She's being so gentle with me, and it's nice. Really it is, it's just... it hits all the sensitive parts of my pride. Even when I haven't had the shit beat out of me, I'm the weak one. The one that's always in pain, always suffering from my ailment.

Even JK is stronger than me. I couldn't even pretend to put up a fight against Aries.

I sip at the water, feeling wounded and grumpy. But Yuuki's hair is soft against my cheek, and she smells really nice. Not like the cloyingly strong perfumes Miu wears, or the vague scent of incense and earth that always seems to follow Tomoko around.

Yuuki just smells pleasant. And pretty. Maybe a little bit like vanilla? Something gentle like that.

And I wish I wasn't injured, I wish she was leaning on me like this for other reasons beyond concern for my well-being.

My hand has started to squeeze at the bottle of water, coming very close to spilling its contents.