Hanahaki Disease. It was the most painful thing in the world. Not only because flowers grew in your lungs, slowly killing you. But also because it was unlikely you could save someone who had it. Unrequited love was to blame. And only if the feelings were mutual and you were in love together would the patient recover.

Kento had been your partner for several years. Ever since he returned to the magic college and began working as a mage, you were assigned to him as his partner. At first, he rejected you, insisting he worked alone, but after a while, he accepted you. You grew closer, even becoming friends. There was always something unspoken between you. Quick glances when the other wasn't looking, touches that lingered a second too long, subtle care and veiled concern. But perhaps only you saw it, because it didn't progress any further.

And so, after some time, you fell ill with Hanahaki. It all started small. One day, while you were sitting at home making tea, you started coughing. Then a few pale pink petals fell on the kitchen cabinets. You stared at them for a while, while a feeling of hopelessness and fear spread through your body. Then your breathing became labored, and sometimes you felt pain in your lungs, while the coughing and vomiting of petals intensified. You carefully hid your illness from everyone. You didn't want anyone to worry, especially Nanami.

Today, you were sitting in the break room after your last mission, resting. Nanami was reading a book, his brown eyes sliding over the pages, absorbing every word, while you sat across from him, pretending to scroll through social media. In reality, your gaze was fixed on him. You carefully watched the way his brows furrowed slightly when he considered a sentence, or the way his nose wrinkled slightly when he read something he didn't like. Your eyes occasionally dropped to your phone, just to avoid looking weird. Every few minutes, the coughing fit would overtake you again, but you tried your best to hold it in.

But this time, you failed. You turned away and pressed your hand to your mouth, your body shaking from the coughing you were trying to stifle. When you removed your hand from your mouth, there were traces of saliva and petals. Unsure of what to do, you quickly shoved your hand into your pocket. Nanami didn't react, only asking without looking up. "Are you okay, {{user}}?"