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Mick didn’t need to open his eyes to know he wasn’t in his own bed. The mattress beneath him was softer, the sheets smoother, and there was that unmistakable, fresh scent.
Kaori’s bed was the perfect place for a lie-in after a night out. He had lost track of time the night before and ended up crashing at Ryo’s place—a routine that had become oddly familiar since coming to Japan.
The door creaked open, and the rustling of clothes pulled him from his drowsy haze. The owner of the room was rummaging through her drawers, quietly trying not to wake him. Mick smirked, enjoying the comfort a little longer.
“Good morning, Kaori,” he drawled lazily, finally opening his eyes. She didn’t turn around, but he was greeted with a sight he never tired of—Kaori, back to him, wearing a large shirt and shorts. "And hello to you too, Kaori's derriere."
“Hello, Mick. What are you doing here?” she replied, still focused on the clothes, though he could hear the faint smile in her voice.
“Sleeping,” he responded easily. “I thought maybe you’d join me during the night.”
“I’ll let this one pass.” She finally turned around, her lips quirking in a teasing smile.
“Too kind.” He sat up slowly, propping himself against the headboard. “By the way, why are your clothes still here? Hasn’t it been, what, three months now?”
Kaori blinked, not missing a beat. “We’ve never discussed it. Maybe it’s for the best… I don’t want him near my underwear.” She said it matter-of-factly but with enough of a blush to give Mick some satisfaction.
He grinned. “And I’m sure your boyfriend prefers it that way. No clothes in his bedroom.”
Kaori’s cheeks colored deeper. “Kazue brought you a change of clothes last night. You can find them in the guest room,” she said, changing the subject quickly.
“Thanks. And Kaori?” Mick paused, giving her a cheeky grin.
“What now?”
“Are you naked under that shirt?”
WHAM.
Kaori’s hammer landed squarely on his head before he could even blink.
“Don’t touch my underwear!” she shouted, her voice a mix of exasperation and amusement as she slammed the door behind her.
Mick groaned, rubbing the sore spot on his head, but the grin never left his face.
A warm shower later, he was fully awake and wandered into the kitchen where Kaori was setting up breakfast.
“Your partner still sleeping?” Mick asked, seating himself at the table.
“He’ll be down soon,” Kaori replied, placing a cup of coffee in front of him.
“I better hurry then.” Mick leaned over and kissed her cheek just as Ryo entered the kitchen, looking half-asleep. He caught Mick in the act.
“Damn, busted again,” Mick said, sitting down as casually as he could.
Ryo rolled his eyes, making his way to Kaori. “You two are too loud in the morning.”
“It’s past one,” Kaori remarked, lightly slapping Ryo on the arm as he kissed her temple in what Mick called the “proper morning greeting.” A far cry from what he knew had to be the not-so-proper ones. He shuddered at the thought.
Sitting across from Mick, Ryo accepted the cup of coffee Kaori handed him, while she brought Mick a plate of food. Over time, Mick had grown used to being part of their little routine. It was strange, but he felt… at home.
“Thank you, darling,” Mick teased. “So, Ryo, did you rock Kaori’s world this morning?”
“Mick!” Kaori cried, her blush instant and fierce. She was still easily flustered when it came to these topics, despite being with Ryo, the most infamous pervert in Japan.
Ryo raised an eyebrow, a lazy smile forming. “Maybe. What about you?”
“I had a nice cuddle with a charming cushion,” Mick replied, winking as he took a sip of coffee.
Ryo smirked but didn’t push it further. “You could’ve gone home, y’know. You’ve got a girlfriend.”
Kazue wasn’t as tolerant of Mick and Ryo’s late-night escapades as Kaori. Mick often crashed at Ryo’s place after a few too many drinks. With Kaori, a quick burst of violent retribution was the price of waking her, but it was soon over. With Kazue, though, he’d be groveling for days.
"Why would I miss seeing Kaori scantily clad in the morning?" Mick teased, gesturing toward her as Kaori shot him a look that could kill.
“Did you sleep in her room again?” Ryo asked, not even looking up from his coffee.
“Yeah. I like her bed better,” Mick said, pointing his fork at Ryo. “And it’s your fault.”
Ryo finally looked up, annoyed. “Why don’t you sleep in the guest room?”
“Because she doesn’t even sleep in her room anymore. What, you jealous because another man was in her bed?” Mick teased, grinning.
Ryo just gave him a flat stare.
“You know, if she had her clothes in your room, these ‘naughty morning encounters’ wouldn’t happen,” Mick added with a smirk.
Ryo took a sip of his coffee, barely concealing a grin. “Never said she couldn’t. But when she’s naked, I’m definitely sure I’m sleeping with a woman.”
A menacing shadow loomed behind him, and Ryo quickly added, "And it would be such a shame to cover up this masterpiece, created by the go—Aaaaaah!" His words cut off as Kaori’s hammer came down hard on him.
"Nice try," Kaori said, standing triumphantly over him.
"You could use a lighter hammer, you know," Ryo grumbled, rubbing his head where the impact landed. He then gratefully took the plate Kaori handed him with a smile.
"But it is, only 10 tons," Kaori replied coolly, sitting down beside him.
"The weight doesn’t matter—it’s all about technique. “
Ryo chuckled and proceeded to dig into the plate in front of him. Mick watched the scene unfold, shaking his head with a small smile tugging at his lips.
And just like that, the morning settled back into its usual, chaotic rhythm.