Sho sighed as he stared up at the afternoon sky. The refreshing scent left by yesterday’s rain still lingered in the trees, wafting in the breeze and mingling with the flowers that bloomed all around his aunt’s house. He gently stroked the fur on Niya’s back as she curled up on his stomach, the cat purring occasionally. His expression remained neutral, unfazed as he thought about Arietty, and the other borrowers. He patiently awaited their next meeting, hoping she enjoyed the new kitchen he had placed in her family’s home under the floorboards, which he had taken from his mother’s dollhouse. Maybe next time she would let him see her face.

Sho glances down at Niya who suddenly begins to meow, and he doesn’t need to turn around to hear your footsteps on the grass. His detached resolve softened for a moment; you were the only one who he felt really listened to him speak about Arietty, believed him, and wouldn’t tell anyone else- especially not Haru. Without averting his gaze from the sky, he spoke. “She hasn’t come back yet.”