma-kun.”

How many lies have I piled up…? I shook my head while feeling guilty.

“I understand. I also bought some cold medicine, so I’ll leave it here with the headache medicine.”

“Eh, y-you bought that much medicine!?”

“Yes. There was a type of cold medicine that also works for headaches, but I thought it would be convenient to have two types. That way, we can restock when the medicine runs out.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Huh? There’s no need to apologize. Anyone can have poor health.”

(Ugh…)

I apologized because I’m not actually sick…

Toma-kun’s kindness pierces my heart like a needle.

“Also, I bought some easy-to-eat things like pudding. Can I put them in the refrigerator early? It’s not preferable to leave them at room temperature.”

“Thank you…”

Another needle-like attack…

“Well then, I’ll put it myself if you don’t mind.”

Toma-kun smiled warmly and walked towards the hallway where the refrigerator was located.

(As usual… really.)

Anticipating that Toma had left the room, I let out a small breath.

Right now, Toma’s atmosphere and expression were exactly the same as the ones he showed at work.

He must have a sense of duty to “take care of me properly”…

“Toma-kun’s a man too, so it’s okay to have some ulterior motives once in a while…”

Being alone in this space allows me to express this dissatisfaction.

I know it’s one of Toma-kun’s good points as well, but it’s frustrating as a woman to not be thought of that way… It even feels like we have no connection.

(He held my hand the other day though…)

(knock knock)

At that moment, Toma came back knocking.

“Mio-san, do you have anything in this house that can hold a lot of water, like a bucket?”

“A bucket…? What are you going to use it for?”

“I thought I’d fill it with hot water for a foot bath.”

“!”

Why would he want to give me a foot bath? I think only women would understand this kind of thing…

At the very least, I don’t think men would understand it.

“Why…why do you know how to relieve menstrual pain? Are you trying to improve blood circulation by warming up the Sanin-kou acupressure point?”

There are multiple reasons why menstrual pain can worsen… poor blood circulation due to coldness, psychological and physical stress, and more.

Taking a foot bath not only provides a relaxing effect but also improves blood circulation. As a result, pain can be alleviated by the regulation of the autonomic nervous system.

(He shouldn’t be able to say these things without proper knowledge…)

“Well, as expected of a nursing student.”

“Toma-kun, you  aren’t secretly a woman, are you…?”

“Of course not!”

From Toma-kun’s knowledge, I started to wonder if he might actually be a woman.

“So how do you know about it? Did you look it up on the internet or something…?”

“U-um, my mom…taught me.”

“Your… mom?”

The words that came out of Toma-kun’s mouth were something I never expected.

“I understand that it’s not something commonly taught by one’s mother, but because I have a younger sister going through puberty, I wanted to be able to help her in any way I can.”

“Oh, I see,” I breathed a sigh of relief.

If Toma-kun had been a woman, I would have had to move to a place where same-s*x marriage is allowed…

(I can’t believe I just thought about marrying Toma-kun…)

My thoughts started to wander. It was a bad habit of mine that caused me to lose my composure.

“I’m a guy, so I can’t fully understand how painful it must be, but I just want to help alleviate some of the discomfort.”

“….Toma-kun…”

It was a sigh of admiration. I could tell that Toma-kun’s words were sincere.

After all, the medicine he had placed on the table was an expensive product with immediate effects. Not only that, he had also brought pudding and jelly that are easy to eat when you’re sick…

I’m sure the get-well gifts alone cost more than 5000 yen… He spent so much money just to help someone like me…

(He’s probably popular with women… He’s so knowledgeable and kind…)

I won’t let him get away. The young gentleman in front of me…

I reaffirmed that my target was only him, Toma-kun.

“Toma-kun, you’re really sharp. There are very few men who try to understand women’s unique symptoms.”

“I-is that so…”

“Your future wife will be so lucky. She seems to be able to spend her life happily with few troubles.”

“Ah!”

I know, but I don’t really understand. If I could become Toma-kun’s wife, I’m sure I would be happy. I just can’t measure how much…

Maybe I’ll be so happy that I won’t want to let Toma-kun go to work.

“D-Don’t tease me like that. S-so, what about the bucket-like thing…?”

Toma-kun changes the subject in a fluster.

I want to keep pressing him, but I hold back. I might make Toma-kun dislike me if I’m too persistent.

“If it’s a folding foot bath bucket, it should be on the shelf in the bathroom, but… “

“Well then, I’ll go get it.”

“Well, wait. I don’t need the footbath.”

I wasn’t sick or on my period… I just skipped school because I tried to approach Toma-kun, but ended up embarrassing myself and couldn’t face anyone.

“No, you have to take it. I came to take care of you, after all.”

“…You’re being pushy.”

“I won’t back down on this.”

But I kind of like that about him too. He cares enough to worry about me.

“Fine, I understand… But I want to go get the footbath bucket myself.”

“I’ll go get it. It’s painful for you, isn’t it?”

“I want to go get it.”

“I’ll go.”

Toma-kun doesn’t understand why I want to get it myself. So I have to make him understand.

“I-um, you see…on another shelf, there are…uh, underwear and things like that, so it’s not that I don’t trust you, Toma-kun, but it’s embarrassing…”

“I-I’m sorry…I lacked consideration…”

“Did you, by any chance…try to look at my underwear?”

“I-I would never do something like that!”

“Hehe, just kidding.”

I got off the bed and said, “I’ll be right back.”

Toma-kun, who was so calm just a moment ago, was now flustered by this topic.

(Huhhhh…I love him…I love him so much.)