*SPLASH!*
The water gun's stream hit Luna square in the face. She squealed, laughing, her white fur dripping.
"Got you!" Hiro shouted triumphantly, his seven-year-old grin wide and bright.
"No fair!" Luna grabbed her own bright pink water pistol, chasing him around the playground.
*SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!*
They ran in circles, laughing until their sides hurt, until the summer sun made everything golden and perfect and endless.
Finally, breathless, they collapsed on the grass.
Luna's face was bright with joy—pure, unfiltered happiness that made her golden eyes shine like sunlight.
Hiro watched her smile and felt something warm bloom in his chest.
"Hey, Luna?"
"Hmm?" She was still giggling, wiping water from her fur.
"I got you something."
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small box wrapped in tissue paper.
Luna's ears perked up. She took it carefully, unwrapping it with the reverence of a child receiving treasure.
Inside: a white comb with delicate flower patterns, and a matching white hairband embroidered with tiny stars.
"Hiro..." Her voice was a whisper.
"For your hair," he said shyly. "So you always look pretty."
Luna's eyes filled with happy tears.
She threw her arms around him, hugging him so tightly he couldn't breathe.
He hugged her back just as hard.
Neither wanted to let go.
Neither knew they'd have to.
**[ 10 YEARS LATER]**
Luna touched the white hairband in her drawer—faded now, worn from years of careful storage.
She'd kept it.
Even when she forgot his face.
Even when she forgot his name.
She'd kept it.
*Why?*
[STATE LAB]
The fluorescent lights of the government facility hummed with a sterile coldness that made Hiro's fur stand on end. He sat in a metal chair that was slightly too small for his wolf form, his knees bumping against the underside of the interrogation table. Across from him, two government officials studied him with expressions that wavered between scientific fascination and bureaucratic suspicion.
Official #1 was a stern woman in her fifties, her gray hair pulled back into a bun so tight it seemed to stretch her forehead. She wore a crisp navy suit and glasses that caught the harsh overhead lighting. Official #2 was a younger man, perhaps in his early forties, with analytical eyes that seemed to catalog every detail of Hiro's physiology like he was a specimen under a microscope.
"Hiro Mizuki," the woman began, reading from a tablet in front of her. "Age seventeen. The first documented case of transformation between human and beast folk phenotypes." She looked up, her eyes narrowing. "This is... unprecedented."
Hiro kept his posture relaxed despite the tension coiling in his shoulders. His orange markings seemed to glow slightly brighter in the stark white room—a subtle warning that he was more than capable of defending himself if necessary.
"That's correct," he said, his deep wolf voice steady and calm.
The male official leaned forward, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "Can you explain the mechanism? How is this possible? Our understanding of genetics suggests that such a transformation should be—"
"Impossible?" Hiro interrupted, a hint of amusement in his tone. "And yet, here I am."
The woman cleared her throat, bringing the conversation back under her control. "Your family has provided some background information, but we need more details. Your bloodline is... complex."
"Mixed," Hiro corrected. "My family has beast folk, demi-human, and human heritage. I inherited genetics from all three lines. It's not complicated—it's just diverse."
The male official typed something on his laptop. "We'll need DNA samples. Comprehensive medical examinations. Documented transformations under controlled conditions for study—"
"No."
The single word dropped into the room like a stone into still water. Both officials looked up sharply.
"Excuse me?" The woman's eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline.
Hiro leaned back in his chair, the metal creaking slightly under his weight. His amber eyes met hers without flinching. "I'll cooperate with identification requirements. Registration. Basic documentation. But I'm not a lab experiment."
The male official's expression shifted to something almost condescending. "Mr. Mizuki, you must understand—you're a scientific anomaly. Understanding your condition could help advance our knowledge of genetics, potentially benefit others who—"
"I'm a PERSON." Hiro's voice cut through the air like a blade. His eyes flashed brighter, that ethereal orange glow intensifying. "Not a condition. Not a specimen. A person with rights, dignity, and autonomy. I'm sure you understand the difference."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. The officials exchanged glances, something like nervousness flickering across their faces. The woman adjusted her glasses and made a note on her tablet.
"Of course," she said, her tone more measured now. "We'll... discuss what level of cooperation is reasonable."
"Good," Hiro replied. "Because I'm not afraid of you, or this facility, or any threats you might consider making. I'm here voluntarily, offering to work with you within reasonable boundaries. I suggest we keep it that way."
