The morning sun, gentle and insistent, found its way through the gap in the hotel room's blackout curtains. It painted a stripe of soft, liquid gold across the floor and the foot of the bed, bathing the room in a warm, tranquil glow that spoke of lazy mornings and new beginnings.
"…What exactly are your hands doing?"
Stirred awake by a persistent, wandering touch, Kasumigaoka Touji opened his sleep-heavy eyes. He blinked slowly a few times, allowing the world to swim into focus and his consciousness to sharpen. Then, he turned his head to look with feigned surprise at the silver-haired beauty nestled beside him.
"Waking someone up at such an ungodly hour of the morning… Kani Nayuta-sensei, are you prepared to face the consequences?"
He rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow, and reached out with his other hand to gently pinch her smooth, soft cheek. His tone was playful, but it carried a deliberate, theatrical authority, as if his imposing presence had increased severalfold overnight.
"I just… wanted to say good morning to Winter-sensei properly," she murmured, her big, sky-blue eyes fluttering with a practiced innocence as she gazed up at him.
"Is that so? Well then, allow me to return the greeting!"
"..."
And so, he gave Kani Nayuta a very thorough, very cordial 'good morning' greeting. Kani Nayuta, in turn, responded not with words, but by enthusiastically pulling him down into a deep, lingering exchange that left them both breathless and smiling.
…
Time slipped by, fluid and unnoticed. By the time they finally disentangled themselves and glanced at the clock, it was well past nine.
After a shared, languid shower and getting dressed—Kani Nayuta opting for a fresh, casual outfit from her overnight bag—they finally stepped out of their room, ready to seek sustenance. Their destination was the hotel's buffet restaurant, located on one of the upper floors. Hotels typically offered complimentary breakfast for guests, usually from seven to ten o'clock. They had just made the cut-off.
Well, 'complimentary' was a bit of a misnomer; it was factored into the hefty accommodation fee. Originally, Kasumigaoka Touji had offered to bring a plate back to the room for her, but Kani Nayuta had insisted on going herself. She wanted the experience, the normality of a couple having breakfast together after… everything. He had no objections, of course. He was, however, mildly surprised by her apparent ease of movement.
"You're really not feeling any… discomfort? Utaha was in so much pain the next day she was waddling around like a penguin," he remarked as they walked down the carpeted hallway towards the elevators.
"Is that so? I don't feel much…" Kani Nayuta looked at him with genuine surprise. Then, the image he painted—the elegant, formidable Kasumigaoka Utaha-senpai doing a penguin walk—clicked in her mind. A delighted, slightly mischievous giggle escaped her. "I'd really love to see Utaha-senpai waddling."
"Guess it's just a difference in individual physique," he shrugged. In truth, he'd noticed her resilience last night, and it was even more apparent now.
He pulled out his phone, a sly grin spreading. "If you want to see it… I just so happen to have a video." He had, in fact, filmed a short, discreet clip at the time, partly for blackmail, partly just because it was an adorable, rare sight.
"Let me see!" Kani Nayuta's curiosity was piqued. She leaned in close, her shoulder pressing against his arm as she peered at the screen.
As he scrolled to find the clip, she couldn't help but notice his photo gallery was… extensive. Thumbnails flashed by, and a significant portion seemed to be of Kasumigaoka Utaha in various candid, intimate, or just plain silly moments. A faint, unavoidable pang of envy pricked at her heart.
She gave his arm a light, playful pat. "Winter-sensei," she whispered, "you should take more pictures of me, too."
"Of course," he said with a warm smile, slipping his phone back into his pocket for now. "Didn't I take a whole album's worth for you yesterday?"
"Mm!" Kani Nayuta's face lit up with a bright, satisfied smile.
The elevator arrived with a soft chime. As they stepped inside the empty car, she turned to him. "Which floor is the restaurant on again?"
Kasumigaoka Touji fished out the small information card they'd been given at check-in. "Twenty-third floor."
"Hai." She reached out and pressed the button marked '23'. The doors slid shut, enclosing them in the mirrored silence.
