Chapter 18: Morning, Princess

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Sunlight spilled through the curtains.

Soft. Warm. Too damn early.

Ken blinked awake, the unfamiliar weight across his chest making it hard to breathe—not in a bad way. Just… suffocating in a clingy way.

His eyes slowly adjusted.

Arashi.

His arm was flung over Ken's waist, face buried in the crook of Ken's neck, hair a mess, breathing steady.

Ken's heart thudded painfully.

It wasn't a dream.

Last night happened.

Their lips.

The teasing.

The darkness.

The heat.

Ken lay frozen, thoughts racing.

What do I do now? Do I move? Do I wake him up? What if he regrets it? What if I regret it?!

He lifted the blanket carefully, trying to sneak out—

But before he could escape, a hand tightened around his waist.

"Where you think you're going?" came Arashi's sleepy, low voice, muffled against his neck.

"I—I was just getting up—"

"Hmm." Arashi snuggled closer. "It's too early. Stay five more minutes."

Ken stiffened. "We're not actually a couple, you know. You just said that for fun."

"You kissed me back," Arashi murmured. "Twice."

Ken opened his mouth, then shut it.

"…Fine. Five minutes."

They lay still again.

Ken stared at the ceiling, completely aware of every place their bodies touched. Arashi's bare chest was warm against his side. His breath tickled Ken's skin. The scent of him was everywhere—soap, cologne, and something that was just Arashi.

"Hey, Ken."

"…What?"

"I'm your boyfriend now. So don't flirt with anyone else."

Ken turned to face him, raising a brow. "Excuse me?"

Arashi smirked, eyes still closed. "You heard me."

Ken sat up suddenly, grabbing the pillow and smacking Arashi's face with it.

"You're seriously annoying!"

Arashi laughed, grabbing the pillow and dragging Ken back down. "And you seriously look cute when you're mad."

Ken groaned into the mattress. "I should've just slept in my old apartment."

"But you didn't." Arashi rolled on top of him, pinning him gently. "You stayed. With me."

Ken didn't respond, his cheeks pink.

Arashi leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Good morning, princess."

"I swear, stop calling me that," Ken muttered, though he didn't push him away.

Eventually, they rolled out of bed.

Ken made breakfast—because Arashi nearly burnt the kitchen when he tried to help.

"Just sit down," Ken snapped, flipping the eggs.

Arashi leaned against the counter, sipping coffee with a grin. "So bossy. My boyfriend is such a housewife."

Ken turned and threw a piece of toast at him.

They bickered. They teased.

But underneath it all, something had changed.

Not all fights had to end in shouting now.

Some ended in smiles.

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