Another pause. The male official looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"We'll need to consult with our superiors," the woman finally said, standing. "Wait here."
They left the room, the door closing with a heavy metallic click.
Hiro let out a long breath, his shoulders finally relaxing. His hands, which had been resting calmly on the table, were trembling slightly—not from fear, but from the adrenaline of standing his ground against authority figures who clearly wanted to treat him like property.
Twenty minutes later, they returned with a different demeanor. More respectful. More careful.
The hallway outside the interrogation room was a stark contrast to the cold interior. Here, warmth awaited—in the form of family.
His mother rushed forward the moment the door opened, her human features creased with worry and relief. She was a small woman, barely reaching his wolf form's chest, but her embrace was fierce. "Hiro! Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
"I'm fine, Mom," Hiro assured her, his large paws gently patting her back. "They asked questions. Took photos. That's all."
His father, a demi-human with subtle fox-like features, clasped Hiro's shoulder with pride evident in his eyes. "That's my boy."
Behind them stood his grandparents—Daiki, a massive wolf beast folk whose silver fur spoke of his age and wisdom, and Akane, a graceful demi-human fox woman whose sharp eyes missed nothing. They had been his anchors throughout this ordeal, helping him understand the complexity of his heritage.
But it was Luna who drew his attention most. She stood slightly apart from the others, her white fur almost glowing in the harsh hallway lights, her blue eyes wide with concern. The moment she saw him, she ran forward, nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste.
"Are you okay?!" She grabbed his arms, looking him up and down as if checking for injuries. Her tail was rigid with anxiety behind her.
Hiro felt something warm spread through his chest at her concern. He depowered without thinking, his wolf form melting away to reveal his human self—shorter, less imposing, but no less genuine. "I'm fine, Luna. Really."
Official #1 emerged from the interrogation room behind him, holding a folder of documents. Her expression was professionally neutral now, though perhaps slightly wary. "Mr. Mizuki is free to go. However..."
She handed him a document, which Hiro scanned quickly. Government supervision. Monthly check-ins. Incident reporting requirements. Restrictions on transformation in public without proper identification. It was bureaucracy at its finest—not quite imprisonment, but definitely monitoring.
"You're under government supervision for the foreseeable future," she explained. "Monthly check-ins are mandatory. Any incidents involving your transformation must be reported within twenty-four hours. Failure to comply may result in more restrictive measures."
Hiro folded the document and tucked it into his pocket. "Understood."
"You may continue attending school," she continued, and Hiro felt Luna's grip on his arm tighten with relief. "However, any problems—any incidents that suggest you're a danger to others—and we'll revisit this arrangement. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," Hiro replied.
The official nodded curtly and left, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Hiro's mother pulled him into another hug, this one longer, tighter. "I'm so glad you're okay. When they took you away, I thought—"
"I know, Mom. But I'm fine. We knew this was coming."
Daiki stepped forward, his large paw landing on Hiro's shoulder with a weight that felt like approval. "They tried to intimidate you, boy. Tried to make you feel like you owed them something, like you were less than human." His eyes, so similar to Hiro's wolf form, glowed with pride. "But you stood your ground. Demanded respect. That takes courage."
"Daiki's right," Akane added, her nine fox tails swishing gently behind her. "They wanted to study you like an animal. You reminded them you're a person first. Never forget that."
Luna's father, Kenji, a large white wolf beast folk, approached with his wife Yuki beside him. "We're proud of you, Hiro. Not every seventeen-year-old could handle that pressure with such maturity."
"Thank you, sir," Hiro replied, feeling genuinely grateful for the support.
Luna hadn't let go of his arm the entire time. When he looked down at her, she was staring at the floor, her ears drooping slightly. "I was so worried," she whispered. "I thought they might keep you there, or take you somewhere we couldn't reach—"
"Hey." Hiro gently tilted her chin up with his finger so their eyes met. "I'm here. I'm okay. And I'm not going anywhere."
Her tail gave a small, tentative wag.
The next morning, Hiro stood before his bedroom mirror, studying his human reflection. Dark hair, brown eyes, average height—completely ordinary. He could go to school like this now. The secret was out. Everyone knew he was the boy who could transform. He didn't have to hide anymore.
But then the memory surfaced, as vivid as if it were happening again...
