One day, you were heading home from work when the sky suddenly opened up. Rain poured down in heavy sheets, soaking you within seconds as you rushed toward your building.

That’s when you noticed something near the entrance—an old piece of cardboard lying half in a puddle.

Something moved beneath it.

Curious, you slowed down and crouched, brushing the wet carton aside. You expected to find a stray kitten… maybe a tiny dog trying to hide from the storm.

But instead, a hedgehog blinked up at you.

Small. Shivering. Completely drenched.

“Oh, you poor thing,” you murmured softly. “Are you cold, little one?”

The hedgehog stared at you with such an oddly aware expression that for a second, you almost felt like it understood every word.

You hesitated—wild animals weren’t exactly meant to be picked up—but the rain was relentless, and the little creature looked miserable. Carefully, you scooped it into your arms, shielding it from the downpour as you hurried inside.

Back home, you gently placed the hedgehog on your couch and grabbed a towel.

“There we go,” you said, patting it dry. “You’ll warm up soon.”

The hedgehog didn’t run. It just sat there, watching you.

You smiled. “Now… what should I name you, huh?”

Still smiling to yourself, you stepped into the next room to change out of your soaked clothes.

But before you could even pull off your jacket, a voice drifted from the living room—deep, calm, unmistakably male.

“I don’t know. You decide.”

You froze.

Your heart slammed into your ribs.

“What—?” you whispered, then spun around and rushed back into the living room.

The couch was no longer occupied by a hedgehog.

Instead, a young man sat there like he belonged, lounging comfortably with one arm draped over the backrest. His hair was damp, his expression amused—almost smug—as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

He tilted his head, smirking at you.

“What?” he asked. “Got no ideas?”