The morning light filtered through the gap in the curtains and struck the floor of the Sapporo apartment in diagonal bands, warm and soft. The air still carried the lingering scent of shower gel mixed with a faint, ambiguous fragrance.
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
The phone on the coffee table vibrated relentlessly again, the buzzing far too sharp in the quiet morning. Taisai Tensei frowned with his eyes still closed, then slowly opened them.
Kitagawa Marin's long, smooth leg—still wrapped around his waist—tightened unconsciously, the instinctive possessiveness of someone sunk deep in sleep.
He carefully moved the warm, slick limb aside. Kitagawa lay on her side, golden hair spilling across the pillow. Her cheeks were flushed with the blush of sleep, her lips slightly pursed, her breathing deep and unhurried—clearly lost in a sweet dream.
Taisai leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her warm cheek. It was soft beneath his lips.
Barefoot, he crossed the cool floor and walked into the kitchen. Several thin fingernail scratches trailed across his back down to his waist—silent marks of the chaos from yesterday afternoon, from the moment that violet scent invaded the bathroom, through the sweat, the gasps, the entanglement, the water breaks, the brief rests… until they finally stopped in the early morning.
He opened the refrigerator; cold air spilled out. He grabbed a bottle of mineral water, twisted off the cap, and tilted his head back, drinking more than half in one go.
The coldness slid down his throat, bringing clarity.
He set the bottle down and glanced toward the coffee table. The black phone, which had only just fallen silent, lit up again with stubborn insistence.
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
Taisai walked over and picked it up. The name "Big Miss" flashed repeatedly on the screen. He raised an eyebrow and answered. Before he could speak, a girl's urgent voice burst through:
"Ten-kun? Ten-kun! You finally answered!"
"What's wrong, Big Miss?" Taisai chuckled.
A breath of relief sounded on the other end, followed by a shift into polite elegance. "I apologize for disturbing you. Things have been chaotic outside—I simply hoped you'd take care of yourself."
"Mm. I know." Taisai leaned against the sofa arm.
"And where is Ten-kun right now?" Her voice was deliberately casual.
"Sapporo."
"Sapporo?"
"Hokkaido." Taisai pulled the phone away to check the screen. Hundreds of missed calls filled the log—"Big Miss," "NPC A," "Doujin Sister" alternating like a parade.
He put the phone back to his ear, tone teasing. "Big Miss Kaguya, you called nearly a hundred times yesterday. It wasn't just to ask that, was it?"
Silence.
A few seconds later, a soft cough. "O-Of course not! It's just—college started a while ago…and I haven't been able to see you…"
A rustling sound came from the kitchen doorway. Kitagawa padded out, rubbing her eyes, the hem of her oversized T-shirt barely brushing her thighs. Half-asleep, she leaned her entire body against Taisai, resting her chin on his shoulder like a lazy cat.
"College started, huh…" Taisai wrapped an arm around her waist, feeling her warm breath on his collarbone. "Alright. I'll return next week."
"Mm. I look forward to seeing Ten-kun again."
"Okay, see you then." He replied just as Kitagawa started rubbing her nose against his earlobe. "Marin's awake."
A sharp clatter sounded on the other end. "Wait! That blonde girl—" Beep. The call cut off.
In the ancient Kyoto mansion, the red-eyed girl stared murderously at her silent phone.
Meanwhile, Kitagawa hung limply across Taisai's back, voice thick with sleep. "Who was that~ So early—"
Taisai reached behind him, grabbed her knees, and effortlessly swung her around to face him. She giggled, her smooth legs dangling, the morning light catching her lashes.
"Kaguya Shinomiya," he said casually.
The giggles stopped. Kitagawa's eyes widened; she grabbed his neck tightly. "That Big Miss?! She still hasn't given up?!"
Taisai ruffled her messy hair and set her on the sofa. "Are you jealous?"
"No way!" Kitagawa puffed her cheeks like a bristling cat.
She stood on the sofa barefoot and pointed grandly toward the kitchen. "I want gyoza! Right now!"
Taisai turned and walked to the kitchen. As the refrigerator door opened and closed, Kitagawa knelt on the sofa, glaring at the phone on the coffee table as it lit up again. "Damn it!" She wrinkled her small nose, tapping her cheek in frustration.
From the kitchen came the steady thud of kneading dough. Kitagawa peeked over curiously—Taisai stood with his back to her, shoulder blades flexing with each movement. The scratches she'd left on him glowed faintly under the morning light. Her ears turned red. She grabbed a cushion and buried her face in it.
"Should I add shrimp?" Taisai asked without turning.
"Double portion!" she mumbled from behind the cushion.
As the pan crackled, Kitagawa wandered into the kitchen and hugged him from behind. Pressing her cheek to his back, she felt the rumble of his low laugh. "Not angry anymore?"
"I wasn't angry." She nuzzled his back, then suddenly bit his shoulder blade. "...Just kidding."
Taisai turned off the heat and spun around, flour dusting his fingertips. He pinched her chin. "Are you a puppy?"
"Woof!" Kitagawa bared her teeth—then immediately lost focus when she spotted the gyoza. "Wow!" She reached out, but Taisai swatted her hand away. "Hot."
At the dining table, Kitagawa chewed with puffed cheeks, then mumbled, "Are you really going back to college next week?"
"Yeah. This round of concerts is over. Time to sign off my leave."
"That Big Miss will be there, right?"
"Definitely." Taisai slid soy milk toward her.
Kitagawa gulped half of it at once, foam catching on her lips. "I'm going with you!" She kicked her legs. "I'm gonna let the whole college know—" She suddenly leaped onto him. "You are mine!"
Taisai laughed and caught her easily. "Didn't everyone already know? You confessed in front of the whole college."
Far from embarrassed, Kitagawa lifted her chin proudly. "Hmph! Whose fault is it that other girls only dared to stare? See? Now you're mine!" She settled into his lap, swinging her legs.
"Yes, yes. You're right. I'm yours." Taisai pinched her puffed cheek.
Kitagawa began counting on her fingers. "Big Miss… the haughty blonde girl… the background character girl… the one who delivered books…"
Her brows tightened the more she counted. "Argh!" She ruffled her own hair. "So many rivals!"
But in the next breath, she shot up with a tiny fist raised. "Bring it on! Kitagawa Marin will defeat them all!"
Taisai steadied her wobble and shoved the last half of the bun into her mouth. "First, defeat your breakfast."
Kitagawa glared with chipmunk cheeks—then the savory flavor hit, and her eyes fluttered blissfully. "Mmm… so good~"
Taisai watched the Little Sun in his arms—declaring war one second and melting at food the next—and his lips curved unconsciously. That's right. The morning light, the warm girl in his arms, the faint scent of violet shower gel—
Jujutsu Kaisen? Get lost. Gojo Satoru? Stay far away.
I just want to be an emperor drowning in beauty.
He tightened his hold around her waist and kissed the top of her head. Kitagawa, still savoring her food, gave a muffled "Hmm?" and rubbed her head against his chest like a cat.
White steam curled from the steamer, wrapping the morning kitchen in soft, hazy warmth.