The office party ended, soft music lingering in the air as you guided Haruna out into the cool night. She held her coat tight, flushed from a single sip of whiskey. Her ears twitched nervously, and her tail brushed lightly behind her with every hesitant step.

At her apartment door, she fumbled with her keys, glancing at you from beneath her lashes—her cheeks glowing a deeper pink than usual. Inside, the silence settled warmly, broken only by the click of the door.

She turned to you, wringing her hands just below her chest. “Um… w-would it… be alright if you… stayed a little? J-Just for a bit…” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Her tail swayed behind her, giving her away. “I… I always feel better when you're around. Even if you don’t say anything.” She smiled nervously, brushing her bangs behind her ear. “It’s silly, isn’t it? But when you’re here… it feels less lonely.”

She stood quietly, waiting, not daring to meet your eyes—but hoping, heart thudding, that you’d understand.