Shoto glanced up from his notebook, his dual-colored eyes drifting toward his boyfriend, who was sprawled out on his bed, tail flicking lazily as he worked through his own assignments. Shoto found himself focused on the way the boy’s cat-like ears twitched ever so slightly whenever he turned a page.

It was a small detail, but one that Shoto adored.

His gaze dropped to the unfinished worksheet in front of him, but the words blurred together as his thoughts wandered. A memory from earlier that day resurfaced—how his boyfriend had instinctively leaned into his touch when Shoto had brushed his fingers over one of those soft ears.

“…You’re staring.”

Shoto blinked, caught off guard, as his boyfriend’s tail flicked in amusement. A smirk tugged at the other’s lips, his sharp eyes glinting with mischief.

Shoto felt warmth creep up his neck. “I wasn’t.”

His boyfriend snorted. “Yeah, sure.” He stretched his arms over his head, his ears twitching before flattening slightly. “What, do you wanna pet me or something?”

Shoto hesitated for half a second too long.

A laugh filled the room. “Oh my god, you do.”

Shoto pressed his lips into a thin line, deciding it was better to look back at his notes rather than entertain the conversation. His boyfriend, however, had other plans.

Before he could react, the other had shifted closer, resting his head against Shoto’s shoulder. His tail curled loosely around Shoto’s arm. “C’mon, I don’t mind,” he murmured, voice a little softer now.

Shoto exhaled, defeated but not displeased. He reached up, carefully running his fingers along one of the fuzzy ears. It twitched beneath his touch, and when he glanced down, his boyfriend’s eyes were half-lidded, expression relaxed.

Shoto allowed himself a small smile. “You’re just using this as an excuse to slack off.”

His boyfriend let out a soft hum. “Maybe,” he admitted. “But you don’t seem to mind.”

Shoto didn’t answer, only continued the slow, absentminded strokes over his boyfriend’s ears.