"Kaoru!"
"……."
Late at night, after finishing his schedule and coming home, Kaoru was greeted at the front door by the sight of his adorable wife waiting for him with starlit eyes that gleamed like a puppy’s.
All his usual indifference vanished. He could only reach out with his right arm, take her hand, and pull her into his embrace.
What kind of husband could possibly resist that?
"A dedicated kids’ model for Haito…"
"Mm-hm. What do you think, Kaoru?"
"Well…"
After getting home and showering, Kaoru listened to the whole story about the kids’ model offer with his wife sitting on his lap. He fell into thought for a moment.
If the twins wanted it, then as their parent, it was naturally a proposal he had no choice but to accept. He already intended to let them experience as much as possible, and if they turned out to have a talent for this industry, he was prepared to roll up his sleeves and support them wholeheartedly.
Aqua, Ruby… if they wanted to become models or actors or singers and were willing to work hard for it, then of course that was what a parent should do.
Honestly, the decision itself was easy. If the twins wanted to do it themselves, there was no reason to refuse.
But… Kaoru stared at his wife’s starlit eyes with a strange, unreadable look.
……
They had been skin to skin, raising their babies together, effectively bound as husband and wife for more than five years now.
Just by looking at the child’s eyes, listening to her breathing, hearing her voice, watching where her gaze went, even by the way she spoke—he could now tell, for the most part, what she was feeling and what was on her mind.
Those starlit eyes that carefully read his emotions in a way she usually didn’t, the way she kept touching both of her hands while her gaze lingered on her right hand, the way she’d come into the room carrying folded laundry while changing clothes and gently touch her right side—
Even if she had gone with Miyako to pick the babies up from kindergarten, she must have already heard about the Supreme Court’s ruling announced today.
She was the one who had hurt, grieved, and raged even more than he had as the person directly involved, so there was no doubt she had cared deeply about the verdict too.
And yet she hadn’t said a word. Instead, she was trying even harder than usual to give him a brighter smile and more love, for his sake.
She seemed to be trying not to show it, so as not to worry him in return, but Kaoru had already seen right through her.
That was why it was so unbearably cute, and why he was grateful and sorry all at once.
Slowly, Kaoru moved both hands and said to Ai in a soft voice, "……If the babies said they want to do it, then they should."
"Huh? Really? Ah—ngh?"
As her husband’s large, warm hands kneaded not only her smooth, snow-white stomach but also her own hands and wrists resting on top of it to protect them from him, Ai squirmed from the ticklishness and embarrassment.
"Puhh— Kaoruuu!"
"…Why? Hahaha— why?"
Laughing as she twisted her small body in embarrassment, Ai was no match for him. Kaoru only tightened his hold, pulling her close and burying his lips against the slender, pale nape hidden beneath her long violet hair.
Now, completely trapped by her 183-centimeter-tall husband, Ai flushed red and couldn’t endure the feather-light, burning breath teasing her neck.
"Puh-hah! Dummy Oru! It tickles~!!!"
At his wife’s adorable cry—like a rabbit squeaking "pyeee—"—Kaoru lifted his lips from her neck and carefully turned her body so she was facing him.
Ai was startled all over again by the sheer strength of her husband, who effortlessly lifted and repositioned her as though she were a child.
Her starlit eyes went wide, and Kaoru’s blue eyes, now tinted with [sincerity], quietly whispered in his low voice, "Shh. You’ll wake the babies."
"Hngh—?"
As her husband’s intensity slowly became more and more genuine, Ai’s heart began pounding so hard it felt like it might burst, and her face gradually started to burn.
Unable to resist the delicate yet forceful desire in his touch, she ended up offering her lips to him.
His large right hand caressed her face as carefully as if he were handling a fragile piece of precious glass, and his thumb and forefinger tickled her ear.
Unlike his usual gentleness, her husband approached without hiding his desire to devour her as a wolf would, and Ai—
"Mmm— chuup—"
—was flustered by the force of it, and yet—
the moment she realized that this relentless affection was giving her, as a woman, a thrilling sense of fullness and pleasure, the explosive rush from her heart left her hands and feet tingling.
Her heartbeat began to drown out everything else, and in time with it, hot breaths spilled out in a rapid tempo.
"Hnn— huhh— chup— haa—"
Her breathing grew fast enough to make her nose wheeze.
Even while they were kissing, she couldn’t seem to keep pace through the only opening left to her, so she gulped in air desperately to make up for the breath she was losing.
Even so, Kaoru wrapped his hands and arms tightly around the back of her neck, her ears, and her lower back, kissing her as though he meant to swallow every rough, trembling breath she had left.
Her body and mind grew hazy.
Ai’s head was getting fuzzy from the lack of air, but paradoxically, her body only grew hotter, and the prickling, floating pleasure sliding down her spine made her dizzy all on its own.
Kaoru’s relentless kisses, his tongue tormenting the tender places inside her mouth, his fingers teasing her earlobes, the ticklish warmth stroking down her lower back—all of it slowly became one.