As the elevator began its ascent, Kani Nayuta seemed to remember something. She looked at Kasumigaoka Touji, her expression one of hopeful expectation. "Speaking of which… Golden Week is coming up soon. How is Winter-sensei planning to spend Golden Week?"
"Golden Week…"
Just hearing the words made a phantom headache throb at Kasumigaoka Touji's temples. Because he already had plans—solid, irreversible plans. He and Utaha were going to Hokkaido. He'd even booked the non-refundable plane tickets weeks in advance.
And taking Kani Nayuta along… that presented a logistical and diplomatic minefield. It was hard to imagine his parents' reaction if they found out that within a month of living with them, he'd not only gotten involved with their biological daughter but was also seeing another girl. Just picturing the potential fallout made his scalp tingle with dread.
Yet, the thought of leaving Kani Nayuta behind for the entire holiday felt equally wrong. He'd created this situation; he had to face it.
He hesitated for a moment, the elevator humming softly around them. Then, gritting his teeth, he decided on full transparency.
"Utaha and I… we're going to Hokkaido. The flight is on April 28th, 7 PM. We're coming back on the afternoon of May 3rd." He met her gaze, his expression serious. "If you wanted to come… you probably couldn't be on the same flight as us. I'd have to book you a separate one."
Let the axe fall.
This was the bed he'd made. The sins he'd created, he had to bear—even if it meant doing so with metaphorical tears. He owed her at least this much honesty and the offer of a choice.
"...To visit your parents?" Kani Nayuta's voice was quieter now, the initial excitement fading as she processed the 'Hokkaido' part.
"Hai." He gave a single, firm nod.
Just then, the elevator slowed, arriving at the twenty-second floor. Even through the doors, they could already catch the enticing, savory aroma of breakfast wafting down from the floor above.
"For me to go with you… that probably wouldn't be very appropriate, would it?" Kani Nayuta's words were hesitant, laced with reservation. A part of her wanted to go, desperately. She wanted a Golden Week trip with him, too. But another, more pragmatic part knew it would put him in an impossible position with his family.
"It's fine. I'll handle everything on my end," Kasumigaoka Touji said, trying to sound confident, even patting his chest for emphasis.
Ding.
The elevator arrived at the twenty-third floor. The doors parted, revealing the bustling, light-filled entrance to the buffet. They stepped out, handed their meal vouchers to the staff member stationed there, and moved into the spacious dining area.
Kasumigaoka Touji instinctively pulled out his phone again, perhaps to double-check flight availability, when he heard Kani Nayuta speak, her voice resolute yet soft.
"…Forget it. Next time."
He looked over. She wore a small, understanding, yet slightly wistful smile. "Wouldn't it be bad if our relationship got exposed to your parents under these circumstances? It's better to wait until later."
She was giving him an out, protecting him from the potential storm. "Take me to Hokkaido next time, okay?"
Going now, with the shadow of Kasumigaoka Utaha and the complicated family dynamics, made her feel uneasy. She was afraid—afraid that his parents, upon learning about her, might pressure him to choose, might try to break them up for the sake of their biological daughter…
What would they do then? No, it was better to sit this one out. There would be other holidays.
Kasumigaoka Touji studied her face, the conflict clear in his eyes. After a moment of thought, he said, "It really would be okay if you came. My parents are reasonable people… At worst, they'd just give me a hell of a scolding. They wouldn't direct any anger at you."
"Still… next time." Hearing him defend her potential place so earnestly, Kani Nayuta's smile grew warmer, more genuine.
Kasumigaoka Touji held her gaze for a few long seconds, then finally nodded. He put his phone away, the decision made. "Alright. Then I'll definitely take you during summer break."
He gave her a concrete promise, a future to look forward to. "And after I get back from Golden Week, we'll go do something fun together, just the two of us."
"Hai!" Kani Nayuta's smile blossomed into its full, radiant brightness. The slight shadow was gone, replaced by the anticipation of a future date.
With that settled, their attention finally turned fully to the bounty before them. They picked up plates and began weaving through the serving stations, selecting an assortment of pastries, fruits, eggs, and Japanese breakfast staples. Finding a small table by a window with a sliver of a city view, they sat down across from each other and began to enjoy their late, leisurely breakfast, the first of many shared morning meals to come.