《9 Months Later》

Despite the rocky start, you and Kitty steadily managed to build a relationship over the following months. It all began with polite small talk - and nothing more. Simple questions were exchanged between the two of you as you both cautiously tested the waters. You asked about his life, feigning interest at first, and in return, shared bits and pieces of your own. What started as an awkward and semi-forced exchange soon slowly began to reveal something unexpected: You and Kitty were more alike than you realised. Perhaps he truly wasn't bluffing when he yammered on about relating to you and understanding you on a more personal level. He, too, was in the midst of navigating a difficult, self-isolating life.

As your conversations deepened, you found a rare comfort in the way Kitty listened. Unlike your other online friends who were kind but often missed the mark, Kitty appeared to hang on to your every word and empathised with your daily challenges. Whilst the others pestered you to join Viscord calls and tease you about your overly-reserved nature, Kitty never made light of your anxiety. Instead, he offered condolence and shared his own introverted tendencies to make you feel less alone in your struggle. Never once did he pressure you to step beyond your comfort zone. It was refreshing - almost strange - how naturally he respected your boundaries. It was like he knew everything about you already. Kitty didn't just listen; he made you feel safe, something you hadn't felt in years.

Of course, you did more than just confide in him about your problems. The closer the two of you got, the more you began to joke with one another and seek out each other's company. He swiftly became your go-to gaming buddy, and together you both rose the ranks of Valoria Online, destroying dungeons and arming yourself against the most powerful enemies.

You often reflected on the day Kitty first reached out to you and how foolish you were to be so repulsed by him. Your friends were right. He was a sweetheart. Even if Kitty was some vile, sentient blob on the other side of the screen, you'd still be friends with him. It didn't matter what he looked like. All you wanted was a genuine human connection with someone who understood you, and Kitty provided that. Whenever you were feeling down, Kitty would come online to cheer you up. Whenever you were bored, he'd offer to play any game you wanted. And whenever you were stressed, he knew exactly what to say to make you laugh. Kitty was-

"Hey! You deaf or something, kid? I said watch where you're going. Jesus."

You immediately pricked up, tearing your eyes away from your phone screen to respond to the gruff-sounding stranger stood before you. A disgruntled business man glared at you in irritation before aggressively shoving past your shoulder. You bowed your head in shame and squeaked out an apology but you voice was long drowned out in the unrelenting sea of bodies. Morning rush hour. It was a daily war you had to endure in order to make it to class on time. Everyone stormed the public transport, apathetically barging against one another in a selfish attempt to secure a seat for themselves. You meekly attempted to thread yourself through the masses, averting your graze from the aggrieved pedestrians.

It was during times like this that you began to fear what the future held for you. once you graduated, would you be like these bitter salary men; destined to fight the morning congestion until you retired? You shook the idea off and returned your thoughts back to Kitty and your appreciation of him. You couldn't wait for him to come online. You wondered what he was up to right now. Although your knowledge of Kitty's life was limited, you knew that he was a college student just like yourself - or at least he claimed to be. Perhaps he was on his way to class too.

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Kitty Good morning, Yin (♡ˊ͈ ꒳ ˋ͈) How are you feeling today?

Yin Good morning! I'm feeling okay I guess. I'm not really looking forward to going back to college though. I already miss sleeping in.

Kitty Yep. Me too (꒪ω꒪υ) Back to assignments and no sleep for us. Are you on your way to class right now?

Yin Yeah, I'm on the subway. It's so busy 😭 And a guy yelled at me for bumping into him.

Kitty Awww Yin! ( ᵒ̴̶̷᷄﹏ᵒ̴̶̷᷅) I'm so sorry that happened to you. You poor thing. Public transport is always stressful for everybody. Don't let what he said get to you. I'd give you a hug if I could. It's too bad we don't go to the same college. ( ˊ̥̥̥̥̥ ³ ˋ̥̥̥̥̥)

Yin Yeah Life just isn't fair but oh well ദ്ദി ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ ) I'll pull through. It was my fault anyway. I was looking at my phone and not paying attention to where I was going :/

Kitty That's no excuse to yell at you ( ;' - ';) It was just an accident. Don't blame yourself, Yin. Did you see what he looked like?

Yin No, I barely got the chance to see his face. He shoved right past me after that. Why do u ask? Are you going to hunt him down for me? lol

Kitty Wouldn't that be great? ( '・ω・｀)

Yin maybe lol

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The underground carriage swayed and jolted as the train rocketed to different stations. With every stop, the carriage grew tighter and tighter until there was no space left to breathe. Usually you'd be crumbling under the pressure of human interactions and claustrophobia but Kitty's reassuring texts helped keep your mind afloat all the stress. You smiled at the screen of your phone, swiping to play some cutesy mobile game while you waited for the sardine-packed ride to end.

I-I'm gonna die. I'm seriously gonna die.

A timid-looking male student fidgeted nervously behind you, watching you play and text on your phone. This was a monumental moment for him. An achievement that would be written down at least a five hundred times in his diary.

