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Kazuki slowly woke up, his body still heavy with sleep. As his senses began to sharpen, something felt… different. The warmth at his side wasn’t the usual spread of blankets or the familiar, distant hum of his thoughts. No, this warmth was alive, and the pressure against his side was unmistakable. Wait. Kazuki’s eyes fluttered open, and his heart stuttered when he realized Rei was next to him. He blinked, unsure if his mind was still half-dreaming. Rei? In his bed? The stillness of the room made the situation feel surreal.
"Uh… Rei?" Kazuki’s voice was soft, tinged with a hint of confusion. He could feel his pulse quicken. "Why are you… in the bed?"
Rei's sleepy ocean-blue eyes blinked up at him, still clouded by sleep, his normally sharp gaze dulled in the early haze of morning. Kazuki couldn't help but notice how delicate Rei looked like this, caught between wakefulness and dream. His hair was slightly tousled, falling messily around his face.
"Miri keeps jumping on me when I sleep in the bath," Rei muttered, his voice low and rough, a hint of annoyance in his tone.
Kazuki nodded, his lips quirking in a half-smile at the thought of Miri's usual antics. “Oh, that’s… fine, I guess.”
Rei shifted slightly, his shoulder brushing against Kazuki's. “This is my bed, you know.” His words were casual, but the heat of his body against Kazuki’s side made them feel a little heavier.
Kazuki’s face flushed, a soft red creeping across his cheeks. "Well, yeah, I know," he stammered, glancing away awkwardly. "Just, you know, I’m also sleeping in it."
Rei quirked an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Problem?"
Kazuki’s heart skipped a beat at the challenge in Rei’s gaze. He had to look away, but his breath caught in his throat. Rei was so effortlessly cool, so damn Rei. Kazuki’s skin prickled with a mix of nervousness. His mind raced, unsure whether this moment was as charged as it felt, or if he was just reading too much into it.
“Not really! It’s your bed, right? Just, uh—are we going to keep sharing a bed, or—?”
Rei’s gaze lingered on him, unblinking, as if searching for something beneath Kazuki’s words. Then, with the usual dry nonchalance that made Kazuki's heart do flip-flops, he replied, "You know, you could just get your own."
Kazuki faltered. He’d meant the question as a joke, but somehow the words felt heavier than they should have. He chewed on his lip, trying to hide his frustration. Rei could be so… oblivious sometimes. It was like Kazuki was trying to navigate a sea of misunderstandings, and Rei was still on the shore, looking out at him from afar. Maybe he needed to be clearer, a lot clearer. Maybe a little more directness would do the trick.
"Or we could just sleep together!" Kazuki blurted out brightly, his voice perhaps a little too eager.
Rei’s mouth fell slightly open, his expression a mix of confusion and surprise. His gaze flickered to Kazuki, then back to the ceiling, processing what Kazuki had said.
“Are you suggesting—?”
“What? We’re a family, right?” Kazuki smiled, though it was tight. He cleared his throat. “Don’t parents usually sleep in the same bed?”
Rei blinked again, clearly unsure how to respond. "I wouldn’t know," he said quietly, a trace of uncertainty seeping into his tone.
Kazuki’s grin widened, though the flush on his face was starting to feel a little more intense. “And sometimes it gets a little cold, you know?” He rolled over, his body inches away from Rei’s.
"Hm," Rei murmured, his eyes slightly narrowing as if considering the thought. "I thought there were more blankets somewhere."
Kazuki shook his head, still a little too close to Rei. “Ah, yeah, but blankets are heavy. They’re a pain.”
Rei’s gaze dropped to the space between them before flicking back to Kazuki, his expression unreadable. “Really? Should we buy lighter blankets?”
Kazuki chuckled nervously, trying to keep the mood light despite the growing tension in his chest. “I think I just prefer the warmth of someone next to me.”
Rei tilted his head slightly, his lips twitching, almost like he was trying to suppress a smile. “Maybe we should get a dog…”
Kazuki’s eye twitched in disbelief. Did Rei… not get it? His face flushed again.
“Let me put it another way,” he said, voice dropping a fraction lower, his tone teasing yet full of intent. “I prefer to be the little spoon.”
