Chapter 220: Anonymous Package

After days of cold rain, the sky finally cleared.

Winter in Hokkaido was long; even without snow, the lingering chill at winter’s end refused to disperse, and the temperature inside showed no sign of rising.

Sunlight pierced through the translucent white gauze curtains, casting pale golden patches on the floor.

In the quiet short-term apartment, only the low hum of the old heater remained.

Saita Aina woke in a state of exhausted calm.

Her body, drained of strength after the fever broke, ached in every muscle, but her mind was clearer than ever.

She slightly turned her head.

Kaoru Hoshitani sat on the floor by the bed, most of his body slumped over the edge, his head resting on his crossed arms, deeply asleep.

His originally fair and refined face was almost transparently pale.

His long, slender eyelashes lay neatly against his eyelids, and dark circles ringed his eyes.

Even in sleep, his brows were tightly furrowed, his breathing short and uneasy, as if still trapped in last night’s helpless panic.

Saita Aina watched him quietly, a dense ache rising in her heart.

She slowly reached out, wanting to smooth the crease between his brows.

Just as her fingertip was about to touch him—

“Ding-dong.”

A short, sharp doorbell ring cut through the morning quiet without warning.

Kaoru Hoshitani jolted awake as if shocked, his body shrinking back violently.

He opened his bloodshot eyes, his first reaction to look in terror toward the anti-theft door, then to turn frantically toward Saita Aina on the bed.

“Aina Onee-san, you’re awake…”

He rubbed his face hastily, his voice still trembling, trying to hide his lingering shock. “I’ll go see who it is.”

“Put on a coat, don’t catch cold,” Saita Aina said softly, propping herself up on the bed and pulling on a thick knit sweater.

The anti-theft door was carefully opened a crack.

Outside stood a uniformed same-city courier.

The person didn’t ask questions, just glanced at the unit number and handed over a square paper box, then hurriedly turned and left.

Kaoru Hoshitani stood in the foyer holding the paper box.

His movement froze midair, a flicker of complicated struggle and guilt passing through his eyes, as if he vaguely guessed what was inside.

“Who sent it?” Saita Aina walked to a spot a few steps behind him and asked quietly.

Kaoru Hoshitani’s shoulders trembled slightly.

He turned around holding the box, avoiding Saita Aina’s gaze, and walked to the low dining table in the living room to set it down.

“I—I don’t know… There’s no name on it.”

Saita Aina didn’t press. She walked over, took the scissors from the table, and ripped through the packing tape with a sharp tear.

The lid of the paper box opened, revealing several items neatly arranged inside.

A box of fever medicine, a brand-new electronic thermometer, two bags of rehydration salts, several boxes of easy-to-digest instant light porridge, and even a box of warming patches and several packs of disposable medical masks.

All things they desperately needed right now.

These emergency supplies, which should have felt warm and comforting, seemed instead soaked in ice water, radiating a chilling cold.

Saita Aina’s hand hovered in midair, her fingertips uncontrollably cool.

Saita Aina slowly raised her head, her clear eyes looking at Kaoru Hoshitani.

Sunlight fell quietly between them. The floating dust in the light didn’t block their line of sight, but the air seemed to freeze in that moment.

“Miss Chika sent these, didn’t she?”

She asked very calmly, without the sharpness of an accusation, without losing control and shouting, yet carrying a weight that left no room for escape.

Kaoru Hoshitani’s Adam’s apple bobbed with difficulty.

He bit his lower lip, a thin layer of moisture rising in his eyes, like a small animal that had done something wrong and didn’t know how to explain.

Saita Aina took a step forward and grabbed his wrist.

The boy’s hand was very cold.

At the moment of contact, it flinched uneasily.

He shook his head desperately, his eyes instantly rimming red.

“I didn’t! I swear, last night I only asked her what medicine to buy… I didn’t even mention what district we’re in!”

“Then these things—did they just appear out of thin air?” Saita Aina didn’t let go.

Her gaze passed over his shoulder, landing on that box of overly thoughtful, even chilling supplies.

Kaoru Hoshitani looked over frantically following her gaze, opened his mouth, and seemed unable to come up with any reasonable explanation.

After a long silence, his moist lips parted slightly, his tone carrying a trace of instinctive defense he himself didn’t notice:

“Maybe… she was just worried about you…”

Saita Aina slowly released her hand, her fingers curling tighter and tighter at her side.

“Worried about me… so she can look up our address without our consent?”

“That’s not it…” Kaoru Hoshitani completely panicked.

He dropped to his knees on the carpet with a thud, wrapping his arms desperately around Saita Aina’s waist, looking up at her with his pale white neck, his voice full of self-reproach.

“I was the one who asked her… Last night your fever was so bad, I was really useless. I didn’t know what medicine to buy, and I was afraid going out would expose our whereabouts… I’m sorry, Aina Onee-san. I just didn’t want anything to happen to you.”

Saita Aina looked down at the boy’s guilt-ridden face, on the verge of tears.

She reached out, her fingertip gently brushing the reddened corner of his eye, wiping away the tear that was about to fall.

“Are you crying for me, or are you afraid I’ll get angry at her?” she asked softly.

Kaoru Hoshitani’s body went rigid. He stared blankly at Saita Aina, tears frozen on his lashes.

It took a long while before he squeezed out a hoarse voice. “I… I was just afraid you’d be in danger.”

“So, as long as she protects me, you can accept anything she does. Is that right?” Saita Aina crouched down, meeting his eyes at level.

Kaoru Hoshitani didn’t answer.

He just buried his head in her embrace, like a drowning person clinging desperately to the last piece of driftwood, letting out a stifled whimper.

Saita Aina felt the thin body trembling in her arms and didn’t ask further.

She sighed softly, placing her hand on the boy’s head and rubbing gently.

The fluffy, soft hair brushed faintly against her palm.

“I don’t blame you. Kazune, go heat up that porridge. I’m a little hungry.”

Hearing that Saita Aina wasn’t angry, Kaoru Hoshitani jerked his head up, a flicker of relief and joy passing through his eyes.

“Okay! I’ll go right now!”

He released his grip as if granted amnesty, hastily wiped the tear stains from his face, and ran toward the kitchen carrying the boxes of porridge.

The “hum” of the microwave started up quickly, and the aroma of food gradually drifted out.

Saita Aina stood alone in the living room, looking at the box of supplies.

Sunlight fell quietly on the paper box, but all she felt was a chill in her hands and feet.