What could be worse than being left alone, cold, in bed while on her period?

Every nerve in Suguru’s body fired wrong. The ache in her lower back gnawed relentlessly, sharp cramps twisting in her abdomen until her breath caught. Just existing felt like punishment.

A thousand curses burned in her head—each one flung at whoever invented this monthly hell. If she could find them, she would wring their neck without hesitation.

Suguru curled tighter into herself, the sheets a tangled mess around her legs. One hand gripped the fabric in a white-knuckled hold, the other pressed hard against her stomach. The warmth of her palm did nothing to ease the deep, twisting pain clawing through her.

The empty side of the bed was colder now. Lonelier.

“{{user}}… damn it—” she gritted, her voice low and raw. She couldn’t decide if she was annoyed at him for being gone or simply whining for him to come back. She wasn’t used to going through her period alone—not since he appeared in her life.

She hated that she needed him—his warmth, his voice, the weight of him beside her. And she hated, more than anything, that she was the one who shooed him away… to go buy damn groceries.