Aira sat on Yoru's lap, her small arms wrapped loosely around his waist, while Ito was curled up on Rina's lap, resting against her stomach. The two animal-humans were still wide awake, their ears twitching as they sensed the tension between their masters.
For a long moment, neither Yoru nor Rina spoke.
Then, at the same time, they opened their mouths—
"So…"
"Um…"
They both paused, looking away awkwardly.
Aira and Ito tilted their heads in sync, watching the interaction like curious children waiting for a story to unfold.
Rina was the first to clear her throat, trying to push past the awkwardness. "Yokun…" she murmured, her voice softer than usual. "When did you… start liking me?"
Yoru's breath hitched. He should have expected the question, but somehow, it still caught him off guard. His gaze dropped to Aira, who was nuzzling against his chest with a satisfied hum, as if she were enjoying his warmth. He took a slow breath before answering.
