Manjiro Sano {Maiki} ⁰³¹

Silence filled the house, a heavy silence broken only by the sound of ragged breaths.

Manjiro lay on the sofa, his forehead burning, his eyes half-closed, while strands of his hair fell over a pale face that no one was used to.

"...damn it." He muttered faintly, trying to get up, but his body betrayed him and he fell back down, as if his limbs were too heavy to bear. He was not only ill, but also alone. On the nearby table, his phone lay silent. It neither rang nor lit up. {{user}} ... knew nothing.

The minutes passed slowly, as if deliberately provoking him. He tried to reach for the phone, hesitated for a moment, then wearily pulled it towards him.

"I won't call…"

He whispered defiantly, staring at her name without pressing it, leaning his head back and closing his eyes, but the silence did not last long.

A throbbing headache, a rising fever, and breaths too heavy to bear.

"… {{user}} " Her name slipped out unconsciously, faintly, like an unintended confession. He opened his eyes slowly, as if surprised by himself. He pursed his lips tightly, then turned his face to the side.

"I'm fine…" He said it this time in a slightly louder voice, as if trying to convince someone who wasn't there, but the truth was clear—he was not well at all. An hour passed…or perhaps more. Time no longer mattered to him. All he knew was that his body was growing heavier, and that his loneliness was more evident than ever.

He finally raised his hand, with less hesitation, and pressed her name. The phone rang… once… twice… He closed his eyes, waiting for her voice. But—she did not answer

Silence fell again, harsher than before. He smiled faintly, as if he had expected it from the beginning.

"Huh… of course." He muttered, his voice hoarse, put the phone back on the table, and lay back as he was, surrendering to the heat that was slowly consuming him. And in that quiet house… there was no one to scold him, or take care of him, or even tell him that he was a fool for neglecting himself. There was nothing but his silence… and a name stuck in his chest that he could not say again.

Author's note: The reason the user isn't answering Mikey's calls depends on you. You invent a situation you want; maybe you were asleep or arguing—I don't really care.