“Really? That’s surprising,” Rei said quietly, the words laced with something almost like curiosity.
Kazuki hesitated, but then rolled the words off his tongue, almost as if daring Rei to react. “What about you?”
“Ah—never tried it.”
Kazuki gave a quick nod, a mix of nervousness and anticipation stirring in his stomach. "Then here." Without waiting for a response, Kazuki rolled back over, his arms reaching out and gently pulling Rei toward him. Rei froze, his body stiff, but Kazuki didn't pull away. He wanted this. Needed it, in fact. He wasn’t about to back down now.
Rei’s body was a block of ice against him, unmoving as Kazuki drew him close. Kazuki’s chest tightened with the awareness of how vulnerable they were in that moment, but it felt strangely right. The faint brush of Rei's breath against his ear made him shiver slightly.
"This is what it feels like to be the little spoon," Kazuki whispered, so close his words felt like a caress.
Rei stayed silent, his muscles still taut under Kazuki’s touch, but there was a subtle shift in the air. Kazuki could feel Rei’s breath hitch ever so slightly. Was he—?
Before Kazuki could think much more about it, he rolled over onto his back, pulling Rei along with him. Now, Kazuki had his arms around Rei, and Rei’s strong arm naturally fell around Kazuki's waist. Kazuki exhaled softly, his body melting into the warmth of Rei’s chest. He could feel the thrum of Rei's heartbeat against his own, steady and strong.
“This is what it feels like to be the big spoon,” Kazuki murmured, his voice low and soft, almost as if they were in a world of their own.
Rei let out a quiet sound, almost a hum, and Kazuki's heart soared with a strange mix of satisfaction. The warmth between them felt too good, too right. Kazuki wanted nothing more than to stay like this forever, to feel Rei’s arms around him, to feel the soft breath on his neck.
Kazuki let out a blissful sigh, his eyes fluttering closed. “Oh yeah, this is amazing.”
Rei’s voice was quieter than usual, almost shy. “You really like it that much?”
Kazuki turned his head slightly to see Rei’s face, noting the faint flush spreading across his cheeks. Rei, blushing? Kazuki felt a smile tug at his lips. "It’s perfect,” Kazuki replied.
Rei didn’t speak at first, but Kazuki noticed the way his breathing had slowed, the way his eyes seemed to soften as he glanced away, still holding Kazuki close. Kazuki’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Rei looking almost… vulnerable.
Rei shifted slightly, his leg slipping over Kazuki’s as they settled into the warmth of the bed. Kazuki couldn’t help but smile, a wide, genuine smile. This was everything he wanted.
“This is pretty good,” Rei murmured.
Kazuki chuckled softly. “Right?”
“Yeah. What was this called again?”
“Being the big spoon,” Kazuki answered, unable to hide the playful tone in his voice.
Rei nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll try it.” His voice was quieter now, almost contemplative.
Kazuki closed his eyes, relishing the warmth of Rei’s arms around him. He let out a contented sigh, almost drifting off, when suddenly the silence shattered by a loud crash from the kitchen, followed by a high-pitched, overly cheerful voice calling, "Papaaaaaaas?"
Kazuki groaned, his mood shifting immediately from relaxed to exasperated. “That’s our daughter again,” he muttered, pushing himself up with a sigh.
Rei gave him a faint, almost amused smile. “Wonder what she’s doing now.”
“Probably trying to make us breakfast again,” Kazuki muttered with a soft chuckle. The idea of Miri’s well-meaning yet chaotic cooking efforts made him smile, even as the light buzz of reality crept back in.
Before he could think too much about it, Kazuki leaned over and placed a quick, lingering kiss on Rei’s forehead—more tender than playful, but still warm, almost reluctant to break the peaceful moment. It felt good, being this close.
He pulled away, stretching with a groan, feeling the muscles in his back protest. “Coming, Miri,” he called out, his voice louder now, but still carrying that familiar warmth. “I hope you’re not trying to cook cereal on the stove again.”
A faint smile tugged at Rei’s lips as he watched Kazuki get up, his eyes soft. Without a word, Rei followed him out of the room, his smile lingering for a moment longer than usual.