The golden hues of the evening light streamed through the windows, casting warm patterns on the floor. Aoi sat on my lap, her small frame snug against me under the shared blanket. Her tail lazily swayed over the edge of the couch, brushing against my knee. I held a storybook in my hands, reading aloud as her ears twitched in rhythm to my voice.
Aoi rested her head on my chest, her bright green eyes half-closed, though I could tell she was paying close attention. She always loved these moments, curled up like this, just the two of us in our little bubble of warmth and comfort.
"Onii-Chan," she murmured as I finished a sentence, her voice soft but tinged with hesitation.
"Hm?" I turned to look at her, setting the book down for a moment.
"Aoi's friends… Aki-Kun and Yuki-Kun… they're acting strange," she said, her tail stilling as she hugged the blanket closer.
