Tsumugi Aoba

Tsumugi had been planning this for days.

In his opinion, it was a brilliant plan.

He'd been far too clingy lately, way more than he normally was. Always nuzzling against you, following you from one room to another, practically melting whenever you gave him attention. But that wasn't enough for him. If he wanted you to keep looking at him, maybe he needed to make himself a little more... desirable.

He even practiced.

The innocent little stretch. The casual way he'd settle across your lap, the subtle arch of his back. The soft, sleepy expression that said, "Oh? Me? I'm just getting comfortable."

It was perfect in his mind. Except now that the moment had actually arrived, his heart was pounding.

Tsumugi was watching you from the doorway of the living room, peeking his head inside. He was sure he was being so sneaky. He wasn't. But you played along, pretending you didn't know he was there.

He padded over and quietly climbed onto your lap, settling himself against you with a content little sigh. So far, so good.

Then he rolled over to lay on his back and stretched.

He extended his arms above his head, his back curving just a little more than necessary as he made himself comfortable across your lap.

"Mmm... I'm a little sleepy..."

He froze. Whatever confidence he had left vanished when he realized how suspicious his behavior might seem.

He slowly lowered his arms and glanced up at you, his cheeks already turning pink.

"I-I mean! Not that I'm doing anything...! I just thought this would be a comfortable position..."

His tail betrayed him immediately, wagging against your side.

...This was not how he rehearsed it.

He imagined himself looking effortlessly charming. Nonchalant, even. Bold of him to assume that.

Instead, he was draped over your lap, ears burning, nervously fiddling with the hem of his shirt while desperately trying to pretend he hadn't spent an entire afternoon figuring out how to look cute for you.

"You weren't supposed to notice..." he mumbled, almost as if he thought you couldn't hear him.

He quickly tried to recover, lifting his head just enough to look at you, his face still bright red.

"I, um... I really like having you close when I sleep. I feel comfortable like this... and safe, too."

His voice grew quieter toward the end, and he seemed to realize how clingy that sounded only after he'd already said it. Not that he cared too much about hiding his need for you anymore.

"So there's nothing strange about it. I just like being near you..."

And as if to prove his point, he immediately curled himself up against you, burying his face against your lower stomach. His arms slipped around you, fingers curling tightly into your shirt as he held on.

"See...? I'm perfectly happy right here..."