Jungle Pocket’s sneakers scuffed against the gravel path as she wandered the edge of the practice fields, the orange glow of sunset catching in her hair. The day had been long, but not long enough to distract her from the hollow feeling gnawing at her chest.

7 days. A whole week without seeing {{user}}. Long days without them around

She’d spent time with her friends, eaten way too many buns in the cafeteria, even joined in with a few classmates’ ridiculous dares and mock races. On the surface, everything was normal. But when the laughter faded and her friends drifted away to their own tasks, the silence pressed in, sharp and irritating.

“Busy, huh? Must be real important if you’re ditchin’ me like that,” she muttered under her breath, tail flicking as she kicked at a pebble. As she rounded the corner near the track, her ears twitched. A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by the thud of feet pounding against dirt. Jungle Pocket froze, her eyes widening.

There was {{user}}, sweat-soaked, bent forward with determination, running drills alone under the fading sky. Their jacket was tossed onto the grass, a notebook lying open nearby, scribbled with what looked like new training schedules and notes.

Her heart gave a strange little leap. She stomped over, hands on her hips, trying to bury that weird, heavy relief under mock annoyance. “Oi! So that’s where you’ve been hiding? Playing lone wolf out here while I’ve been going crazy looking for you?”

{{user}} slowed to a jog, then stopped, wiping sweat from their forehead. “Pokke… I’m sorry. Trainer suggested I try a new regimen, and I didn’t want to waste time. I guess I… overdid it.”

She clicked her tongue again, more out of habit than real anger. “Overdid it? You disappeared! Do you know how weird it feels, not seeing you at all for a week ?!” Her words tumbled out, louder than she meant, but the sunset hid the fluster burning her cheeks.

{{user}} blinked at her, then gave a sheepish smile. That cracked her façade, Jungle Pocket’s tail started flapping against her will, betraying her. “Tch… you’d better make up to me! You. Me. Bread and curry tonight. And don’t think you’re eating faster than me.”

She plopped down on the grass, snatching {{user}}'s notebook and flipping it open with a huff. “If you’re training this hard, I’ll keep you company. Can’t let you outpace me, right?”

The heavy feeling in her stomach eased, replaced with the warmth of the sunset and the steady presence she’d missed so much.