Chapter 1: The Ice Lady Caught A Cold

“I can’t eat anymore, munyamunya…”

With a steady and lovely rhythmic sleeping voice and innocent face like an angel.

Staring at the girl who’s happily sleeping on the bed at home, Kagami Asahi wondered how this whole thing had happened.

____

A paradise for students, the summer vacation, at the end of August, was nearing its end.

After entering high school, “Ice Lady” Himuro Fuyuka moved to a room next door to Asahi, who started living alone in an apartment with just a short walk from the nearest station.

Although called “Ice Lady,” it was not like those princesses that appeared in the movies, but just an exaggerated nickname that someone came up with on their own.

Still, Fuyuka Himuro had a reason to be called “The Lady of Ice”.

She was a flawless person, with gorgeous looks, well-educated and had good manners.

Rumors about her were circulating everyday throughout the school, reaching the ears of her schoolmate, Asahi.

Ranked first in both the midterm and final exams.

At lunch, she always ate in the school cafeteria.

Even received an A on physical education measurement.

During breaks, she always tends to read romance novels. (TL: 分かる)

Born into a prestigious family and raised to be quite the young lady.

Stories about her would be talked about. From trivial things in school life to deep-rooted stories, her popularity was immeasurable, and many students tried to get closer to her regardless of gender, class, and grades.

In the end, however, for less than half a year after the entrance ceremony, no one was able to get along with her.

―Please stay away from me.

It seems that she said this to her classmates in a clear and cold tone shortly after she had entered the high school.

To Asahi, who was in a different class, it was just nothing more than a gossip.

However, in reality, she always acted alone and had an atmosphere that kept others away from her.

As a result, Fuyuka Himuro was given the nickname “The Ice Lady”.

She always kept her distance from everyone, never spoke to anyone beyond what was necessary, and always kept a straight face. A lady that was as cold as ice.

It was towards the end of September, when Asahi was starting to be convinced of this rumor. A month after the “Ice Lady” moved in next door, Asahi unexpectedly became involved with Fuyuka.

After six hours of classes, Asahi was on his way home after talking to his friends when he met the “Ice Lady” at the entrance of his apartment.

Their eyes met as they recognized each other, but without any reaction both of them passed by each other silently…which should have been the case.

“Are you okay?”

Although he knew in his head that he shouldn’t react, Asahi’s mouth continued to speak.

Immediately after calling her out, he recalled the day Fuyuka moved in next door last month.

She hadn’t said a word to him, not even a small greeting.

There was no way to know the reason behind it, but Fuyuka refused to have a relationship with others and closed her heart.

If that was the case, there was no need to get involved.

Asahi thought that they should live as strangers, not forcibly talking to each other or have anything to do with each other.

However, things were different today.

Walking a little ahead of him, her steps were unsteady, moreover her snow-white skin was pale red.

Even if one couldn’t diagnose the illness right away, it was pretty clear that she was not feeling well.

“..Hey, are you okay?”

Although aware of him being nosy, it hurts his conscience to look the other way, even though Asahi was ignored he still called out to her.

Finally, Fuyuka stopped on her tracks and turned to look at Asahi.

Her eyes were filled with caution, and her gaze was icy cold.

“I’m fine, so please leave me alone.”

The words that came out of her were devoid of any expression or sentiment, with that Asahi became convinced of the rumor and agreed to it inside his head.

This was the first conversation that Asahi had with Fuyuka, but it was enough for him to understand why she was called the “Ice Lady”.

She was an ice-cold young lady who kept her distance from everyone, didn’t talk to anyone beyond what was necessary, and always kept a straight face.

Except for being a young lady, she was exactly what others had described her as.

When approaching her, she would take one step back and build a thick invisible wall around her.

‘I wonder what’s causing this.’

She couldn’t have started rejecting others from the very beginning.

Something must have happened in the past that resulted in her turning into the “Ice Lady”.

Though, it was not something that a stranger could ask.

In the end, it would be better to stay out of her life and not talk to her, just as she wanted.

Asahi reaffirmed this fact and stopped tending after Fuyuka.

It was clear that she was not fine, but she didn’t want to be bothered.

Walking down the hallway, keeping distance while gazing towards her glazed hair swaying from side to side.

Naturally, Fuyuka arrived at the front of the door first and was about to unlock it, it was then.

Asahi clearly saw Fuyuka slowly collapse to the floor.

“Hey, what’s wrong?!”

He immediately ran over and called out to her, but there was no response.

It was the same as usual, but this time it was not a deliberate act of not reacting, but rather she couldn’t react.

Her eyes were tightly closed and her body lacked any strength.

Her skin was hot to touch, and her breathing was rough.

From the looks of it, it was most likely just a cold.

Even so, it was not something that Asahi could judge on his own without any specialized knowledge, and if it continued, her life might be in danger.

Fuyuka’s cold gaze and words suddenly emerged to his mind, but there was no way he could leave her alone when she collapsed right in front of him.

‘Just in case, I should call an ambulance.’

Asahi pulled out a smartphone, just in case.

Quickly changed it to emergency call mode and felt a faint heat on his hand as he tried to type three digits: one, one, nine.

“…Please don’t…call an ambulance, I only have a cold…”

It was different from before, the voice was fragile and weak, as if it was about to disappear, but her words were filled with firm determination.

Finger stopping at the button of the number nine, the phone naturally locked itself.

Before he had time to ask why, Fuyuka collapsed once again.

Although the reason was unclear, it seems she didn’t want to go to the hospital.

Her voice sounded small and weak, but the strong plea that he couldn’t ignore remained in Asahi’s ears.

Looking away from the pitch-black screen of his phone, Asahi calmly thought.

If he didn’t call an ambulance, what was he supposed to do in this situation?

In less than ten seconds, two ideas popped up into his mind at the same time.

Not satisfied with either of the ideas at all, but he couldn’t think of any other course of action right now.

After running a quick simulation in his mind and choosing one of the two options, Asahi quickly unlocked the door in front of him.

He then stopped the door with the stopper and put his hands under Fuyuka’s back and knees who lay collapsed on the floor.

‘…Don’t blame me for this.’

Not expecting a response, but after a quick word, Asahi picked up Fuyuka’s body.

It was a bit awkward and unsteady form of a princess carry.

The hands that should be around the neck were thrown up in the air, and if one was not careful, one could lose their balance and fall.

The body heat from the inevitable close contact with her body and the faint sweet scent confused Asahi’s thoughts.

However, right now, he had no time to be conscious of his attractiveness as a member of the opposite s*x.

Needing to take care of a sick person who had collapsed in front of him, Asahi closed the door as slowly as possible so as not to put any strain on the “Ice Lady” who was sleeping in his arms.