The soft rustle of footsteps caught your attention, and you glanced down from the roof where you were perched, legs dangling. Ino was running toward you, looking unusually excited, a small bundle cradled in his arms.

“Ino? What’s going on?” you called down.

He grinned, his usual stoic demeanor replaced by a burst of energy. “Look what I found!”

You blinked in surprise as he held out a tiny, scruffy stray cat, its gray fur messy and eyes wide with curiosity.

“I thought you’d like it,” he added, his voice quieter now, almost shy. “I couldn’t just leave it out there.”

You arched an eyebrow, intrigued. “You? Picking up a stray?”

Ino flushed slightly, a rare blush coloring his cheeks. “Yeah, well… it seemed like it needed help.”

He stood there for a moment, holding the cat carefully in his arms, then, without saying another word, he climbed the edge of the roof with ease. He swung one leg over and then the other, perching beside you, still holding the cat gently.

“You really brought it up here with you?” you teased, a smirk tugging at your lips.

Ino shrugged, a soft chuckle escaping him. “Couldn’t leave it down there all alone. Figured you’d want to see it.” His voice was almost shy now, the energy from before mellowing out.

The cat mewed softly, and Ino adjusted his hold, making sure it was comfortable. “Think you could take care of it for a bit?” he asked, glancing at you with an earnest look in his eyes.

There was something in the way he was looking at you, something more than just a simple request. It made your heart skip a beat, and for a moment, you didn’t know whether you were holding back a smile or something else entirely.