The next morning, I woke up with a sore back as I found myself laying on my back in a very unkirin like position. But having the sweet smell of Golden around me made me forget it.

Slowly I opened my eyes and saw how the most beautiful mare was laying on top of me. Her muzzle was buried into my neck mane and her front legs held on me. She still had her eyes closed but I could tell by the way she held me, that she was actually awake. Most likely she just wanted to cherish the moment for a bit longer. Her long golden mane was a mess and hung down everywhere from our night activity. I used my hoof to stroke it a bit, which made her snuggle me even tighter and she buried her snoot even deeper in my neck mane.

I had to smile, and my mind wandered back to last night. How we two… loved each other. There was just no better way to describe it.

“I love you”, I whispered in Golden’s ear.

“I love you too”, she whispered back, still not opening her eyes. “Guess a bit of your nirik side leaked through a bit during some of our more hot passionate moments. You were warmer than ponies”, she then added.

“Sorry…”, I said, a bit unsure if what she had said was something good or not.

“Don’t be. I liked it”, Golden assured me.

This made me relax again and I changed from stroking her mane to her soft wing. This earned a pleased “mmm” from her. I closed my eyes again and just bathed in this moment of true bliss.

I sat at the kitchen table and watched Golden standing in front of the stove and making us some pancakes. I had offered to make us some breakfast, but Golden had said that she was not able to eat rice at the start of the day.

Even though you couldn’t call it “breakfast” or “beginning of the day” anymore since it wasn’t until noon when we both had decided to get up. Luckily, we both didn’t have to work today so we could start the day late and take our time.

Golden used the Spatula in her mouth to take the pancakes out of the pan and put them on a plate. After she added a bit of butter and honey on the top of the stack, she took the whole plate and placed them in the center of the kitchen table. And not without giving a kiss on my cheek right after.

“Eat up hotshot. You need to refill your energy”, she said and also sat at the table across from me.

“Thank you. I definitely do”, I replied with a smile and used my magic to float us some pancakes to our plates.

We both ate in silence. There were no words used right now. The presence of each other was completely enough.

“So, why did you never tell me you had a crush on me?”, Golden then asked when all the pancakes were gone.

I took a sip from my cup of black tea. (This time, much to my dishonour, even with sugar.) But when I answered I had to look away in shame.

“I was scared”, I admitted. “Scared that you might reject me. You were my only friend I had here in Maren, and I couldn't bear the thought of our relationship possibly becoming too awkward to maintain. So, I kept my feelings hidden in the hope you wouldn't notice. That way I could be sure to keep you at least as a friend.”

I looked at Golden again and her smile told me that she understood my situation.

“Why did you never tell me that you like me? I assume you've had feelings for me since long before yesterday”, I then asked in return.

“Oh, I tried”, Golden responded. “But I guess you were too good in hiding your crush since whenever I made some signals or steps in that direction, I got the feeling that you tried to avoid me. I guess I never made clear steps or told you because I thought you didn’t like me. Maybe because I was a pony or you just had no interests or whatever reason there was.

It wasn’t until yesterday when you were a bit under the influence of the Nihon-shu’s alcohol when you showed your affection towards me a bit better.”

“I did?”, I asked confused.

Golden gave a nod and said: “You might not have noticed it but you looked at me differently. With more desire. More love. And when we then started to dance and you didn’t back away from me, I knew, you wanted this as much as I did.”

“Heh… yeah…”, I said and rubbed the back of my head. “I am sorry. I didn’t want to loosen you up yesterday when I offered the sake. My goal was not to get you drunk.”

Golden then gave a suppressed smirk before she broke out into full laughter.

“Oh dear Celestia. Spring, I was far away from even getting tipsy. Those sake glasses you used were way too small for such a light drink. I think you kirins just cannot really handle your alcohol very well. The only one who got drunk was you.”

I felt heat rise up in me due to offended shame. Because yes, compared to her I was a real weak lightweight. And her laughing didn’t make it better…

“Oh don’t be like that. This is nothing bad”, Golden meant and reached across the table to place her hoof on mine. “You don’t have to be a strong drinker to prove yourself to me. I prefer you the way you are.”

This made me smile again. She just knew me too well.

“How is it that somepony like you hasn’t been in a relationship?”, I asked.

“Well, I have dated some stallions before I met you”, Golden admitted. “But they weren’t really my type. Ponies in Manehattan are way more superficial. I guess I wanted somepony who really feels into me and likes all of me. Somepony who got to really know me and won't go off first impressions. And I guess I never found somepony. Instead, I found somekirin.”

“Heh… I just tried to treat you normally. I didn't expect to develop such a fondness for you”, I honestly said.

“I know, and that’s why I fell in love with you. For the way you truly are”, Golden said with a smile.

Multiple days had passed, and I think it was pretty obvious to say that Golden and I saw each other way more often afterwards. Sometimes we did something together outside but often she came home with me, and we did whatever we normally did. Drinking tea, talking, playing games, teaching each other something or just enjoying the time with each other. It just had way more sweettalks, kisses, snuggles and even closer things involved. Golden was actually a surprisingly very playful mare...

Right now we both were laying on the couch in my living room as I was laying on my back and she was laying with her back on my belly and her head on my chest. We were both reading a book which thanks to my magic were floating over our heads. I had my front hooves wrapped around Golden and she was slowly stroking one. And whenever she stopped, I knew that I had to flip a page in her book.

Even such simple moments, of us cuddling together and each of us reading a book, was filled with so much love for each other.

Golden was reading an adventure book with the title “The Shadow Kirinja” that I gave her, and she had brought me a psychology book about famous mental illnesses. (Not the usual genre i liked but i gave it a try.)

“I actually would like to go to Kirin Grove to visit your village one day”, Golden then said out of nowhere.

“Do I have to feel jealous now?”, I chuckled without looking from my book.

Golden turned her head so that I could see her playful face.

“Sure, because I just want to go there to meet other kirins so I can compare them with you”, she joked and stuck her tongue out but then continued with a more serious tone. “But for real. I would like to visit Hono. You have talked so much about it and I am interested to meet more of your kind and culture.”

I used my magic to close the two books and floated them to the coffee table.

“I wouldn’t mind. If you want, we can go there one day, and I can show you everything. I am sure the other kirin inhabitants would love to meet you.”

“I would also love to meet them”, Golden replied and with a smooth roll she was off my belly and stood with all four hooves on the floor. “But until then, I am happy to see my kirin at least.”

She leaned in and we two exchanged a short kiss.

“I’m going to grab me something to drink. Being so close with a creature of fire makes me feel dehydrated”, Golden said and made her way to the kitchen. But as she was walking away from me I could notice that she had a bigger swing in her flanks.

Oh by the holy Fire… I love her so much.

Author's Note

Yes, a bit of a boring chapter. In general, I have to admit that the story is not very interesting. It is cute, calm and some might sympathize with it. But it has no adventure, drama, action or anything in it, that might capture you more to the content. So, if you think the story is boring, I understand you. Still, I am grateful for every review that might help me to improve the story.