Morning light filtered through the curtains, painting the room in soft hues. Kaguya Shinomiya slowly opened her eyes, stretching languidly as a warm smile spread across her face.
Placing her hands on her lower back, she felt the faint ache left by last night's activities—a reminder of her time with the man she had loved for so many years. The thought made her cheeks flush a rosy pink.
"Seven years…" she murmured to herself.
It had been seven years since she first started dating Natsukawa Kanade. People often spoke of the "seven-year itch," the supposed hurdle that tested relationships. Yet for them, there was no itch, no distance to bridge. Their love had only deepened, growing richer with every passing day.
Even now, their nights were filled with so much affection and passion that it felt as though their emotions might spill over.
"I'll make leeks and oysters again tonight," Kaguya mused aloud, sitting upright on the bed. "And maybe I'll add something new this time…"
Her gaze drifted as she imagined what lay ahead. Ever since Hayasaka once teased her with the classic line, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach," Kaguya had taken it to heart.
It turned out to be true. The day her cooking won Kanade's approval, their relationship began to blossom even faster. They confirmed their feelings, officially became a couple, and before long, they stood side by side as husband and wife, just after their high school graduation.
Kanade didn't just win her heart; he also earned the respect of the Shinomiya family. With his sharp intellect and unparalleled determination, he had secured his place as her partner in every sense of the word.
It all felt like a dream—so perfect it was almost unbelievable.
"No, no, I can't waste time daydreaming," Kaguya chided herself, shaking her head as if to banish the warm haze clouding her thoughts. "I need to get up. If I laze around, Kanade might start thinking I've grown complacent."
She hurriedly got dressed, tidied the bed, and moved to freshen up.
Ever since their marriage, they had moved into a house of their own. It was a decision she made deliberately, wanting to experience the joys of building a life together without the interference of maids or staff. Kaguya, who once knew nothing of household chores, had taken it upon herself to learn.
Her daily life now revolved around housework and preparing for Kanade's return from work. Though it was a simple routine, she found endless satisfaction in it.
"Still… it gets lonely when he's not here," she muttered, glancing at the clock.
Even the background noise of the TV—a comedy show that she hadn't paid attention to—faded into irrelevance as her thoughts turned to Kanade.
"I wonder what he's doing right now. Should I call him?"
The thought of hearing his voice brightened her mood, but she quickly reconsidered. No, it's work hours. He might be in the middle of a meeting or giving a presentation. I can't disturb him.
Her lips pursed in thought before an idea struck her.
"Why not call Ai? It's been a while since we last talked. I wonder how she's doing."
With her usual decisiveness, Kaguya picked up her phone—a matching model she and Kanade shared—and scrolled through her contacts. She sent a video invitation to "Single Ai," a teasing label she had given Hayasaka.
Almost immediately, the request was declined.
"...!"
Kaguya's eyes widened in disbelief. What?!
"Is this because I bragged about my Valentine's Day with Kanade?" she fumed, her cheeks puffing in irritation. "That was weeks ago! Is she seriously still mad about that?"
But before Kaguya could vent her frustration further, her phone buzzed with an incoming call—from Hayasaka herself.
Her annoyance melted into a satisfied smirk.
Caught you, she thought, but outwardly she feigned indifference.
"What's this about? Regretting your rejection already?" Kaguya quipped as she answered, her tone laced with mock disdain.
On the other end of the call, Ai Hayasaka's face appeared, her expression both apologetic and exasperated. Though she had left the Shinomiya household after high school, the bond between the two girls had remained as strong as ever. No longer master and servant, they now treated each other like sisters.
Hayasaka was Kaguya's confidante—the one person she could talk to about things she couldn't share with Kanade.
Their relationship was undeniably close, but that didn't stop Kaguya from occasionally venting her frustrations.
Of course, Kaguya knew Hayasaka was still single. And though she tried to be sensitive about it, her happiness would inevitably bubble over. Every so often, she would "accidentally" brag about her life with Kanade, earning herself a well-deserved scolding. But would that stop her?
Absolutely not.
After all, what was the point of happiness if you couldn't show it off?
"Listen to me, my dear little Ai-chan," Kaguya began with a mischievous grin. "Last night, the president did that again! I told him I couldn't take anymore, but he just kept going! Honestly, he has no sense of moderation…"
"..."
"And let me tell you about Valentine's Day! A day full of meaning, and yet, he spent the entire day in bed with me! How unromantic is that?"
"..."
"Oh, and don't even get me started on our wedding anniversary! He came home with a ridiculous amount of perfume—every scent they had! I specifically told him not to buy such things, but he was so worried I wouldn't like it that he bought them all anyway. Can you believe it?"
"..."
"Ai-chan? Are you even listening?" Kaguya frowned. Normally, by this point, Hayasaka would have launched into a tirade, complaining about her shameless displays of affection. But today, she was uncharacteristically quiet.
"In the bedroom, the president is really a beast—"
"Huh?" Kaguya paused, hearing a strange noise from the other end. "What's that sound? It's… weird."
"No, nothing! Just… just panting. I'm running."
"Oh, you're exercising?" Kaguya's tone softened in understanding. "No wonder you didn't answer my video call earlier."
She imagined Hayasaka, usually so composed, breaking a sweat mid-run. It made sense now—Hayasaka was someone who took great care in maintaining her appearance and etiquette. She'd never let anyone see her in such a disheveled state.
Still, Kaguya couldn't resist imagining how hilarious it would be to catch Hayasaka at such a vulnerable moment.
"Next time, pick up anyway," she teased lightly, though a mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes. If I could snap a picture of her like that, it would be perfect leverage for later…
"Haa… Hmm!" Hayasaka suddenly exclaimed, her voice sounding strained.
"What's wrong now?" Kaguya asked, genuinely concerned.
"I tripped…! No, I just got poked by a branch… Er, by a stick. It startled me a little."
"Oh no, I'm sorry! Was it because you were talking to me?" Guilt crept into Kaguya's voice. She hadn't meant to distract her friend to the point of injury.
"Is it bad? Should I come check on you?" she offered, her worry growing.
"Ah… no! Don't… don't come!"
"Huh? Why not?"
"No, it's… it's coming… ah!"
"...Hello?"
Kaguya's brow furrowed as the line grew increasingly unclear. Hayasaka's voice became intermittent, her tone oddly higher-pitched than usual.
Then, without warning, the call disconnected.
"Hmph. How rude." Kaguya puffed out her cheeks in mild irritation, tossing her phone onto the bed. She picked up a nearby pillow and hugged it to her chest, patting it absentmindedly as she tried to make sense of the bizarre exchange.
"Well, whatever," she sighed, shaking off her unease. "It's probably nothing."
Resigning herself to her role, Kaguya turned her attention back to her duties. There was still so much to do before her beloved Kanade came home. Cooking, cleaning, and preparing everything perfectly—this was her way of expressing love.
She let out a small giggle.
"I really am the happiest woman in the world," she mused, her smile softening as thoughts of Kanade filled her mind once more.