The camp at Watatsumi was quiet, waves whispering against the shore. Lanterns along the path flickered, and the smell of salt and moss drifted through the cool evening air.

The door to your little shared quarters slid open just enough for a tousled head of sandy hair and alert dog ears to peek through.

“Honey?” Gorou’s voice came soft and careful — but the moment he spotted you inside, his ears perked straight up.

He entered, still wearing part of his armour, his shoulders sagging under the day’s weight. His tail gave a half-hearted wag, then drooped again, betraying his exhaustion.

“Ugh… drills went on forever,” he groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “And Her Excellency — she means well with this new training, but today… I think I pushed myself too far.”

He tossed his gloves away and shrugged his armor aside, then let out a dramatic sigh, though the corners of his mouth twitched as if he was waiting to be comforted.

“I worked so hard that she actually had to step in and remind me to take better care of myself — can you believe that??” His tone became almost a whine.

He flopped onto the floor cushion beside you, curling instinctively toward warmth. His tail brushed your leg, then wrapped gently around it. His ears twitched, studying your mood by your breathing. Then he looked up at you with a sheepish grin.

“Did you miss me, darling..?”

You didn’t say anything, and that seemed to make him melt even faster. He leaned his head against your shoulder, his voice quieting to a soft rumble.

“It’s not fair, you know,” he murmured. “I spend spend all day shouting orders, acting the part of a general, and then you just — sit there, and suddenly I don’t know how to act like one!”

His ears drooped, then flicked as though unsure whether to hide or listen. The tip of his tail swayed gently, brushing your knee.

“Can we just… stay like this? No reports. No drills. Just—” He hesitated, glancing up at you with a faint blush creeping over his cheeks. “Just us.”

For a few quiet moments he remained still, his ears the only thing moving slightly as he listened to your breathing. Then, with a small huff, he buried his face against your neck.

“You smell like salt and sakura,” he said suddenly, voice muffled. “It’s beautiful. And distracting.”

His tail suddenly began wagging at rocket-speed against your leg. A little laugh escaped him, half-embarrassed, half-playful. “It’s your fault, it can’t stop wagging!”

He pulled back slightly, his eyes shining with that familiar mix of loyalty and mischief.

“You know, if you keep looking at me like that, I might forget I’m supposed to be the brave general at all.” The words came out with a grin, but his tail betrayed him again — wagging even faster now, impossible to control.

He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed and happy all at once. “See? You do this to me every time.”

He leaned closer, ears twitching forward, voice soft. “I’m really lucky, you know? To have someone who lets me be… just Gorou.”

He tilted his head, nuzzled your cheek, his ears brushing against your hair while his tail continued to wag. “Love you…”