The faint sound of an alarm pulled Mirei from her peaceful sleep. Blinking her eyes open, she reached over to snooze it, hoping to keep the morning as quiet as possible to let Kaede sleep a little longer. She shifted slowly, her eyes falling on Kaede, who lay beside her, still peacefully asleep. A soft smile formed on Mirei's lips as she took in her girlfriend's relaxed, sleeping expression—her hair a bit tousled, her breathing even and calm. She couldn't help but lean forward, placing a feather-light kiss on Kaede's forehead.
"Thank you, Kaede… for last night," she whispered softly, almost to herself, as her heart swelled with gratitude and happiness.
For a few more moments, Mirei simply lay there, holding Kaede in her arms and feeling the gentle rhythm of their heartbeats in sync. She wanted to stay here forever, but with practice on the schedule for today, she knew their calm moment together wouldn't last much longer.
Finally, with a reluctant sigh, Mirei began to carefully extricate herself, trying not to disturb Kaede. She slipped out of bed, pulled on her clothes, and cast one last glance back at her sleeping girlfriend. Kaede's peaceful form brought a soft chuckle to her lips, making it all the harder to leave. Moving quietly, Mirei headed downstairs to the kitchen and began working on a simple breakfast—eggs and sausage, something to start their busy day off on the right foot.
The aroma of breakfast filled the small kitchen, and soon enough, back upstairs. She entered the bedroom and knelt by the side of the bed.
"Kaede…" she murmured softly, gently brushing a few strands of hair from Kaede's face. "It's time to wake up, sleepyhead."
Kaede stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering open before focusing on Mirei's face just inches away. It took a moment for her to register, her cheeks flushing instantly at Mirei's gentle smile and soft gaze.
"Oh… good morning," Kaede mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep.
Mirei leaned in a little closer, her playful grin widening. "Good morning to you, too," she replied, laughing softly. Mirei watched Kaede's face shift as she realized she was still naked, quickly pulling the covers up to her chin in embarrassment, realizing Mirei was already dressed.
Mirei's eyes sparkled with amusement as she teasingly tilted her head. "You look so cute like that… mind if I get another look?"
Kaede's cheeks flared a bright red, quickly shaking her head. "No way!" Mirei replied with a pout "why? We both already saw each other last night."
Kaede trying to made an excuse "I… I-I mean, last night was… w-well, we both were… you know, so it's not the same!" she stammered, trying to find her words but ultimately making herself more flustered.
Mirei laughed, unable to hide her amusement. "Hmm, so it's okay as long as I'm naked too, right?" She mischievously started lifting her shirt, eyes dancing with a playful glint as she teased Kaede.
Kaede let out a tiny squeal, grabbing Mirei's hands. "Mirei! No! You're… you're impossible!" She flustered and at the mercy of her girlfriend's teasing.
Chuckling, Mirei relented, gently placing her hands over Kaede's to soothe her. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist. You're just… so adorable." She leaned in to place a soft, apologetic kiss on Kaede's forehead. "Come on, though. I made breakfast. I promise, no more teasing."
Kaede let out a sigh of relief, finally sitting up, wrapping herself in the sheets to avoid further embarrassment. "Thank you," she replied, her voice still carrying a hint of bashfulness. After quickly grabbing her clothes, she dressed as Mirei left the room to give her a moment.
When Kaede came downstairs, she found Mirei waiting for her at the table with two plates of eggs and sausages. Mirei grinned as Kaede sat down, immediately noticing her still slightly flushed cheeks.
"Thank you for making breakfast," Kaede said softly, trying to hide her flustered expression as she picked up her fork.
Mirei smiled warmly, watching her with a tender gaze. "Anything for you," she replied, giving Kaede's hand a gentle squeeze across the table before they began eating. The warmth between them made even the simple breakfast feel special, as though they were the only two people in the world.
They ate in comfortable silence, exchanging occasional glances and quiet smiles. When they'd finished, Kaede helped Mirei clear the dishes before gathering her things to head home and prepare for the day. Mirei walked her to the door, giving her a quick kiss goodbye before they parted to get ready.
After a short while, Kaede returned, her face now looking more refreshed, though her eyes sparkled with the happiness lingering from the morning. They both grabbed their bags and headed out, walking side by side to practice.
As they strolled down the familiar streets, Kaede stole a glance at Mirei, unable to suppress the little smile that crept onto her face. Mirei caught her staring and raised an eyebrow with a playful smirk.
"Something on your mind?" she asked, giving Kaede's hand a gentle squeeze.
Kaede hesitated, then laughed softly, looking down. "Just… I never thought I'd get to have a morning like this. With you."
Mirei's face softened, her own smile growing gentle as she pulled Kaede a little closer, squeezing her hand in reassurance. "Neither did I, Kaede. I'm glad, too."
They shared a quiet, contented silence as they walked, each step bringing them closer to the place where their chaotic world would take over once more. But for now, in this stolen moment, it was just the two of them, savoring the warmth of each other's presence, ready to face whatever the day would bring.