▣ KO-FI ▣ DISCORD ▣
Epilogue
«Mmm, mmm…»
«…Mmm…»
The morning after our first sleepover in a long time.
Waking up amidst the blankets, I let out a small sound, and next to me, Shizuno Mori responds with a sleepy voice.
It seems… unusually, we both woke up at the same time.
Outside on the balcony, birds are chirping, and the bed’s springs are a bit stiff compared to the ones at home… Ah, I haven’t felt this in a while, I think to myself.
As I slowly open my eyes, right in front of me is Shizuno Mori’s face.
Her eyelids lift, and her eyes, deep and sparkling like stars, look straight at me.
Caught in their beauty, I’m mesmerized when she says,
«Good morning, Shinobu…»
Shizuno Mori narrows her eyes and smiles happily.
«Yeah, good morning, Shizuno Mori…»
I reply, a bit flustered.
We’ve repeated this sleepover ritual many times, and I thought I was getting used to it, but this close distance still makes me tense.
But because of that tension… I, slowly waking up, realize something.
Shizuno Mori is still… in the same position as yesterday.
Meaning, she’s still clinging tightly to me.
«Ah! Sorry!»
Shizuno Mori seems to realize it too late, and hurriedly releases her arms.
«Ah, haha… It seems we stayed like this the whole time… Sorry…»
«No, it’s fine! I did say it was okay yesterday, after all…»
It’s strangely embarrassing.
In a dark room, it’s one thing, but under the bright morning sun, cuddled up in the blankets, it’s incredibly embarrassing…
And on my body, I can still feel Shizuno Mori’s warmth, her roundness.
Not just that, the scent of her hair, the strength in her arms wrapped around my back, and, well… the softness I felt around my stomach…
My head is boiling, and I can’t think straight…
I don’t know what to say to her…
Shizuno Mori is also shifting her gaze around, looking incredibly embarrassed.
Then, as if to break the awkward silence,
«How was it? Did you sleep well, Shinobu?»
«Yeah, I did!»
I reply with strange enthusiasm.
«Thanks to you, I slept deeply! I feel much refreshed!»
«That’s good… And you, Shizuno Mori?»
«Yeah, I slept soundly too! It’s been a while since I’ve slept so well!»
Shizuno Mori nods vigorously like a broken toy.
But then, she rubs her eyes lightly and yawns quietly,
«I’m still a bit sleepy though…»
Her voice is muffled and sleepy.
«My head feels so foggy…»
«Yeah, that makes sense… You haven’t slept well for a long time…»
Unlike me, who could sleep at my parents’ house, Shizuno Mori hadn’t been able to sleep properly for about a week.
It’s natural for her to still feel sleepy after just one night’s sleep
to make up for her lack of rest.
While I’m thinking this, Shizuno Mori fidgets on top of the blankets.
Then, with a hesitant look in her eyes, she glances up at me and asks,
«Shinobu?»
She tilts her head inquiringly.
«Yeah?»
«It’s a weekday today, and we have school, right?»
«Yes.»
«We should probably be getting up soon…»
Then she,
With a slightly mischievous smile on her face, says to me,
«How about we stay just a little longer?»
