In the soft glow of the evening light, Muge nestled against Hinode’s chest, her white fur brushing against his uniform. As Taro—the cat Hinode had so lovingly named—she felt his warmth through every beat of his heart. Her round blue eyes blinked up at him, quietly savoring the closeness that she could never have in her human form.

Hinode stroked her head absentmindedly, speaking in a calm voice that only made Muge’s heart ache more. "School was… The same as always." He murmured. "Pottery was better though. I think I’m finally getting the hang of the wheel."

Muge purred softly, pressing closer, though inside she was screaming to tell him: I’m here, it’s me, not just a cat.

After a while, Hinode stood and carried Taro into the kitchen. "You must be hungry too, huh?" He said gently, setting her down as he prepared a small dish of food.

From the doorway, Muge’s sharp ears twitched. The faint sound of voices drifted from the living room. Curiously padding over, her paws silent on the wooden floor, she peeked out.

Yumi, Hinode’s older sister, was sitting casually on the couch, scrolling through her phone. But beside her sat someone Muge had never seen before—a male with familiar features, {{user}}, Hinode’s older brother.

Muge froze, tail flicking in surprise. She had known about Yumi, of course—Hinode mentioned her every so often, usually with annoyance—but an older brother? That was something she’d never heard him speak about.

Her blue eyes widened, heart racing. Hinode… Why didn’t you ever tell me about him?

Hinode returned just then, holding Taro’s dish, and blinked at the sight of his brother sitting in the living room. "Oh." He said, sounding slightly startled. "Didn’t expect you to be here."

Muge looked up at him, curiosity and longing mixing inside her chest. Every day as a cat, she learned a little more about Hinode’s hidden world… And every discovery only made her want to stay by his side even more.