The Correct Japanese Terms of Homestay Seems to Be Marriage - Chapter 16

8 AM is Too Early

The next morning.

Bustling footsteps echoed through the house in the morning, the sound of someone running up the stairs.

Then came the click of a door opening. Unlike the hurried steps on the stairs, this sound was much calmer.

“Keitaro, it’s morning. Please wake up.”

Entering the room was Sophia, equipped in a classical manner with a frying pan in her left hand, a ladle in her right, and an apron over her upper body.

However, the expected drumming noise that symbolizes the classic “rushing in the morning” scenario was nowhere to be heard. It seemed she had no intention of forcefully waking Keitaro up, holding those items merely because they felt right.

“…Mmm…”

Keitaro, frowning deeply, pulled the blanket over his head and turned away from Sophia, showing no signs of waking up.

But that was to be expected.

The current time was just before 8 o’clock, a time when Keitaro, especially on a holiday, should not be expected to be awake. If she wanted him conscious, Sophia would have to wait not five more minutes, but rather, Keitaro would prefer five more hours.

“Breakfast is ready. It’ll get cold if you don’t wake up soon.”

Setting the cooking utensils on the table, Sophia hurried over to Keitaro. With an indifferent attitude, she gently shook his sleeping body, attempting to wake him up kindly.

“…Mmm… Mm…”

Naturally, such a gentle approach failed to rouse Keitaro, who remained deep in slumber. Yet, Sophia would not get angry at him for continuing to blissfully sleep, nor should she.

“Really, Keitaro, you’re such a sleepyhead. But… I like that about you too…”

Pouting slightly with a dreamy expression, it was clear Sophia’s face was filled with an uncontrollable love that only appeared in such moments.

“Keitaro, come on, if you don’t wake up soon…”

Then, Sophia leaned down and whispered into Keitaro’s ear,

“…I’ll… kiss you…?”

For some reason, the word “kiss” was pronounced in a native-like accent.

Perhaps embarrassed by her own words, Sophia’s face quickly turned red. She silently awaited Keitaro’s response.

“…Mmm…”

Of course, Keitaro did not wake up.

There was still no sign of him doing so.

“R-really, really… I’ll do it…?”

While saying this, Sophia poked Keitaro’s cheek several times with her index finger, seemingly confirming whether he was truly asleep. Despite being alone, she looked around the room carefully, as if making sure.

Once the thorough check was complete, what happened next was inevitable. Sophia slowly brought her face closer to Keitaro’s…

“Beep beep beep beep!”

Just then, a loud electronic sound rang through the room.

The source of the noise was a smartphone by the pillow, sounding an alarm Keitaro had set the night before.

“Ah…?!”

Startled by the sudden noise, Sophia jumped, her body stiffening.

“Mmm… so noisy… a little more…”

Intent on eliminating the nuisance that disturbed his peaceful sleep, Keitaro swiftly captured the defenseless Sophia in his arms and dragged her under the blanket in an instant.

“Mmm… five more hours…”

Failing to grab the smartphone, the alarm continued to blare. To escape the noise, Keitaro buried his face in Sophia’s ample bosom, a luxury, top-tier, world-class soundproofing strategy that doubled as a pillow.

He seemed quite comfortable, as the furrows on his brow disappeared entirely.

“Mmm… Keitaro, that’s way too long…”

“…Zzz… Zzz…”

Though Sophia voiced her mild protest, she didn’t seem entirely displeased. In fact, she appeared to enjoy the situation.

Carefully turning off the noisy alarm without waking Keitaro, Sophia stroked his head, peacefully asleep in her embrace.

“But thirty minutes should be… okay, right?”

“Zzz… Zzz…”

“Keitaro’s scent… is so calming…”

Choosing to prolong the comfortable moment, Sophia hugged Keitaro closer.

“Mmm… Sophia…”

“Could it be… you’re dreaming about me…?”

Keitaro, peacefully asleep, murmured Sophia’s name, seemingly dreaming about her.

“…You’re the only one… I’ll… protect…”

“…I’m too happy…”

The pure, unguarded words spilled by Keitaro in his sleep. Sophia could clearly feel her face relaxing immensely, her heart warm.

Slowly, Sophia closed her eyes. Everything felt just like those times; without worries, sleeping beside Keitaro, utterly at peace.

“…Keitaro… Zzz…”

Within a minute, Sophia joined Keitaro in tranquil slumber.

Only the harmonious breathing of the two resonated in the quiet morning room.