That strange, vibrating pleasure flowed through her chest and spine and into her whole body, refusing to let her stay still.
If he kept going like this, she felt like she’d be carried all the way to the peak of pleasure without ever knowing where the end was, and her consciousness would shoot upward and never come back down. So Ai lifted her trembling hand, pressed it against her husband’s chest, and pulled her head back.
"Haa— huhh— mm— Ka- oru— hngh— ju-just a sec, huu— haa! Haa! Ngh? Hah— mmngh… haa— huuuh… oohh… huh— hngh…. haah… huu…"
"……."
From the inside of her thighs wrapped around Kaoru’s waist all the way to her hips, calves, and even the tips of her toes, Ai’s muscles clenched so hard they trembled in spasms.
When he felt the pressure tightening around his waist and the rustling movement of his wife’s legs and toes inside her pajama bottoms—
Kaoru, who had been looking down at her for a moment as she clutched his collar pitifully and panted in little shudders, quietly lifted both arms and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Haa— huu…"
He could feel that even the pajama top she was wearing had been soaked through with heat and sweat. Kaoru slowly stroked her hair and back.
After about five breaths, the rough, aching gasps she’d been letting out gradually settled, and Ai, who had been burying her face in Kaoru’s chest, wriggled a little in his arms before finally letting go of his clothes and lifting her face away from his embrace to sit up and look at him.
……
"Are you okay?"
Her face was still bright red, the heat not yet gone. Her starlit eyes were wet. Her cute face looked a little sulky, as if she were mildly offended.
Kaoru smiled softly as if he didn’t know anything and asked. He knew, but for some reason he wanted to pretend he didn’t.
……
Thump! Thud!
"Puhuh— it hurts~"
Like a rabbit kicking with its front paws, Ai tapped at her husband’s chest with her tiny fists. She wasn’t putting real force into it, and it had never done any damage to Kaoru’s sturdy body anyway.
But that wasn’t the point.
"I don’t care. Dummy Oru! Dummy Oru! Dummy! Dummy! Dummy! Going off and doing that all on your own— all on your own—!"
"……."
Kaoru smiled and offered his chest until his wife’s anger subsided.
After a little while, Ai patted at his chest some more, but apparently she still wasn’t fully appeased, so she buried herself back in his arms.
Kaoru hugged her tightly again and lowered his head.
They said nothing and did nothing, simply feeling each other’s embrace.
Then, as if suddenly remembering what had happened today, Ai lightly bit her lip and, still nestled in Kaoru’s arms, began to speak.
"……I wanted to be a strength for Kaoru."
"……."
"I was just… so sad… and shocked… that instead of comforting you, I could only… cry like an idiot… so… because I’m your wife… I wanted to be a strength for you."
"…Ai."
"It’s stupid, isn’t it? I always… end up leaning on Kaoru instead… when it’s you who’s hurting and upset…"
Kaoru knew exactly what kind of feeling lay behind those words.
Just like him, after more than five years together, it was only natural that his wife could read his emotions and thoughts.
And even beyond that—whether she had exceptional powers of observation or a genius memory or not, her occasional frightening intuition was something even he, the man who had survived while hiding from the CIA, couldn’t win against.
So Kaoru didn’t avoid the conversation. He soothed his wife’s heart and said, "Don’t say that. Ai. You’re already enough—no, more than enough… you’re giving me strength."
"Kaoru…"
"……."
Ai lifted her face from his chest and looked at him with those still-wet starlit eyes.
Kaoru met her gaze without wavering, his blue eyes slowly blooming with a faint red starlight, and stroked her face with his large hand.
Then, as if wrapping her heart in warmth, he smiled and said, "I’ve gone through this kind of thing many times in my past life. I’ve been through worse than this, and I survived."
"……."
Ai’s starlit eyes filled with pity and sorrow, but Kaoru shook his head and continued, "But I was alone. I got through all of it without anyone I loved by my side. Saying it didn’t hurt would be a lie. I’m still human, after all. Even showing those feelings was a luxury, a struggle—and I was in too much pain to have the spare energy for it in the first place."
"Kaoru…"
"But now it’s different. Because I have you. Ai, you’re here beside me. The person I love. The person I love worries about me and protects me. Just your existence, just being here beside me, gives me strength and hope. That’s why… I can keep living."
"……."
"I’m not alone anymore. I’m with you. We became a family with the twins who look just like you and me. Every day is joyful and precious. So precious I hate to see the day pass. So happy it almost scares me, like I don’t deserve to live a life this happy."
When tears gathered in Ai’s starlit eyes and spilled down like a galaxy, Kaoru wiped them away with his thumb and said, "So stay by my side. So I can keep going, anytime."
"Sob— hngh— mm… mm… I will… I’ll stay beside Kaoru… Even if the Earth is destroyed, I’ll stay beside Kaoru… I’ll be with you forever… I promise."
Overcome by emotion at her husband’s [sincerity], Ai said through tears. Kaoru found her gratitude and her undeniable cuteness so precious that he could only pull his beloved wife close and smile.
