The Only One

The morning of the planned trap, the atmosphere was tense. Everyone was gathered in the living room, preparing for the plan to unfold. The tension hung thick in the air, but amid all the hustle and bustle, Riku was in a much different state.

He was curled up on the couch, shivering under the thick blanket, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His fever had spiked again, and his body was flushed with heat. Iori stood beside him, his hand resting on Riku's forehead, checking his temperature again.

"Iori..." Riku mumbled, his voice weak and hoarse. His eyes were cloudy with fever. "I don't feel good..."

Iori gently brushed the strands of Riku's hair away from his face. "I know, Nanase-san. I'll make sure you're comfortable." He looked at Kou, who had been sitting next to Riku, rubbing his back gently. "Kou-san, can you fetch some water? We need to get his fever down."

Kou nodded immediately, rushing to the kitchen. Riku winced as another wave of nausea hit him, his body trembling uncontrollably. He could barely stay awake as Iori adjusted the blanket around him, making sure he was warm enough but not too hot.

The door creaked open softly, and Tenn stepped in, his expression softening when he saw Riku. "How's he doing?"

Iori sighed, his concern clear in his eyes. "His fever's too high... again. It's been going on for a few hours now, and I can't get it to break. I'm worried it's affecting his breathing as well."

Tenn walked over and crouched down next to the couch, placing a hand gently on Riku's shoulder. "Riku, you need to rest. We're going to make sure you're okay."

Riku barely responded, his eyes half-lidded. "I... I don't want you to go today..." His voice was barely above a whisper, his gaze blurry from the fever.

Iori squeezed Riku's hand softly. "Kujou-san will be fine, Nanase-san. He's going to do the trap, and we'll keep you safe here. You just need to rest."

Riku nodded weakly, but a flash of guilt crossed his face. "I... I'm sorry..."

Tenn sighed and gave Riku a reassuring smile. "Don't apologize. Just focus on getting better. We'll take care of the rest."

Kou returned with a glass of cool water and a damp cloth, gently pressing the cloth against Riku's forehead. "We'll keep him safe, Riku-kun. You can trust us."

Riku closed his eyes, drifting in and out of consciousness, too weak to argue. He had to believe that everything would be okay. He had to trust that the others would handle things in his place.

Meanwhile, the others were already preparing for the trap. Nori and Tsumugi had been setting up hidden cameras and surveillance, ensuring that the moment someone tried to make a move, they'd be able to act.

Tenn stood in the doorway, looking back one last time at Riku. He hesitated for a moment before closing the door softly, making his way toward the rest of the group. His heart was heavy, knowing the risk he was about to take, but his duty to protect Riku came first.

As Tenn left, Iori stayed by Riku's side, his eyes never leaving him as he settled into a chair beside the couch. Kou, too, stayed close, ensuring Riku was comfortable. The room was quiet, save for the occasional sound of Riku's breathing and the soft murmur of voices in the distance.

With each passing minute, the tension in the air grew thicker. The plan was in motion, but Riku's health was the one thing they couldn't control.

The minutes stretched on, and with each passing second, Iori's worry for Riku deepened. His fever hadn't dropped at all, and despite their best efforts with cool compresses and medication, Riku's temperature seemed stubbornly resistant. He lay still, sweat beading on his forehead, his body too weak to fight off the fever.