Chapter 21

“Closer.”

“Yes yes.”

“…This is good. It really calms me down.”

She pressed against him quite firmly, wrapping her arms around him as if pulling him even closer.

Then, Reika rubbed her cheek against Satoru’s collarbone area.

“I’m sorry, it hasn’t even been a minute and I’m already getting hot. I don’t think I can make it through the night like this.”

“You’re already burning from embarrassment? You must really love me.”

“No, it’s just plain hot.”

“Are you trying to turn me into a monster?”

“I’m sorry. Please sleep peacefully, my beloved princess.”

“‘Beloved princess’ is unnecessary. It’s a turn-off when you go that far.”

“You’re a tough one…”

“When are you going to learn to do something thoughtful like giving me a light kiss or gently stroking my hair without being prompted?”

“Is everyone else really that smooth? I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that stuff…”

They had been dating for quite a while now, but that kind of instinct had never once come to him spontaneously.

“Well, I guess that’s just so very you that it actually puts me at ease…”

She had slept a fair amount, but not long after that exchange, she fell asleep again almost instantly.

He stayed in that position for a while, watching her sleeping face, but eventually found it hard to maintain.

“Sorry, gonna shift positions a bit.”

He wasn’t really saying it to her since she was asleep, but he made a point to say it aloud before moving.

“Mmm…”

Reika cracked her eyelids open just a little.

“…You can’t go anywhere.”

“I’m not going anywhere, don’t worry.”

Satoru said that and gave her a gentle kiss.

“Not bad, but when I’m half-asleep like this, it’s a bit…”

“Sorry. I’ll just stay quiet and still next to you.”

When Satoru said that, she gave a small, peaceful smile and drifted off again.

※※※※

The next day, when he opened his eyes, the clock already read 7:30.

“!?”

For a split second, his mind snapped awake under the assumption of *”I screwed up!”* — but then, seeing the unfamiliar ceiling and the still-sleeping girl beside him, he re-evaluated the situation.

“If I’m waking up at this time, I’m definitely late. And if I’m still here, and we were supposed to go to school, her aunt would’ve come to wake us by now…”

“…Just earlier, my mom said she’d inform the school we’re taking the day off, and she’d also explain things to my aunt.”

“Oh, you were awake?”

“Hehe, good morning.”

“Good morning… What time did that happen?”

“Around just before seven.”

“I didn’t notice at all…”

“You were dead asleep. It couldn’t be helped. Although, my mom did laugh at you a little.”

“Ugh, that’s embarrassing.”

As they casually chatted while Reika was already wide awake, Satoru checked his phone.

He found messages from his mom saying she’d contacted the school, and also one from his little sister.

He didn’t check it, but given how long the message was, he was sure it was something annoying.

“Is that from auntie?”

“Yeah. She said she’s informed and told me to stay by your side properly.”

“That’s really kind of her… I need to go thank her again.”

“Well, the whole family’s happy when you come over, so feel free — just don’t push yourself.”

Both of Satoru’s parents liked Reika — not just his little sister.

Well, she’s smart, refined, and beautiful — it’s only natural.

As he was thinking that while looking at her, Reika slowly sat up.

“Alright, shall we get up now? Seems like breakfast has been made and left for us.”

“That’s a blessing… I wish I could’ve at least said thank you.”

Apparently, Reika’s mother had already left for work, so now it was just the two of them in the house.

When they went down to the living room, a café-style breakfast set was laid out on the table.

“Whoa…”

“Looks like she really put some effort into it.”

They sat down right away and began eating the breakfast that had been prepared.

“This is amazing. I don’t even remember the last time I had such a proper breakfast.”

As he murmured that in awe, Reika sipped her coffee with a smile.

“Hmm? What’s funny?”

“Nothing — I just thought, this really feels like the morning of a couple living together. It’s so nice.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Or… do you not like that?”

“It’s not that I don’t, but isn’t this a bit soon?”

“Not really. Once college starts, this is pretty much how things will be, right?”

“Hold on. There’s a lot to unpack there.”

“What’s the problem?”

“First of all, to live together like that, we’d need to go to the same university or ones close to each other.”

“That’s not an issue. I can match yours, or just push you to match mine.”

“So if I study hard and can get in anywhere, it’s all good?”

“Exactly. Even if the dorms are far from here, as long as we’re near each other, that’s all that matters.”

With her grades, Reika could probably get into any university she wanted.

And if Reika pushed him, Satoru wouldn’t have much choice but to step up.

“…Alright then, can you cook fancy breakfasts like this every day?”

“…Even if it’s something simple, what matters is starting the morning together like this.”

“If we’re together all the time, well… There’d be way more times where I, uh, won’t be able to hold back.”

“Perfect. I’ll take it all, no problem. The more time we spend making love, the better. In fact, haven’t I always told you to stop hesitating and just ask for more?”

“You seem fully ready for this…”

He voiced the concerns that had popped into his head — and Reika shot them all down without hesitation.

“Hehe…”

“W-What?”

“You only ever ask cute questions.”

“T-They’re important ones!”

“Aside from the first one, honestly, they were pretty stupid.”

“Ruthless… I mean, I didn’t have any good counterarguments. I’m already staying over all the time, so it probably won’t change much.”

“The fact that you think that way proves that nothing is standing in the way of us living together.”

It was a time when they should’ve already been at school.

Yet here they were, calmly eating breakfast, sharing meaningless but peaceful conversation.

The two of them savored the quiet joy of sharing this stolen moment together — with the person they loved.