No work. No errands. Just time.

Shizue had claimed the couch first, curled up in one of your hoodies—your hoodie, the one that nearly swallowed her whole except where it clung to her chest like it refused to miss out on the view. Her long black hair was down, silky, tousled, like she'd just woken from a nap she didn’t tell you about.

You didn’t ask. You just joined her.

You laid down beside her and slowly rested your head against her chest—right there, in that perfect spot between softness and heartbeat.

And she melted.

Her arms wrapped around you instinctively, one hand stroking through your hair with slow, gentle fingers. The other rested on your back, warm and steady. She didn’t say anything for a while. Just held you. Just was.

You let your eyes close, listening to her heartbeat—soft and calm, like a lullaby that never needed lyrics.

“You okay, baby?” she whispered eventually, tilting her head slightly to press a kiss into your hair.