Scents of butter and garlic filled the house, decorating the no-longer-chaotic morning with pleasant warmth.
"Rion, can I borrow a shirt?" Daiki stepped out of the bathroom, combing his hair with his fingers.
"Yeah, yeah," I waved. "Pick whichever."
"Aight, thanks." He turned and headed upstairs.
I returned to the cutting board, chopping green onions with practiced rhythm. Risa stood beside me, whisking eggs, pouring them into the pan.
The scent of toast lingered into my senses.
Chring!
Kana hummed, picking the pair of fresh toast. "Hot—" She plopped them onto a plate, and loaded another pair into the toaster. Butter curled on the knife as Kana scooped. Then she smothered them on the toast with a crisp scratching noise.
...
What is this...?
Are we suddenly a happy family now??
What happened to the soap opera just ten minutes ago?!
I mean—I'm glad it's over—
But aren't these two natural disasters too calm??
I slid a finger across my knife, raining bits of green onion on the board. Setting down the knife, I stepped to the faucet. It hissed and I let the stream rinse my fingers.
I flicked my hands and reached for glasses from the drying rack. A few clinks, and I set them on the counter. I turned, reaching for the fridge.
"Is lemon juice alright?" I asked, glancing at Kana.
Chring!
"Mm." She nodded, picking another fresh pair of toast.
"Mm."?
Nothing else?
I grabbed the container and closed the fridge with a thud. Carefully, I poured the juice into each glass.
Huh...
I guess even extroverts has some quiet moments.
An exhale escaped me, soft and relieved.
"Rion,"
"Hm?" I turned to Risa. She was holding the pan of scrambled eggs away from the flame.
"Can you put the toast here," She gestured to the counter beside her.
"Ah, yeah." I reached for the plate of toast and slid it towards her.
Risa's hands moved like a gentle wave, scooping and setting the eggs on each toast. Soft, golden, creamy, and irrefutably appetizing.
She was just cooking. Just putting scrambled eggs on toast. But the look in her eyes... The gentle movements of her hands... The slight curve forming on her lips... Simply lovely.
She reminded me of Mom when I watched her cook. Back when she wasn't sick...
But Risa... She has a slightly more... distinct attraction.
My shoulders slowly dropped.
Ah... This feels so right.
Too right, even.
The sight of her in an apron, sweater rolled up just below her elbows, hair worn in a loose—slightly messy—ponytail,
...
I'm hooked.
I want to see her like this everyday.
***
Breakfast was served.
We sat at the dining table. All four of us. Like a harmonious little family of four.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Thud.
"Your shift starts at ten today, right?" I mumbled, turning to Risa.
"Mm." She nodded, also with a mouthful.
I chewed. "We can take our time then." My eyes traveled to Daiki.
Swallow.
...
"Is that my graduation suit?"
"Hm?" He blinked. "Yeah," Then he straightened. "Fits like a glove," He attempted a chad face, raising a brow. "Do I look good?"
I twitched.
"My~" Kana leaned to him, fingers on her lips. "Such a distinguished gentleman~"
"I thought you said 'shirt'." I asked.
"Ehe," Daiki shrugged. "I got a big client today. A salesperson's gotta sell!"
Urk—
I shot forward. "Yet you threw a welcome party and passed out drunk?!"
"It's fiiiine~" He waved, dismissing me. "I'm up right now, ain't I?"
"...Uh-huh."
"Ah—?!" Kana jolted, staring at her phone. "Shit! I gotta go!!"
She devoured her toast and chugged down her juice. The glass landed back on the table with a Thud!
She grabbed her purse. Slid her chair in. Then crossed the room.
"Risa! Rion! Daiki-kun!" She turned and waved. "Thanks for last night! I'll see you around!"
Before we even get to answer, Kana was already stepping outside, and the door closed with a loud Clack!
...
"What's up with her?" I leaned to Risa.
"Who knows..." Her eyes lingered at the door, then returned to the table. "She's often like that when she stayed over at my apartment."
"...Huh." I blinked.
"Ain't it probably work?" Daiki raised a brow, chomping his toast.
I raised a brow, glancing at him. "This early?"
...
Our eyes snapped to Risa and she twitched.
"...What...?"
"You're her bestie?" Daiki leaned in.
"Uh..." Risa's eyes traveled to the ceiling. "I don't know that much about her job..." She raised a finger, tilting her head. "But she did say she worked at a tech company."
...
"Huh?" Daiki and I blinked.
"Huh?" Risa blinked.
...
"Huh?" Daiki blinked
"Huh?" Risa blinked back
"Huh?" I blinked
...
"Huuuuh..." Daiki breathed.
"...Huh." I was astounded.
"...Kana-chan?" Daiki leaned back, gazing to the ceiling. "Tech company??"
"Uh... Yeah." Risa nodded.
An amused huff escaped me. "Don't judge a book by it's cover, I guess?"
