Kahoko woke the next morning, squinting at the bright sunlight that filtered through her curtains. She groaned and pulled the covers up over her head in an attempt to blot out the light. As she closed her eyes, she remembered what, or rather who, had happened last night and sat up with a jolt. She looked around. No sign of Yunoki. No note, nothing. She checked her phone. No calls, no messages.
With a sigh of relief, Kahoko sank back onto her pillows.
She had spent the night with a someone. A man. Here. In her room, in her bed. It was strange to think about.
She noted that Yunoki had acted differently last night. More kind, more open than she was used to. He had been gentle and warm and she had actually enjoyed being with him. He'd talked his way into her house, into her bed, but she hadn't felt threatened.
The change was nice, but somehow it made her feel uneasy. He hadn't asked for sex, which was good, but she wondered what she would have done if he had. She could say no, but he never listened and he was a lot stronger than she was, anyway. Would they have gone back out to his car? Would he have forced her-here in her own bed?
Kahoko wrapped her arms around a pillow and pulled it close. This was her room. This was where she felt safest. This is where she went when she wanted to be alone, where she had spent her childhood.
But things had changed. She had changed. Her childhood was over.
She closed her eyes and imagined Yunoki. She imagined waking up next to him in her bed. If he was in a good mood, if he was being nice, he would wish her good morning. He would lean over and kiss her. The sun would spill in through the window and onto them both, and if she looked up at him, there would be a halo of light crowning his head. And then, if he wanted more, if he was feeling particularly kind, he would be slow and gentle. He would take his time with his kisses, and she would pull him close and then—
"Kahoko? Are you awake?"
Kahoko turned away so her mother wouldn't see her blushing face if she opened the door. "Yes, mom."
"You'd better come downstairs, then. Breakfast is ready."
"Okay, just a minute."
She waited until the sound of footsteps faded away before throwing back the covers and sitting up.
Kahoko frowned. Did she actually care for Yunoki? Until last night, she wouldn't have entertained the idea, but now it seemed like something had changed. Something she couldn't quite put a finger on.
She didn't love him. She didn't even know if she liked him most of the time. But she felt like whatever their relationship was, it was growing stronger, and she couldn't help feeling that it was becoming more and more important.
It was terrifying, of course, but in a different way than before. Something was coming, something was changing, but she couldn't be sure what that something was.
Author's Note: Short chapter is short. Sorry!