Chapter 58: Morning Shower

As much as Kaede wanted time to stand still, the sun was already creeping over the horizon, casting warm rays into the room. They lay tangled together on the couch, the morning light illuminating their peaceful faces. Both of them had drifted to sleep still fully naked, with Mirei nestled on top of Kaede, wrapped in each other's warmth. It was a scene of pure tranquility, and Kaede felt a deep sense of contentment that she had longed for, as if every worry had momentarily melted away.

Eventually, Mirei stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze fell on Kaede, who was still fast asleep beneath her, looking both adorable and stunning in the soft morning light. Mirei's heart swelled as she took in her girlfriend's sleeping face, thinking about how much Kaede had grown into this beautiful, strong person. She felt her admiration deepen even further, realizing just how lucky she was to have someone like Kaede by her side.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, Mirei noticed a trail of drool on Kaede's chest -evidence of her deep sleep. Her eyes widened, and she felt a flush of embarrassment. Oh no! she thought, scrambling to wipe it away before Kaede woke up. Trying to be careful, she reached over to brush it off with her hand. But as her fingers made gentle contact with Kaede's skin, Kaede shivered and let out a soft, sleepy moan. Mirei's face turned beet red. What am I doing? she thought, mortified, her mind racing.

In her flustered state, Mirei lost her balance and slipped, her instinctive reaction causing her to grab onto Kaede for support. Before she could stop it, she tumbled from the couch, pulling Kaede along with her. With a soft yelp, Kaede blinked awake as they both landed in a heap on the floor, tangled together and dazed.

"Ah! I'm so sorry, Kaede!" Mirei stammered, her cheeks flaming red. She looked up at her sleepy girlfriend, who seemed to be processing what had just happened.

Kaede groaned lightly, still half-asleep, and took a moment to look around, realizing she'd fallen to the floor with Mirei. "What... what's going on?" she murmured, blinking as she tried to piece things together.

Mirei scratched the back of her head sheepishly, avoiding Kaede's gaze. "I... I accidentally drooled on you, and I was trying to clean it up, but... well, I didn't mean to wake you up like this." Her face flushed as she quickly looked away, embarrassed by her own clumsiness.

Kaede looked down, realizing the drool stain on her chest, and felt her own cheeks grow warm. "Oh... wow, thanks for that, Mirei," she mumbled, half-laughing as she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. She was about to respond further when it dawned on her that they were both still completely naked from the night before. Her blush deepened, and she quickly looked away, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and affection.

Mirei, catching Kaede's shy expression, chuckled. "Sorry, sorry! I'll be more careful," she said, her laugh gentle as she admired Kaede's flustered reaction. She reached out, giving Kaede an apologetic pat on the shoulder. Kaede, with a shy smile, brushed off Mirei's apology, saying it was fine, even though her cheeks were still slightly pink.

Kaede moved to stand, but as Kaede was about to get up, Mirei caught her wrist, pulling her into a tight, affectionate hug. "Wait, Kaede... let's stay like this just a little longer," Mirei murmured, burying her face in Kaede's shoulder as she held her close, feeling the warmth of Kaede's skin against hers.

Kaede nodded, understanding Mirei's need for a little more closeness. She wrapped her arms around Mirei, gently stroking her back in comforting circles, feeling their breaths sync. It was a quiet, shared moment, the kind they both treasured, with no words needed.

After a few minutes, Mirei's playful personality surfaced again. Her hands roamed slowly, reaching around to lightly squeeze Kaede's butt. With a mischievous grin, she whispered, "Or... maybe we could have another round?"

Kaede jumped, pulling back with a startled laugh, shaking her head. "You're so shameless, Mirei!"

Mirei pouted, pretending to be hurt. "Okay, okay, I get it," she replied dramatically. "But... how about a shower together, then? Pleeease?"

Kaede's face flushed once more at the suggestion, but she managed to shake her head firmly. "Mirei... no."

"Why not?" Mirei teased, giving Kaede a playful pout. "Are you not interested in me anymore?"

Kaede rolled her eyes, fighting back a grin. "You're such a... a pervert!"

They both burst into laughter, Mirei clinging to Kaede in a mock pout. "Oh, come on! I've always wanted to try one of those 'shower together' scenes! I've seen it in movies!" she said, looking at Kaede with wide, pleading eyes.

With a sigh and a smile, Kaede eventually relented. "Fine, but no touching in, um, sensitive areas," she warned, giving Mirei a serious look.

Mirei nodded, but her eyes sparkled with excitement. They made their way to the bathroom, where Kaede turned on the water, waiting for Mirei to join her. Mirei hesitated, watching Kaede, her gaze lingering a bit longer than usual.

"Uh, are you just going to stand there?" Kaede asked, flustered by Mirei's stare.

Mirei laughed, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm just... worried that I might lose control, you know?" she teased with a wink.

Kaede sighed, rolling her eyes. "You're impossible, you know that? Just get in here."

As they stepped under the warm water, they began to wash each other's hair, shampooing and laughing together. The bubbles added a playful touch, and before long, they were soaping each other's backs, laughing at how silly they felt. Mirei kept throwing playful glances Kaede's way, and despite her best efforts, Kaede couldn't help but get caught up in the fun.

Finally, as they rinsed off, Mirei leaned in, sneaking a quick kiss on Kaede's lips. Before Kaede could react, Mirei deepened the kiss, pinning Kaede gently against the cold wall, her lips pressing more passionately than before. Kaede gasped, caught off-guard, but soon found herself returning the kiss with equal intensity as the water poured over them.

As Mirei broke the kiss, she grinned mischievously, stuck out her tongue, and ran off to grab a towel. Kaede, catching her breath, was left slightly dazed by the unexpected kiss. She was stunned by her girlfriend's playful boldness, still feeling the warmth of their closeness and the lingering taste of their kiss. She quickly shut off the shower and followed Mirei out, grabbing a towel as she sighed, "Goodness, Mirei… what movies have you been watching?"

Mirei laughed, wrapping her towel around herself with a cheeky smile. "Only the best ones," she teased, giving Kaede a wink.

As they got dressed and headed to the kitchen, Kaede prepared a simple brunch. She cooked a steak, one of Mirei's favorites, and served it with a side of eggs. This was the first time Kaede had cooked for Mirei, and the excitement and nervousness showed in her face.

"Wow, Kaede! I didn't know you could cook like this," Mirei said, genuinely impressed. "When did you learn?"

Kaede gave her a small, bashful smile. "After Mom passed... I thought I should learn, at least for myself."

Mirei's face softened, and she reached out to gently squeeze Kaede's hand.

"You've grown so much, Kaede... more amazing every day. I'll have to work hard to keep up with you, or else someone else might try to snatch you away!"

Kaede blushed and shook her head. "No way. I'd never want anyone else but you." she replied softly.

Pleased, Mirei leaned in, her eyes shining. "I love you so much, Kaede," she whispered.

Kaede smiled, and they continued their brunch, savoring the peaceful, heartfelt morning. It was a new day, but neither of them would forget this moment anytime soon. With the warmth of each other's love filling the room, they knew they'd carry the memory through whatever lay ahead.