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Shinjiro gets cold a lot. He doesn’t make a big deal about it, and in fact goes out of his way to wear that big coat and hat indoors to hide it, but Koromaru can tell that most of the time Shinjiro is cold. He’s heard the human members of SEES talk about ‘suppressants’ that have made Shinjiro ill, and Koromaru wonders if they’re to blame. But that doesn’t really matter to him. What’s important is that Shinjiro is cold, and Koromaru wants to help.
One evening when Akihiko and Minato are in the kitchen, and Aigis and Mitsuru are reading upstairs, and everyone else is either out of the dorm or upstairs in their rooms, Koromaru enters the lounge to find Shinjiro alone. Earlier today, Shinjiro cooked a delicious snack for Koromaru and then pretended that it wasn’t a big deal, so Koromaru wants to make it up to him.
So, he barks and jumps onto the couch next to Shinjiro. This close, Koromaru can see very subtle tremors running through Shinjiro, and he gets a plan.
“Oh, hey, Koro-chan,” Shinjiro says. He only ever calls Koromaru by that nickname when they’re alone. “What’s up?”
“Arf!” Koromaru barks, and he wastes no time in climbing onto Shinjiro’s lap.
“Whoa, what are you doing?” Shinjiro yelps, startled.
It’s not an easy job (he’s not a small dog, after all), but Koromaru is determined to help warm Shinjiro up. So, he continues to climb on Shinjiro, laying himself right across the boy’s lap with his head on the arm of the seat and his back legs still on the couch. But most of his body covers Shinjiro, sharing his body heat with him.
Satisfied, Koromaru lets out a soft bark.
Shinjiro sighs and raises his eyebrows, but makes no effort to shove him away. “Dumb dog,” he mutters, but Koromaru hears the fondness in his voice.
And until they’re disturbed about an hour later, Koromaru stays cuddled up against Shinjiro, whining contentedly when Shinjiro pets his fur, and satisfied that Shinjiro has stopped trembling.
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Two days after they lost Shinjiro, Ken won’t leave his bedroom. He ignores anyone who knocks, but Koromaru hopes Ken will let him in. So, he stands outside Ken’s room, scratching against the door and whining. And, luckily, his plan works.
The door opens a crack, and Ken peers out at him. Koromaru whines when he sees the boy’s red-rimmed, tired eyes and the complicated mix of emotions on his face.
“What’re you doing, Koromaru?” Ken asks, his voice weary.
Sticking his head through the gap in the door, Koromaru gives a soft bark and pushes his way into Ken’s room. Somewhat wishing Aigis were here to translate, Koromaru settles with pushing the door shut behind him, and then gently grasping the sleeve of Ken’s top in his teeth.
“I’m not in the mood to play, Koromaru,” Ken says, but he lets Koromaru lead him over to his bed. “Huh? Do you want to get into bed with me?”
“Arf!” Koromaru barks, wagging his tail.
Ken sighs, but he seems too tired to argue. So, without a word, he stumbles back to bed and flops onto the mattress. He curls into a ball, letting out a shuddering breath; the sound makes Koromaru whine. Knowing Ken needs comfort, Koromaru hops onto the bed and curls up right next to Ken, resting his head on the pillow next to Ken’s face.
When Ken snuggles closer, burying his face in Koromaru’s neck, he hears a sob escape the boy. He doesn’t question it, knowing that Ken has a lot of complicated emotions to work through, and just leans against his friend as Ken clings to Koromaru and cries.