Prince of Tennis: I am actually Echizen Nanjiro

but……

Who is “he”?

Who is this "you" that I am familiar with?

If you weren't him...

Echizen Ryoma thought, was it someone else?

Is it a monster?

Is it an elf?

Or some unknown creature?

The result is back to the original starting point.

The understanding of him that I had accumulated over a long period of time disappeared in an instant, and I still know nothing.

When resting at night, Ryoma Echizen naturally moved his pillow a little bit outwards.

Maybe it's time to get a bigger bed.

Discuss this with my mom when I have time.

He turned off the light and lay down, too lazy to think about anything. He let his body react instinctively and waited to fall into sleep step by step.

There is a warm breath behind me.

Needless to say, it came again.

Echizen Ryoma really didn't want to move. His voice was low and slightly hoarse, and with an unignorable sense of sleepiness, the tone that was originally intended to express dissatisfaction turned into a helpless sigh: "Too close..."

"No, Ryoma..."

Nanjiro half-supported his body and stared at the face of the person next to him in the moonlight.

Perhaps only at this moment when he is not on guard and is not covered, the arrogance that Prince Cat usually has between his brows will disappear without a trace.

"You're the one who left me..." Not complaining, not fighting, just stating the facts, "What's wrong with you, Ryoma, did I do something wrong?"

That's why you are so cold to me.

I would rather you be angry with me.

But you seem too lazy to even face me.

"No."

"There's none?"

"Ah."

"Yeah." Nanjiro followed behind him and echoed softly.

"Goodnight, Ryoma."

No further response was received.

The cat prince fell asleep.

Like a child.

Nanjiro found it amusing.

Somehow, my heart suddenly felt empty again.

very sad.

Why is this so?

Nanjiro didn't understand.

He turned sideways and hugged the cat prince, gradually hugging him tighter.

no, do not want……

Don't hurt him...

Nanjiro warned himself rationally while obtaining warmth that did not belong to him.

I……

I'll just hold you for a while...

It will be fine in a moment...

Longma...

If... If you knew...

You will...will...

I do not know……

I do not know……

What will be waiting for me then?

I cheated on him. Nanjiro thought, he will never forgive me.

Never.

He calmed himself down, carefully lifted the quilt, and was careful not to wake the cat prince.

He went out quietly.

The cat prince opened his eyes in the darkness.

Feeling the empty atmosphere behind me, I remained silent and pretended nothing had happened.

There's nowhere to go, and it's not a good idea to go look for Lunzi so late.

Nanjiro lay on the sofa in the living room, thinking about just making do for the night.

In the Cat Prince's room, with the Cat Prince, I felt guilty, embarrassed and uneasy.

I never know when I will lose my mind and burst into tears without thinking, disturbing the whole family who are sleeping soundly in the middle of the night.

Suddenly, he could feel something crawling up his legs, stopping at his chest, then bending down with its limp body, pressing its entire weight unceremoniously on him.

"Karubin..." Nanjiro couldn't see it, so he touched it with his hand, and it was indeed the familiar touch he imagined.

"Why are you here? Can't sleep?"

"Meow~" Karubin called lazily without further explanation.

"Thank you." Nanjiro skillfully held it in his arms and stroked the cat's head.

Thank you for being willing to accompany me.

"This place is not as comfortable as your cat bed..." He pinched Karubin's ears.

There was still no response, and the warm atmosphere spread silently.