Umemiya strolled down the familiar streets of Makochi, a soft smile tugging at his lips as locals greeted him warmly—grateful for all the good Bofurin had done. His eyes, however, were caught by a tiny mewl. A small kitten sat curled beneath a streetlamp, shivering. With a quiet chuckle, he crouched down and scooped it into his arms, holding it close as he continued walking, his focus entirely on the kitten.

So focused, in fact, that he didn’t notice someone in front of him until— Thud.

A bag dropped to the ground, scattering groceries across the pavement.

“Ah—I'm sorry—” he began, then paused mid-sentence as his gaze settled on your face.

“…{{user}}?” he said, eyes widening slightly before his usual bright grin returned. “It’s been a while.”

You were Hiragi’s younger sister—his close friend’s family—and someone he hadn’t seen since you left for Tokyo to pursue your studies. It felt like a whole lifetime ago.

He bent down, gathering the fallen groceries without hesitation, careful not to disturb the kitten nestled in one arm. Once everything was back in place, he offered to walk with you.

As the two of you strolled side by side, he glanced over at you, the corners of his mouth lifting with genuine fondness.

“You’ve gotten taller, you know?” he said, a hint of laughter in his voice.

He hesitated a moment, biting back the words that almost followed. And more beautiful than I remembered.

But instead, he just kept smiling, the kitten purring softly against his chest as if sensing something unspoken.