[im@s2 - Lp] hana yori uta! week 21 part 3

(I know I said there's no time to celebrate, but... I forgot, tomorrow is our first day off in a while.) (Maybe I'll get to take it easy for just one-...) (Oh, that'd be Chihaya calling. Did she just remember something she wanted to talk about, I wonder?) Hello, what is it Chihaya? Oh! Uhh-...s-sure...there was some extra work I cou-... ...w-was planning on doing tomorrow anyway, heh... Heh, well, hey. You ask for strict guidance, you get it. I'll see you tomorrow at the office, then...! (...Hoo, boy. Someone call the conscience paramedics.) (So, I end up having to work on my day off.) (But hey, I've already pledged to give everything I have for the girls' sake. This sort of thing is only-...) (Hm? Chihaya again? What's she calling about now?) Hello, Chihaya? It's still a little early... you're not at the office already, are you? Wha-...you sound awful, Chihaya! Are you all right? What on earth happened to you? Shh shh! Please, don't strain your voice! It's all right; I think I know what you want to say. D-Don't worry about our meeting today, we'll just c-...uh... ...-postpone it. I-I'll see you in half an hour, OK? Whoa whoa, calm down. Sorry, I should've said this first: you don't have to come to the office. ...But we do need to have a meeting today, and it'll be at your place. Just sit tight until I get there, all right? Chihaya, please! You're in no condition to argue! I'll see in you in 30 minutes! (Just hang in there, Chihaya! I'll be there as soon as I can!) (*sigh*...Made it. Well then...) Chihaya? Chihaya, it's me! Are you all right? Come on, how could you expect your own Producer not to come check up on you when you're feeling sick? Oh, there's an idea. Maybe if I caught it, it would transfer to me and you'd be all better. I say we try it! Haha, I know. But I'm not joking when I say that would be infinitely preferable to letting my precious beyond precious top idol Chihaya risk any damage to her voice. Ah-ah-ah! You're not allowed to get careless on my watch. You're already presenting a cough...how's your temperature? ...What do you mean 'most likely'? You haven't actually checked yet, Chihaya? Oh, is that right? I'm sorry...well, we really need to check though, so...I think we'll have to do it this way... Would you come over here for a second please, Chihaya? I'll be able to feel your temperature if I touch my hand to your forehead. Let me see...mmm...well, you definitely have a fever. Must be over 38 degrees at the least, don't you think? (Poor Chihaya, she's dripping with sweat...) (But I can feel her pulse beating against me...still so full of life...) *ahem* OK, I think it'll be better if we get you looked at at a hospital, Chihaya. Oh, so...like, your family doctor is there? We'll take you there then; it'll be a load off both our minds. But before that, you should try to eat something. I'm guessing you haven't eaten anything yet today? Mm...I saw you had some rice out on my way in; that'll be fine. I can make you some rice porridge. Is that OK? Ahaha. Clearly she doubts me. I'll have you know I'm actually pretty handy in a kitchen. I don't know if you realize, Chihaya, that today's handyman can easily find his way around a kitchen too. I mean, you can just set your rice cooker to 'porridge,' and bam! A tasty meal at the touch of a button! Ouch. Thought I could get you to play along. Leave it to Chihaya to keep that cool head with a fever! But that's OK. We win as long as you get your tasty meal, no matter who's responsible. Just let your Producer produce you some porridge. I'll be in the kitchen for a bit. You should lie down before you start feeling worse. Hmhm. Well, I'm glad I can help take it off your mind. Keep your attitude healthy and your body will soon follow suit. ...You know, I can't help but notice you don't have any decorations in your room or anything. It feels kinda dreary. Yeah, just about the only things I've seen here are necessities... Oh, but there is that stuffed bear in the corner. He's cute. Aww, really? I didn't know you had a little brother, Chihaya! (? What happened? Why'd she get all quiet?) ...I-...I don't know what to say, Chihaya... I should never have brought it up, I'm -so- sorry... You mean...your family? ...Chihaya... Don't say that, Chihaya. I can't tell you how much it means to me that you would trust me with such a grave, personal matter. ? You're not talking about our promise, are you? C-Come on...of course I meant work-related secrets... Ah, that'd be the sound of our favorite handyman the rice cooker announcing his success. Have some porridge, Chihaya. Then we'll get you to the hospital. Chihaya. You = sick. Be a good girl and wait here. I'll take care of getting everything ready. (Chihaya ended up eating two whole bowls of that porridge. She seemed surprised something I made could be so edible, ha.) (And then, I guess thanks to having a good family doctor that's known her for so long, she made a full recovery in a few days.) (But still, Chihaya's family...I don't care who I am, that's not a subject I had any right to trespass upon.) (But since she was willing to tell me, it's just one more reason for me to look after her...) (...from whatever distance I can for now.) (Being able to understand her world, close that gap, and support her, standing face-to-face on an emotional level... guess I've got a long ways to go yet.) (...I hope that day will come.)