“good morning!” i make my way down the hallway, ready to turn left into the bathroom before i even have a second to comprehend what i just heard. looking up, my eyes immediately lock onto the beautiful, brown haired, hazel eyed, slightly frustrated woman sitting in my living room. after about a second of gazing into this girl whose mere existence immediately becomes the highlight of my day, i continue into the bathroom, quickly saying “hey, mii.” i close the bathroom door and reach into the cabinet, my fingers groping around for a token of my childhood, and yet the object of my addiction. a ‘19 pax “juul” e-cigarette. i’ve been smoking on these babies since i was in ninth grade. while weed is legal and easily accessible where i live, i prefer the cool buzz of nicotine over the hot blast of mellowness which comes with thc products. plus, mikoto hates the smell. i take out the “pod” inside and, squeezing it, flick it a few times until the bubbles at the bottom slowly trickle to the top before i insert it back into the juul and put it in my mouth. i inhale for twenty seconds, then let it hang in my lips as i take a sharp breath in trough my nose until my lungs are completely full of vapor and oxygen. after about 25 seconds, i slowly breathe out, a thin film of smoke materializing in front of my face. i pocket my e-cigarette and leave the bathroom to greet my partner of 10 years. at 24, i love misaka mikoto just as much as i did when she was 14. putting a hand on my lower back, mii pulls me towards her while i run my hand trough her hair. “fuck, i love you so much,” i say, bringing her forehead to mine until we lightly bump. “i know,” she says “i don’t want to go to work, mii,” “i know,” she repeats, bringing her lips to mine, prompting me to do the same. my mind fills with pure ecstasy, only to be cut short when i realize this temporary haven only gives way to part of the worst 40 hours of my week. i pull mikoto as close to me as i dare, her slender, well toned stomach practically touching mine. i want to go further, but dread having to stop things short in order to not be late for work. taking all my willpower, i kiss her forehead and tell her i need to shower. popping my juul back into my mouth and starting to take a drag, i head back towards the bathroom only to hear mikoto mumble something. “hmm?” i question as i glance over my shoulder “d-don’t make me repeat it, it’s already different enough to ask something like this once.” suddenly, it dawns on me what she means, my gaze darting to the ground. “fuck, uhh... sure, i guess? if you don’t mind-“ “let’s get this over with, then... i g-guess,” she replies, starting to take off her tightly-fitting white button-up blouse which she wore to sleep that night. looks like i will be late for work today, after all.