*The previous afternoon, as students poured out of the school building after the initial shock of his revelation had settled, Hiro had tried to leave quietly. He should have known better.*
*A group of female students had surrounded him in the courtyard, their faces flushed with excitement.*
*"Hiro! Hiro!" The first girl, a cheerful third-year with short black hair, had grabbed his sleeve. "You're STILL going to come to school in wolf form, right?!"*
*Hiro had felt his ears flatten against his skull in embarrassment. "I... I haven't really decided—"*
*"PLEASE!" Another girl, this one with her hair in twin braids, had clasped her hands together like she was praying. "You look so cool like that! Everyone thinks so!"*
*A third girl, blushing furiously, had added, "Those orange markings are EVERYTHING! And your eyes! They're so mysterious and intense and—"*
*"Plus you're taller!" A fourth girl had interrupted, also blushing. "It's... nice. You seem more... confident?"*
*"We took a vote!" A fifth girl had announced proudly, holding up her phone with what appeared to be a group chat poll. "EVERYONE wants you to stay in wolf form!"*
*Hiro had looked at the phone in disbelief. "Everyone?"*
*"Well, all the girls in our class at least!" The first girl had giggled. "And most of the other classes too. You've become kind of famous, Hiro."*
*"Some of the guys think it's cool too," another had added. "They said you look like you could be in an action movie or something."*
*A sixth girl, who had been hanging back shyly, had finally spoken up. "And... and some of us think you look more comfortable that way. Like it's your true self. Is that weird to say?"*
*Hiro had been completely overwhelmed, his tail swishing nervously behind him as he'd tried to process the attention. "I... thank you? I think?"*
*"So you'll stay in wolf form?" They'd asked in near-unison, their eyes wide and hopeful.*
*What could he say to that?*
Back in the present, Hiro sighed at his reflection. "I guess it's decided then."
He closed his eyes and felt the transformation wash over him. It was smoother now than it had been that first time, practiced through repetition and acceptance. His bones shifted, his muscles restructured, fur sprouted across his skin. Within moments, his wolf form stared back at him from the mirror—tall, powerful, marked with those distinctive orange patterns that seemed to glow faintly in the morning light.
He put on his modified uniform—the school had been surprisingly accommodating about adjusting the dress code for his larger form. Larger pants, a jacket that could accommodate his broader shoulders, shoes that fit his digitigrade feet.
"At least I'm comfortable like this now," he muttered to himself, checking his appearance one last time.
His mother knocked on the door. "Hiro? Are you ready for school?"
"Yeah, Mom. Coming."
As he headed downstairs, he caught his mother's expression—a mixture of pride and lingering worry. She'd been terrified when government agents had shown up to "request his presence for evaluation." But she'd also been the one to stand in front of him and declare that her son was not going anywhere without legal representation and family support.
"You know you don't have to go back today," she said softly. "If you need more time—"
"I need to go back," Hiro replied, giving her a reassuring smile despite his wolf features. "Hiding isn't going to make this easier. And besides..." His tail swished slightly. "My friends are waiting."
Her expression softened. "Okay. But call me if anything happens. Anything at all."
"I will. Promise."
The walk to school felt different today. People on the street openly stared at him, some with curiosity, others with wariness. A few pulled out their phones to take pictures. Hiro tried to project confidence with every step, keeping his head high and his pace steady.
*This is my life now*, he thought. *Might as well own it.*
When he reached the school gates, he found Takeshi waiting for him, leaning against the brick wall with his hands in his pockets. His friend looked up and grinned.
"There he is. The famous transforming wolf of Sakura High."
Hiro groaned. "Please don't start."
"Too late. You're already trending on social media. #WolfBoy is getting thousands of posts." Takeshi held up his phone, showing a Twitter feed full of photos and speculation about Hiro.
"Great," Hiro muttered. "Just what I needed."
"Hey, look at it this way—you're popular now. Every guy in school is jealous of the attention you're getting from the girls."
"I don't want that kind of attention."
Takeshi laughed and clapped him on the shoulder—then had to reach up slightly since Hiro was taller in this form. "Too bad. You've got it. Come on, let's get to class before your fan club spots you."
They made it approximately fifteen feet before the fan club did, indeed, spot him.
"Good morning, Hiro!"
The greeting came in near-perfect unison from a group of at least a dozen girls who had apparently been waiting near the entrance. They chorused his name like a well-rehearsed choir, their faces bright with enthusiasm.
