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They've started to spend more and more mornings together and much to Mori's surprise, it's very comforting.
Weirdly enough, Kouyou’s presence was enough to cure his nightmares, no matter how occasional they were, but she always managed to quietly slip out of the bedroom before the sunrise, leaving everything looking as if she were never there. It turned out that the feeling of unpleasant emptiness after that had him awake even earlier than he used to, which resulted in an instant deterioration of his everyday state.
Naturally, it would not come unnoticed. Kouyou practically announced it was her priority now to finally make him care for his health and appearance. It was a bit annoying at first, but it quickly became a routine for the two, even if Mori wouldn't admit out loud that he missed her terribly whenever she went on longer missions.
She ultimately decided that she has to stay through the morning with him, so that she could make sure that he sleeps peacefully and doesn't get to work too early.
Partially, she succeeded, because he didn't get up from the bed until she did, but always woke up a while before her.
At first, it felt so strange. The feeling in his chest when he watched the sleeping woman with her hair sprawled around on the pillow, calm and unbothered, was weird. It felt different, like he shouldn't feel like that at all. The sight of her in his arms, asleep like there was no one but them in this world, it made him soft. And he couldn't help but sigh quietly, then gently brush her bangs out of her face.
"Good morning," he greets when the woman slowly opens her eyes, leaning into his touch. "Slept well?"
"How do you always manage to wake up before me?" Her voice is low and hoarse in the morning, but it's genuinely one of the most enjoyable things to hear. "It should be the other way round," she whispers, but scoots closer instead of pulling away, nestling herself against his chest like a cat. "Let's stay in bed. Just for today."
It should annoy him – she's fully aware that he has to get to work, but still chooses to propose that. Somehow, it only makes him chuckle lightly, her temple against his lips.
Mori doesn't know what has happened to him; to the cold facade that he managed to maintain untouched for years. That's an inner struggle that no one is allowed to see, even though a silent voice somewhere in his mind already has an answer. For now, though, he prefers to pretend that it doesn't exist.
Perhaps he just likes the feeling of being cared for. Maybe yearns for it, sometimes. Or he just enjoys having her in his arms, observing her as she wakes up, unable to believe that she really is there, not quite his, but there.
"You know I can't," he says into her hair after a moment of peaceful silence, eyes closed. A strap of her nightgown has slipped off her shoulder, so he gently fixes it. "You can sleep as much as you want, though."
Kouyou lets out a soft sigh against his chest.
"I think I feel sick. I might need medical assistance," he knows very well that she made it up a moment ago, but instinctively puts his palm on her forehead to check for any signs of fever. "And you see, I can only be treated by this one, particular doctor…"
"Oh, is there something special about this doctor?" He raises an eyebrow with a small smile, willing to engage in this little conversation. She's making it harder and harder for him to leave the bed, but he doesn't mind it for now.
"Yes, he's very special," Kouyou chuckles, pulling away a bit, when her hand finds his and intertwines their fingers. "Sadly, he doesn't get any days off. I wish he could just stay with me the whole day… Just in case, because I would definitely feel safer with him around."
Safer. This whole conversation is just a scheme to make him stay, but he can't help but think about her words for a moment.
Mori reaches out to brush her hair out of her face again, meaning to catch a better look at her eyes. She still looks a bit sleepy, but the corners of her mouth are turned up in a playful smile.
"Next time," he promises, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, to which she responds with a small sigh of disappointment. "You can take the day off, though. You deserve it." He sits up, towering over her, ready to get dressed.
"I think I might," she yawns, grabbing one of the pillows before lifting herself up. "Just… in a while."
Before he can notice, her arms are around his waist, along with a soft kiss on the back of his neck.
"You're clingy," he comments, but lets her nevertheless. It's somehow endearing, so much that he can't resist a smile.
"And you're warm," she responds from behind, unbothered. "Five more minutes, please."
And Mori lets her. Surprisingly, her embrace brings comfort too and makes him want to stay with her for the whole day. The sun has already risen, its rays slowly engulfing the building and the giant windows with its warmth. Soon, she won't need him as her personal heater.
"Alright," she finally sighs, letting him go. "Go, you still gotta change," Kouyou rolls her eyes, going back under the comfortable blanket.
The bathroom is adjacent to their apartment, so she doesn't have to wait long until he leaves it, fully dressed in his boss attire. At the sight, the woman gets out of the bed and walks over to him, still drowsy, embracing him in a hug once again.
He doesn't mind. Secretly, he has been waiting for it.
They're standing in the middle of the bedroom, in front of the huge window, where they could see the whole city below their feet, although the magnificent view doesn't really matter. Mori doesn't need the whole world beneath his feet when he can have it in his arms every morning.
"Come get me if you need me, alright?" Kouyou asks, pulling away and adjusting his tie a bit, then tilts her head up for their eyes to meet.
"I will," he promises, so she kisses him goodbye one last time and watches as he leaves the bedroom.
Mori still pretends that he doesn't know what is the strange feeling in his chest.