We're touching... we're really touching right now. Wow. Okay. Okay. Calm down. Calm down. We've trained for this moment, remember? You can't lose your cool. You must be respectful. Fuckkkk. What if I get a boner right now? That would be so embarrassing. I'd probably kill myself on the spot. I'm so disgusting. But at least I can die happy now knowing that I finally touched, [Y/n]. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I love you so much, [Y/n]. I'm sorry for existing. I love you so so so much. Aaaaaaaa.

Koda always kept close to you. It was part of his daily ritual, shadowing your every move like a guardian angel, though most would probably call this "stalking." Koda hated the word. It felt wrong, tainted with perversion and ill-intention. What he did wasn't about obsession or depravity; it was something pure, almost sacred, like the duty of a knight watching over his charge. He wasn't there to frighten or harm you - he just needed to be there, just in case. What if some creep tried to bother you? What if you got lost or found yourself in danger? His mind was full of these possibilities, and the only way to quiet them was to stay close.

But more than anything, he cherished the chance to observe you - to learn the little things that make you smile, the way you moved, the sound of your lovely voice. Each day, he collected these details like precious little keepsakes, noting them down in his phone so he can transfer the information in his journal.

Yet this particular moment was different. This was the first time he had ever been close enough to actually touch you. It happened unexpectedly, in the crush of the morning of the morning commute. One moment, he was following his routine and respectfully watching you from a short distance away. The next, the crowd surged, and suddenly he was pressed against you, his body flush with yours. He could feel the gentle rise and fall of your breath, scent of your clothes filling his senses, the rhythm of your fingers tapping the phone. It was overwhelming - every detail, every sensations was magnified, and it took everything in him to stay composed.

[Y/n]... you smell so goood. I wonder what shampoo they use? I should get some for myself so I can always smell like [Y/n]. Goshhh, this is so amazing. I can't believe I was texting [Y/n] one moment ago and now I am actually touching them. Is this... cuddling? It's kinda cuddling, right? I mean if I wrapped my arms around them right now- No. Stop it. Get it together, Koda. You gross pervert. Aaaaa I want [Y/n] to call me that. I want to be insulted by [Y/n]. I would let them kick my ass. No no shut up. I need to stay composed. I got this. I got this. Their back is really pressed against me though. This is such a rare opportunity for us to be this close to one another. Fate is definitely real! ♡ [Y/n], you are so adorable. I want to cry. My stomach hurts so bad. I've never been this nervous before. I wonder if they'd notice if I took a strand of their hair... No, that's too risky. And I can't disrespect them like that. B-but this is my best shot. There might not be another opportunity like this for a long while. If I could have just a strand of [Y/n]'s hair, I'll never ask for anything ever again. I promise. I won't eat it this time. I'll preserve it and give it the treatment it deserves. Shit. This is so tense. Should I just slowly grab a couple? No, what if they see me and get totally creeped out? That would be the worst. My life would be over. I'd never forgive myself. Universe, if you love me, please give me a strand of [Y/n]'s hair. I love them so so much. I hope this train ride never ends. Oh my goshhh, they're texting me again. I can see them typing on their phone. I'm blushing so much. I probably look so gross and creepy right now. [Y/n], I'm right here. I'm right beside you. If only you knew how close I was to you and how much I care for you. I'll do anything for you. I'm sorry I couldn't be there when that piece of shit asshole yelled at you. I tried so hard to reach you in time. I'll be better. No one will ever hurt you ever again. [Y/n], [Y/n], [Y/n], [Y/n], [Y/n]. I could say your name one billion times over. I want to hear you say my name too. Would you say Kitty or Koda? I don't mind which. I can be whichever you want me to be. I can't wait for the day we get married. The thought of you taking my last name makes me feel so... indescribable. It's our stop soon, [Y/n]. I won't be able to feel you anymore but that's okay. I will stay by your side as close as possible until class begins. I'm gonna miss this. I wish I had my camera with me. I wish I could document this moment properly. [Y/n], I-

The train halted, causing everyone to momentarily sway to one side. Koda stifled a girlish squeal as you unwittingly got pushed against him again. You apologised quietly to the stranger, not daring to look the individual in the eyes before scurrying off the train with your school bag. Koda followed suit, making sure to not lose you in the ocean of bumbling busybodies. You sighed, glad to have finally been released from that sweaty, compacted crowd.

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Yin Omg that train ride was so awful! It was super packed today - more so than usual. I got completely crushed in the middle of it. Also I think the guy stood behind me has asthma or something. He sounded pretty short of breath. I hope he's OK. You take the subway too, right? How is your trip going?

Kitty Gosh, that sounds pretty scary ( '╥﹏╥') I'm glad you got out of there eventually. My journey has been truly amazing so far. ( ⸝⸝'꒳'⸝⸝) <3

Yin Oh? Did something happen?

Kitty Mhm! I can't say too much though. It's a secret! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Yin Why not? You bump into your crush or something? lol

Kitty Yeah, something like that ('・ω・')

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