Sunday – Morning
A soft breeze rustled the curtains as sunlight spilled into the Kael household. The usual bustle of their stepmother's high heels and their father's early morning radio had vanished. The house, today, belonged only to two people.
Aeron stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, chopping vegetables with mechanical precision. The aroma of miso soup and fried tofu filled the air.
His muscles tensed a little when he heard footsteps behind him.
"Aren't you up early?" he said without turning.
"I couldn't sleep in," Ayaka replied, her voice groggy.
She leaned in the doorway, her long hair still messy from bed, oversized hoodie falling off one shoulder, revealing pale skin. Her bare legs peeked out beneath the hem. She looked nothing like the proud, elegant senior the school knew.
She looked… real.
"You hungry?" he asked.
"Only if it's yours."
He didn't say anything, but she caught the smallest upward twitch at the corner of his mouth.
---
Noon – Dining Table
They sat across from each other, chopsticks clicking softly as they ate. Ayaka couldn't stop staring at his hands — so confident and skilled. It was easy to forget how young he actually was when he carried himself like this.
"You're a really good cook," she said softly.
"I've had years of practice," he replied.
"…Because of her?"
He nodded once. "I started after she died. I wanted to hold onto something."
Ayaka reached forward on instinct, placing her hand on his. He didn't flinch.
Their eyes met.
> For once, the silence between them wasn't cold.
It was full of everything they didn't know how to say.
---
Afternoon – Living Room
Ayaka lay stretched across one side of the couch, Aeron on the other with a book in hand. The TV played a documentary in the background, but neither paid attention.
"Do you… ever relax?" she asked.
"This is me relaxing."
She rolled her eyes but smiled softly. "Liar."
At some point, her breathing slowed. Her eyes fluttered closed. The warmth of the room and the comfort of his presence were too much.
Aeron glanced at her. She was asleep.
Then she moved.
She shifted, rolled slightly — and fell.
Right into his side.
---
The Moment
Her body slumped against him.
He caught her instinctively.
But in her half-asleep state, she leaned up, still dazed, her face brushing against his.
And then it happened.
A soft kiss.
It wasn't deep. It wasn't planned. It wasn't intentional.
Just a warm brush of lips — enough to make time freeze.
She pulled back slightly, eyes half-lidded, still not fully awake.
His hand hovered behind her back, uncertain if he should let go or hold her steady.
"Aeron…" she murmured.
He didn't reply.
Because he didn't trust his voice.
Because something had changed.
And they both felt it.
---
Later – Rooftop Balcony, Sunset
Ayaka stood quietly by the railing, now fully awake, flushed cheeks betraying her calm posture.
"You didn't say anything," she said.
"I figured you didn't mean it."
"…But what if I did?"
He looked at her then, eyes unreadable.
"I don't know what you mean yet," he said honestly.
She didn't push. She didn't explain.
Instead, she leaned her head on his shoulder — just for a second.
That second was enough.
---
Side Story – Mirei's Penthouse
Mirei stared at her phone, eyes narrowed at an update message from the private surveillance system tied to the Kael household. Her stepmother had granted her silent access under the guise of "corporate security."
Most cameras were off today.
Except one hallway frame — a single image, glitched halfway.
It showed Ayaka asleep on Aeron's shoulder.
And a line of corrupted footage right after.
She tapped the screen once.
> "...You're getting comfortable, Ayaka."
"But this isn't your game."