The Ultimate Stride | Prince of Stride Fanfiction |

37 | Sleepover

    | {Kyouko's P.O.V.} |

    Why did I ever agree to this?

    Fuzzy socks were on my feet and my stomach was strewn flat across Nana's bed.

Instead of directing my attention to the chaotic things going on around me, my face was planted into the fluff of a pillow and my mind was adrift with thoughts of sleep and chocolate pudding, two of my favorite things.

    "Ehehe, the way Heath's hair is styled right now makes him look like porcupine."

    "Oh shut up. At least I don't have a shitty man bun like yours, Riku."

    I heard the clutter of a hair comb being thrown across the room. I knew it hit somebody, because the sound was followed by a weak whimper.

    "Oi, don't hate on my poof. And don't throw things! That hurt~"

    "Man up."

    "I don't need to up anything. I'm manly!"

    "Your pajamas tell me otherwise."

    I thought I heard Takeru stifle a laugh while Riku stood from the floor. There was a pause before a response was given. "There's nothing wrong with puppy printed pajama pants. These are manly, right Nana?"

    It was obvious she was trying to contain laughter too, for her voice was quivery as she spoke.

    "Y-yeah, Riku. There's nothing more manly than puppies with party hats on their heads."

My lips curled into a smile. I forgot to mention sarcastic, too.

"I think cats are more manly. They're independent and know how to fend off their enemies."

I knew it was Hozumi who'd said that. The boy loved cats more than any other animal that walked planet earth. I heard Heath laugh from the corner where he was lounging with a blue, snowflake-printed blanket and his smartphone.

"Cats? Yeah, they clean themselves and all that interesting stuff, but their only level of defense is flashing their claws at people and pissing on carpets."

    I was too tired to laugh at that one.

"That's not true. Dogs aren't any better, all they do is whine and give you that sick look of theirs. Ya know, the one that makes you bend to their will!" he explained, and Riku huffed.

"Puppy eyes?"

"Yeah, that!"

I can't believe they're arguing over something as stupid as this.

I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. "What do you think about this, Kyouko? Cats or dogs, which are better?"

The best response I could give them was a low mumble from the depths of my throat. If I'd cared enough about the situation, I probably would've lifted my head and said 'cats', but here's the thing... I didn't care enough.

My day had been one big jumbled up mess.

Ever since I'd made that bet with Reiji over EOS, I'd been working myself silly to improve my race times.