Hiro's ears flattened against his skull in embarrassment. "Uh... good morning."
"Did the government let you go?"
"Are you okay?"
"We were so worried!"
"You look great today!"
The questions and compliments came rapid-fire, overwhelming in their intensity. Takeshi stepped back with a smirk, clearly enjoying his friend's discomfort.
"I'm fine, everyone. Really. Thank you for your concern." Hiro tried to navigate through the crowd, nodding politely but desperately seeking escape.
Finally, he made it to the classroom, where he discovered his desk now had a cushion on the chair—navy blue with little white paw prints embroidered on it.
"What...?"
"The girls in class pooled their money and got it for you," Takeshi explained, having followed him inside. "They figured you'd be more comfortable with some padding. Since, you know, you're bigger now."
Hiro touched the cushion tentatively, feeling oddly touched by the gesture. "That's... actually really thoughtful."
He sat down carefully, and the cushion did make the slightly-too-small chair more comfortable. Around the classroom, students were filing in, and each one who passed his desk offered a greeting or a smile. Some of the guys gave him approving nods. The girls blushed and whispered to each other.
And then Luna walked in.
She was in her usual school uniform, her white fur pristine, her blue eyes scanning the room until they found him. When their eyes met, her tail gave an involuntary wag, and a soft smile crossed her face.
Hiro felt his own tail respond in kind, swishing once against the chair.
She took her seat across the room—she'd insisted on not sitting right next to him to avoid feeding the rumor mill—but throughout the morning classes, he caught her glancing his way. Each time their eyes met, she'd quickly look away, her ears twitching with something that might have been embarrassment or pleasure.
When lunch arrived, their usual group reconvened on the rooftop—the one place in school where they could talk freely without being overheard or interrupted by curious onlookers.
Yuki was already there when they arrived, having brought an elaborate bento that she'd clearly spent significant time preparing. Kaede showed up moments later with Takeshi in tow, the two of them arguing good-naturedly about which anime series was better.
"So!" Kaede announced once everyone had settled with their lunches. "Valentine's Day is coming up!"
Yuki nearly dropped her chopsticks in excitement. "Oh my gosh, YES! I'm SO EXCITED! It's my favorite holiday!"
Takeshi raised an eyebrow at her. "You mean the holiday where you get free chocolate from people?"
"Exactly!" Yuki beamed without a hint of shame.
Everyone laughed, the sound warm and genuine in the cool February air.
"We should do something!" Kaede continued, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "As a group!"
"Oh! How about KARAOKE?!" Yuki practically bounced in her seat. "We haven't gone in forever!"
"YES!" Kaede clapped her hands together. "Perfect! How about February 12th? Two days before Valentine's! We can make it a group karaoke party!"
Takeshi nodded approvingly. "I'm down."
"Hiro? Luna? You're coming, right?" Yuki turned her eager gaze on them.
Hiro glanced at Luna, who looked slightly uncertain but also hopeful. "Sure," he said. "Sounds fun."
Luna nodded, her tail giving a small wag. "I'd like that."
"Perfect! It's a date!" Kaede paused, then grinned wickedly. "Well, a GROUP date, obviously."
She winked at Luna, who immediately turned bright red under her white fur, her ears folding back in embarrassment.
"Kaede!" Luna protested weakly.
"What? I'm just stating facts!" Kaede laughed, clearly enjoying Luna's flustered reaction.
Hiro felt his own ears warm with a blush he was glad his fur concealed. The group continued chatting about karaoke song choices and what snacks to bring, but Hiro's mind kept drifting to Luna. She was eating her lunch quietly, occasionally contributing to the conversation but mostly just listening with that gentle smile he'd come to adore.
Valentine's Day. The holiday of romance and chocolate and confessions.
His heart beat a little faster at the thought.
February 10th arrived with gray skies and a cold wind that promised snow. Luna stood in her apartment's small kitchen, surveying the ingredients spread across the counter like a general planning a campaign.
Chocolate chips—check.
Butter—check.
Flour, sugar, milk, eggs—all check.
A recipe printed from the internet, slightly crumpled from being read and re-read dozens of times—check.
Her mother's voice came from the doorway. "Making Valentine's chocolate?"
Luna nearly jumped out of her skin, spinning around with her ears flat against her head. "Mom! I—it's not—!"
