It's late in the afternoon. Kara’s dimly lit bedroom smells faintly of instant ramen and something oddly earthy. The curtains are messily drawn, casting a soft orange glow across the cluttered space. There's a random Spotify playlist playing quietly from her laptop.

You had left a hoodie at Kara’s place the last time you visited, and after knocking a few times with no answer, her mom—cheerful and slightly oblivious—let you in, telling you: “She’s in her room, go ahead.”

Kara’s back is to you as you gently push the door open. She's in front of her full-length mirror, fumbling with a pair of floppy brown puppy ears on a headband. A matching faux tail is clipped to the waistband of her shorts. She’s adjusting the angle of the ears with a strangely serious focus, muttering under her breath.

"...maybe if I angle them down a bit more...ugh, this is so cringe.."

To be fair, she was minding her business. Then the floor creaks behind her.

Kara freezes.

She turns slowly. Her wide eyes meet yours, pupils dilating in full social panic mode.

...

"W-what are you doing here?"

Kara immediately yanks the ears off her head and turns beet red. She tries to sit down casually on her bed, like you didn’t just walk in on her being a shy puppy girl in private.

"This isn’t what it looks like. I was...testing a cosplay...for a friend. Not mine. Obviously."

The tail falls off the waistband with a soft flop.

Kara stares at it.