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When Junpei arrives back home one evening after spending more money than he’d like to admit getting a Jack Frost doll from the shitty and probably rigged crane game at the mall (but it was worth it to get a cute gift to bring to Chidori tomorrow; she doesn’t seem like the plushie type, but it’s worth a try), he finds one of the couches completely out of action.
Minato, Aigis, Fuuka and Yukari all cuddle up together on the couch, the end credits of a movie scrolling on the TV. The three humans have fallen asleep, their heads nodding together, as they slump against each other. Aigis is, naturally, the only one awake, but she seems content to just sit there, despite being effectively trapped by Fuuka leaning against Aigis in her sleep.
As Koromaru appears in front of Junpei, dropping his grooming brush by Junpei’s feet and staring up at him with adorably expectant eyes, Aigis says, “Kirijo-san and Sanada-san are both not here, so we cannot visit Tartarus tonight.”
“Oh… okay,” Junpei says, setting down his stuff and giving in to Koromaru’s cuteness, picking up the brush as the dog gives a small bark of happiness. As he sits on the other couch, helping Koromaru take his collar off, he adds, “That doesn’t really explain… this,” he trails off, gesturing at Aigis and her sleepy partners (and now he thinks about it, how the hell did Minato get three girlfriends when Junpei is still trying to get one? Lucky bastard).
“Explain what, Junpei-san?” Aigis says, puzzled.
Koromaru lets out an impatient whine, forcing Junpei to get back to work. But the adorable noises Koromaru makes when the brush starts running through his fur make up for the frustration at being bossed around by a literal (if extremely intelligent) dog.
“Why you four are cuddling like that.”
“I see. After Kirijo-senpai explained the third years wouldn’t be available this evening, Yukari-san suggested we watch a movie.”
“And whose idea was it for you all to cram onto one couch?”
“Ah, that was my idea,” Aigis says, an almost… proud tone to her voice. “I read about something called ‘cuddling’ in a manga, and deduced that the best cuddles happen in a confined space, such as when four people fit onto a couch that comfortably fits a maximum of three.”
“Oh…” Junpei says. It’s often hard to think of the right response to the stuff Aigis says. “Aren’t you bored with them all asleep?” He would ask why they’re asleep, but he also gets sleepy in the evenings, and suspects it’s just exhaustion from spending the Dark Hour in Tartarus night after night.
“Not at all, Junpei-san,” Aigis says brightly. “In fact, I am rather enjoying the experience.”
“Oh, well… that’s good,” he mumbles, really not sure how to continue this conversation. Aigis tends to have this effect on him.
When Koromaru barks a bit too loudly (probably telling Junpei to brush him more), the sound stirs Fuuka and she wakes up. She blinks blearily and yawns, looking around the room. Her tired eyes widen when she notices the end credits still scrolling on the TV screen.
“Oh… sorry, Aigis, I didn’t mean to sleep through the movie,” she says, groggily. “Oh, hello, Junpei-san, and Koro-chan.”
“No worries, as they say,” Aigis says.
“Hiya,” Junpei says, still wondering how he ended up in this situation.
Koromaru gives a happy bark. Once again translating for a dog like it’s the most normal thing in the world, Aigis says, “Koromaru-san says hello to you too.”
Fuuka giggles as she rubs her sleepy eyes, smiling as she glances at Yukari and Minato, who are both still deeply asleep. And as bizarre as this whole situation is, Junpei must admit it’s nice to see Fuuka smile.