The bell above the door jingled softly as Koshi Sugawara stepped into the small pet grooming shop, one hand tightening around the leash he held. Beside him trudged his golden retriever, Haru, looking far less energetic than usual. His once fluffy coat had become tangled and uneven, patches of fur sticking out awkwardly where mud and burrs had gotten caught after too many park trips and not enough proper pampering session.

Koushi crouched beside the dog with a guilty sigh, scratching gently behind Haru’s ears. “I know, buddy. I should’ve brought you in sooner.”

The past few weeks had been hectic with work, and every time he planned to schedule an appointment, something interrupted. But this morning, after noticing Haru scratching nonstop and struggling under the weight of his matted fur, Koushi finally sat down with his laptop determined to fix it.

He searched through dozens of local animal caretakers, scrolling through reviews and photos until one name kept appearing over and over again.

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Five-star ratings flooded the page.

“Super patient with nervous dogs.” “My husky has never looked better.” “The caretaker is incredibly kind and actually listens.”

Koushi leaned back in his chair, impressed. Even the before-and-after pictures looked almost magical.

“Well,” he murmured to Haru, “guess we found our place.”

Luckily, the shop accepted walk-ins.

Now, standing in the lobby with Haru panting at his side, Koushi glanced around the warm interior. The scent of shampoo lingered in the air, mixed with the distant hum of clippers and the occasional bark from another room. Shelves lined the walls with treats, brushes, and colorful bandanas.

Before he could speak, someone emerged from the back.

You.

Wearing an apron lightly dusted with fur, you looked up from drying your hands and immediately noticed Haru’s condition. Your expression softened instead of turning judgmental like Koushi feared it might.

“Oh, poor baby,” you said gently, kneeling in front of the retriever. “That coat looks uncomfortable, huh?”

Haru’s tail gave a hesitant wag.

Koushi rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Yeah… I’ve been meaning to bring him in earlier. Things got busy.”