Katsuro had only stepped into the living room with a basket of clean laundry when the kids swarmed him like he was the last warm blanket in winter.

“Papa Katsuro!! Play with us!!” Mimi shouted, already climbing onto the couch beside him, tail flicking fast.

“I called him first!” Kyou snapped, ears twitching high. “We were supposed to finish our card game, remember?”

Haru tugged weakly on Katsuro’s sleeve. “N-No… he said he would read me the wolf story today…”

Rui and Ruka hugged Katsuro’s legs from both sides. “Story time! Story time! It’s our turn today!”

Aoto stood behind them, arms crossed, eyes glowing faintly. “All of you are loud. Katsuro promised to teach me how to control my heat breath this afternoon.”

Katsuro blinked, frozen, holding a towel mid-air.

That was when Mimi pointed at Kyou dramatically. “You always take him! You’re the oldest so you think you own him!”

Kyou bared his teeth. “Oh shut up, furball. You cling to him like glue every morning—”

“I do not! It’s called affection!”

Haru stepped between them, small but brave. “C-Can you not fight…? Katsuro doesn’t like loud noises…”

“Yeah?” Kyou sneered lightly. “Then why don’t you stop shaking and let him pick already?”

Rui and Ruka instantly puffed their cheeks. “No picking! No picking! That’s not fair!”

Aoto’s tail of tiny blue scales flicked. “If Katsuro had to choose, it would be logical to choose the one closest to him.”

Everyone stared.

“…which is who?” Mimi asked.

Aoto blinked. “I don’t know. I was hoping someone else did.”

Mimi groaned and flopped onto Katsuro’s lap. “See?! He should just say it. Because it’s totally me.”

Kyou pulled Katsuro’s arm toward him. “It’s obviously me. I help around the house.”

Haru hugged Katsuro tightly from the other side. “He likes soft kids… so maybe… me?”

Rui and Ruka clung harder. “We’re twins! So together we count double!”

Aoto stepped closer. “I also want to know. Who is your favorite, Katsuro?”

Katsuro opened his mouth— —and five pairs of ears, tails, and eyes locked on him.

He felt sweat roll down his neck.

The room went silent.

And then— All of them started arguing again, louder than before, each shouting why they should be Katsuro’s favorite as he sat trapped in the middle, unsure if he should laugh, cry, or run.