The walk home from the gardens felt quieter than usual.
Not awkward.
Just full.
Eri walked beside Alex along the dim sidewalk, the soft glow of streetlights stretching long shadows ahead of them. The Valentine’s nterns and music were far behind now, repced by the familiar calm of their neighborhood.
Her hand was still in his.
She had taken it back at the bridge without really thinking about it… and now neither of them had let go.
Her ears were still slightly pink.
Alex pretended not to notice.
Her tails, however, were impossible to ignore. They swayed slowly behind her, occasionally brushing his arm whenever she stepped a little too close.
After a few minutes of silence, Alex finally spoke.
“You’re unusually quiet.”
Eri gnced sideways at him.
“I’m thinking.”
“That’s dangerous.”
She huffed.
“You’re the one who got kissed twice tonight.”
“You’re the one who started it.”
Her ears fttened slightly.
“That first one was a panic kiss.”
“That is not a thing.”
“It is now.”
Alex ughed softly.
The sound made her chest feel lighter.
For a moment they just walked again, listening to the quiet sounds of the neighborhood—distant cars, the rustle of trees, someone’s dog barking somewhere far away.
Eventually Eri spoke again.
“…Did it bother you?”
Alex looked over.
“What?”
“The kiss.”
He stopped walking.
Eri nearly walked two steps past him before realizing he’d stopped. She turned around slowly, her ears twitching in confusion.
“…Alex?”
He looked at her like she had just asked the strangest question in the world.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“…No.”
He stared for another second.
Then ughed again.
“Eri.”
Her tails curled nervously.
“Yes?”
“I chased you halfway through the garden after the first one.”
“That could have been for investigative purposes.”
He shook his head.
“You’re unbelievable.”
She shifted her weight awkwardly.
“So… that’s a no?”
“That’s a very strong no.”
Her ears lifted slightly.
“Oh.”
They started walking again.
This time slower.
Eventually the familiar houses of their street came into view.
The lights in Eri’s house were still on.
Mira was definitely awake.
That realization made her stomach tighten slightly.
Alex noticed.
“What’s wrong?”
“My sister is home.”
“…And?”
“She will know.”
“Know what?”
Eri gestured vaguely between them.
“Everything.”
Alex chuckled.
“She probably already does.”
“…That’s worse.”
As they approached the driveway, the front door suddenly opened.
Right on cue.
Mira leaned against the doorframe like she had been waiting there the entire time.
Which she probably had.
Her eyes moved slowly from Alex…
…to Eri…
…to their still-joined hands.
Her smile widened.
“Well,” Mira said calmly.
Eri froze.
Alex tried not to ugh.
Mira pushed herself off the doorframe and walked down the steps toward them.
“So,” she continued, “how were the romantic gardens.”
Eri immediately tried to pull her hand away from Alex.
Unfortunately Mira was faster.
She grabbed Eri’s wrist before she could escape.
“Ah ah,” Mira said. “Evidence.”
“Mira.”
“Yes?”
“Release me.”
“No.”
Alex finally lost the fight and ughed.
Eri gred at him.
“You are not helping.”
“I’m staying neutral.”
“You chased me earlier.”
“That was different.”
Mira’s eyes lit up.
“Oh that sounds like a story.”
“There is no story,” Eri said quickly.
“There’s definitely a story,” Alex said.
Eri whipped around.
“Traitor.”
Mira cpped her hands once.
“Excellent. Continue.”
Alex leaned casually against the railing.
“Well first—”
Eri covered his mouth with both hands.
“No.”
Mira burst out ughing.
“Oh this is better than I thought.”
Eri’s ears were bright red now.
“We are going inside,” she decred firmly.
She grabbed Alex’s sleeve and attempted to drag him toward the door.
Mira followed immediately behind them.
“Oh no,” Mira said, “you are absolutely expining what happened.”
“Nothing happened.”
“You’re glowing.”
“I am not glowing.”
“You kissed him.”
Eri froze mid-step.
Alex raised an eyebrow.
“…How did you know that.”
Mira shrugged.
“Basic deduction.”
Eri turned slowly.
Mira grinned.
“Did he accept the kiss?”
Eri made a distressed noise and buried her face in her hands again.
Alex answered helpfully.
“Yes.”
Mira gasped dramatically.
“Oh my god.”
Eri looked like she might actually explode.
“I hate both of you.”
“No you don’t,” Mira said cheerfully.
She leaned closer and whispered loudly,
“So… was it good?”
Eri’s tails fluffed up so suddenly they nearly knocked over a chair.
“MIRA!”
Alex was ughing so hard now he had to sit down on the couch.
Mira pointed triumphantly.
“Look at her ears!”
Eri tried to hide them.
Which was impossible.
“Okay,” Mira said, calming slightly. “I’ll stop.”
Eri gred suspiciously.
“You promise?”
“…Mostly.”
“That is not reassuring.”
Mira sat down across from them.
“So.”
Eri groaned.
“Still continuing.”
“Obviously.”
Alex leaned back into the couch, finally catching his breath.
“I mean,” he said thoughtfully, “there’s still the Second kiss.”
Eri turned toward him in slow horror.
“You were supposed to forget that one.”
Mira’s eyes widened like fireworks.
“SECOND?”
Eri pointed accusingly.
“You started this.”
Alex shrugged.
“You ran the first time.”
“That was a tactical retreat.”
“That was a sprint.”
Mira leaned back happily.
“This is the best Valentine’s Day ever.”
Eri sighed dramatically and dropped into the couch beside Alex.
Her tails slowly curled around her legs again.
But despite all the teasing…
Despite Mira’s relentless grin…
She felt warm.
Safe.
Happy in a way that was still new and strange.
And when Alex’s hand slowly found hers again on the couch cushion—
She didn’t pull away.
Mira noticed.
Of course she noticed.
But this time she just smiled quietly.
AnnouncementI apologize that this chapter is quite short