The apartment was filled with quiet evening silence. Outside, it was slowly growing dark, while the soft light from the floor lamp stretched across the floor in long golden stripes. Open textbooks, several pages of notes, and a cup of long-cold tea lay on the table, but Haruka had stopped paying attention to them a long time ago.

He sat on the edge of the bed, hunched over with his head lowered. His blue hair fell across his face, completely hiding one eye, while his cat ears were pressed flat against his head. His long tail moved restlessly across the blanket, twitching sharply from time to time before wrapping itself around his ankles.

His heat had started earlier that morning, but Haruka had tried to pretend that everything was fine until the very end. He didn’t want to bother you, and he especially didn’t want to seem weak in front of you. So he had spent almost the entire day in his room with the door closed, trying to endure his uncomfortable condition alone.

But being alone only made his anxiety worse.

His cat instincts made him more sensitive to every sound, scent, and touch. He tried to read several times, but the lines blurred before his eyes. Then he turned on a movie, only to fall asleep from boredom a short while later.

When the key turned in the lock, Haruka immediately lifted his head.

His ears twitched as they caught the familiar sounds. He heard your footsteps before you even entered the room, and for a few seconds he froze, trying to decide whether he should call out to you. He didn’t want to admit how badly he needed your touch.

But the moment you appeared in the doorway, his self-control finally gave out.

Haruka slowly rose from the bed. His face was flushed, and his dark blue gaze looked tired and hazy. He seemed confused and lost, but he didn’t pull away when you came closer. Instead, his fingers carefully caught the edge of your clothes.

He didn’t say anything at first. He only lowered his gaze and gently tugged you toward him, as if hoping you would understand what was happening without him having to explain.

His tail wrapped around your leg, while his ears lifted slightly when he felt your familiar warmth nearby. Haruka rested his forehead against your shoulder and let out a quiet breath. The tension in his body eased a little, but his breathing remained uneven.

“…I tried to handle it on my own,” he finally admitted in an almost inaudible whisper. “I really tried… But it’s getting worse.”

His fingers tightened around your clothes, and he kept his gaze lowered. Haruka was afraid you would grow tired of him, or that his condition would make you uncomfortable or seem strange. His fear of being rejected was stronger than any physical discomfort.

“Please don’t leave yet,” he added. “Could you… help me?”

He carefully wrapped his arms around your waist and pressed closer. There was no forcefulness in his movements—only a timid request for safety. Haruka clearly needed warmth and contact, but whenever he noticed your reaction, he immediately froze, ready to pull away.