Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 25 - Darkness Falls, a Star Is Born

???'s POV:

How long has it been?

Hours? Perhaps more. I lost track somewhere between the first and the hundredth blink. The ceiling has offered me nothing but silence, and so has my body—motionless beneath sheets of silk so fine they whisper when I shift.

It's not the discomfort of the bed. On the contrary, it is perhaps too comfortable. Woven from thread finer than most will ever touch in a lifetime, the mattress contours around me like memory foam. And yet, not even the most luxurious silks in Japan can cradle a restless mind.

''.  .  .''

Insomnia is always a strange companion, but when you get used to it, it doesn't feel as bad as it used to. I gave up trying to sleep some time ago. Minutes blended into hours, hours folded into nothing. All I've done since is wait—for what, exactly, I'm unsure. Morning, perhaps. The hour where it becomes acceptable to leave the bed without a reason.

The curtains are drawn tight, but even they cannot keep the morning at bay. A faint seam of sunshine leaks right through my room. No matter how grand the room, how high the walls or deep the drapes, the sun always finds its way in. It's not intrusive. It simply arrives, the way it always does. 

Judging by that, the sign that marks the beginning of a new day is about to come. I can hear footsteps outside my room door, approaching second by second. A hand grabs the doorknob, the door creaks open. Just like that, he's here again. On time, as always. I should thank him someday. He never misses a morning. How does he manage to do this every day?

''Madoka-sama, it's time to wake up.''

The lights flicker on, my vision returns. My pupils shrink instinctively, but I don't shield them. There's no use resisting what I already anticipated. Everything is exactly as I left it yesterday—the way I prefer. And standing there, as always, is the same face that greets me every morning. Comfortable? Maybe not.

"Punctual as always, Mori." I slide the covers off, their silk rustling like falling water. I sit up slowly, grounding myself in motion. ''But I think I'm old enough to get up on my own now.''

He offers the faintest hint of a smile and a bow. "Your kind words warm my heart as always, Madoka-sama. As your family's butler, it is both my honor and obligation to ensure that each day begins with purpose. Selecting the most opportune hour for your activities is still but a small part of that duty."

Akasada Mori, my personal butler. I have known him for as long as I can remember. In truth, he has served my family since before I was even born. From the day I first stepped foot into this mansion as a baby, my mother assigned him as my caretaker. In addition to my personal concerns, he also has always been there to address the general issues of the household.