He Wasn't a Bit Shameless Lying Through His Teeth

Kyoya stared dumbly at the bright sky outside the windows. He squinted his eyes, one of his hands moved to cover them from the light. The light felt so blaring to him who had just woken up.

What time it is?

Kyoya who was still groggy turned to look at the clock hung on the wall. He was surprised to see that it was already 9:50 AM!

Even though most of his nights were sleepless, but as long as he slept, his biological clock would wake him up at 6. No matter at what time he fell asleep, he would wake up at 6 without failure. To see that he had slept way past his usual time shocked him.

But, he didn't feel uncomfortable with it. Instead, his body felt so refreshed.

With a smug smile, feeling pleased with himself, Kyoya went to the washroom. He glanced at the other side of the bed. It seemed like Shouko had plumped up her pillows and folded her quilt. He wondered where was she.

Kyoya stood in front of the mirror hanging above the countertop. His usually pale complexion looked better. The dark circles around his eyes turned lighter. His smile spread wide before he laughed like a silly boy.

"Hehe, I slept with my wife last night."

Kyoya patted his cheeks a few times, the mirror reflected an image of a man smiling so wide with his eyes crinkled happily. He began to wash his face and brush his teeth, eager to look for Shouko as soon as possible.

Inside the wardrobe, Kyoya's eyes went to look for Shouko's clothes first. He remembered every single clothes that the maids had prepared for this trip. It appeared that the set of her pastel blue clothes were missing from the wardrobe.

Then, Kyoya proceeded to take his own light blue cashmere sweater and a pair of white long pants. His silly smile had yet to be brushed off of his face as he began to style his hair.

Every time he went to attend to his official duties, Kyoya would style his hair in slick-back, revealing his forehead. He would only let his bangs fell when he was at home but right now his mind couldn't help but think of which style he should use this morning?

Shouko once said he appeared domineering and unapproachable in the former style, especially when his sharp features were fully revealed.

Kyoya's hand paused as he thought of it. Then, he began to mess his hair up. The neat hairstyle fell into ruins in an instant. His bangs covered most of his forehead before he parted some of it to one side.

I look approachable right now, right?

A certain man was so worried about his wife's impression of him until he forgot that his wife had already gotten used to his looks.

"Kyoya, are you in there?"

Kyoya was startled, he looked at the closed doors of the wardrobe. Shouko was looking for him. Maybe because she couldn't find him on the bed anymore.

"Ye... yes!" He quickly went to the doors and opened them wide. "You are..."

His words fell through when his eyes went to see her outfit.

Instead of wearing the pastel blue clothes that he found were no longer in the wardrobe, she was wearing a set of a white sweater and a long pleated skirt.

"Kyoya, do you want..." Shouko wanted to ask about breakfast before she was surprised by his next action.

"Give me a minute!"

Bang!

Shouko was dumbfounded to see the doors closed suddenly in front of her. She blinked a few times, confused with what had just happened.

"Kyoya, are you alright?" Shouko asked cautiously. "Kyoya?"

"A minute!" Kyoya shouted toward the doors. His voice sounded panicky.

He quickly took off his sweater and replaced it with a white one. The blue sweater was tossed inside the wardrobe. Then, he opened the doors again.

"En... are you really alright, Kyoya?" Shouko peered at his face, trying to see if he was in pain somewhere. "Why did you sweat so much?"

"Nothing," Kyoya answered with a stiff smile. He was panting slightly. "Nothing..."

He never thought there was a time for him to have to use the quickest speed in order to change his clothes. Thank God he had already worn white pants earlier!

"It's fine if you're okay but..." Shouko looked at him up and down. She felt like something was amiss. "Didn't you wear a different color just now?"

"The sweater got a hole so I change into a new one," Kyoya wasn't a bit shameless lying through his teeth. To prevent Shouko from asking more questions, he quickly led her away from the wardrobe. "I'm hungry. Do we have anything to eat?"

"Oh! Mrs. Shimizu made porridge for breakfast. It's still warm. I have eaten though."

"Have you taken your medicine?" Kyoya looked at her figure clad in white then his eyes went to his own. His lips hooked up into a smile as he felt pleased seeing them in matching color.

Even though he was originally wearing another color.

"Yes~" Shouko answered in a sing-song voice. She appeared relaxed, the traces of her crying last night was replaced with a bright smile. "What should we do today? Mrs. Shimizu said there's a place for a picnic near the lake. Why don't we go there?"

The older woman had shared a lot of things with her during breakfast. Besides having a picnic, Mrs. Shimizu suggested going inside the forest on the other side of the lake. There was a hiking trail that was frequented by tourists.

"That's fine with me but, what did you sign up for at the art class? The shopping district is still closed from the public but we could call the instructor to come here if you want."

Shouko's suggestion was good but Kyoya still remembered her enthusiasm when she said she wanted to go to the art class. He had yet to know which class did she sign up for them.

"Really? Could I?" Shouko's eyes sparkled in delight, she looked so excited as she jumped lightly beside him. "I want to try making flower-pressed resin! The end products look so beautiful, I want to try making them!"

Her words brought laughter out of him. Kyoya raised his hand, he gently rubbed her hair. Her sweet scent drifted in the air, relaxing him.

Their interaction today was much more carefree than before. Realizing this fact made he was so happy. He felt all of the things he endured before were nothing compared to the happiness brewing within his heart.

"Alright, I'll call the art class' instructor first," Kyoya agreed. Most of their time here was free so he didn't mind learning new things with his wife. Especially if he could make her happy.

Both of them descended the stairs. Mrs. Shimizu had gone home. Shouko insisted that she was well enough to do her own cooking so the older lady just prepared a few ingredients for her first before she took her leave.

Shouko brought a bowl of newly scooped porridge to the table. Kyoya had just washed his hand. He sat opposite his wife. He suppressed his giddiness from overflowing from his face as he carefully took the bowl from her.

Since Shouko had eaten, she just accompanied him. She silently looked at him a few times. Her mind was bothered by something.

"What's wrong?" Kyoya lifted up his eyes from the bowl. It didn't escape his notice how many times she sneaked a peek at him. It was clear she wanted to ask something from her.

"Oh, actually, I want to ask you about something," Shouko fidgeted with the hem of her sweater. She looked at Kyoya who was waiting for her next word. "En, it's about the little boy. His name is Yuuya, right? The welfare council takes care of him right now?"

Kyoya paused his movement, his hand that was holding the spoon suspended in the air for a moment before he gradually placed it back in the bowl.

"He is okay," Kyoya answered with a smile. "I have requested for him to be placed in a good welfare home. I heard that the council would place him in an orphanage in the suburb. The facility and environment there are good for him."

"Then, what about his health?" Shouko vaguely recalled what the nurse had said the other night regarding the little boy. "He has problems with his body, right?"

Kyoya nodded. He calmly sipped his tea.

"He would be alright. I promise you."

Shouko pursed her lips. She could only nod her head.

Somehow, she couldn't be at ease whenever she thought of the little boy whom she had just met.

Shouko herself didn't understand why did she think that way.