Saeko woke up with a pleasant scent lingering in her nose. Blinking awake, she found herself alone on her futon. Across the room, the others were sprawled together on another futon, their limbs tangled in a chaotic mess.
She sat up and checked the clock. I'm still in time. Relief washed over her as she slipped out onto the balcony. She'd never miss the first sunrise of the year.
The horizon was painted in soft hues of pink and gold, the sky gradually brightening with the promise of a new day.
"Mesmerizing," she murmured, hugging herself as the crisp morning air wrapped around her.
"From up here, the view's even better."
The voice startled her. She spun around, her eyes widening as she spotted Sota perched casually on the rooftop above her.
"I shouldn't even be surprised," she muttered, still gaping at him.
"Do you want to see?" he asked, extending a hand with that easy smile of his.
"No way I'm climbing up there," she replied, shaking her head firmly.
"I'll help you." He crouched lower, stretching his hand closer. "Just step on the windowsill. I've got you."
Before she could overthink, her body betrayed her hesitation. Tentatively, she stepped up, her fingers finding his. His hand wrapped around hers, firm and sure. In one effortless motion, he pulled her up, as if she weighed nothing.
How is he this strong? she wondered, her heart racing, not just from the height.
"It's... so high," she whispered, her voice shaky.
"You're fine," he reassured her softly, his hands lightly steadying her as he turned her to face the view.
Her breath caught. The entire world seemed bathed in a golden glow, the sun rising slowly to cast its first light on everything below.
The sudden chill of the morning air made her shiver. Sota, attuned to even the subtlest shifts in her, reacted instantly. Without a word, he stepped back and dropped lightly from the rooftop to the balcony below.
Her heart leapt. "Hey, don't leave me!" she yelped, her voice breaking with fear at being left alone so high up.
In a moment, he was back on the rooftop, his suit jacket in hand. He draped it over her shoulders casually. She flushed, acutely aware of how childish her outburst must have seemed. Before she could stammer out an excuse, he leaned in.
"Never," he whispered in her ear, his voice low and steady, as if carrying a promise.
Saeko paused, the certainty in his words and the weight of his suit wrapping her in a strange warmth, both inside and out. Along with it, that familiar, enticing scent from earlier drifted to her again, stirring something deep within. She sniffed without realizing it, lost in the moment.
It's him. Her eyes widened as she realized how obvious she was being.
Sota raised an eyebrow, meeting her gaze with a mysterious look.
Did we… sleep next to each other? Saeko looked at him questioningly.
For now, he said nothing, offering only a small, knowing smile.