Leaning on his shoulder

Two straight weeks of intense training, on top of all the time they had spent playing ball that evening, had long since left them both exhausted.

Soft, soothing music played on repeat, and the car swayed gently like a tender cradle as drowsiness slowly crept over them.

At first, Qingxiao fought to stay alert, occasionally stealing a sideways glance at Shoko beside him, privately marveling at this rare chance to be alone with her.

But the sleepiness was simply too overwhelming. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier, his head drooped little by little, and his awareness gradually blurred. In the end, he succumbed to exhaustion and fell fast asleep.

When Qingxiao beside her failed to respond for a long while, Shoko felt a faint flicker of confusion.

She thought he might be silently weighing his words, or simply couldn't be bothered to reply and was spacing out, so she turned her head to see what was going on.

But the moment she turned and got a clear look at the boy beside her, the words caught in her throat.

Qingxiao was already asleep.

His head drooped slightly, his features completely relaxed, stripped of all his usual slyness, bravado, and sharpness. His profile was soft and clean, all its edges gone, leaving him looking a little more docile.

The steady rocking of the car had lulled him into an especially deep sleep. His breathing was slow and even, and he had completely let down his guard.

Shoko froze briefly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes before a smile spread through them.

So it wasn't that he didn't want to answer. He had simply been so tired that he had fallen asleep.

Watching him sleep so quietly, a rare sight, she felt her heart soften. Qingxiao was usually confident and flamboyant, fond of talking tough and showing off, or sweating away on the Training Ground. It was rare to see him so unguarded, quiet, and docile.

She didn't call out to wake him, afraid of breaking the silence. She merely softened her breathing instinctively and even settled herself a little more securely in her seat, letting him sleep peacefully.

The long journey continued, one gentle song following another. The car grew quieter still, and a heavy drowsiness slowly washed over her as well, gradually making her sleepy.

Their destination for this mission was particularly remote, in another city, and the drive was far longer than they had expected.

The car drove steadily onward at an even speed. Outside the windows, the pale orange-red sunset faded completely into an inky black sky. Scattered streetlights lined the road, their light and shadows sweeping through the car again and again, flickering softly, gently lulling them to sleep.

Two straight weeks of intense training, on top of all the time they had spent playing ball that evening, had long since left them both exhausted.

Qingxiao slept soundly, his head tilted slightly inward.

Beside him, Shoko was even more bored, and sleepiness finally won out. Her head tipped gently to one side, and she naturally leaned against Qingxiao's broad shoulder, completely unguarded.

The difference in their builds was especially striking. Qingxiao was tall and straight, with broad, solid shoulders and a back defined by clean, firm lines. Shoko was slender, her body resting softly against his shoulder.

The car was silent, with only the low, steady hum of the engine remaining. Their breathing was slow and even, and the sight of them sleeping against each other was quiet and tender.

Satō caught sight of them in the rearview mirror and understood at once. He drove even more smoothly, not daring to let the car jolt in the slightest for the rest of the journey, afraid of disturbing the peaceful sleep of the two in the back.

The three-hour drive passed in a flash. The car gradually slowed and came to a steady stop by the roadside near the mission area. The engine fell silent, and their surroundings instantly quieted.

Satō switched off the ignition and sat quietly in the front, hesitating for a long time, completely unsure what to do.

As the accompanying assistant manager, Satō should have woken the two immediately to regroup, but the atmosphere was far too quiet and intimate. He simply didn't dare interrupt, afraid of disturbing them and of making things awkward once they woke.

Calling out to them seemed inappropriate, but not doing so would delay everyone gathering. Torn, Satō held his hand over the door switch for a long time before finally remaining helplessly frozen in the driver's seat, unable to move either way.

Fortunately, Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto had long since grown bored of sitting in the car ahead. They promptly pushed open their doors and hopped out, ambling over to the rear car to hurry the other two out so they could regroup.

Their gazes swept through the window, and the instant they saw the scene inside, they both stopped short.

Inside the dim car, Qingxiao's tall frame rested against the window on one side, while Shoko nestled quietly against his shoulder, her hair brushing his collar. She was completely relaxed and unguarded, their closeness almost absurd.

Satoru Gojo's eyes lit up in a flash, and his mouth fell wide open. He was just about to raise his voice and start teasing them loudly.

At the critical moment, Suguru Geto reacted swiftly, stepping forward and raising a hand to cover his mouth with precision.

"Mmph-" A short sound escaped Satoru Gojo's throat, all his words muffled before they could emerge.

"Shh-" Suguru Geto lowered his voice and signaled with his eyes for him to stay still, afraid of waking the two sleeping inside. Then he carefully eased open the front door, moving so gently that he barely made a sound.

The evening breeze drifted into the car, dispersing the warmth inside. Suguru Geto bent slightly, reached through the gap between the front seats, and gently touched Qingxiao's arm, whispering, "Qingxiao, wake up. We're here."

The very first second Qingxiao regained awareness, regret flooded his heart.

Qingxiao was so annoyed with himself that he wanted to smack his own head. What a rare chance to be alone together. An enclosed car, a gentle evening breeze, soothing music-what a perfect opportunity!

And what did I do? Slept like a log and wasted the whole thing.

Just as he was silently berating himself for being so hopeless, he suddenly felt a soft, heavy warmth against his shoulder.

At first, he thought it was merely an illusion caused by his shoulder aching after sitting for so long. Instinctively, he turned his head slightly, wanting to stretch his neck.

But the instant he turned and his gaze fell on her, all his regret and irritation vanished, and he froze completely.