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Haru had always wanted a kitten since she was a little girl.
Growing up, she didn’t have any close friends she could pour her heart out to. There were acquaintances, neighbors, classmates. Casual friends at best. She didn’t mind though, because she had her grandfather and father. She could tell them anything and they would spoil her with praises and head pats for even silly little things she did. Having a café to run, albeit a small one, they couldn’t take her to parks and playgrounds very often. Haru was okay with that too; she enjoyed just sitting there surrounded by rich coffee aroma floating in the air, while watching her two favorite people in the world work together behind the counter.
And there was this cute tabby kitten loitering around the neighborhood as well.
The tiny feline, its ginger-colored coat adorned with auburn bands of stripes much like the color Haru’s hair, was so adorable that when she first spotted it outside of the café, she had squeaked in delight so loud that her father had come out running, worried that something had happened to her little girl, only to find her hugging a kitten tightly to her chest. Haru had begged her father to let her keep it. They couldn’t; her grandfather had cat allergy. She was beyond disappointed but understood, and settled for playing with the stray in front of the café every day after returning from school.
Until one day, the kitten disappeared. And then the café shut down. Her grandfather died not long after.
After that, Haru’s father kept burying himself in work, spending less time at home and talking even less with her daughter. His change was so blatant that Haru felt like a part of him had died too. The once warm house suddenly became too big and quiet.
As time went by, she got used to the loneliness.
Or at least she thought she did, until she met Morgana.
Haru might not have shown it, but she was overjoyed when the wounded feline agreed to come home with her and let her take care of his injuries. Granted, Mona-chan wasn’t a kitten; he wasn’t even a normal adult cat – a magical talking creature would be a more accurate assessment. This was even better, because that meant Haru now had a feline companion and someone to talk to.
Her large house didn’t seem that cold and empty anymore.
Haru knew Mona-chan wasn’t hers to keep though. He had to leave someday and return to his rightful owner, who happened to be the infamous transfer student she had never met yet everyone at school kept gossiping about. She had prepared herself to get upset and lonely when that day come. What she didn’t expect was the joy she felt when she caught sight of him walking down the school’s hallway one day.
With black, frizzy hair and long limbs, Akira Kurusu exuded a refined, mysterious aura that reminded her of Mona-chan. And a few days later when Haru saw the dexterity in the way he handled himself in her father’s Palace, she was thoroughly convinced that Akira was essentially a cat in a human form.
Later, when she discovered said cat boy was living in the attic above a quaint café that resembled her late grandfather’s, she couldn’t hide the bright smile that blossomed on her face.
——
The Phantom Thieves had managed to pull off their riskiest plan to date, and Akira was back with them (barely) in one piece. The leader had put on a brave face during their meeting with Sae to explain everything, pretending everything was all good and dandy as if he hadn’t gone through hell merely two days ago. Still, the Thieves could see the pain and exhaustion underneath he desperately tried to hide. The fact that Akira thought he had to act tough in front of them – either for their peace of mind or his own sake – made their hearts ache, yet the Thieves understood and didn’t want to push him. They figured that for now, the only thing they could do was to be there for him.
After Sae left, Sojiro tried to shoo everyone out and usher his charge up his room to rest. The Thieves exchanged glances as Akira peeled himself off the booth in painstakingly slow and clumsy motion, and it was all it took for them to come to a unanimous decision of spending the night at the attic to take care of their leader. His relief and gratefulness at their offer were obvious. He protested weakly regardless, saying he would be fine by himself and they still had school the next day.
Needless to say, the Thieves won the argument without trouble.
So after helping Akira climb the stairs and settle down on his bed, Yusuke and Makoto had gone with Futaba to her house to grab some extra futon and pillows. Ann and Ryuji were on snack hunting duties from the supermarket nearby, with Morgana insisting to go with them to make sure they buy some sushi for himself. That left only Haru to keep Akira company for the time being.
“Why don’t you lie down and nap for a bit, Akira-kun?” She asked Akira from her spot on the couch.
Akira shook his head with a small smile, “I’m not tired.”
