In the struggle to remove the cat, Hoshiyuki suddenly lost his balance.
Before either of them could react, he fell forward—landing directly on top of Shiharu.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
Hoshiyuki's eyes widened slightly, but inside, he felt something entirely different. If it were up to him, he would never leave this position.
Shiharu instinctively raised a hand, placing it against the back of Hoshiyuki's head to steady him as he tried to pull the stubborn cat away from his face.
He smells nice…
The thought slipped quietly through Hoshiyuki's mind as he unconsciously nestled closer, his face brushing the crook of Shiharu's neck.
"Gah—your cat is so clingy…"
Shiharu's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Hoshiyuki lifted his head slightly, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
Both the owner and the cat are clingy.
After a bit more effort, Shiharu finally managed to pry the cat off his face. Holding the fluffy creature up in one hand, he let it dangle lightly while it calmly licked its paws as though nothing had happened.
Shiharu stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Hoshi… how long are we going to stay like this?"
He gestured faintly to their current position.
Hoshiyuki was still lying on top of him, clinging a little more comfortably than someone who had merely fallen by accident.
Hoshiyuki sighed dramatically.
"This is bad," he murmured weakly. "I don't feel well. I might vomit. I feel dizzy… I can barely stand. I don't even want to."
He shifted slightly, making himself more comfortable.
"Isn't it obvious? I help you all the time… so you should help me too."
He pouted sadly.
"My pillow isn't comfortable. I prefer this one. What if my neck gets strained from using a bad pillow? Poor me."
He paused before adding with exaggerated disappointment,
"I thought we were friends."
Shiharu stared at him silently.
Then he remembered what Ren had told him earlier.
"He barely eats. And when he does… he usually throws it up later."
A quiet sigh escaped his lips.
"I can tell you're lying," Shiharu muttered calmly.
He glanced at him again before adding softly,
"…but you can stay anyway."
________
Do you like cats? Hm?
The question came softly as Shiharu sat down beside Hoshiyuki, who was gently playing with the white-furred per cat resting in his lap. The stubborn little creature kept reaching up, patting Hoshiyuki's face with her tiny paws. He tried to redirect her so he could focus on the books arranged on the low table, but she was relentless.
Hoshiyuki looked up blankly, then broke into a warm smile the moment he realized it was Shiharu.
"Yes, I do like them. They bring a different kind of peace."
"What other animals do you like?"
"Swans, deer, birds… I love them all."
Shiharu quietly flipped through the pages of the manga Hoshiyuki had been reading. The gesture made Hoshiyuki wonder briefly where Ren was; it was unusual for Shiharu to seek him out first.
"Ao Haru Ride? You love romance mangas?"
Hoshiyuki nodded lightly, allowing the cat to settle comfortably on his right shoulder. The contrast of his long golden hair against her snowy white fur created a soft, harmonious blend of color. The cat stared at Shiharu for a moment before burrowing deeper into the curve of Hoshiyuki's neck.
"It must be really lonely…" Hoshiyuki murmured.
Shiharu turned to him. Their eyes met.
"…being in a world where there isn't even one person you feel at ease with. If you have any problems, I'll listen."
Shiharu froze. Then a wide, sad smile curved his lips.
"Sometimes I stay silent not because I have nothing to say, but because I don't know how to say it without breaking down. There's a storm inside me—quiet, but relentless. And I wish… someone could hear the words I'm too tired to speak. I carry so much behind my smile, not because I'm strong, but because I don't want to be a burden. Truth is, I just want to feel seen without having to explain myself. Unfortunately… I think nostalgia will be the death of me."
He drew his knees to his chest, buried his face against them, and fell quiet.
Hoshiyuki didn't know what to say. He had lived a life surrounded by affection and love long before stepping into the human world, so comforting someone in pain still felt foreign to him. He simply looked out into the distance.
The two sat together on the long, elegant wooden corridor that stretched far into the twilight. Its dark, polished floorboards reflected soft, diffused light. Overhead, heavy clusters of vibrant purple wisteria cascaded from the rafters and eaves like living curtains of blossoms, their delicate petals glowing ethereally. Lanterns with intricate patterns hung at intervals, casting warm golden pools that mingled with the cool blue tones filtering through the open lattice windows.
Gentle rain fell in fine, shimmering threads beyond the railings, blurring the tranquil garden pond below where pale lotus pads and white water lilies floated serenely. Wispy trails of mist and faint ghostly fish-like shapes drifted lazily among the hanging flowers, lending the scene a dreamlike, otherworldly beauty. Deep indigo-purple blooms contrasted with warm wood tones, soft rain, and luminous golden highlights, creating a hushed, melancholic serenity.
"Shiharu?"
He turned.
"Do you listen to music?"
Shiharu nodded.
Hoshiyuki reached for his phone and earphones beside him. He placed one earbud in Shiharu's ear and kept the other for himself. Shiharu relaxed, resting his head against his knee as he watched Hoshiyuki gently stroke the sleeping cat now curled in his lap.
Hoshiyuki's attention drifted to him. With quiet care, he guided Shiharu's head to rest on his own shoulder.
"Close your eyes… just like a lost little kitten… and sleep. The rain sounds are beautiful. You'll forget your worries and pain for a while. I can't promise you it's forever—not yet. But I will be able to promise you that soon. Maybe 'forever' was a word meant for memories, not people."
Shiharu listened—to the music, to the steady rhythm of the rain, to Hoshiyuki's soft voice. Everything around them wove together into a deep, enveloping sense of peace.
He fell asleep on Hoshiyuki's shoulder, the world momentarily free of worry.