"Ai."
"Kaoru…"
At this moment, when simply being beside each other was enough to give strength and support, they felt happiness in being able to share this time with the one precious lover who existed in the world for them alone.
Having shared their hearts and their [sincerity], the two of them soon shyly kissed again, as if by agreement.
-
The next day, early morning.
After sharing a hot night of love with her husband, Ai woke to find her skin restored from the fatigue of her busy schedule to the smooth, supple skin of the ultimate [idol], and stretched before getting out of bed.
What a refreshing, light body and condition! When was the last time a morning felt this good?
Ai’s starlit eyes shone brilliantly, and her usual bright smile bloomed like flowers in full color.
Even though it was Saturday, Kaoru was woken by the loss of the warmth he’d been holding tightly in his arms when Ai got up early for her schedule. He rubbed his tousled blond hair back and sat up.
"Ah, sorry~ You must be tired, so sleep a little more, Kaoru!"
"Mm— no, it’s fine…. I need to go jogging…. What time is your schedule? If I have time, I’ll make breakfast. Just a sec—"
"Eh? Breakfast? I’m fine, really. I’ll eat lunch with Miyako-chan—"
"Wait."
Kaoru said "wait" in a low, sleepy voice, then dressed himself in an instant like a soldier finishing wake-up call and headed into the living room.
He was even faster than his wife, who had gotten up first.
As expected of a veteran operative, Kaoru shook off sleep in no time. He opened the refrigerator, took out tomatoes and eggs, turned on the induction stove, set a frying pan down, and began cooking with practiced ease.
He scooped out the leftover multigrain rice from yesterday, microwaved it, and continued cooking quietly and swiftly so he wouldn’t wake the twins.
Drawn by the sizzling sounds and the fragrant, savory smell coming from the kitchen, Ai came out of the room, twitched her brows, and trotted over as if enchanted.
"Hee? Tomato and egg stir-fry?"
"Correct."
"Wow! Looks delicious. Thanks, Kaoru…. Even though you’re tired…"
"It’s fine…. If you’re really grateful, then here—"
"Eeeh—"
Kaoru tilted his head slightly toward her. Seeing her husband’s obvious intention as he offered his right cheek, Ai giggled and rose onto her toes to press her lips to it.
Smack
"……."
Watching the grin on Kaoru’s face stretch all the way to his ears as he stirred the frying pan, Ai lightly poked his waist, then hurried to get the rice from the microwave and finish preparing breakfast.
Soon, a simple but love-filled, nutritious breakfast was laid out. Taking her chopsticks, Ai picked up some warm multigrain rice and the delicious tomato-and-egg stir-fry and began eating.
"How is it?"
"Mmm— it’s delicious~♥ Tangy and savory! The seasoning is perfect!"
"Hehe— is that so?"
Kaoru sat across from her with his chin in his hand, smiling in satisfaction. He watched his wife eat breakfast like a baby rabbit nibbling away, his gaze dripping with honey.
Feeling his eyes on her, Ai curved her eyes into a smile like a beautiful crescent moon, then took a sip of water and remembered something she had forgotten.
"Oh. Hey, Kaoru. Do you have time in September?"
"…Mm… no. I’m booked solid. Why?"
"Ah… hehe… I said I’d go visit Teacher Goro, but I’ve never actually gone…. Aqua and Ruby are grown now, so I was thinking of going…"
"……."
Kaoru could only smile bitterly at the regret in her expression.
Using busyness as an excuse not to go had been nothing but a lie.
As she said, they really should go at least once…. Grateful that Ai had remembered Goro’s memorial day, which he had forgotten himself, and brought it up first, Kaoru nodded and quietly said, "First… I’ll do what I can to adjust things. Even if we can’t make it this year, if time opens up, we can go even if it isn’t exactly on the anniversary. Don’t worry too much, Ai."
"Mm. The babies are grown now, so I’m not worried. Even if it isn’t in September… if we go, I’m sure Teacher will be happy!"
"Yeah."
With a small smile, Ai hurried through the rest of her meal.
"Yah!"
After carrying her empty bowl to the sink, Ai trotted into the bathroom. She still had time, but it was always better to wash up early!
She put toothpaste on her toothbrush, filled the rinse cup with water, and looked into the mirror.
"……Ah!"
Under her pajama top, just above the left side of her chest, Ai found a small rash-like mark that was red and faintly visible.
Her rabbit eyes went wide. With a sudden suspicion, she lifted her long violet hair to check the back of her neck and her collarbone.
"……Ah!?"
A red mark, hidden by her long hair and previously out of sight….
This was definitely…
"Kyaaa…!"
Of all days, she had a drama shoot to finish and then a magazine photo shoot!
Of all days, the hot proof of her husband’s love had been left plainly on her neck and collarbone—
and imagining the awkward reactions of the people who would see it, Ai turned bright red and let out a furious rabbit-like squeak.
"Kaaaooooruuuu—!!!"
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