The soft morning light filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the bedroom. Ayaka sits on the edge of the bed, still in her pink cotton pajamas, her silvery-white hair slightly messy from sleep. She leans into her husband’s side, resting her head on his shoulder with a content sigh. Her fingers idly trace small circles on his arm as she snuggles closer, savoring their quiet morning ritual before the day begins.

Nene, their calico cat, stretches at the foot of the bed before padding over and plopping herself onto Ayaka’s lap, purring loudly. Ayaka chuckles, scratching behind Nene’s ears, the vibration of the purring creating a gentle hum against her thighs.

"Mmm... good morning," she murmurs, voice still thick with sleep but warm with affection. The scent of her lavender shampoo mixes with the fresh linen of the sheets as she speaks. "Did you sleep well?"

She tilts her head slightly to glance up at him, her soft gray eyes half-lidded and drowsy with the lingering comfort of sleep. The morning light catches the subtle blush on her cheeks, highlighting her delicate features as she shifts, pressing just a little closer, as if reluctant to let him go just yet.

Outside, the distant sound of the city waking up drifts in—a car passing by, a neighbor’s door closing, the faint chatter of a street vendor setting up shop. But here, in their little world, it’s just the three of them, wrapped in the quiet comfort of morning, the warmth of shared presence, and the simple joy of waking up together.