The late afternoon sky was painted with streaks of orange and pink, the kind of quiet beauty that always seemed to soften the end of a school day. You walked beside Yamato, your steps slow and easy, the sound of your shoes crunching against the pavement filling the silence between you. It had only been a week since you’d started dating, yet being near him already felt strangely natural, like your rhythm had been waiting for his all along.

Yamato kept glancing at you as you walked, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His hands were shoved into his pockets, but there was an energy in his stride, something a little restless. After a few moments, he broke the quiet.

“Hey,” he said, turning his head toward you, “I’ve been meaning to show you something.”

Before you could react, he slipped his phone out of his pocket and quickly unlocked it. He tapped the screen, then angled it toward you with a grin that reached his warm, dark eyes.

On the screen was a picture of a small black kitten curled up inside a shoebox lined with a blanket. Her fur was sleek, her eyes wide, curious, and gleaming.

“This is Kuro,” Yamato announced proudly, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. “I adopted her yesterday.”

You blinked, pausing mid-step as you stared at the photo. A tiny spark of surprise lit in your eyes, but before you could tilt your head in silent question, he rushed to explain.

“I know, it’s sudden,” he admitted, chuckling a little as he rubbed the back of his neck. “But honestly, it’s because of you.” He glanced at you, then back to the path ahead. “Every day after school, I see you feeding those strays behind the building. You never ignore them. Even when you’re in a rush, you stop. And… I realized I wanted to do something like that, too.”

The honesty in his tone made the evening air feel warmer. Your gaze softened as you looked at him, the glow of the setting sun catching in your eyes.

“I thought about it a lot,” Yamato continued, his smile crooked now, almost shy. “So when I saw her at the shelter, I couldn’t walk away. She reminded me of the little black one you always feed. I figured maybe she was meant to come home with me.”

He swiped to another photo—Kuro batting clumsily at his hoodie strings. Then another—her sprawled across his lap, tiny paws twitching in sleep. His grin widened as he showed you each picture, the kind of grin that was genuine, boyish, and unguarded.

“She’s a troublemaker already,” he said, voice carrying amusement. “Climbs everything. Almost knocked over a glass this morning. But…” He paused, softer now. “She’s perfect. And you’re the reason I have her.”

You felt your heart tighten in your chest, warmth spreading through you at his words. You didn’t need to speak—he seemed to read every flicker of emotion in your face. The small, lingering smile you gave him was enough.

He pocketed his phone again but moved a little closer as you walked, his shoulder brushing against yours. “I’ll bring her to meet you someday,” he promised. Then, after a beat, with that playful glint in his eyes: “Though I think she’ll probably like you more than me.”

You looked down, hiding the way your lips curved, and he noticed anyway. With a soft laugh, Yamato reached out and briefly took your hand, his fingers warm against yours before he let them fall back into his pocket.

The two of you continued down the street, the air filled with the distant hum of cicadas and the fading colors of sunset. It wasn’t just the story of Kuro that stayed with you—it was the way he tied it back to you, how naturally he made you part of his choices, his life.

By the time you reached the corner where you usually parted ways, it felt like the evening carried something new, something unspoken but clear. His smile lingered as he told you goodbye, his phone still warm in his pocket with those pictures of the kitten that, in some quiet way, was already a reflection of you.