Subtle Growl

I woke up to a dark room, as it always is whenever I wake up, no matter the time of day. A while ago, I bought these curtains that were supposedly extremely effective at blocking out sunlight. Turns out, it wasn't a scam. The sun hasn't touch this room in months, and that's the way I like it.

After my morning routine, I stepped out into the cozy living room. Of course, I checked Nae's room just in case she didn't wake up for school, and thank goodness she was gone.

"What to do, what to do," I mumbled. "Chores, maybe?"

I looked at the dining table to see a bowl of milk with crumbs of cereal, forcing me to let out an exhausted breath.

"Nae..."

I grabbed the bowl and brought it over to the sink, where I washed it clean, along with the other plates that were resting there. After that, I took a wet towel and wiped the table until not a speck of cereal was left.

"What's next? Hm..."

Before I had time to think of an answer, I was already holding a small vacuum. I might as well clean the sofa... even though we rarely use it.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Like always, I ignored it, but it rang again.

"O-order for... Yozora Noa?" a girl's muffled voice came from the other side.

"Hm...? I don't remember ordering anything," I whispered. "Maybe Nae just used my name."

I walked over to the door and pulled it open. The moment I saw who it was, it took all my self-control not to slam it shut.

Standing there was a girl with a large purse slung over her shoulder. She wore a puffy, pink jacket trimmed with cotton, and underneath, a casual dress that flowed down to her ankles.

Like always when these girls are out in public, she had a bucket hat and sunglasses on. This one, however, took it a step further by wearing a face mask, so her entire head was pretty much covered. Had I not gotten used to discerning them by their hair colors, I wouldn't have ever guessed who she was.

"N-Natsume...?" I gulped.

"Oh. H-hi, Yozora..." she said as she pulled her mask down.

"What are you... doing here?"

"Ah, right!"

She opened up her purse and pulled out the jacket that I put on her when she was sleeping yesterday.

"I... I came to return this," she mumbled. "Thank you for letting me use it."

My mind went completely blank.

"Natsume... You came all this way... just to return this?" I asked.

"Erm... Y-yeah."

"How do you even know where I live?"

"I found it... on your employment file."

"...Okay... That's totally not weird and illegal. And how did you get here?"

"I walked."

I don't even know what to say. I have so many questions, and yet, none of them came out because I was too flabbergasted.

"You should've just left it in the rehearsal room. I could've swung by and picked it up."

"I thought about it, but you mentioned once before that this was your only jacket."

"I did?"

"Yeah."

I think I recall the exact moment when I spouted that random fact. It was when the girls were asking me why I wore the same jacket every single day.

"Well, thank you," I said. "I really appreciate."

"Huh...? I mean—Yeah! No problem," she smiled.

Suddenly, I heard a faint growl. Is there a dog somewhere around here? Just then, I heard it again, but it sounded less like an animal this time.

"Hey, Natsume, did you hear—"

I stopped when I noticed her face glowing red. It took a while, but I pieced it together.

"Ah. Are you hungry?" I asked.

"M-maybe a little..."

I wondered if I had anything for her to eat, but then I remembered a painful fact. I'm pretty sure my fridge is almost empty, save for a carton of milk and a few eggs. I tend to rely on takeout for Nae, and when I do shop for groceries, it's usually only enough to last a day.

"I don't think I have anything here, so... Do you wanna grab a bite on the way back?" I asked.

"On the way back?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna walk you home."

"Eh?! T-there's no need for that, Yozora!"

"Finding out that you walked here is weighing on my mind. Letting you walk back on your own would only worsen it. Um... Unless you're uncomfortable with that, then I'll—"

"N-no! I mean... If you can walk me back, that'd be great, but... would that be too bothersome?"

"What? Not at all. Let me get changed real quick."

I was just about to close the door until I realized that I was about to leave Natsume out here all alone and in the cold. There's no way I can do that, but the only other option is...

Ah, damn it.

"If it's okay with you, Natsume... Do you wanna wait inside?"

"Oh. Is that okay with you?"

"I personally don't mind. I just figured you'd be cautious, walking into someone's house for the first time."

"I think it's fine if it's you, Yozora."

"I-is that so...? Then, come in."

I held the door open for her to walk in. This is the first time I've ever invited someone here since I started living here with Nae.

"So this is where you live," Natsume said in awe.

"It's probably nothing compared to your place, huh?"

"What? That's not true at all. It's warm and cozy here. I like it."

"Really? Um... Well, I guess you can sit on the couch over there. I'll be right back."

"Alright."

She sat down on the couch, taking off her bucket hat and allowing her ice-blonde hair to flow down. I wonder if she's really alright with this, but honestly... Who am I to worry about someone else when I'm about to hyperventilate?

I retreated back to my room and immediately fell on my knees. What is with this situation?! It's too freaking awkward for an antisocial feeling, isolation loving, ceiling staring, withdrawn being, introverted living, bed staying, sleep wanting, grass avoiding, no sunlight having hermit like me!

Nonetheless, I picked myself up, but I wasn't happy about it. I slipped on a pair of black sweatpants and of course, my jacket that I now have because Natsume came all this way just to return it to me. I can't just let Natsume walk home all by herself. My consciousness won't allow it.

When I finished, I went outside to meet Natsume on her phone.

"Alright, I'm done," I said. "Are you ready?"

"Yep!" she smiled. "Let me just—"

Suddenly, the front door creaked, the sound slicing through the stillness. For a moment, it felt like time froze, every second stretching as the door inched open.

I was careless. I should've checked the time—because if I had, I would've known this is exactly when the demon queen herself comes home.

Not realizing that I was here, she crept in and took her shoes off, placing them on the nearby shoe rack. The moment she turned her head to see me, I felt a piece of my soul slipping away.

"Ah, Big Bro—"

She caught herself as her eyes trailed over to Natsume, who was staring right back at her. As if the situation wasn't already bad enough, the bag that was hung over her shoulder fell off without her moving a muscle.

"Nae... Don't—"

"W-what... What is... Na... Na-Na... Na-Na-Na-Na—"

Just like when she first met Mitsuki, she began mumbling on as if her the wires in her brain had burst.

"Um... S-should I be worried?" Natsume asked.

"Nah. This has happened before. Nae! Snap out of it!"

"Na-Na-Na... Natsume Nabi?!"