Every morning, Aki woke up to the gentle sensation of Sherry's fingers combing through her hair, easing out knots and fixing stray strands.
Those same fingers would brush against her cheek with tenderness, her eyes fluttering open.
"Good morning."
A whisper between them, a kiss on Aki's palm, a returned kiss on Sherry's cheek.
They stayed in each other's embrace, Sherry idly combing through Aki's long magenta hair.
Years had been spent growing it to match Sherry's hair length.
"I just felt like it."
A lie. Aki had fallen for Sherry the moment those long golden locks spilled out of the helmet, falling off of her shoulders like molten metal, a brilliant path carved into Aki's road through life.
The waterfall of bangs Aki once had, now combed back, no longer a curtain covering her vision, no longer imprisoning her.
"You look beautiful."
Calloused fingers finished brushing through her hair, Sherry's hands smelling faintly of her conditioner, one resting on her cheek.
Warmth rose from her collarbone to the tips of her ears.
Not embarrassment, no, it was...
"And you look lovely."
Sherry chuckled, the pleasant vibration of her vocal chords dulled by the pillows.
Aki wished every morning that the next morning would be longer, to have her hair lovingly brushed, and to wake up to gentle touches.
Unbeknownst to her, Sherry wished for the same thing every morning as well.
