Secrets Among the Elite kiyotaka x suzune

Chapter 6: Morning Surprises

The soft morning light filtered through the blinds, casting a warm glow over the small dorm room. Kiyotaka Ayanokoji stirred in his sleep, the quiet stillness of the early hour gently pulling him from his dreams. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the soft light, and as his consciousness returned, he became acutely aware of a warmth beside him.

Suzune Horikita was nestled against him, her arms wrapped around his torso, her face pressed gently against his chest. Her breathing was slow and even, her expression peaceful, and—most surprising of all—she was smiling. It was a subtle, almost shy smile, one that Kiyotaka had never seen from her before. The sight of it caught him off guard, a strange mix of emotions fluttering in his chest.

For a moment, Kiyotaka simply lay there, unsure of what to do. The rational part of his mind told him to gently wake her and avoid any potential awkwardness. But another part of him, one that he didn't often listen to, urged him to stay still, to savor the rare moment of closeness.

He finally decided to try and wake her, shifting slightly to create some space. "Horikita," he whispered, his voice soft.

She didn't stir. Instead, she tightened her hold on him, snuggling closer as if she didn't want to let go of whatever dream she was having. Kiyotaka's heartbeat quickened slightly, an unfamiliar sensation washing over him. He considered his options and, acting on an impulse he couldn't quite explain, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

The reaction was immediate. Horikita's eyes fluttered open, her expression shifting from sleepy contentment to surprise. Her face turned a bright shade of red as she realized their proximity, her lips still tingling from the unexpected kiss.

"A-Ayanokoji!" she stammered, her voice filled with embarrassment. She quickly buried her face in his chest, hiding from the world, her arms still wrapped around him as if she couldn't quite decide whether to pull away or stay close.

Kiyotaka chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through his chest and into her ear. "Good morning," he said, his tone light and teasing.

Horikita mumbled something incoherent into his chest, clearly too flustered to form a coherent response. After a moment, she peeked up at him, her eyes still wide with embarrassment but also tinged with something else—something softer.

"That... wasn't fair," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kiyotaka smiled, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Maybe not, but it woke you up."

She huffed, though the sound lacked any real annoyance. "I'm awake now... so you can stop teasing me."

"Fair enough," Kiyotaka replied, though he didn't make any move to pull away from her. Instead, he simply held her, enjoying the quiet intimacy of the moment. It wasn't something he was used to, but with Horikita, it felt surprisingly natural.

After a few more moments of silence, Horikita finally seemed to regain her composure. She shifted slightly, loosening her grip on him, but she didn't fully pull away. "We should... probably get up," she suggested, though there was a reluctance in her voice.

"Probably," Kiyotaka agreed, though he didn't make any immediate move to do so. "But it's a Saturday. We've got time."

Horikita considered this for a moment, then sighed softly, a small smile playing on her lips. "I suppose we do." She finally pulled away from him, though the warmth of their closeness lingered. "Let's make breakfast."

They got up and made their way to the small kitchen area in Kiyotaka's dorm. The atmosphere between them was comfortable, the earlier awkwardness having dissolved into something more relaxed and familiar. They worked together to prepare a simple breakfast—eggs, toast, and some leftover fruit they had found in Kiyotaka's mini-fridge.