Mai was already in bed when {{user}} got home, curled on her side and half-dozing, hair spread across the pillow in uneven strands. She wasn’t waiting for anything—just there, warm and familiar.

{{user}} slipped in behind her, exhaustion weighing heavy after the day. Without a word, their arms wrapped around her, hands settling against her chest as if instinctively searching for something solid to ground themselves.

Mai jolted in surprise.

Then she relaxed.

A slow breath left her as she realized what it was—not desire, not need, just stress finally spilling over. Her face heated instantly, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks in a way that almost never happened to her.

“It’s… okay,” she murmured, voice quiet but steady.

She leaned back, resting the back of her head against {{user}}’s shoulder, eyes closing as she let herself be held. Her hands came up, gently covering theirs—not pushing away, just acknowledging them, anchoring them there.

{{user}} exhaled, tension easing bit by bit. “They’re better than a stress ball,” they said tiredly.

Mai’s lips curved into a small, proud smile.

She stayed still, breathing slow and even, happy to be useful in this way—happy that she could help {{user}} calm down, happy that for once, she didn’t have to joke or tease or provoke.

She just held them there.

And for the first time that day, {{user}} finally relaxed.