sae's underlings
6:02 am

sae
we have practice right after school
so don't forget your cleats
6:02 am

sae
also a meeting to discuss a scrimmage game

sae
why isnt nobody responding??
6:30 am

reo
cap its 6 am.

reo
i can assure you no one else
gets up until 7:30.

sae
oh

seiren left the group chat

The girl turned in her bed, facing the wall as she had woken up from her dream. "I'm going to throw up again.." she mumbles, rushing out of bed to run to her bathroom. Sae was already awake in his room when he heard the door slam, walking out of his room as he saw the bathroom light on. "Shouldn't you call the doctor if you keep throwing up?" he asked, keeping a distance from the bathroom as he gagged, backing away even more.

"It's normal Sae.."

"Are you sure?"

"It's just nausea and harsh cramps. Nothing I can't handle."

Seiren then stepped into the hallway, Sae staring at her oddly. "You look pale. You sure you aren't sick?" he said, bringing his hand over to her forehead. "You're burning Seiren." Sae stares at her, furrowing his eyebrows. "Were you around anyone sick?" he gently pushes her back into her room. "No..! I'm not sick! I'm telling you it's just ny period Sae." Seiren drops herself on her bed, closing her eyes.

"Just stay home."

"I said I'm not sick."

She mumbled against her pillow, reaching for her heating pad before plugging it in and wrapping it around her torso. "I don't even know how you survive. Stay home Seiren. I'll get your work." Sae said from her doorway while she crawled back into bed. "From all my classes?" Seiren utters tiredly. "Obviously." the older sibling rolled his eyes. "..Kay."

So there he was, walking into her first class as if it were nothing. "Sae Itoshi, is there something you need?" her teacher asked, too busy fixing her graded papers as he spoke. "Yeah my sister's not here. Can I get her work for today?" Sae then looks around the classroom, seeing his teammates sitting in one of the corners. "Ah I see. Is she feeling well? It's unusual for her to miss class." she then reaches over to a manilla folder and slides out a sheet of paper, handing it over to Sae.

"Her project is due tomorrow. Maybe talk with Isagi to let him know the situation."  Sae nods, already looking at the male. "Isagi." he calls, heading towards him. "Uh yeah?" the boy glances at Bachira, the latter shrugged his shoulders, unsure what their captain might want from him. "Seiren's sick."

"Oh how? Is she okay—"

"Does it matter? She won't be able to go over cause she's sick so get your dumb little project done after practice."

Sae left before Isagi could say another word.

"Imagine you married into their family. That would be harsh."

"Why are you thinking about that Bachira?!"

Though Isagi blushes at the thought, he tried denying it saying he was just taken off guard by the sudden words. Chigiri and Reo both teased him endlessly before their class started. Isagi's gaze couldn't help but fall over to her empty chair. She was always at school on time, always reading her book and somehow, Isagi missed her presence.

Meanwhile the girl was sprawled out on her bed, snoring like there was no tomorrow.

———

Rin glared at the boy by his side.

"Stop trying to kill me with your eyes Rin."

"Why are you trying to see Renn— Seiren?"

"Don't act tough now. We all know Seiren's your favorite sibling." Isagi rolled his eyes, trailing behind Rin as he turned the knob to his front door. "I'm giving her my notebook for notes." he said. "You could've gave them to Sae." Rin squinted at him, stepping inside. The house was fairly quiet, going up the steps while Isagi looked around the home. Okay. Yeah they're rich. Explained the amount of money they put into their sons' football team.

"Seiren." Rin said, knocking on her door before opening it. She sat on her bed, rubbing her eyes as if she had just woken up from a nap. "Did Sae bring my work?" she muttered, still not noticing Isagi behind Rin. "He's still at practice." he glanced behind him. "Isagi brought you his notes." Rin shoved the boy into her room, watching her eyes widened. "Why'd you bring him here?!"

"Stop being dramatic." Rin rolled his eyes. "Sae's coming back later. I only came to tell you." he then left the two alone, heading to his room to take a nap while Isagi was left standing at her doorway. "How are you feeling?" he cleared his throat. "Just fine." Seiren sighed. "Sit." she reached for her bookbag that was beside her bed, grabbing her journals.

Isagi sat in the edge of her bed, bringing out his notebook before passing her a pencil. "Sae's a bit much." he said. "You think I don't know?" she sniffled. Turns out she really was sick, her period was just the cherry on top. "What happened today Yoichi?" Seiren hummed, grabbing his notebook to look at his notes. She wanted to laugh at the small doodles he drew on the corner of the paper but she kept to herself.

"Kunigami and Reo had like this weird argument about workout routines. Sae told them that they were imbeciles..and made them run around the school ten times so that's why he's not here. I should've gotten your work while I was there. My bad Seiren." Isagi chuckled nervously. His eyes wandered around her room. He never expected it to be so pink. Seiren noticed his staring. "Care to say something?"

