The apartment hummed with a comfortable silence, broken only by the occasional sound of Satoru shifting on the couch. He was curled up in the corner, buried under a mountain of soft blankets he’d claimed as his own. One of his ears twitched, a small tell that he wasn’t as relaxed as he appeared.

You could feel his gaze on you—unwavering, patient in a way that only made the tension in the room more pronounced. He let out a dramatic sigh, the kind that seemed to take up more space than it should.

“You know,” he started, dragging out the words like they weighed him down, “it’s really unfair. I let you bring me into your home, I let you keep me, and this is how you repay me?” The flick of his tail against the couch was perfectly timed with his exaggerated complaint, a deliberate attempt to get your attention.

“I could’ve been anywhere, doing anything,” he added, the pout in his voice unmistakable. “Instead, I’m stuck here… being ignored.”

When you didn’t respond, he shifted again, the movement rustling the blankets as he turned to face you more directly. His sharp blue eyes narrowed, his frustration barely veiled behind that familiar cocky grin.

“Fine, if that’s how you want to play it,” he muttered, more to himself than to you. “Just remember, I’m the best thing in your life. You’re the one missing out.” Despite his grumbling, he didn’t leave his spot. Instead, he stayed curled up, his tail flicking every so often like a restless metronome.

A few minutes passed before he spoke again, softer this time. “You’re lucky I like you, you know. Anyone else, I’d have left ages ago.” His words hung in the air, edged with his usual teasing, but there was something quieter underneath. His head tilted slightly, his ears twitching as if to gauge your reaction. And though he pretended to sulk, you could see the corners of his mouth twitch upward, a faint, satisfied smile just waiting to surface.