The lie couldn’t be more blatant. Shoulders slouched, head dipped and eyelids drooping, Akira was visibly worn to the bone. Just sitting up straight on the bed was a real struggle to him.
Haru nibbled on her lower lip, contemplating how she could help her unyielding, injured friend to let down his guard, even if only for a little while.
Then an idea came to her.
She stood up, moved the desk chair to the end of the bed, and before sitting down on the chair, she picked up Akira’s pillow and place it at the foot side of the bed. “Come lie down here.” She gave the pillow a light pat.
Akira lifted up his head, blinking a few times to chase away his sleepiness while giving her a puzzled look. Haru just smiled at him warmly. After some hesitation, he nodded and maneuvered himself to lie down on his back, carefully to avoid jostling his bruised ribs in the process.
“Close your eyes for me?” Haru prompted, looking at him upside down. Akira complied without any fuss this time.
Haru placed her hands under the base of Akira’s head, feeling his soft, messy curls, before starting to caress the area just above his neck with gentle strokes using the tips of her fingers. Akira’s torso visibly tensed up at the contact.
“It’s alright, Akira-kun. Just try to relax,” Haru cooed, her hands rubbing gently in a circular motion. After a minute or two, she steadily moved up to other parts of the scalp, adding slightly more pressure to her fingertips.
“Does this feel comfortable?”
“Yea…yeah it does…”
So Haru continued to work her magic with her hands, massaging every part of his skull all the while making sure her fingers didn’t tangle up any hair. Slowly, she felt Akira beginning to relax, tension leaking out of his body bit by bit, his strained expression loosening into a slack one.
And then suddenly, Akira let out a long, throaty sigh of relief. It was almost like a moan.
Thrown off guard, Haru halted her movement. Almost at the same time Akira’s eyes shot wide open, suddenly aware of his open expression of emotion.
“S-Sorry, Haru, I, er…” He stammered, cheeks faintly flushed and eyes darting back and forth. “If I make you uncomfortable--” He started to sit up.
She gently pushed him back down with both hands on his shoulders. “Silly, don’t worry. I’m just glad I’m able to help.”
Akira met her gaze and blinked a few times. Then he let out a long breath, his tensed shoulders easing up a little. “Thank you, Haru.”
Haru didn’t answer; instead she gave him a fond smile and resumed her massage. Akira closed his eyes without being told, and not long after she could feel Akira loosened up once again underneath her fingers.
The two stayed in comfortable silence for some time, Akira enjoying Haru’s magical touches and Haru watching Akira’s expression softened, his body going limp. It was a while later when she spoke up, “It’s been a really long time since I gave someone a massage.”
“Yeah?”
“I used to give my father scape massage whenever he got tired and stressed out from work…” Akira opened his eyes to look at her, his gaze sleepy yet attentive. “He would be in much better mood after receiving one. I hoped I haven’t lost my touch.”
“You haven’t, I can assure you. Your massage is amazing…” Akira said lazily. “Better than a pro.”
Haru tittered, but her hands didn’t stop. “You’re too sweet even in this state, Akira-kun.”
Akira hummed under his breath, “Just telling the truth…” Then he let his eyelids close again. His breath started to even out. His whole body melted further into the mattress with each stroke.
And then Haru heard a soft purr.
“Mona-chan?” Haru turned around and expected to find the feline creature, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“Mona’s back…?” Akira asked in a low murmur, not bothering to open his eyes.
“Oh, I thought I heard him…” She tilted her head, perplexed. “I must be mistaken.”
“Mmmm…”
There was that low vibrating sound again, and that was when Haru realized the noise came from the person lying on the bed in front of her. Akira was the one purring contentedly like a cat reveled in petting.
She couldn’t stop giggling.
“Hmm…? Haru, what’s so funny…?” Akira slurred.
“Nothing, just go to sleep.” Then in a much softer voice, she added, “Thank you for coming back to me, kitten.”
Akira would have caught it if he wasn’t already drifting off to the sweetest dream he had in a long while.