The soft warmth of late morning crept into the Resting Centre, slipping through cracks in the tall windows and pooling on the floorboards in golden patches. Koga stirred slowly, eyelids fluttering open as if negotiating with gravity itself. Yelena, who had been sitting near the window in quiet contemplation, looked up almost immediately, her fingers brushing the edge of a neatly stacked set of healing supplies.
Koga: "…huh…? Where… am I?"
Yelena (calm, almost whispering): "Still here. Resting Centre. You've… slept longer than you planned."
Koga (stretching, groaning): "Longer? I… uh… must've overslept. Heh."
That One Girl in the audience(teasing):"O-oh, look at him, all grumpy and sleepy. Heh, like a cat who's been told he can't nap anymore. Pathetic… but somehow… cute."
Yelena tilted her head, eyes soft but wary. She didn't answer the teasing commentary. Her attention was on Koga's forearm, the scratch from his hunt earlier morning. Carefully, she brushed her fingers over the bandage.
Koga (flinching slightly, embarrassed): "You… uh… did this?"
Yelena: "Yes. You would probably have ignored it otherwise."
A short pause. Outside, the leaves rustled gently, birds chirping as if they were accompanying the subtle rhythm of morning conversation. The room smelled faintly of herbs and warm wood, sunlight spilling over the floor in uneven stripes.
That One Girl in the audience(in awe):Hey! they are getting along quite well. Oh how I wish that something happens between them.
Koga exhaled, shoulders relaxing, his gaze meeting hers for the briefest of moments. There was an unspoken understanding in that glance—memories neither spoke of, but which had been quietly shaping their present. Both had suffered from the same old disease of solitude in their pasts. Nights when no one noticed, no one cared, when even a small kindness was rare.
Koga (softly, almost to himself): "I… uh… thank you, Yelena."
Yelena (looking away, voice steady): "Don't mention it."
Narrator :And yes, folks, the man says thanks, the lady says to not mention it, and somewhere in a small universe, a bell rings to mark another trope like this perfectly executed. You're welcome.
Koga slowly sat up fully, stretching his back and arms, and then paused, looking a little sheepish.
Koga: "I… never really… had someone who cared about such a small bruise on me. Well.... there s one other."
Yelena didn't respond immediately. She adjusted the sunlight-catching shawl around her shoulders and let a quiet sigh escape.
That One Girl in the audience(teasing):"O-ohhh, he's saying feelings stuff now… ugh, stop, my heart can't take it!"
A Nerd Boy in the audience(debating): "NO!!, you are completely wrong this is just a friendly conversation"
Koga: "I… I guess I didn't notice before, you know? The quiet things that… mean a lot."
Yelena: "…You never really had anything to notice."
Koga (shrugs, half-smile): "Guess not."
The moment hung between them. The kind of quiet that wasn't uncomfortable, but charged. Yelena's gaze fell to the sunlight playing across the floorboards.
A soft cough from the corner of the room — The Nerd from the audience : "Ahmm.. actually here you see bu ""
Time passed lazily. Yelena moved quietly around the Resting Centre, organizing some herbs, checking the small supply of food, her motions deliberate and calm. Koga, now fully awake, leaned back, letting his eyes wander over the sunlight streaks, the soft shadows, the small details of the room he hadn't noticed before.
Narrator (in awe):See that? Two people in one room. No shouting, no explosions, no points. Just… quiet. Marvelous stuff, really. You're welcome, again.
After a while, Koga stretched again and muttered:
Koga: "You know… I used to think mornings were the worst part of the day. But… this… isn't so bad."
Yelena (softly, almost smiling): "Depends on who's next to you."
Koga (raising eyebrows slightly): "Depends… huh."
The sunlight shifted, and Yelena took a seat near him, close but careful not to invade. They sat in companionable silence, letting the warmth of the sun, the soft creaks of the building, and the quiet of the forest outside fill the space between them.
That One Girl (teasing):"Ugh… stop being all peaceful and stuff. You're making me… I don't know… weak!"
The Nerd (awkwardly, notes in hand): "Uh… wow… quiet energy patterns… incredibly stable… hmm… fascinating…"
Koga laughed softly, the sound low but genuine. It was a rare, unguarded moment, one that Yelena caught and remembered.
Minutes passed. Koga's eyelids drooped again, exhaustion from the morning hunt and restless nights catching up. Yelena carefully nudged a small pillow toward him, then let her own gaze drift out the window.
Narrator (jokes):"Ah yes. Pillow diplomacy. The subtle art of letting someone nap while you silently broil in feelings. Classic."
Koga shifted, rested his head lightly on the pillow, and closed his eyes. Yelena stayed by his side, small smile tugging at her lips, fingers loosely clasped in her lap. The weight of shared solitude hung lightly between them, unspoken but understood.
That One Girl (in awe):"Wow… look at them… so… normal… and yet… ugh, I can't… why is this so… peaceful…?"
The room hummed with small sounds—the creak of the wooden floor, the rustle of leaves outside, Koga's steady breathing, and the occasional flutter from the notebook as The Nerd scribbled observations quietly in the corner.
Time passed slowly, the late morning sun climbing higher. Yelena allowed herself a moment to think of the trio out in the forest, probably arguing about directions or monsters, and a quiet sigh escaped. The contrast of chaos and calm was almost comical—but comforting.
Koga (murmuring, in sleep): "Thanks… for… everything."
Yelena's gaze softened. She didn't respond, but the small tilt of her head, the faint smile, said enough.
As the sun reached its peak, the room settled into a gentle, golden haze. Yelena remained near Koga, The Nerd scribbling notes quietly, and That One Girl muttering tsundere commentary under her breath. Even in silence, the moment was complete. The unspoken connection, the shared history, the subtle warmth of companionship—it all lingered like a soft dream.
Narrator (jokes, teasing):"And there we leave them for now, folks. Peaceful, quiet, mildly awkward, and completely normal. For the first time, no exploding monsters, no points, no dramatic cliffhangers. Just… slow morning bonding. Don't blink. You might miss the magic."