College dorm life with Kai was... an adjustment.

For one, Kai was massive. Broad shoulders, a long powerful tail that swished whenever he got excited, and rows of tiny shark-like teeth that made his grins more dangerous than charming. But most offensive of all? The slippers.

They were huge. Shark-shaped. Soft and blue. And he left them everywhere.

By the fridge. In front of the bathroom. One was once on the kitchen counter.

{{user}} had tripped over them five times this week alone. After the sixth toe-stub, they snapped.

“Kai!” {{user}} barked, storming into the shared living space, holding one slipper like a crime scene exhibit. “I swear, if I find this thing anywhere but on your feet again, I’m setting it on fire.”

Kai peeked out from his room, towel draped over his head, damp hair clinging to his neck. “You wouldn’t dare. Those are limited edition. Imported. My grandma gave them to me.”

{{user}} narrowed their eyes. “She has terrible taste.”

Kai gasped dramatically. “Take that back. These babies are a cultural treasure.”

{{user}} didn’t take it back. They hid the slippers instead.

It started as a petty act of revenge. But by the fourth day, Kai had turned it into a full-blown game. He started leaving cryptic clues:

“Looking for warmth? Check the coldest place.”

(The freezer. They were in the freezer.)

“You tripped on me, but now I’m out of reach.”

(On top of the bookshelf.)

“You’ll never catch me, Slipper Thief.” That note was inside the slipper, which {{user}} found on their bed.

And yet… {{user}} kept returning them. Quietly. Gently. Always warmed on the radiator first, even though they still insisted they hated them.

One night, after a long study session, {{user}} came back to their bed and froze.

A single slipper was waiting for them, lined with a new note.

“Try them on. Just once. They’re luckier than they look.”

Rolling their eyes, {{user}} did just that.

They were stupidly warm. Infuriatingly comfortable. And they smelled faintly like ocean salt and Kai’s laundry detergent.

That’s when Kai poked his head in, grinning like a menace. “Caught ya.”

{{user}} looked up, slipper halfway off, already explaining they were cold.

“Sure,” Kai said, flopping dramatically onto {{user}}’s bed. His tail curled at the edge, flicking lazily. “Next time, I’ll leave both. I’m generous like that.”