CHAPTER 280: SOON TO BE TOGETHER ( 280 )

She reached for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she tapped Haruki’s contact.

The screen lit up.

Calling...

She pressed it to her ear, heartbeat echoing in the silence.

One ring... two...

No answer.

Her brows furrowed. She pulled the phone away, stared at the screen, then quickly tapped again, calling once more.

Still nothing.

She stared at the ceiling, pouting softly.

Inside her mind.

Mou Haruki... pick up the call...

Why now? When her whole body was hot, when she needed to hear his voice, feel that calm, low whisper only he could give her, why now was he sleeping like a log?

She glanced at the time.

2:14 AM.

"...Ah..." she mumbled under her breath. "No wonder..."

Her cheeks puffed slightly in mock annoyance as she fell back against the futon, clutching the pillow close.

Mou... Haruki!!

Her thighs shifted restlessly beneath the blanket.

She stared at the ceiling, her face flushed and lips parted as she whispered with a breathless huff,

"Just you wait..."

Her fingers curled around the blanket, pulling it over her head like she could bury her heat beneath it.

Kyouko looked up at the ceiling.

Restless.

She pulled the pillow over and pressed her face into it, her muffled voice letting out a quiet, frustrated.

"Ugh!! I hate this!!"

Just then, her phone rang.

She blinked, pulling the pillow away.

The name on the screen lit her eyes instantly.

Haruki.

Her heart fluttered. She smiled, excited.

She answered quickly, her voice soft and warm.

"Hello, Haruki~"

On the other end, his voice came through, low and hoarse.

"Hello, Kyouko... mmn... sorry. Just woke up."

She could hear him shifting under his blanket.

"Do you need anything?" he asked, still half-asleep.

"Mmm... nothing," she replied, rolling onto her side, facing the phone. "Just missed you."

"You still didn’t sleep?"

"Not yet... I don’t know... I just can’t sleep. Because of someone~"

Haruki let out a quiet, sleepy chuckle.

"Because of someone, huh?"

Kyouko curled her fingers around the edge of her blanket, her voice dipping to a soft murmur.

"Yes~ someone who whispered naughty things and made it hard for me to sleep."

Haruki groaned under his breath. "Don’t tell me I caused that."

"You did," she said, almost in a whisper. "Now I can’t stop thinking... about how it’ll feel... when you finally touch me again."

There was silence on the other end.

Then, Haruki exhaled.

"...Kyouko..."

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t stop. Her voice trembled slightly, but her words were clear.

"I’m restless," she whispered. "My body feels... empty without you."

There was a gentle pause. Then a low, affectionate chuckle hummed through the speaker.

"Do you want me to come over?"

"No~" she murmured with a quiet pout, drawing the blanket closer to her chin. "Just let me hear your voice... that’s enough. Besides..." Her gaze drifted to the clock by the wall. "Our wedding is... today. In just a few hours."

"You still haven’t slept," he said softly.

She closed her eyes. "Who’s fault do you think that is?"

A pause. Then came his teasing voice. "Me? I don’t think so~"

"Mou..." she sighed with a breathy smile.

"You excited about tomorrow?" Haruki asked, his tone calm, but something warm lingered beneath it.

"Mmm... yes," she said, her fingers brushing over the soft futon. "I am."

"I’m glad." There was no teasing in his voice now. Just quiet happiness.

"Haruki...?" she whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Did you miss me...?"

He drew in a breath. It wasn’t rushed. It was slow, deep—filled with things left unsaid.

"You have no idea..." he murmured. "You don’t know how hard I’ve had to hold back here."

Kyouko then asked again, her voice soft .

"Are you really sure...?"

"Hmm? About marrying you?" Haruki replied without hesitation, his voice calm and steady. "Don’t ask again. Yes, I’m sure."

Kyouko smiled, her eyes gently narrowing with that serene tenderness only she could hold.

"Don’t blame me if I grow older faster than you~"

"You sure?" Haruki’s quiet laughter came through the line, warm and affectionate. "Since you inherited your mother’s genes... I don’t think so~"

Kyouko let out a soft laugh, her fingers curling loosely over the edge of the blanket as she lay on her side, facing the pale moonlight that spilled through the paper windows.

"Still... even if I change, even if I get wrinkles... promise me you won’t stop loving me."

"No~" Haruki whispered. "I don’t think you’re going to get old. Just look at your mother—her hair still smooth and black,her skin soft... And look at you now, Kyouko—how you’re glowing. You already look younger than even me."

She blushed lightly, though he couldn’t see it, her heart quietly blooming with warmth.

"Silly man..." she whispered.

"Your man," he corrected gently.

A pause followed. Silent but filled with the comfort of knowing that in a few hours, they would no longer need to speak through phones and distance.

They would be side by side.

Finally, openly.

"Now go to sleep, Kyouko... it’s nearly 3 a.m. I don’t want you to be tired during our wedding," Haruki said gently.

"Mm... okay..." she murmured, voice a little reluctant, like a child not ready to let go of her favorite lullaby.

"Because believe me, Kyouko," Haruki added, his tone low and teasing, "I won’t let you rest during our honeymoon."

A faint giggle escaped her lips.

"Naughty~"

"I’m serious~" he whispered, a smile lacing his words.

Kyouko’s hand gently brushed her pillow, heart fluttering with a mixture of anticipation and affection.

"Mm... I know... Goodnight, Haruki~"

"Goodnight, Kyouko~"

The call ended.

But the warmth lingered in her chest as she nestled beneath the futon, eyes finally closing... a serene smile on her lips.

Tomorrow—she would be his bride.

And nothing in the world felt more right than that.

Meanwhile...

Haruki smiled after the call ended.

He placed the phone gently beside his futon and let out a quiet breath, filled with something deeper than joy.

In just a few more hours, Kyouko...

We’re going to be together.

Officially.

No more hiding.

No more pretending.

As husband.

And wife.

He looked toward the soft silhouettes of the sleeping children nearby, their soft breathing filling the quiet room like a lullaby.

Everything had led to this moment.

And soon... she would walk toward him in white.

( End Of Chapter )