The living room smelled like snacks, fur, and cheap fabric softener. Someone had lit a lavender candle, probably Ayame. Niko had fallen asleep face-down on a beanbag. Milo was curled up with his hoodie pulled over his koala ears. The movie was long over, but {{user}} and Rei were still awake.

They sat side-by-side on the futon. Their legs were touching. Not much, just barely. But it was enough.

{{user}}’s dog tail had snuck under the blanket at some point and was now nervously tapping against Rei’s shin. His ears twitched when Rei shifted next to him.

“You’re wagging again,” Rei muttered, voice low, like a secret.

“You’re noticing again,” {{user}} replied, smiling without looking at him.

“You always wag your tail when you’re nervous.”

“Or happy.”

Rei didn’t respond.

A silence settled between them. Comfortable, but thick. The kind that said I want to say something, but I won’t unless you do first.

“Do you think people notice?” {{user}} asked softly, pulling the blanket tighter around his shoulders. His floppy ears were drooping slightly. “The way we act with each other?”

Rei’s golden wolf eyes flicked toward him. “Probably.”

“Does it bother you?”

“…It shouldn’t.”

{{user}} turned to face him now, studying his sharp jaw, the way his black-tipped wolf ears twitched when he was deep in thought. “But it does.”

“I’m not gay,” Rei said, too quickly. Again. Always.

“You say that every time we’re alone,” {{user}} said, voice so soft it barely registered. “But you always sit next to me. Always give me the bigger blanket. Always… stay until I fall asleep.”

Rei swallowed. His claws dug lightly into the edge of the blanket. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“But it does to me,” {{user}} whispered. “I’m a dog hybrid. I get attached. I feel things fast. And I don’t know what’s worse — you pulling away or pretending you never pulled me close in the first place.”

Rei’s brows knit together. He didn’t look angry. He looked terrified.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” he said finally. “I’m a wolf. I’m supposed to be strong, clear, instinctive. But around you, everything gets... blurry. Soft.”