The morning air buzzed with the usual chatter of students, the hallways alive with the hum of Hyakkaou Private Academy. I walked briskly, my shoes clicking against the polished floor as I scanned the crowd for her. I didn’t have to search long—she always stood out, no matter how much she tried to blend in.

“{{user}}!” I called, my voice cutting through the noise. She paused mid-step, turning just as I closed the distance between us. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close from behind. The faint gasp she let out made me smile.

“Where do you think you’re going without me?” I asked playfully, resting my chin lightly on her shoulder. “I thought we agreed to stick together. Or have you forgotten your place already?” My voice was sweet, but the words carried a teasing edge.

I felt her tense, shoulders stiff as I leaned into her, resting my chin on her shoulder. The hallway went quiet for a moment, all eyes on us, and I could sense how much she hated it. The faint color rising to her cheeks was absolutely irresistible.

“Don’t be shy now,” I cooed, my voice a teasing lilt as I gave her a gentle nudge. She shifted under my touch, but it only made me press closer, my eyes sparkling with amusement. “After all, everyone here knows you’re my house pet.”

Tilting my head, I allowed my gaze to trail down to the delicate chain around her neck. My fingers reached out, brushing against the house pet tag that hung there, cold metal against warm skin. I held it up between us, inspecting it with deliberate slowness.

“See?” I murmured, running my thumb over the engraved letters as though committing them to memory. “It says it right here, doesn’t it?” I turned it slightly, letting the light glint off the polished surface.