***
"Risa-chan, Let me help with that." Daiki picked glasses and plates from the table.
"No, no. It's okay—"
"It's fiiine." Daiki shrugged, stepping to the kitchen. "I gotta make up for last night's mess."
"Ah..." Risa paused. "Thank you, Daiki-kun."
Daiki was already by the sink, rinsing the plates under the stream.
Yeah,
Daiki's a nice guy when he's not being an ass.
I wiped the table with a rag.
I'll just let him help out, then.
***
"Aight then, I'll see you around." Daiki waved from outside, bringing last night's mess compacted in a plastic bag with him.
"Yeah," I waved back from the door with Risa, watching him disappear into the streets.
Door closed. Breakfast ate. Dishes washed.
...
Back to the two of us.
I stepped beside the dinner table and my phone dinged on the counter. I reached for it, opened the message,
Daiki:
Don't start cuddling again
It's a weekday
THUD!
I threw my phone on the couch, startling Risa.
"Eh?! Again?!"
"It's fine! It's good!" I blurted, stepping to the couch.
I dropped myself and an exasperated sigh escaped me.
That fucking reprobate!
My brows furrowed.
He doesn't need to tell me that!
Amidst my self-rambling inside my head—
A tug.
I turned. Risa had her fingers curled around my sleeve, gentle, but also somewhat firm—insistent. She had let her hair down, hiding her face behind a curtain of caramel, glowing faintly pink.
Silence. It stretched for a long moment, broken only by the faint ticking from the clock.
...
What is she—
"Rion," She gripped a little harder and peeked from her hair. "...Where... were we?"
My heart skipped and I felt my ears starting to burn.
"U-Uh..." My vision turned fuzzy. "You were... on my chest."
Her lips trembled. She opened her mouth.
Nothing. Yet.
...
"Can we—" she squeaked, peeking through her hair. "Can we... get back to it?"
A hard beat slammed my ribs. My shoulders dropped.
"...Yeah."
...
"Then..." She stepped in, slowly, deliberately. She slid her knee beside my lap, and her hand slipped onto my shoulder. "Excuse me."
I leaned back as her other knee landed. Then she lowered herself onto my lap. The couch fabric whispered, welcoming her.
She wrapped her arms around and leaned into my neck.
Warm...
Hot, even...
A deep breath. Then she squeezed, burying herself deeper.
"Risa... Can I touch?"
...
"Mm." She nodded. "You don't have to ask... You're my husband."
My hands traveled. One to her nape, another wrapping her waist. Gently, I scratched her hair. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable." I whispered.
She slowly pulled back. "Rion," She breathed, leaning her forehead onto mine, curling her fingers around my ears. "You're so gentle..."
A breath formed a smile on my lips.
"Of course," I brushed strands of her hair behind her ear and pressed my palm against her cheek. "You're a delicate flower that I don't want to damage."
A breathy giggle. And a finger grazing my cheek. "Gentle... Sweet... And adorable."
I moved my hand up her waist. "Are you talking about yourself?"
Her grip tightened. "...And a flirt."
"You did it first..." I breathed. "in front of Mom."
"mmm." She squeezed, sending goosebumps across my body. "Stop talking." She put a finger on my lips.
"...Okay."
We stayed. For a long, long moment. Just admiring each other.
Risa.
Her glossy, brown eyes.
Her fragrant, caramel hair.
Her soothing, angelic voice.
Her soft, slender fingers.
Everything about her, screamed perfection;
In my eyes, in my ears, in my mind...
...On my skin.
My thumb traveled across her cheeks, and brushed past her lips.
My heart pounded.
Soft and supple.
I returned my finger to them, feeling them one more time.
My body burned. And my mind raced.
...
I wonder how they feel...
"Risa..." I brushed across her lips. "May I?"
...
"Mm."
A breath.
I cupped her cheek. Her fingers brushed my ears. I pulled her waist in.
Our eyes drifted shut...
And our lips... met. Nuzzling against each other. Sending a foreign, yet pleasant warmth into my face... into my body...
Numbing my mind.
...
So this is how they feel...
...
Then slowly, gently, she pulled away. Bright red cheeks. Soft hazy eyes.
A breath. Two.
She leaned back in and pressed deeper. Warmer. Firmer.
...
I might get addicted to this...
...
There was nothing else on my mind. Nothing else but her.
In this moment, all I saw was her,
All I heard was her,
All I felt was her.
My phone vibrated beside me. And my eyes flutter open.
I took a quick glance at the notification, leaving her lips for just a moment.
New Message
Daiki:
Oi.
You're not responding
Don't tell me you're already on it again
A breath escaped me.
"Rion...?" Her hand pulled me right back to her face.
"It's nothing." I whispered, pulling her in.
My lips returned to hers.
And in that moment,
I had wished for them to never be apart ever again.