Rustle, rustle.

What in the world?

Rustle, rustle. Thump. Thud.

You check the time and it’s 2.34 in the morning. Peeking out the blinds, you see nothing awry. Just the usual suburban view of houses, houses, and more houses that look nearly the exact same save for the cars parked.

Rustle, rustle. Clank.

Okay, now you’re sure someone’s digging in trash. Better not be the tanuki family’s son again. The last time he got in your trash, he left garbage scattered all over your front yard. Lucky the parents told him off. You sure had a field day making him clean it the next day. ‘Course you had to make use of this opportunity and made him trim the grass too.

Just to be sure though, you go downstairs to check. You’re already mentally calculating what other chores you can burden the kid as you walk in the dark.

You open the front door and shine your flashlight. Your sudden appearance shocks the dumpster diver.

“M-mreow!” Gou hisses.

Oh great. It’s just your longtime next-door neighbor, the Nekoyama boy. “What’re you doing? You scared me!” he squints, covering his face.