The afternoon sun filtered gently through the trees as Kyo and I walked along the quiet path leading away from Shigure's house. Fallen leaves crunched beneath our feet, the air cool but pleasant enough to keep us moving lazily with no real destination.
Kyo shoved his hands into his pockets, head tilted back as he exhaled. "Today was exhausting."
"You're telling me?" I stretched my arms high, groaning. "We patched the roof, argued at least five times, survived Shigure's creepy staring, and almost died under falling wood. That counts as cardio."
"It wouldn't have been that hard if someone didn't keep yapping at me while I worked," he muttered.
I clicked my tongue. "Correction: I motivated you. That's called moral support."
"Moral pain in the-"
"Language," I cut in, giving him a firm look.
He scowled but didn't finish the sentence. Progress.
We continued walking, the breeze rustling through the leaves overhead. Honestly, for a moment, it felt like a slice-of-life anime scene calm, slow, like time was stretching just for us.
I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. There was something… peaceful about seeing Kyo like this. Not angry, not screaming, just quietly existing beside me.
…Cute, actually.
But obviously, I wasn't going to say that out loud. I valued my survival.
"Hey," Kyo said suddenly, breaking the silence, "you're weirdly quiet."
"Thinking."
"That's new."
I smacked his arm lightly. "Rude."
Before he could respond, a familiar voice floated toward us.
"Misaki-chan!"
My head snapped up. Tohru was hurrying down the path toward us, waving enthusiastically
with a tiny mouse sitting in her hands.
I blinked. "Tohru -HEY THERE!!"
Kyo raised a brow, unimpressed. "Woah. The mouse got hugged again."
The mouse in Tohru's hands narrowed its tiny, princely eyes at Kyo. If looks could kill, Kyo would've been buried six feet under by now.
Tohru reached us slightly out of breath, cheeks flushed from speed-walking. "I'm so glad I ran into you two!"
I beamed at her. "Same! "kyo asked "how did this happen again?" he pointed at the mouse.
Tohru wilted like a sad flower. "It was completely my fault…" She glanced at the mouse apologetically. "We were in the classroom, and I-I accidentally grabbed him when he slipped."
Kyo snorted. "How irresponsible of you, Tohru."
I shot him a glare and flicked his forehead not hard, just a little boop of judgment. "Oh come on, no need to say it like that."
Kyo's ears reddened immediately. "H-Hey! Who do you think you're hitting?!"
"He's still lame as "
Before he could finish the insult, the mouse tensed, tail whipping like a warning. And then
Yuki launched himself.
Well. "Launched" is generous. It was more like he hopped aggressively, which would've been hilarious if the next thing didn't happen.
He aimed for Kyo
Instead, he landed squarely on my chest.
My eyes widened. His tiny mouse body made a soft "pomf" sound against me.
And then -
POOF.
A soft cloud of smoke erupted and suddenly I found myself staring up directly into Yuki's human eyes.
He had one hand braced beside my head on the ground, the other gripping my shoulder to keep himself lifted, caging me in without pressing his body against mine so that he wont turn into mouse again.
My brain short-circuited for a full two seconds.
Warm breath.
Soft strands of hair brushing my cheek.
His face way, way too close.
Oh. Oh wow.
I felt my cheeks burst into flames. "Uh -h-hi?"
Yuki blinked, clearly flustered himself but still trying to maintain composure. "…My apologies. Are you hurt?"
"N-nope, just just overwhelmed by gravity," I squeaked.
Kyo and Tohru gasped at the same time.
Tohru: "Y-Yuki-kun!"
Kyo: "THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Before the situation could get any more awkward, Kyo grabbed Yuki by his arm roughly and yanked him sideways. Yuki rolled off me and landed with a controlled thud on the ground.
"That hurt, you stupid-" Yuki started, wearing his cloths back.
"Oh shut it! You shouldn't be jumping around like a flea!" Kyo barked back.
I sat up quickly, fanning my burning cheeks, trying to pretend that wasn't the most physically close I'd ever been to a human in this world so far.
Tohru rushed to my side. "Misaki-chan, are you okay?!"
"I am fine. Just emotionally attacked," I muttered, rubbing my face. "Your cousin is dangerous…"
Yuki cleared his throat as if he was also trying to erase the memory. "I apologize again. Transformation timing can be… unfortunate."
"No worries," I said, attempting a normal smile despite my pulse doing taiko drum performances inside my chest. "At least no bones broken. Just pride."
Tohru giggled softly, relieved. That sound alone was enough to lighten the tension.
Kyo folded his arms, clicking his tongue. "Tch. Idiots."
"Language," I reminded again.
He glared at me. "Stop policing my words!"
"You need policing. You're a menace."
"I'm a-?!"
"Anyway!" I jumped in before we looped into another bickering marathon. "Where are you two heading?"
Tohru perked up. "We were just going back home! School ended early today because some of the classrooms flooded from last night's rain."
"Oh wow. Nature said 'no education today,' huh?"
Yuki nodded. "Perhaps it's a blessing for some."
Kyo scoffed. "Yeah. For lazy people."
I gave him a flat stare. "We also don't go to school, you know."
"…That's survival."
We all chatted briefly, the mood softening as the four of us stood together under the trees.
Then Tohru looked at the time and gasped. "Ah -we need to get back before Shigure-san worries!"
"Worries?" I echoed. "Pretty sure he's sitting somewhere sipping tea and enjoying your panic."
Yuki actually huffed a tiny amused breath or a little chuckle you can say. Which wow. Achievement unlocked.