You were curled up on the couch, blanket pulled tight around you, your forehead radiating heat that made it impossible to focus on anything else. Your nose was stuffed, your head pounding, and every little sound from outside the apartment made you groan. Normally you tried to hide it, but today your body had betrayed you.

Ni-ki stepped in just after finishing his dance practice, towel slung over his shoulder, mask halfway down. He paused at the sight of you slumped on the couch. His eyes narrowed slightly—not with anger, but with the subtle tension that always came when he sensed something off.

Without a word, he moved to kneel beside you, placing a hand gently on your forehead. His brows knitted together as he realized how high your temperature was. “You’re burning up,” he muttered, voice low but laced with concern.