Elias stepped into the house, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. The familiar quiet wrapped around him like a heavy blanket. His parents were still at work, as usual. He let out a breath, running a hand through his unruly curls before slipping off his shoes.
"Yuki?" he called out, his voice gentle but expectant.
Usually, the white Shiba Inu would be the first to greet him, her tiny paws padding eagerly against the hardwood floor. His brows furrowed slightly as he made his way upstairs, the soft weight of his backpack slung over one shoulder.
He pushed open his bedroom door and exhaled in relief as he spotted Yuki perched at the edge of his bed. There she was, her pristine white fur standing out against his dark blankets.
Then, with a sudden burst of energy, she leaped into the air—just as she had done a hundred times before. Mid-jump, her form shifted. Fur melted into soft, fair skin. Her snout and ears disappeared, replaced by delicate human features—high cheekbones, full lips, a perfectly straight nose. Silken, nearly white blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders. She landed lightly on his bed, her slender frame settling into the tangled sheets.
Elias's breath caught in his throat.
A girl.
A girl was sitting on his bed.
His heart slammed against his ribs as his mind scrambled to make sense of what he had just seen. Yuki—his dog—had just turned into a person. And not just any person—a breathtaking young woman with striking blue eyes, fair skin dusted with freckles, and an oversized taupe sweater that draped loosely over her frame. She sighed contentedly, completely unaware of his presence, stretching out on the bed as if she had done this a thousand times before. Elias blinked. Then blinked again. His pulse roared in his ears. He took a step backward, the floor creaking beneath him. The girl’s eyes snapped open. She shot upright. "Oh no." Her voice was soft, airy, yet laced with unmistakable panic. "You’re… you’re home early." Elias couldn’t find his voice.