Chapter 186: A Morning of Warmth
When I opened my eyes, sunlight had already begun to stretch across the curtains, and for a few seconds, I didn’t know where I was. My heart skipped.
“Keiko…”
The name left my mouth before I even realized it. Then it hit me — I’d fallen asleep last night while waiting for her.
My chest tightened for a second. Did she come home safely?
I turned my head slowly, nerves running wild — and then my hand brushed against something warm and soft. I blinked.
There she was — Keiko — fast asleep beside me.
I swear, my heart just about jumped out of my chest from relief. I let out a small, shaky laugh under my breath. “Thank god…”
She was sleeping so peacefully, her breathing calm and even. Her hair was a little messy, and her glasses were still on. Must’ve been exhausted…
I smiled softly, then very, very carefully reached out and took her glasses off. Her lashes fluttered just a bit from the movement, and I froze — completely still — like a thief caught mid-act. When she didn’t wake up, I exhaled quietly and placed the glasses on the nightstand.
Turning on my side, I just… looked at her for a while.
Even after everything that happened — the fight, the blood, Riku, the hospital — this tiny, peaceful moment made it feel like the world was finally slowing down.
I gently reached out and brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. She stirred slightly, mumbling something I couldn’t catch, then went still again.
She’s so strong… and yet, she still looks so soft when she’s asleep.
My eyelids grew heavier. I sighed and, for the first time in a while, felt at peace enough to drift back to sleep.
---
The next sound I heard was Keiko’s alarm blaring right beside my ear. I groaned and buried my face in the pillow.
Then I felt her move. “Mmm…”
She yawned softly, stretching her arms out before rubbing her eyes. When I opened mine again, her face was right there — close enough that I could see every detail of her sleepy expression.
“Morning, honey,” I said quietly, smiling.
Her eyes widened, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. “W-why are you so close?!”
I chuckled, ignoring her protest, and slowly moved closer to hug her. My stomach still ached, so I had to do it gently. But I didn’t care — the warmth of her body against mine was worth every bit of the discomfort.
“You’ve done well,” I whispered, patting her head softly.
Keiko froze. Her cheeks turned crimson, and she let out a small, flustered laugh. “W-what’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
I grinned. “I’m just appreciating my wife.”
That made her squeak and hide her face behind the blanket. “Geez, Ryusei… can you not say things like that so early in the morning?”
“Why not?” I teased. “Can’t I appreciate my wife?”
“Because,” she mumbled, peeking out with red cheeks, “the wife isn’t very good at taking it!”
I blinked, then smirked. “Oh? That sounds like a challenge.”
She pouted, clearly at her limit — and then suddenly leaned forward and pressed her lips against mine.
It was slow… warm… gentle.
I froze at first, caught completely off guard, then kissed her back softly. The world went silent for those few seconds.
When she pulled away, I was smiling like an idiot.
“Why are you smiling like that?” she asked, still red but trying to act annoyed.
I tilted my head. “Secret.”
“Secret, huh?” she muttered, flicking my forehead lightly.
We both laughed quietly — a kind of laughter that felt like healing.
---
After things settled down, I stretched my arms and said, “Sorry… I fell asleep last night before you came home.”
Keiko shook her head. “That’s fine. You just got discharged, remember? Besides, it took longer than I expected.”
I frowned. “So… what happened exactly?”
She sighed and sat up properly. “Well, the police called me in because they caught Riku’s grandmother.”
My eyes widened. “Riku’s grandma?”
“Yeah,” she continued, “apparently she was involved in the whole body-switch mess. They believe she might’ve helped Riku — or, well, Reina — cause the whole thing.”
I tried to remember. “She was that old lady who found me after the storm, right?”
Keiko nodded. “Exactly. The same one. Do you remember what happened when you first woke up in her house?”
I frowned, trying to dig through the haze of memory. “I… I remember waking up in a girl’s body. Confused as hell. But I don’t really remember how it happened. Everything before that is just blank.”
Keiko sighed, her brows furrowing. “That’s what the police are stuck on too. They’ve been questioning both Riku and her grandmother, but they won’t say a word about the switch itself.”
I leaned back, rubbing my neck. “So we still don’t know how it started, huh?”
“Not yet.” She crossed her arms. “But I have a feeling they’re close. Maybe once the old woman talks, they’ll figure it out.”
“I’ll try to recall more,” I said. “Maybe there’s something I forgot.”
Keiko nodded softly. “It’s okay. You’ve already been through a lot. Just rest for now.”
She suddenly gasped and looked at the clock. “Oh no, I’m going to be late!”
I blinked. “You’re going to work already? You sure you’re okay? You barely slept!”
She smiled while rushing to the closet. “I have to finish that report today. Don’t worry, it’s just paperwork.”
“Still…” I said, watching her hurry around the room. “Don’t overdo it, okay? I don’t want you collapsing next to me next time.”
Keiko laughed, turning to me with that familiar soft smile. “I’m fine, Ryusei. I promise.”
“Oh, by the way,” she said casually, “I asked for a half-day off today.”
I blinked, surprised. “Huh? Why?”
She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. “Don’t tell me you forgot… what day is it today?”
I froze for a second — then my stomach dropped.
Oh no.
“Rin’s… birthday,” I muttered, realization dawning on me.
Keiko crossed her arms and gave me a teasing look. “Bad dad. You totally forgot about that, didn’t you?”
I looked away, scratching the back of my neck, guilt burning my cheeks. “S-sorry… things got really hectic these past few days. I’ll, uh… take full responsibility.”
Keiko laughed softly, shaking her head. “Relax, I’m just teasing you. I know how crazy things have been. The important thing is—we’ll celebrate it together.”
I smiled in relief, warmth spreading in my chest. “Yeah… together.”
She walked over, leaned down, and kissed my cheek. “Now get up, birthday dad. You’ve got a party to help with.”
As she left again, I couldn’t help but smile wider.
Despite everything that happened—the storms, the switch, the chaos—life was slowly finding its way back to normal.
And today, we had something worth celebrating again.