Yuki, her mother, leaned against the doorframe with a knowing smile. She was a beautiful white wolf beast folk, her fur pristine and her eyes warm with maternal amusement. "It's okay, sweetheart. Who's the lucky boy?"
Luna's tail betrayed her, wagging nervously despite her attempts to control it. "I... it's for Hiro."
"I knew it!" Her mother's smile widened. "That sweet boy who saved you. The one who can transform."
"But I don't know if I can actually give it to him," Luna admitted, her confidence crumbling. "What if he doesn't like chocolate? What if he thinks it's weird that I made it myself? What if the cookies turn out terrible and he has to pretend to like them out of politeness? What if—"
Her mother crossed the kitchen and pulled Luna into a hug, cutting off the spiral of anxiety. "Luna. He'll love them. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because YOU made them. With care. With thought. With..." She pulled back and tapped Luna's chest gently over her heart. "With love."
Luna's face burned. "Mom!"
"It's true, isn't it?" Her mother's expression was gentle, understanding. "You care deeply for him. That's beautiful, Luna. Don't be ashamed of it."
"But what if he doesn't feel the same way?"
"Then he's still your friend, and he'll appreciate the gesture. But..." Her mother's eyes twinkled. "I don't think you have to worry about that."
"You think so?"
"I KNOW so. I've seen the way that boy looks at you."
Luna wanted to ask what she meant by that, but her mother was already heading back to the living room, giving her privacy to work.
The way he looks at me? Luna wondered, her heart fluttering with hope and anxiety in equal measure.
She took a deep breath and turned back to the ingredients.
Okay. I can do this. It's just chocolate chip cookies. Simple. Easy. Nothing can go wrong.
Everything went wrong.
Attempt #1 ended with the smoke alarm blaring and Luna frantically waving a towel at the detector while her father rushed in to open windows. The cookies on the tray were charred beyond recognition, black as coal and twice as bitter when she'd foolishly tried to taste one.
"Maybe the oven temperature was too high?" her mother suggested diplomatically while helping scrape the burnt cookies into the trash.
Luna's ears drooped miserably. "I followed the recipe exactly..."
"Try again, sweetheart. Baking is as much art as science. Sometimes it takes a few attempts."
Attempt #2 was somehow worse. Luna had been so worried about burning them that she'd set the timer too early. The cookies came out of the oven still gooey and undercooked, spreading across the baking sheet like chocolate chip puddles. When she tried to lift one, it fell apart in her hands, leaving her fur covered in dough.
She sat at the kitchen table, staring at the mess, feeling tears prick at her eyes. "This is hopeless. I can't even make simple cookies."
"Luna." Her father sat down beside her, his large form somehow comforting. "When I first tried to make your mother a birthday cake, I confused salt and sugar. The entire thing was inedible, and she had to pretend to enjoy it while I watched." He chuckled at the memory. "But the next year, I tried again. And again. Now I make her a cake every year, and it's perfect because I didn't give up."
"But Valentine's Day is in four days—"
"Then you have four days to practice. One more time, Luna. I believe in you."
Attempt #3 began with Luna triple-checking every measurement, setting multiple timers, and watching the oven like a hawk. She'd adjusted the temperature, mixed the dough more carefully, and shaped each cookie with precision.
When the timer chimed and she pulled them out, her breath caught.
They were perfect.
Golden brown, chocolate chips melted just right, edges slightly crispy while the centers looked soft and chewy. The aroma filling the kitchen was heavenly—butter, vanilla, chocolate, warmth.
"I did it!" Luna couldn't contain her joy, her tail wagging so hard it bumped against the counter. "I actually did it!"
Her mother appeared in the doorway, beaming. "See? I told you."
Luna packaged the cooled cookies carefully in a small box she'd bought specifically for this purpose—simple white with a subtle snowflake pattern on the lid. She tied it with a blue ribbon, making sure the bow was perfect.
Then came the card.
She sat at her desk, pen hovering over the small piece of cardstock, trying to decide what to write. Something simple? Something heartfelt? Something that hinted at her feelings without being too obvious?
Finally, she wrote:
"To Hiro,
Thank you for everything.
- Luna"
She stared at it. Too simple. Too impersonal.
She added:
"P.S. You really do look handsome in your wolf form. "
Then immediately regretted it.
