Morning light filtered through maple leaves.
Soft.
Warm.
It landed on Mochi's face.
She stirred.
Blink.
Slow.
Confused.
Why was she warm?
Why was she… comfortable?
Then—
Memory.
Bench.Night.Outside.
Her eyes widened.
She sat up fast.
Too fast.
Cold air.
Laddu's jacket.
Wrapped around her shoulders.
Snug.
Protective.
Her cheeks burned.
Hands flew to her face—
Click.
She froze.
Mira stood there.
Phone raised.
Smiling.
Click.Click.Click.
"M-Mira?!" Mochi squeaked."What are you doing?!"
"Collecting evidence," Mira said calmly.
Satisfied.
Candy peeked out from behind her.
Eyes shining.
"Unnie looks sooo cute sleeping next to her boyfriend!"
"He's not—!""We're not—!""I didn't—!""We just—!"
Words collapsed.
Mochi turned red.
Completely.
Mira zoomed in.
"You look like a K-drama poster," she said."I'm sending this to the group chat."
"Miraaaa—nooo!"
Candy skipped in circles.
"Unnie is in loooove!""Unnie is in loooove!"
Mochi buried her face in her scarf.
Deep.
Wishing the ground would open.
Swallow her.
Then—
Movement.
Beside her.
Laddu stirred.
He sat up suddenly.
Hands joined.
Facing the sun.
Mumbled something.
Unclear.
Then—
He snapped awake.
"WHAT—WHERE—WHO—WHY—?!"
Mochi jumped.
Mira laughed.
Candy pointed.
"He jumps like a cricket!"
Laddu rubbed his eyes.
Yawning.
Stretching.
"A new day means—"
He collapsed.
Face-first.
Thud.
Mochi shot up.
"L-L-Laddu?!"
He pushed himself up.
Failed.
Tried again.
Failed worse.
Tried to sit.
Nothing.
Candy blinked.
"…He's broken."
Mira knelt.
Hand to his forehead.
Her face changed.
Fast.
"Mochi," she said,"he's burning."
Mochi touched his cheek.
Hot.
Too hot.
"He's… really hot…"
Candy grabbed his hand.
Yelped.
"He's like a boiled potato!"
Mira stood.
Sharp.
"High fever.""Very high.""We take him home.""Now."
Mochi froze.
Guilt crashed down.
"It's my fault…""He gave me his jacket…""He stayed outside…""I— I'm sorry…"
Laddu smiled weakly.
"I'm… fine…""Just… dizzy…"
Then—
He dropped again.
Mira didn't hesitate.
"Move."
She bent down.
Lifted him.
Like a sack of rice.
Straightened.
Started walking.
Candy stared.
Amazed.
"Mira-unni is strong!"
Mira scoffed.
"This idiot caught a cold," she said."Giving away his jacket like a drama hero."
Mochi walked beside her.
Hands clenched in the sleeves of that jacket.
Still wrapped around her.
Her eyes never left Laddu.
Pale.
Tired.
Candy hugged Mochi's leg.
"It's okay, unnie…""We'll help him."
Mochi nodded.
Barely.
"Please…""Please be okay…"
They walked home together.
The shy girl full of worry.The small sister holding her close.The strong friend carrying an idiot.
The sun rose behind them.
A new day began.
Not gently.
Not kindly.
But together.