The early morning light slipped through the half-closed curtains, washing the bedroom in a golden hue. Dust motes danced lazily in the sunbeams, and the soft hum of birds outside barely disturbed the tranquility inside.
Shin stirred first.
His eyes blinked open slowly, lids heavy from deep sleep. The warmth on his chest didn't come from blankets—it was Ai. Still asleep, curled atop him, her soft body nestled closely against his, her cheek resting against his collarbone. Her breathing was even, slow, peaceful. Her hands were still loosely wrapped around his neck, as if she'd clung to him even in her dreams.
His own arms were wound protectively around her waist, their bodies tangled in the sheets like a gentle knot of comfort and closeness. Her hair smelled faintly of his shampoo, and the oversized shirt she wore had shifted slightly, exposing one of her bare shoulders. The warmth of her breath tickled his skin.
Shin smiled softly.
He tilted his head slightly, eyes taking in her sleeping expression—soft lashes, relaxed brows, a slight pout on her lips. There was something about seeing her like this, in the quietest part of the day, that made his chest ache in the gentlest way.
With a slow movement, he leaned his face close to hers and pressed a delicate kiss to her cheek.
"Mmm…" Ai stirred, her voice just a breath. "Onii-chan…?"
"Morning," Shin whispered, kissing her again on the other cheek. "Mwah."
She mumbled something incoherent, her hands tightening around his neck slightly. "Five more minutes…"
"You're literally using me as a mattress, Ai," he chuckled, voice low and husky from sleep. "At least say good morning properly."
She rubbed her face into his chest like a lazy cat, eyes still half-closed. "Mmm… good morning, Onii-chan…"
"That's better," he said, his hand gently rubbing circles on her back beneath the fabric of the shirt.
Ai finally peeked up at him, her cheeks faintly pink. "You stayed warm all night… felt nice…"
"You drooled on me, just a little," he teased.
"I did not!" she gasped.
Shin grinned. "Right here." He pointed to a faint spot on his shirt, and Ai flushed immediately.
"I'm going to die now," she groaned, burying her face back in his chest.
He laughed, fingers curling in her hair affectionately. "It's okay. I'm honored to be your pillow and tissue."
"Meanie…"
They stayed like that for a few more minutes, wrapped up in warmth and half-asleep affection. Shin didn't feel like moving, and Ai clearly didn't plan to. The silence was comfortable, like a blanket layered over their already tangled limbs.
Then, Ai's voice broke the hush.
"Onii-chan…"
"Hmm?"
She looked up again, her tone softer now. "Can I ask you something weird?"
Shin blinked, brushing her bangs away gently. "Weirder than this position?"
She lightly elbowed his side, but he caught her wrist and laced their fingers together.
"No, like… about this novel."
"Oh," he said, a bit more curious now. "Go on."
Ai rested her chin on his chest, staring at him. "It's… an LGBTQ story, right?"
He gave a slow nod.
"Then…" she tilted her head slightly. "Are you…? I mean… Onii-chan, are you straight? Or…"
Shin's expression didn't change much. He looked thoughtful for a second, then shifted one hand to rest behind his head.
"I've never really been into guys," he said honestly. "Never had a crush on one, never felt that kind of pull."
Ai studied him carefully. "But… Yuki?"
He exhaled, eyes flicking toward the ceiling. "Yeah. Yuki's… different."
"Different how?"
"I don't know," he said, a bit sheepishly. "I don't get nervous around guys. But with him… my heart kinda messes up. I think about him randomly. I care what he thinks of me. I want to make him laugh."
Ai smiled faintly. "Sounds like a crush, Onii-chan."
Shin laughed quietly. "Maybe. But he's the only guy I've ever felt like that about. So… I don't think I'm gay. Maybe not even bi."
He paused.
"I think I like him."
Ai was quiet for a moment. Her gaze softened, filled with something between admiration and curiosity.
"I like that answer," she finally said.
Shin turned back to look at her. "Yeah?"
She nodded. "It's honest. You're not putting yourself in a box. That's very you."
"Is it?"
"Yup," she said proudly, snuggling closer again. "Onii-chan's always been like that. Doing what feels right instead of worrying what it's called."
He gave her a small squeeze. "You're really good at reading me."
"I live on you. I'm practically psychic."
He smiled, brushing his nose against hers playfully. "So what's your next psychic reading?"
