Ichika walked into the hospital room, dressed in a rather slutty nurse costume.

But why was she here at this hour of the night?…… "Kouhei-kun." "Yes?" Ichika’s expression was grim. "I'm sorry." "Huh?"

Slap! Ichika struck me hard across the cheek. ……Though I knew she was holding back.

If this powerhouse of a beautiful woman had hit me with full intent, I’d have been knocked out cold on the spot……

"Why are you doing such dangerous things alone!? Getting stabbed like that! What if you died?!"

……Ichika scolded me while tears streamed down her face.

She had been worried. About me, genuinely.

That’s why…… she was scolding me for going behind everyone's back and doing something so reckless on my own.

……She really is a kind person. Because she thought it would crush the pride of an adult man if she confronted me in front of her child, she came by alone at night like this.

"Please…… Don't…… ever do anything so dangerous again……"

Ichika threw herself into my arms, weeping.

……I really did the wrong thing. "My bad. I won't do it again." "……Really?" "Yeah, I swear it."

I won't make you cry again. Never again... "You okay?"

Ichika let out a breath of relief in my arms, and then... snuggled into me affectionately.

"Kōichi... um, I'm sorry about that earlier..."

She fidgeted shyly. She probably wanted me to hold her.

I... felt a surge of excitement at the sight of Ichika acting so coy. "Ichika..." "Kōichi..."

...That day, we made love with more intensity than ever before.

Maybe it was because we'd overcome our obstacles, or maybe because I'd been this close to dying.

Either way, things got pretty heated...

As a result, the nurse caught us and gave us an absolute dressing down. Well, I suppose that's just how it is... yeah...