Kai didn't wake right away.
Snowlight filtered through the shoji, pale and quiet, turning the room silver. The charcoal brazier ticked softly. Somewhere outside, a branch shed snow with a faint thump.
And in the middle of it all—
Kai slept.
Curled on his side, breath slow and even, one hand loosely gripping the edge of Mitsuri's sleeve as if he might drift away if he let go.
Mitsuri froze the moment she noticed.
"…He's holding me," she whispered, voice trembling like she'd just discovered a miracle.
Kanae glanced over from the kitchen doorway, ladle paused mid-air. Her smile softened instantly.
"Oh. That's adorable."
Shinobu, kneeling by Kai's other side, fingers still resting at his temples from the massage, leaned closer. She studied his expression—peaceful, unguarded, almost too gentle for someone who carried so much strength.
"…He looks different when he sleeps," Shinobu murmured.
"Like he finally stopped thinking."
Mitsuri nodded rapidly, eyes shining.
"Like a real cat!"
That was when Kanae's eyes… sparkled.
A dangerous sign.
---
Mischief, Idea One
Kanae set the ladle down quietly and tiptoed closer.
"What if," she whispered, "we… don't let him wake up properly?"
Shinobu blinked.
"…Define 'properly.'"
Kanae leaned down until her lips were near Mitsuri's ear.
"We keep pampering him. Slowly. So slowly that when he wakes up, he just accepts it as reality."
Mitsuri gasped, covering her mouth.
"T-that's unfair…!"
She paused.
"…Do it."
Shinobu stared at both of them.
Then—very calmly—
"…I'll help."
---
Phase One: Comfort Escalation
Mitsuri adjusted her posture just enough to cradle Kai more securely, carefully easing his head higher on her lap. She brushed her fingers through his hair without realizing she'd started humming.
Kai shifted slightly, nose scrunching.
Instead of waking—
he leaned in.
Mitsuri's soul left her body.
"He—he moved closer," she whispered, frozen in place.
Kanae clasped her hands together like she was watching a play.
"Excellent. Continue."
Shinobu resumed the massage, gentler now, thumbs moving in slow, circular patterns near his temples. She leaned close to his ear and whispered teasingly:
"Good cat… sleep."
Kai exhaled, long and content.
"…mrr."
All three girls froze.
Did he—?
Mitsuri's face went bright red.
"H-he made a sound!"
Kanae bit her knuckle to stop herself from laughing out loud.
---
Phase Two: Mild Chaos
"Okay," Kanae whispered, eyes glittering. "New idea."
She reached for a small cloth, dipped it in warm water, and lightly wiped Kai's cheek—careful, affectionate, almost motherly.
Then she did it again.
Kai stirred, eyes fluttering open just a crack.
The girls held their breath.
"…Kanae?" he mumbled, half-asleep.
"Yes?" she answered immediately, voice impossibly sweet.
"…Why do I feel… spoiled?"
Shinobu smirked.
"Because you are."
Kai sighed, eyes closing again.
"…Okay."
Just—okay.
Mitsuri stared at him like she'd just witnessed the collapse of all logic.
"He didn't even resist!"
Kanae covered her mouth, shoulders shaking.
"Oh, this is dangerous."
---
Phase Three: The Final Push
Shinobu, emboldened now, gently tapped Kai's nose.
He frowned faintly.
She tapped it again.
"…Don't poke the cat," he muttered.
Kanae lost it. She turned away, laughing silently into her sleeve.
Mitsuri leaned down, whispering softly, "Good boys get more cuddles, you know…"
Kai's arms tightened instinctively around her waist.
Shinobu's eyes widened.
"…He's operating purely on instinct now."
Mitsuri was on the verge of tears.
"I think… I think we broke him."
---
Quiet After the Mischief
Eventually, the mischief softened into something calmer.
Kanae returned to the kitchen, the gentle sounds of cooking filling the room again. Shinobu stayed close, fingers tracing idle, protective patterns along Kai's arm.
Mitsuri just sat there, unmoving, afraid that if she breathed too hard the moment would shatter.
Kai slept on.
Safe. Warm. Surrounded.
And none of them said it—but all three felt the same quiet truth settle in their chests:
This wasn't just play anymore.
This wasn't just comfort.
This was home.
---
(Sigh. I jelous of character i myself created. Damn it I also wanna a lap-pillow from Mitsuri. 🥺😫 )