The neighborhood park was hushed under the fading amber sky, the light casting long shadows across the path as Daichi slowly strolled, one hand tucked into the pocket of his black coat, the other loosely holding the red leash attached to Chobichobi.
The small tabby cat walked cautiously ahead, his tiny paws making almost no sound on the path, tail flicking side to side with mild annoyance at the occasional gust of wind. The harness fit snugly around his soft fur, and every now and then he paused to sniff at a tuft of grass or paw at a crumpled leaf.
Daichi's steps were unhurried. His eyes were half-lidded behind his round glasses, his face pale and tired, freckled cheeks faintly pink from the cold. He sighed quietly, feeling the ache of a long day soften under the open sky.
After a while, he reached an empty wooden bench beneath a row of zelkova trees. He sat down slowly, his knees spreading slightly, elbows resting on his thighs as he kept hold of the leash, watching Chobichobi investigate a patch of dirt by his feet.
The park was mostly empty, save for the soft rustling of wind through the leaves and the distant chirp of a bird. Daichi's gaze drifted ahead, and there, in a corner of the sandbox under a small pavilion, a boy around six years old played alone. His little hands dug eagerly in the sand, forming clumsy towers, his cheeks rosy, his brow creased in determination.
Daichi's chest tightened.
A sudden uninvited wave—blurry, sharp-edged, intrusive—rushed up from the back of his mind.
White tiles. Harsh fluorescent lights. The faint, sour smell of disinfectant.
He was about the boy's age.
Standing inside the cramped public bathroom with his stepfather, who smiled down at him and whispered soft, honeyed words. Words telling him to be a good boy, to touch here and there, like he was taught. Daichi's tiny heart fluttered with pride.
He thought this was special, thought this was what love was supposed to be.
Daichi's knuckles whitened as his grip tightened unconsciously on the leash. His jaw clenched, and his breath came shallow.
"Ojisan."
A small voice, close.
Daichi blinked hard, snapping upright, his eyes darting in alarm.
The little boy from the sandbox stood in front of him now, fidgeting slightly, his face full of innocent worry.
Daichi swallowed, forcing his voice steady. "W-What's wrong?"
The boy looked up with big, earnest eyes. "I heard a puppy crying. It sounded really sad. I went to look and—there's a puppy in the drain!"
Daichi stiffened, his brows knitting. "Show me."
The boy eagerly tugged at Daichi's coat, leading him across the grass, around the back of the park where the pavement ended and a long, wide drain ran along the edge. Peering over, Daichi saw it—a small, shivering puppy, huddled at the bottom, its fur wet and grimy, its tiny body trembling as it let out a faint, pitiful whimper.
Daichi crouched beside the edge, eyes narrowing in focus.
"Here," he murmured, quickly unwinding the scarf from his neck. He handed it and Chobichobi's leash to the boy. "Hold these for me, okay?"
The boy nodded seriously, wrapping both in his little arms.
Daichi swung his legs carefully down into the drain, his boots scraping against the rough concrete. His fingers gripped the edge as he lowered himself with slow, careful movements. The cold hit his skin through the fabric of his coat, but he kept his jaw tight, moving toward the frightened puppy.
"It's okay… it's okay," he whispered softly as he crouched, extending his hands gently. The puppy didn't resist, too weak to struggle, and Daichi cradled it carefully against his chest as he climbed back up, pulling himself over the edge with a small grunt.
Once back on the grass, he wrapped the puppy snugly in the scarf, brushing dirt and leaves off its fur as it whimpered faintly.
"Is it hurt?" the boy asked, his voice small, wide-eyed with concern.
"I'm not sure…" Daichi murmured. "But it's better if I take it to the vet."
The boy's eyes lit up. "Can I come too?"
Daichi flinched slightly, caught off guard. His gaze flicked down, then away.
"You can't... Your parents will worry if you follow a stranger. And…" he hesitated, his voice low, "…I'm a stranger, you know. You shouldn't follow someone you don't know. Strangers can be dangerous."
The boy tilted his head, frowning softly. "But you don't look dangerous, ojisan."
Daichi paused, a faint, sad smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Children are so naive, he thought quietly. Believing kind gestures. Trusting soft words. Believing the face of someone who simply smiles.
He let out a slow breath, crouching slightly to meet the boy's eyes. "I'm not a bad guy… but you should be more careful, okay? Always be cautious with people you don't know. Even if they seem kind."
The boy gave a small, thoughtful nod.
Daichi's shoulders eased just a little, and after a pause, he said softly, "Alright. You can come to the vet with me."
The boy grinned, bouncing a little in excitement.
Daichi sighed, shifting the bundled puppy carefully in his arms as he pulled his phone from his coat pocket, tapping at the screen.
"Now… where's the nearest vet…" he murmured to himself, eyes squinting slightly as he scrolled through the map.