"No, that's too much!" She panicked, reaching for the card. "What am I thinking?! He'll think I'm weird! He'll think I'm—"
She tried to erase it, but the ink had already dried. Frustrated, she crumpled the card and threw it toward her wastebasket. It missed, bouncing off the rim and landing on the floor.
Starting fresh, she wrote a new card—just the simple thank you message. Clean. Safe. Unlikely to make things awkward.
But as she placed it in the box with the cookies, she found herself staring at the crumpled card on her floor. She picked it up, smoothing out the wrinkles, reading her own words.
You really do look handsome in your wolf form.
It was true. She did think that. She thought a lot of things about Hiro—in both his forms. He was kind, brave, protective. He made her feel safe. He made her laugh. When he looked at her with those amber eyes, she felt like she was the only person in the world that mattered.
Luna carefully folded the crumpled card and tucked it into her pocket.
Just in case I get brave...
February 12th arrived with crisp, clear skies and the promise of a fun evening. The karaoke building was a colorful structure in the entertainment district, lit up with neon signs and cheerful music leaking from its soundproofed walls.
The group arrived together—Hiro in his wolf form wearing casual clothes, Luna in a cute winter dress with a warm coat, Yuki in her typical energetic fashion, Kaede styled perfectly as always, and Takeshi looking comfortable in jeans and a hoodie.
"I reserved us the biggest room they had!" Kaede announced proudly, leading them through the lobby.
The private room was impressive—a large space with comfortable couch seating arranged in a U-shape, two microphones on stands, a massive screen for displaying lyrics, and a table already loaded with snacks and drinks they'd pre-ordered.
"This is perfect!" Yuki spun around, taking it all in. "Okay, who's singing first?!"
"Not me." Takeshi immediately threw up his hands. "I'm TERRIBLE at singing. I'll handle the snacks."
"I'll go!" Yuki volunteered, grabbing a microphone with enthusiasm.
She selected a cheerful pop song that Hiro vaguely recognized from the radio. When the music started, Yuki threw herself into the performance with absolute commitment—dancing, gesturing dramatically, hitting most of the notes with impressive accuracy.
Everyone cheered when she finished, and she took an exaggerated bow.
"Who's next?" She looked around expectantly.
Kaede stood up, stretching. "I'll go. But prepare yourselves."
She selected a dramatic power ballad—something from a popular musical that Hiro had never seen but apparently everyone else knew. Kaede's performance was incredible. She didn't just sing; she performed, channeling every emotion in the lyrics, her voice powerful and controlled.
When she finished, hitting the final note with impressive strength, everyone erupted in applause.
"Kaede! You should audition for theater!" Luna said, clearly impressed.
"I actually am in the drama club," Kaede admitted with a laugh. "I just don't talk about it much."
Takeshi was next, despite his protests. Yuki had grabbed the remote and selected a song before he could stop her—a fast-paced rap song that Hiro didn't think Takeshi would be able to handle.
He was wrong.
Takeshi grabbed the microphone and launched into the rap with surprising skill. His rhythm was perfect, his delivery confident, and he didn't miss a single word. By the end, everyone was staring at him in shock.
"TAKESHI?!" Yuki practically shrieked. "Since when can you rap like that?!"
He shrugged, looking pleased with their reactions. "I listen to a lot of hip-hop. Guess some of it rubbed off."
"That was amazing!" Kaede laughed. "You've been holding out on us!"
Eventually, all eyes turned to Hiro.
"Your turn, wolf boy," Takeshi teased, tossing him a microphone.
Hiro caught it reflexively, suddenly feeling very aware of everyone watching him. "I'm not really a singer..."
"Come on! Everyone has to do at least one song!" Yuki insisted.
Luna caught his eye and gave him an encouraging smile. That was all the motivation he needed.
He selected a song carefully—something mellow and acoustic that wouldn't require him to hit extreme ranges. When the music started, he brought the microphone to his muzzle and began to sing.
His wolf voice, which was deep and slightly rough when speaking, somehow transformed when singing. The notes came out smooth and surprisingly melodic, carrying emotion he didn't know he could convey. The song was about finding your place in the world, about accepting who you are despite what others think.
Hiro closed his eyes, losing himself in the lyrics.
When he finished and opened his eyes again, the room was silent. Then Luna started clapping, and the others joined in enthusiastically.
"Hiro! That was beautiful!" Yuki gushed.
"Your voice is really good," Kaede added. "Like, professionally good."
