The morning sunlight spilled gently through the curtains, painting Eri’s room in soft gold. Her silver hair glinted in the light as she sat cross-legged on the bed, tails fanned out around her like fluffy clouds.

  For the first time, she didn’t curl into them. She didn’t bury herself. She simply sat… staring. Ten long, white, soft tails stretched around her, shifting slightly as if curious, almost sentient.

  Her heart thumped.

  Okay. Time to try something new.

  Her fingers hovered above the nearest tail — silky, thick, impossibly soft. It twitched slightly at her hesitation, ears flicking in curiosity.

  Eri swallowed, took a slow breath, and let her hand fall onto it.

  Soft.

  Oh. My. God.

  Her fingers brushed down the length, and a sensation she wasn’t prepared for shot through her. Warm. Tingly. Something alive.

  And then —

  A soft, involuntary purr slipped out of her throat.

  Eri froze. Eyes wide.

  “…Wait. What?” she whispered, almost ughing. Her hand kept moving anyway, trailing along the silky fur. Another purr escaped. Louder. Surprised. Shocking.

  She tried pulling back. Couldn’t. The feeling was… addictive. Magical. Perfect.

  She stroked again. Purr. Stroke. Purr.

  Her ears twitched uncontrolbly, tail tips flicking in delight. Her body tingled from the base of her spine to her fingertips, and she gasped softly.

  “…I—I didn’t know I could… purr,” she murmured, astonished. She lifted her hands and ran them across the tails of another, weaving between them. Each tail responded, a soft swish accompanying every stroke.

  Her purring became louder, richer, reverberating softly in the room. Her tails wagged gently, almost in response, as if thanking her for the attention.

  Eri’s eyes sparkled, cheeks warm. “Oh… oh wow…”

  Her hands moved over and over, exploring, learning, luxuriating in every inch of fluff. Every strand of fur was alive under her fingers. She gasped softly, still shocked at the sheer pleasure of the sensation.

  “…I… I really am her…” she whispered, purring quietly again. A shiver of joy ran down her spine.

  She ughed softly, incredulous at how right it felt. Ten tails. Ten brushes. Ten little gifts wrapped around her, each one alive and responsive.

  For the first time, she realized: being Eri wasn’t just seeing herself in the mirror.Being Eri was feeling herself.

  And it was overwhelming.Perfect.Magical.

  She buried her face lightly in the tails she had just stroked, purring softly against the warm, soft fluff, amazed at the life she had in her hands and all around her.

  “…This… this is heaven,” she whispered, smiling, purring, and stroking once again.

  Her tails wagged happily. Eri purred again.And for the first time, she didn’t question it.

  She didn’t have to.

  She was exactly where she belonged.