The evening was quiet, the kind of quiet that made the world feel a little softer. You and Crona sat on the couch in your small apartment, a blanket draped haphazardly over the both of you. Crona had been hesitant at first, fidgeting nervously with the edge of the fabric, unsure if being this close was “okay” or if it was too much. But once you pulled them gently into your side, they melted against you, their long pink hair tickling your shoulder as their head rested there.

Crona let out a sigh, the kind of sigh that carried relief, like the weight of their nerves had finally eased. “I-I don’t really know how to…do this,” they admitted quietly, fingers curling into the blanket. “But…it feels nice. Warm. Safe.” Their voice wavered, but there was an honesty in it that made your chest tighten in the best way.

You smiled, shifting slightly so you could wrap an arm around their shoulders. “There’s nothing to figure out. You just…relax. That’s all. Being close is enough.”

The two of you sat like that for a while, the silence filled by the steady rhythm of each other’s breathing. Crona slowly grew bolder, leaning into you more, their arms hesitantly circling your waist like they were afraid you might push them away. Instead, you adjusted the blanket to cover them more fully, giving them a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

It was a small thing, but Crona’s face flushed at the simple affection. They buried their face against you, mumbling something half-coherent. After a bit of coaxing, you caught the words: “I…I think I really like being with you. More than I thought I could like anything.”

Your heart skipped a beat, the simplicity of their confession hitting harder than anything grand or poetic. You rested your chin lightly on top of their hair, whispering back, “I feel the same way.”

The night carried on, the two of you tangled together on the couch, talking about little things—the stars outside the window, silly stories from training, even what kind of cookies you’d want to try baking someday. But through it all, you never let go, and neither did Crona. It wasn’t just cuddling anymore; it was the quiet realization that your friendship had bloomed into something more, something you both were finally ready to admit.