Hiro felt his ears flatten with embarrassment. "Thanks, guys."
Luna was still watching him, her expression soft and her tail wagging gently. Their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them—admiration, affection, something deeper that neither was ready to name yet.
"Luna! Your turn!" Kaede announced, pulling Luna from her thoughts.
"Oh! Um..." Luna took the microphone nervously, her ears twitching. She scrolled through the song list, finally selecting something soft and emotional.
When she started singing, her voice was sweet and genuine, carrying the kind of sincerity that only came from someone who truly meant the words they were singing. The song was about finding someone who understood you, who saw past your walls to the real you underneath.
Hiro watched her, mesmerized. The way her tail swayed slightly with the rhythm, the way her ears perked up when she hit a particularly good note, the way her eyes closed as she lost herself in the emotion—everything about her was captivating.
When she finished, everyone clapped, but Hiro found himself wanting to say something more, something that captured how her voice had affected him. Before he could find the words, Kaede was already talking.
"Okay! Time for a DUET!"
"Oh, yes!" Yuki bounced excitedly. "Luna and Hiro! You two HAVE to sing together!"
"W-what?!" Luna's face went bright red under her white fur. "No, I—"
"Too late! Song's already picked!" Kaede had grabbed the remote and selected something before Luna could protest further.
A romantic duet started playing—the kind of song that couples sang together in movies, their voices intertwining as they gazed into each other's eyes.
Hiro stood up, accepting the second microphone from Takeshi, who was grinning like he'd just won the lottery.
Luna looked at him helplessly, clearly flustered but also... curious? Hopeful?
"We don't have to if you don't want to," Hiro offered quietly as the instrumental introduction played.
"No, it's... it's okay." Luna stood up, clutching her microphone. "I want to."
The first verse was Hiro's. He sang about searching for something he didn't know he needed, about wandering through life feeling incomplete. His deep wolf voice carried the loneliness in the lyrics.
Then Luna's verse came. Her sweet voice sang about hiding behind walls, about being afraid to show her true self, about longing for someone who would understand.
When their voices joined for the chorus, something magical happened. The deep resonance of Hiro's voice and the clear sweetness of Luna's blended perfectly, creating harmonies that filled the room. The lyrics spoke of two souls finding each other, of understanding without words, of acceptance and belonging.
The room had gone completely silent. Even Yuki had stopped eating. Everyone just listened, watching Hiro and Luna sing to each other.
Because that's what it had become—they weren't singing to the screen anymore. They were looking at each other, their voices weaving together, telling a story that felt intensely personal despite being borrowed lyrics.
The final note hung in the air as the song ended.
Silence. Then Kaede started clapping, her eyes suspiciously shiny. "That was BEAUTIFUL!"
"You two are SO CUTE together!" Yuki added, wiping actual tears from her eyes. "Like, that was the most romantic thing I've ever seen in real life!"
Hiro and Luna sat back down, both acutely aware of how close they were on the couch, both blushing furiously under their fur. Neither could quite meet the other's eyes.
"We should, um, take a snack break," Takeshi suggested diplomatically, clearly reading the room.
Everyone agreed eagerly, giving Hiro and Luna a moment to collect themselves. The group descended on the snack table, chattering about performances and upcoming songs, but Hiro's mind was still trapped in that moment—looking into Luna's blue eyes while singing about finding someone who completed you.
Was it possible she felt the same way he did?
After they'd eaten their fill of snacks and drank enough soda to fuel another hour of singing, they settled back onto the couches. Takeshi, who had been scrolling through his phone, suddenly perked up.
"Oh hey, Valentine's Day is in two days. Anyone doing anything special?"
Kaede immediately lit up. "I'm making chocolate for my parents! It's tradition in our family."
"I'm giving friendship chocolate to all my close friends!" Yuki added, then looked meaningfully at Luna. "What about you, Luna? Making chocolate for anyone?"
Luna, who had been peacefully sipping her drink, nearly choked. She coughed, her ears flattening as everyone's attention turned to her.
"I—uh—maybe? I don't know!"
"Ooh, mysterious!" Kaede leaned forward with a teasing grin. "Are you giving chocolate to anyone SPECIAL?"
Luna's face went completely red under her white fur. Her tail curled around herself defensively. "That's... that's private!"
Everyone laughed good-naturedly at her flustered reaction.