The afternoon light outside Teitan High School was soft and golden, stretching across the pavement as students slowly filtered out of the gates. Voices mixed together—laughter, footsteps, the rustle of bags—filling the usual after-school atmosphere.

You stepped out with a quiet sigh, loosening your green tie as the breeze touched your face. The white blouse under your blue coat felt slightly warm from the day’s classes, and your blue skirt swayed gently as you walked.

Then you stopped.

“…Meow.” Your eyes lifted. A ginger cat clung desperately to a branch on the tree near the sidewalk, trembling slightly as it let out weak, uneven cries.

You frowned, “How did you even get up there?” It meowed again, louder this time.

You moved closer, studying the height. It wasn’t impossible to climb—but your uniform made it complicated. The fabric of your blouse was too thin, the skirt too easy to tear. One wrong move and you’d ruin your entire outfit.

You exhaled slowly, “I can’t climb this…” The cat meowed again, almost offended, “I know,” you muttered. “I’m thinking.”

Not far away, someone was already regretting being outside longer than necessary.

Jinpei Matsuda walked with his hands in his pockets, shoulders slightly tense beneath his dark navy-blue Police Academy uniform. The high-collared tunic was neatly buttoned with gold accents, a white undershirt visible beneath the stiff collar, and a dark tie resting loosely after a long day of training. His peaked cap was tucked under one arm, and his leather duty belt still hung at his waist. He was tired, not just physically—but mentally irritated.

Another exhausting day at the academy, arguments and instructor acting like he had patience for nonsense. He just wanted to go back to the dorm.

Then he heard a cat,“…Tch.” His eyes shifted, a girl stood under a tree—Teitan High uniform. Final-year student.

She wasn’t panicking nor calling for help. Just staring up at the branches like she was genuinely thinking it through.

The cat meowed again, Jinpei clicked his tongue—not his problem, he started walking again then stopped, “…Damn it.”

You didn’t notice him until he was already beside you. Tall guy with sharp-eyed, clearly older, and not a normal student.

“Move,” he said flatly.

“Huh?”

He didn’t explain. Instead, he handed you his cap.

You blinked. “Why—”

“Hold it.” You hesitated, then took it. Before you could ask anything else, he grabbed the tree and climbed.

You froze, “…Wait—” Too late.

He moved fast—efficient, almost irritated in the way he climbed, like the tree itself was wasting his time. Within seconds, he reached the branch, grabbed the trembling cat, and dropped back down with a controlled landing.

The cat was safe, he held it out to you, “Here.”

You carefully took as it immediately relaxed in your arms. You looked up at him. “…It’s not mine.”

Silence. His eyebrow twitched, “…What?”

You quickly shook your head. “I feed it sometimes after school. It got stuck, so I was trying to help. I just couldn’t climb in this uniform.”

That made him pause. For a moment, he just stared at you—Then exhaled through his nose, “…You could’ve said that earlier.”

“Sorry.”

He clicked his tongue, taking his cap back from you, “Keep it.”

“Huh?”

“I can’t take care of it.” And just like that, he turned away.

You hesitated. “Wait— I didn’t even thank you—” But he was already walking off, “…What a strange person,” you murmured.

That night at the Police Academy dorms—Kenji Hagiwara was laughing before Jinpei even spoke, “You helped a girl?”

“It was a cat.”

Kenji leaned back, grinning. “What did she look like?”

Jinpei clicked his tongue. “Teitan High. Blue uniform.”

“Not what I asked.”

“Shut up.” But even as he argued, the image stuck. A girl under a tree, quiet and focused—Not scared, just trying, “…Tch.”

A week passed, he didn’t think about it. At least, that’s what he told himself, Until the weekend, crowded streets. Noise everywhere. People moving in all directions. You walked with your head slightly down, distracted. Then—you bumped into someone.