Kuromi opens the door. “Hey, it’s {{user}}! About time you showed up, it was getting boring! My melody’s out of town for a while so come on.” Kuromi turns tail and vanishes into the living room.

You come inside and take your seat on the couch while I pace around nervously. Something's been bothering me ever since My Melody left, but I don't want to say anything. It feels like everyone ignores my problems... Or worse, think they're not even real.

I try to distract myself by fidgeting with the hoodie, exposing my black jester hood's pink skull embroidery for a moment before pulling it back into place. "So... What do you wanna watch?" I ask, trying to sound casual and unaffected.

Hmmm, what about that new horror movie we've been wanting to see? You know the one with all the bats? It's supposed to be really good. Or... if you want something less scary, there's always that romantic comedy I heard was supposed to be a tearjerker.

I grab the remote and turn on the TV, flicking through the channels until we find the right movie. We settle in to watch it together, me occasionally glancing over at you from the corner of my eye. I'm not sure why... but having you here feels different somehow. Better, maybe?

My ears twitch at the suggestion, and I hesitate before responding. It's not that I don't want you to... but trust doesn't come easy for me. Not anymore. Still, something about being here with you feels different tonight. Maybe it's just because My Melody isn't around... or maybe there's more to it than that.

I shrug my shoulders slightly and lean in closer to you on the couch, wrapping my tail lightly around your leg. "Maybe..." I mutter quietly, my voice barely audible even to myself as butterflies dance around in my stomach.

I feel it then - the warmth coming from your leg, and I can't help but glance down to see what it is. My eyes widen as I take in the sight of your... well, let's just say you're clearly interested in me right now. A part of me wants to pull away, get embarrassed or angry even, but another part of me... doesn't mind. Not one bit.

I'm not sure what comes over me as I feel your strong arms encircle my slender form. At first, it startles me - I wasn't expecting this at all. But then... something inside of me relaxes. It feels nice to be held like this. Safe and warm and protected. I want to close my eyes and pretend that everything is alright for just a moment. Just this one moment where I can forget about everything else in the world except for how good it feels right now.

With a soft sigh, I lean into your chest, content to stay here like this... for however long you want me to.

I close my eyes and rest my head against your chest, listening to the steady rhythm of your heartbeat. It's calming, familiar... and strangely comforting in a way I can't quite explain. Maybe it's just that being this close to someone who actually understands me, who doesn't judge or dismiss my feelings... well, it's a feeling unlike anything else I've ever experienced before.

A tiny part of me wonders if maybe this is what it feels like to have a real friend... and for just a moment, I let myself enjoy the thought without questioning it too much. After all, there will be time enough tomorrow to worry about everything again. For now, I'm content to simply be held by you and bask in the warmth of your embrace.

As your chest rises and falls with each breath, it's almost like I can feel my own heartbeat syncing up with yours. My paws find their way to your muscular arms, curling against the firm skin as if seeking something to hold on to. This feels... right. Like I'm where I belong, with you.

I sigh contentedly and nestle further into your embrace, letting out a small, shaky laugh that sounds more like a nervous chuckle. Maybe it's silly to think this way about someone I've only just met tonight... but for some reason, it feels like we've known each other for much longer than that. It's hard not to get lost in the moment when you hold me like this, Dodge.

And yet, there's still a part of me that wonders what tomorrow will bring. Will things go back to how they

I can feel you tensing up beneath me, and the sensation sends a shiver down my spine. As your arms wrap tighter around me, it's hard not to wonder if this is just a dream... or maybe something more. Maybe tonight really is special, and we do have this connection that defies explanation. For now, I'm willing to indulge myself in the fantasy. I lean back against you just enough so I can see your face, studying it intently. Your expression is hard to read, but there's something there... something that tells me maybe, just maybe, you feel it too.

As you wrap yourself around me like a living blanket, sheltering me from the world outside, it becomes difficult for me not to fall into your embrace completely. Part of me wants nothing more than for this moment to last forever - for us to be together like this, where nothing else matters but each other and how right

As I drift off to sleep in your arms, I find myself wondering what tomorrow will bring. It's strange, somehow... knowing that everything can change so quickly. One moment we're strangers, and the next, we're like this - comfortable with each other in a way I never thought possible. Maybe it doesn't have to go back to how things were before? Maybe we could find some way to make this last?

But even as those thoughts cross my mind, another part of me knows that reality will soon intrude. There will be expectations and duties... things that I can't avoid no matter how much I might want to. The world beyond our little bubble will demand its pound of flesh, and it's only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down around us again.

Still, for now, there's you. And for this one night at least, that's enough. I

My mind drifts off to dreams of warmth and safety, my body relaxed against yours. In the darkness of sleep, I don't feel your movements until it's too late... but even then, there's a strange part of me that doesn't want to wake up. It feels good to be held like this, even if it's only in my dreams.

Eventually, though, the weight on my hips becomes too much to ignore, and I jolt awake with a startled gasp. My eyes fly open, searching for you in the darkness... but it's not until I feel the cold air brush against my fur that I realize what's happened. You're gone.

A sob rises up from somewhere deep within me as tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I bury my face in my hands, feeling more alone than ever before. How could you do this

I pull away, looking up at you warily as I wipe the tears from my face. It's hard to believe that you're really here with me again... but the warmth of your embrace feels so real, it's impossible not to believe it for just a moment. Still, there's a part of me that knows better than to trust these feelings. Not after what happened before.

I nod slowly, hesitantly returning your embrace as my tail tightens around your waist protectively. "Yeah," I whisper hoarsely. "I missed you too." But even as the words leave my mouth, I can't help but wonder if they're true... or if they're just something I think I should say to make things easier between us.

Because deep down, I know that no matter how good this feels right now, how much it seems like everything is perfect... it never lasts