Just a little longer

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting the room in soft hues of gold and amber. Yihdra stirred, her eyelids fluttering open as she became aware of the warmth surrounding her. She was still nestled against Tougo’s chest, his arm draped protectively over her, his steady heartbeat a comforting rhythm beneath her ear. For a moment, she simply lay there, savoring the peace of the morning. The events of the previous night played in her mind like a dream—the way the magic stone had brought him to her, the way they had confessed their feelings, the way they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms. It felt surreal, yet so right. Carefully, she tilted her head to look at him. Tougo was still asleep, his face relaxed, his breathing slow and even. Yihdra’s heart swelled with affection as she studied him—the way his dark lashes rested against his cheeks, the faint stubble along his jaw, the way his lips curved ever so slightly, as if he were having a pleasant dream. She couldn’t resist reaching up to gently trace the line of his jaw, her touch feather-light. Tougo stirred at her touch, his eyes slowly opening. When he saw her, a sleepy smile spread across his face. “Morning,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep. “Good morning,” Yihdra replied softly, her cheeks warming as she realized she’d been caught staring. “Did you sleep well?” “Better than I have in a long time,” he said, his arm tightening around her slightly. “You?” She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Me too. It’s… nice, waking up like this.” Tougo’s smile softened, and he reached up to brush a strand of hair from her face. “Yeah,” he agreed. “It is.” They lay there for a while, content to simply be together, the world outside their room feeling far away. Yihdra traced idle patterns on his chest, her mind wandering. “Tougo,” she said after a moment, her voice hesitant. “Last night… it wasn’t just the magic of the pendant, was it? What we said… what we feel… it’s real, isn’t it?” He propped himself up on one elbow, his expression serious as he looked down at her. “Yihdra,” he said, his voice firm but gentle, “the pendant might have brought me to you, but what I feel for you… that’s all me. It’s real. It’s always been real.” Her breath caught at his words, and she reached up to touch his face, her fingers trembling slightly. “I feel the same way,” she whispered. “I’ve been so afraid to admit it, but… I don’t want to hide it anymore. Not from you.” Tougo’s eyes softened, and he leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. “You don’t have to hide anything from me,” he said. “Not ever.” Their lips met in a kiss that was slow and sweet, a silent promise of everything they felt but couldn’t quite put into words. Yihdra’s hands slid up to tangle in his red unruly hair, while Tougo’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, lost in the warmth of each other’s embrace. When they finally pulled apart, Yihdra let out a soft laugh, her cheeks flushed. “We should probably get up,” she said, though she made no move to leave his arms. Tougo chuckled, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “Probably,” he agreed. “But… just a little longer.” She smiled, resting her head against his chest once more. “Just a little longer,” she echoed. As the sunlight filled the room, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s warmth, their hearts beating in sync. The battles they faced, the challenges ahead—none of it mattered in that moment. All that mattered was the love they had found in each other, a love that would carry them through whatever came next.