Night and Morning

(Kei)

My head felt a bit dizzy—maybe I hadn't slept well last night.

But the dream was somewhat hard to leave behind. Do things you yearn for but can't have really appear in dreams?

Yet every dream revolved around just one thing...

I shifted my body, sensed the source of warmth, and leaned closer toward it.

This body pillow was surprisingly comfortable, huh.

The pillow I was resting on seemed firmer than usual, unexpectedly carrying a bit of fleshiness.

I was just thinking of dozing off a little longer when something suddenly struck me.

How was I sleeping in a bed?

Huh... of course you sleep in a bed, but I felt like something was off.

Like I'd overlooked something crucial.

Wait a minute!!

How did I get back to my room yesterday!?

I couldn't find that memory at all.

So what I was leaning against wasn't actually my body pillow, but...

No!

I wasn't, I wasn't panicking, okay—it just caught me off guard.

Was I leaning on his shoulder?

Holding my breath, I quietly opened my eyes.

He was slightly turned toward me, one hand resting at his waist, while the other was pillowed under my head.

Lifting my gaze a little, his sleeping face came into view.

This was the first time I'd seen him without his glasses.

Without the pretense of maturity that the glasses lent him.

Right now, he really looked like the male lead from a romance novel.

What the heck...

There must be plenty of girls who admire him.

Thinking about that suddenly made me a bit irritated.

But no girl had probably witnessed him like this before me, right.

Hmph.

Thinking that, I couldn't help but feel a little pleased.

He usually wore glasses and dealt with all kinds of people—

Didn't that get tiring?

He'd always given me this unfathomable feeling.

But without his glasses, he felt more real to me.

No longer like that distant, unreachable starry sky, where the only way I could touch it was by gazing at its brilliant, fleeting light.

Instead, it was the delicate, tangible sensation at my fingertips.

I pulled my hand back into my chest, savoring the feeling of touch.

I tried to calm my emotions, but I'd lost all drowsiness.

What the hell! Thinking about stuff like this—aren't you embarrassed?

But this feeling, the more I tried to suppress it, the harder it was to hold back.

The warmth in my arms was like a catalyst, fueling bad thoughts to grow wildly.

"There might not be a next time!"

"This isn't right!"

Two Karuizawas stood on either side, arguing with each other.

The one with a black halo struck first.

"You and Seisuke aren't even in the same class, and you don't have any other chances to get close normally."

"Like Ichinose, naturally staying by his side as a classmate? Or like Kushida, approaching with that persona of hers?"

"You're already at this point—why not just follow your true feelings?"

The Karuizawa in white shot back:

"Slow and steady wins the race—surely you understand such a simple truth."

"If you want something, you have to work to create it. No matter what, you'd never be willing to let this be the last time. I can feel that sentiment."

"This time it's just because of this opportunity, but what about later..."

"You know damn well this is an opportunity. The chance is right in front of you, and instead of grabbing it tight, you're hesitating like this..."

"You bastard only knows how to instigate. What if Seisuke wakes up and catches us?"

"You know he's going to wake up, don't you? Dawdling like this..."

"If the chance slips through your fingers, you'll only regret it later."

"Bastard... come at me, one-on-one!"

Hey, angels aren't supposed to just throw punches, are they?

Karuizawa, halo gleaming, grabbed the little devil and dragged her away.

Meanwhile, the little-devil-form Karuizawa winked playfully, then quieted down.

Quietly shifting...

I felt my face grow hot.

Along my neck, his profile was right next to me.

A slightly cool touch came from between my lips.

I didn't dare open my eyes. It only lasted an instant, then quickly pulled away.

I pressed my hand to my chest, my heart pounding uncontrollably.

Night, could you stretch a little longer?

I'm really being greedy.

In this half-asleep, half-awake state, I vaguely felt the sky gradually brighten.

The darkness left, alone.

The arm I was pillowing on suddenly twitched, but then settled back down.

My originally hazy state was abruptly jolted awake.

I'm such an idiot, sleeping like this on his shoulder all night.

Clearly he felt uncomfortable and instinctively wanted to move his arm.

But he held back.

Though I hadn't opened my eyes, I could clearly sense him leaning closer.

I couldn't help but tense up.

But he just brushed aside a strand of fallen hair.

What is he going to do...

For a moment, I was at a loss.

An indescribable emotion surged up.

Why do I feel...

Like I've become a little strange.

Kei...

Wasn't she sleeping on that side last night? But when I woke up, this was the position.

My arm felt a bit numb. I glanced at the sleeping Kei and didn't move.

I brushed aside my unruly bangs and studied her sleeping face.

My first reaction was actually thinking Kei was a little silly.

Sorry, using that word to describe her is really too much.

But she's just so cute, and also seems so gentle.

That's just part of who Kei is, isn't it?

She seemed to be showing signs of waking, lazily rubbing her eyes.

Seizing that moment, I pulled my arm away.

"Morning."

I greeted her.

She waved a hand at me, then curled back up with the blanket clutched to herself.

What a sleepyhead.

"It smells so good—are you cooking something?"

Catching the scent of breakfast, Kei sat up in bed.

Unlike her usual ponytail, her hair was loose and scattered.

For a moment, it reminded me of the first time I saw her.

Back then, after her bath, her hair had been loose like this too.

I like this lazy, relaxed vibe—saying that feels too sly, though.

Barefoot, she padded over to the table, picked up the small bowl, and sniffed it.

But I tapped her on the forehead with my chopsticks.

"Hey, that hurt!"

She clutched her head and complained to me.

"You haven't washed up yet."

"I know, I was just checking what you made for breakfast."

"And it actually looks decent..."

She'd eaten my cooking before—why act so expectant?

"Put on shoes, dummy. Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"

"So naggy..."

Despite her reply, she ran back to the window and slipped on her slippers.

A little while later, the bathroom door slid open, and a small head poked out.

"I couldn't find a new towel..."

"I live alone, so I don't have spare towels or anything."

"Then I can't wash my face."

Kei scrunched up her cute little face.

I mimed scooping water with my hands, but she just rolled her eyes at me.

"That looks awful. No way."

(Kei)

Breakfast turned out to be noodles. Remembering the aroma that had filled the room, I couldn't help swallowing.

After rummaging around, I found an unused toothbrush.

But there was only one cup...

I picked it up hesitantly.

What is this, an indirect kiss?

Why am I imagining that scene? Idiot!

Besides, besides—it's already been washed once, so it doesn't count, right?

I finished washing up and hung the towel on the rack.

Lifting my head, I looked at myself in the mirror.

What's wrong with me? Why am I blushing like this?

Why does staring at my own reflection in the mirror feel so embarrassing?

Flustered, I pushed the door open and sat down at the table.

Only to find him eating breakfast straight out of the pot he'd cooked the noodles in.

Hey, that's not allowed—such a contrast.

"What's wrong?"

He looked up at me.

"Pfft..."

Eating politely from a small bowl, chewing slowly—that was the Seisuke I remembered.

"Why are you eating straight from the pot?"

"Because I only have one bowl..."

"Huh?"

I looked down at the small bowl I was holding in my hands.

"Besides, washing dishes is such a hassle, you know."

"..."

"Kei, you'll help me out, right?"

"Seisuke's cooking really is amazing, it's delicious."

"Hey, where'd you learn to change the subject in such an annoying way?"

Where else could she have learned it?

Hmph~