Chapter 31: Morning Light, Hidden Fires ( 31 )

Chapter 31 - Morning Light, Hidden Fires ( 31 ) After that wave of release, Kyouko stood in the bathroom for a while. Quiet, breathing softly. The water continued to run, but her body had calmed. That ache between her thighs, that restless heat... it had faded. For now. She reached for a towel and dried herself gently, then wiped down the bathroom floor and turned off the lights. Everything looked as it had before, as if nothing had happened. But inside, something felt different. Not wrong. Just... softer. Kyouko walked quietly back upstairs. The hallway was dim, the soft creak of the wooden floorboards the only sound. When she entered her bedroom, her husband was still asleep, lying on his side with the blanket half slipping off. She didn't wake him. Instead, she moved to the wardrobe and changed into her usual pajamas, something looser and comfortable. She ran her fingers through her hair before slipping under the covers. The bed felt cool. She lay there for a while, facing the ceiling, listening to the quiet of the room. The night had turned still again. No more pulsing heat. No more desperate longing. Only the faint echo of that moment, like a memory settling into her skin. Her fingers curled softly over her stomach. The tingling sensation had faded, and in its place was a strange sense of peace. She exhaled deeply. For now... this was enough. Slowly, Kyouko drifted into sleep. Her body, finally calm, sank deeper into the mattress. The soft rustle of the blanket and the faint hum of the night outside the window faded into silence. And then, in that quiet darkness, Haruki appeared. Not her husband. Not Satomi. Just Haruki. In her dream, he was smiling like always. That warm, gentle smile that made her chest feel tight. He stood beneath the soft glow of starlight, one hand reaching out toward her like he always did when they were alone. Calm. Patient. Never asking for more but always there. Her heart stirred even in sleep. In the dream, she reached for him without hesitation. No fear. No guilt. Their fingers touched, and she felt warmth rush through her chest again. A longing not just of the body, but of the heart. Of being seen, touched, wanted. Haruki leaned close, not saying anything. Just watching her with that same gaze. And though no words were exchanged, she understood. He was there not just in her dream, but buried somewhere inside her. A place she had kept closed for too long was opening again. Her lips parted softly in sleep. A quiet breath escaped. And she smiled. When Kyouko woke up, her body felt oddly light too light. She blinked, slowly adjusting to the soft morning light spilling through the curtains. Then her eyes caught the clock on the bedside table. 10:37 AM. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. "Oh no!!" she gasped, throwing off the blanket and rushing out of bed. Her feet padded quickly across the floor as she opened her bedroom door and hurried straight into the shower room beside it. She didn't waste any time. Water rushed over her as she scrubbed quickly, her thoughts scattered. They were supposed to leave this morning. Her husband. Her daughter. They must've already gone out of town. She hadn't even heard them leave. And Haruki? Her heart skipped a beat. Did he wake up before her? Did he eat? Was he still here? Kyouko rushed out of the shower, towel wrapped tightly around her body as drops of water still clung to her skin. She moved quickly to her wardrobe, pulling it open with one hand while the other clutched the towel in place. Her eyes scanned the rows of clothes inside. A soft summer dress? Light, airy, and just clingy enough to show her shape when the breeze caught it. Haruki would definitely notice. But then again... Maybe something casual? Still fitted. Still tasteful. Still enough to remind him she was a woman no, not just a mother-in-law. She paused, biting her lower lip lightly, her hand resting on the hanger of a pale pink blouse. It hugged her chest just enough, with buttons she knew could be "forgotten" if left slightly undone. Pair that with jeans or a skirt, and Kyouko caught her own reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were slightly pink not just from the shower. "What am I doing..." she muttered, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Yet her fingers didn't move away from that blouse. "Just something nice for the day," she told herself. "If Haruki happens to enjoy the view... well, that's just a coincidence." She smiled softly, turning back to the mirror with the blouse in hand. After adjusting her hair and applying a light layer of toner, Kyouko gave herself one last glance in the mirror before rushing out of the room. Her bare feet padded softly down the stairs. "Haruki?" she called out. No response. She turned toward the living room. "Haruki?" Still nothing. The silence in the house was deafening. "Ah... did he already leave for his office?" she whispered to herself, standing still at the foot of the stairs. She let out a long sigh, scolding herself softly. "Stupid Kyouko... why did you wake up so late?" Her fingers curled slightly in frustration, but she didn't know if it was from missing breakfast or missing him. With a quiet exhale, she walked to the kitchen and sat down at the table, the cool wood surface pressing against her arms. Her eyes drifted toward the window, where the morning sunlight streamed in. What am I thinking... she murmured internally. Why was the first thing I did this morning... look for Haruki? Her chest tightened, a gentle ache behind her ribs she didn't quite want to name. She brushed her fingers through her hair and looked down at the table, the silence around her growing heavier. Was it loneliness? Or something else she didn't want to admit yet? She stared blankly at the table, lost in thought, when she heard the soft creak of a floorboard behind her. Kyouko turned her head and froze. Haruki was coming down the stairs, one hand lazily rubbing his eyes, his hair tousled in that effortlessly sexy way. He wore only a pair of loose shorts that hung low on his hips, his upper body bare lean muscles catching the soft morning light as if he'd just stepped out of a dream. Wow... The word slipped from her lips before she could stop it. Quiet. Barely a whisper. But it was real. Haruki blinked at her, a slow smile forming as he noticed her sitting there. "Morning, Kyouko-san... you're awake late today, huh?" he said with a sleepy chuckle, stretching his arms and in doing so, showing off more of that strong, toned torso. Kyouko quickly looked away, pretending to sip from an invisible cup. "I... overslept." Her voice was smaller than usual. Flustered. She wasn't even sure if she was more embarrassed about waking up late or about the fact that she couldn't stop staring at him. Haruki padded barefoot across the floor, heading toward the kitchen, and Kyouko felt her breath catch for a brief moment. This house suddenly felt warmer. Much, much warmer. ( End Of Chapter )