Ai closed her eyes. "Hmm… I predict that in five seconds, Onii-chan will kiss me again."
He chuckled. "What makes you so sure?"
"Because I want you to."
Without missing a beat, he leaned in and pressed another kiss to her cheek, lingering a little longer this time. "Mwah."
"Soft…" she murmured.
"You taste like sleep," he teased.
"You smell like me."
"That's because you stole my t-shirt."
"And I'll steal your hoodie next."
"You'll look like a walking blanket."
"You'll still think I'm cute."
"I always do."
Ai giggled quietly and nuzzled into him again.
They stayed that way for a long while—talking about nothing, teasing, exchanging gentle cheek kisses every few minutes, occasionally getting caught in small silence that didn't need filling. Ai's fingers played lazily with the ends of Shin's hair, while he stroked small circles on her back. It was the kind of morning that felt like it should never end—one soaked in warmth, comfort, and the unspoken closeness between two people who just understood each other.
Eventually, Ai sighed into his neck. "Hey, Onii-chan?"
"Hmm?"
"I think you should tell Yuki how you feel."
Shin blinked. "…Just like that?"
"You said he makes your heart weird. That's rare. Don't ignore it."
He stared at the ceiling again, processing. "What if he doesn't like me like that?"
Ai leaned up, staring into his eyes with quiet confidence. "You won't know until you try."
He gave a long exhale, then smiled softly. "Yeah… maybe you're right."
She leaned in one last time, pressing a kiss right on the corner of his mouth. "I'm always right."
"Cheek, Ai. Stick to the cheek."
"Corner counts."
"Nope," he teased. "Penalty for being sneaky."
He rolled her over gently and pinned her down into the sheets with a mischievous glint in his eyes, beginning a flurry of relentless cheek kisses that made her shriek and giggle and squirm under him.
"Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!"
"Stooop! Onii-chaaaan!!"
"Nope. You brought this on yourself."
And as the sunlight warmed their tangled limbs and laughter filled the air, neither of them was in any rush to get out of bed.
---
Ai's arms stayed looped around Shin's neck as he hovered over her, his weight supported by his elbows on either side of her head. Her expression was soft, eyes half-lidded as she gazed up at him like he was her entire world — because, to her, he was.
Shin smirked down at her, his bangs brushing against her forehead. "You're still not letting go, huh?"
"Nope," she whispered, fingers gently stroking the back of his neck. "I like when you're close like this."
He chuckled and leaned down, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to her cheek. "You're clingier in the mornings."
"You make it too easy, Onii-chan," she teased, pressing her own cheek against his in return. Her breath was warm on his ear. "Besides… you're comfy."
Shin gave her a teasing raise of the eyebrow. "Is that all I am to you? A giant, comfy pillow?"
Ai giggled. "The comfiest. Also the handsomest. And the most annoying."
"Gee, thanks."
She smiled up at him, running her fingers through his messy bed hair. "So, Onii-chan… what do you want for breakfast?"
Shin blinked, a little caught off guard by the sudden switch in tone. "Breakfast? You're asking me that while I'm literally pinning you down?"
She nodded with a cheeky grin. "You've got school today. And don't think I didn't notice how eager you are to see Yuki."
His expression twitched — not quite a blush, but there was definitely a flicker of surprise. "…That obvious?"
"Totally," she beamed. "Your whole aura is like, 'Yuki this, Yuki that'. It's kind of cute."
He exhaled a slow breath, still holding her there, his arms comfortably locking her in. "I don't get it either… I'm not even into guys, usually."
Ai tilted her head. "But you like him."
Shin nodded slowly. "Yeah… I do."
She smiled gently, brushing his bangs back. "Then stop overthinking it and enjoy it. You're allowed to like whoever makes your heart skip."
He didn't say anything right away — just looked at her with a quiet softness that only she ever got to see.
Then he grinned. "Alright then. I want pancakes. With extra syrup. And…"
She raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"…more cheek kisses."
Ai giggled as he leaned in again, rubbing his nose against hers before planting a firm kiss on her cheek — followed by another, and another, and another until she was squirming and laughing beneath him.
"Onii-chan! That tickles!"
"Breakfast tax," he said smugly, giving her one final, warm kiss on the cheek before pulling back just enough to meet her gaze.
She smiled up at him, still cradling his neck. "Okay okay… pancakes it is."
---
END OF CHAPTER : 9 :MORNING WARMTH!
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