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Naoko awakens suddenly to a myriad of smells within their small bedroom. Her eyes blink heavily due to both the appearance of the morning sun and the sheer exhaustion she feels nearly every day now with the progression of her illness.
“Oh, good, you’re awake,” comes the tender, even voice of her devoted husband from somewhere close to the large pile of blankets, the aroma of freshly steamed green tea reaching Naoko’s nose in the same instant.
“Jiro?” the aspiring painter inquires, her voice containing a hint of confusion. “Shouldn’t you be…”
“At the office? Probably so, but no one else knows I’ve returned from abroad yet,” Jiro smiles down at her, pressing a soft kiss to his wife’s lips. “So, I thought I’d join you with breakfast in bed since I’m normally gone much earlier in the morning,” the engineer reveals his surprise, earning him a forceful hug from his beloved.
Naoko’s arms wind tightly around his neck, pulling herself up and into Jiro’s warm, comforting embrace.
“You didn’t have to. You’re too good to me,” she whispers, fighting back a cough.
“I love you,” Jiro reminds, his voice quiet as he brushes his lips against Naoko’s pale cheeks.