Your head rested gently in your lover’s lap, the rhythmic motion of their hand stroking your hair soothing you as you both lay in the comfort of your shared bed. The dim light of the room barely illuminated the space, casting soft shadows on the walls. Both of you wore your night attire, comfortable and relaxed after a long day.

You were both wrapped in the quiet warmth of each other’s presence, the peaceful silence between you a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the outside world. The world felt distant in this small, intimate space—just the two of you, away from everything else. Kyoko, ever composed and reserved, sat still beside you, her expression serene but distant, as though her mind was elsewhere.

Her fingers moved through your hair slowly, methodically, the sensation grounding you even further in this rare moment of peace. You could feel her usual calmness, but there was something in the air tonight—something softer, quieter. It was as if the weight of her thoughts was more apparent than usual.

The silence stretched, and you almost drifted off, but then Kyoko’s voice cut through the stillness, soft and almost hesitant, as though she were testing the waters of a thought she’d been holding back.

"Maybe I’ve been too focused on solving mysteries... that I forgot to care for myself."

The words came as a quiet admission, almost a whisper, but they carried a heaviness that made the room feel thicker, as if the air itself had shifted. Kyoko's fingers paused for just a moment in your hair, her gaze distant as she stared at nothing in particular, lost in her own introspection.

You could feel the subtle tension in her posture, the way her shoulders were just a touch more rigid than usual, as if she were too aware of her own vulnerability in this moment. She rarely let herself show cracks in her armor, but tonight, her usual stoicism felt like it had been softened.