"...What is it?"

"Cleanser."

He bent over, letting Harie apply something to his face. All he wanted was to lie down on the bed and hug his soft, everyday body pillow.

"Rintarou, do you use moisturizer? I heard some athletes often use it after matches."

"Sounds like a hassle."

"You even have dark circles."

"..."

Harie: Suna's-beauty-protecting warrior.

After her skincare session, she started to stand up from the dressing table. She'd barely had time to take a step toward the bed when Suna caught her and peppered kisses across her cheek.

"Rintarou!!!"

"You can't blame me, you will get uncomfortable if I kiss you with your makeup."

"..."

...

They intended to sleep, but watching how beautiful the night was, they just sat on the bed, feeling the sheet's softness and the blanket's warmth.

"Rintarou, look! There are plenty of stars!"

She grinned as she looked up the dazzling sky stretching endlessly. Harie had always loved the sky, its freedom was just like their love. But she was confident that their affection was more tender.

He took a glimpse at her, gently stroke her hair, as if afraid of hurting his girl.

"Ali, you're really comfortable calling my first name, unlike you when we first dated."

...

"Come on, I trust you."

"Ri... Rin... ta..."

"You can do it!"

"Rin... ta... r... I can't do it!"

...

That had been the case.

"Erm... I was struggling with it in many ways... How could you call my first name that easily?"

"Hah? I'd always wanted to call it before you confessed to me. So it somehow came out easily."

"Don't be so outspoken please..."

He chuckled.

"Sorry."

Harie's fingers passed through each curve of Suna's hand, peacefully. He continued his words.

"I didn't tell you how much I was feeling the happiness when you called me out and confessed. I was planning to do it the next few days but you got the upper hand."

...

"Anou... Um... I like you! W-w-w-will you be my boyfriend!"

It was the very first time Harie had seen his flustered face. She thought her heart would stop beating, making room for the love rising.

He froze, and then burst into laughter. What did he need to do with this? He never felt this vibration before. How troublesome. He covered his face with one hand, gazing at the small girl with narrow eyes.

You're extraordinarily gorgeous in this second.

"I thought you want to pick a fight with me. You looked so serious like it was the end of the world."

"...?"

...

Are you kidding me? Why would I pick a fight with a volleyball athlete?

"...We gotta sleep. We're like old folks reminiscing about the past."

"Let me."

He slowly, tenderly tucked her in, put a feather-light kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight." Suna also lay down.

"Sweet dreams."

***

I don't simply love the sky. I love the world's sky, the one at day and night. I love it when it shines, when it softens and when it embraces people's feelings.

But there's something more special.

Under the gymnasium ceiling, six players stand gloriously on one side of the orange court, chasing the ball and not letting it hit the floor.

I love his sky more than everything.

***

"Urgg, I don't want to get up...

Suna burrowed into the blanket. He wanted to slack off, but his girlfriend wouldn't be happy about that.

Harie sat there, sighing, and then snatched his blanket off.

"...I'm still not used to this." She glanced at his abdominal muscles for a moment and immediately looked away.

"What?"

Suna often went to sleep without a shirt on. Harie knew that and somehow had got used to it before their breakup. But it wasn't easy for her to be exposed to it again.

Suna had tried to take it slowly to give her some space before actually writing another love story together. He had just returned to his normal life recently.

He looked at her for a moment, took her hand and placed it, holding it over his chest, where his heart was sending its beats to.

"I'm sad you didn't hear it."

"..." Her face gradually reddened, but... he didn't smile at that moment. Maybe he wasn't teasing her. So she became calmer.

Smiling, my dear.

She didn't like how gently and loosely he held her hand. It felt like he might let it go at any moment.

Harie's hand fell down, but he squeezed it a bit more tightly.

"Let it go."

She put her ear to his chest. He naturally turned it into an embrace.

"I heard. I'm sorry, you must've put up with me a lot."

"Ali, don't say that. I'm sorry for taking it hastily."

"But you need to get up hastily now."

"..." He chuckled. "Ali, you're only terrifying when you're drunk."

"?"

***

"Cooking?"

"Mhm. I think I can serve you a dish one day."

Harie'd never heard Suna wanted to learn for cooking. He could do some simple things like using rice cookers or handling instant noodles. She often made breakfast and dinner or bento with his help. But that was a good news.

After that, they, together, went for the market and did the cooking.

He was adorable when being awkward, making her laugh all the process. He would definitely hug her from behind like a young married couple from time to time, kissing her cheek and chuckling in the kitchen.

She hadn't known Rintarou Suna was that childish before.

...

There are dishes that don't have to be tasty or eye-catching. Sometimes a plain dish can be the most precious moment making you cry with a smile.

...

"Will Rintarou cook for me one day?"

"Of course."

They laid the table together, enjoying the faintly redolent of food. The flower vase on the table prettified a family.

After all, the smell and taste weren't that special or different from usual. But when she ate it, she just wanted to laugh.

The following days, we won't remember this taste anymore. We will want go recall it, but we can't. Even so, we will unintentionally smile because of the happy faces at that time.

Tonight has a graceful beauty.