"Never expected your room to be so.."

"Childish?"

"You. It's you. I think the wall you hold up is a bit funny now knowing that you come home everyday to the reincarnation of Strawberry Shortcake." Isagi smiled at her. "Pink is just my favorite color." Seiren chose to ignore his contagious grin, focusing on his handwriting instead. "That kick you did a few days ago." he then suddenly brought up, catching her attention. "Was really amazing you know. When'd you learn?"

"Like three summers ago. It's not that big of a deal."

"Dude. You hit that girl with a ball..kicking it backwards. It's a big deal!" he gasped. She stared at him. "It's not that big of a deal." she repeated. "It's a big deal!" Isagi laughed. "I don't think so." Seiren shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe cause you've done it so much you've perfected it. You Itoshi siblings..are really crazy." Isagi watched her shake her head.

"Do you want to learn?"

"Aren't you sick?"

"And..?"

Isagi shook his head. "You can teach me another time. Actually let me write down your notes for you. Your head probably hurts." Wow. How'd he know? Seiren watched as he grabbed her notebook and pencil, writing what he had gotten from class earlier. She laid her head on her pillow, feeling her body immediately sink into her mattress. Seiren let her eyes fall onto the boy. His focused expression drew her in more than she wanted until she let her drowsiness get to her.

Isagi would flicker his gaze up to her every few minutes, checking on her but she remained the same. Seiren had fallen asleep to the sound of the pencil pressing against the paper, his gentle breaths that he controlled to try not to irritate her with.

Sae had came home an hour later, kicking off his shoes and immediately ran to his room to take off his school clothes. He noticed Seiren's door being creaked open, carefully pushing it open as he was met with Isagi pressing his hand against her forehead. The boy had moved over to her desk, finding it easier to write notes and giving her more room to sleep. Every ten minutes he'd get up to check her temperature, noting to himself if she was getting warmer, and this time she was.

"You're burning.." Isagi muttered, gently shaking her shoulder. "Seiren..hey you're burning up. Is there some medicine I can give you? Some tea?" he said, not noticing Sae's presence behind him. "She's still sick?" Isagi felt his heart drop, turning his head straight over to his captain. "Uh uhm yes— I came to give her the notes we took earlier in class." he immediately said while Sae pressed his lips together, handing him the homework her teachers had gave him.

"Okay." the older sibling shrugged. "Rin home too?" he asked. "Yeah he is but Seiren's like extremely hot. I think she might have a fever.." Isagi looked around her room, hoping to find a thermometer somewhere lying around. Sae moved Isagi to the side, pulling the blanket off her. "She's wearing sweats and a hoodie. Of course she's burning.." Sae muttered, pressing his hand against her cheek.

"Oh. Okay no she's actually burning.."

"Exactly..!"

"Hey uhm get Rin."

Isagi was now concerned. He made his way around to the younger's room, knocking on his door. "Hey Sae said to get you. Seiren's burning. I think she might have a fever." he said as quickly as he could, not wanting Rin to interrupt him as usual. Rin looked up from his phone, getting off his bed then rushed over to his sister's room. Sae turned to him. "She might actually be sick." he chuckled. "Why are you laughing?" Rin glared at his older brother.

"Because she's never sick. It's honestly funny. How can I not laugh?"

"You're sick! She should be taking medicine! Isagi did you give her medicine?"

"Why would I give her medicine?!"

"Cause you were with her?!" Rin exclaimed, shoving his finger into Isagi's forehead. "She was fine when I came in?!" Isagi crossed his arms. All the noise seemed to wake her up, sitting up as her eyes watered. "Get my medicine. All of you. Now before I slit my throat in front of you three." Seiren muttered, rubbing her eyes as Sae stared at her, his laughter soon filling the room. Is he really laughing at his sister's pain right now?!

"Sae!" her head throbbed, immediately laying back down. Isagi glanced at her for a few seconds as her brothers rushed out her room. "Yoichi, can you pass me my fan? Sorry.." she muttered, taking off her hoodie, leaving her in a tank top and her hair disheveled. "How are you feeling? Should I get you some water? Tea? Something from the store?" he asked her, connecting her fan closer to her, putting it on a medium setting.

"Thank you..and no it's fine. I have those two to do it for me." she smiled gently.

"You know you're cute when you're sick."

"What?"

"Huh? Uh nevermind..!" Isagi chuckled nervously, running out the room to find Sae and Rin. Seiren pressed her hands against her cheeks, feeling the heat radiating from her skin. She was thankful of her fever otherwise Isagi would've seen how much his compliment affected her.

"You're so weird Isagi Yoichi.."