“The best way to find your family is to ask around, right?”
Muttering to himself, Yuto held Chibi in his arms and stepped outside.
A boy walking around with a cat naturally drew attention. Passersby glanced curiously, and soon enough, they began to speak up.
“Where did you find that cat, kid?”
“Oh my, what a cutie!”
Each time, Yuto stopped and asked if they had seen a cat that looked like Chibi. But most responses were vague— “I don’t think so,” or “There seem to be more strays around lately.”
Still, Yuto didn’t give up. As he wandered through town, he eventually reached the old shopping district. The street was lined with small stores—greengrocers, bakeries, and, most importantly, a fish shop.
Chibi came to a halt in front of it, staring at the display of fresh fish with keen interest.
“Hey, kid! That cat eyeing my fish?”
The loud, teasing voice belonged to the fish shop owner, an old man with a broad grin. Yuto quickly shook his head.
“No, no! That’s not it!”
After explaining their search, the old man crossed his arms, thinking.
“Hmm… A mother cat, huh? I did hear someone say they saw one by the river recently. There were kittens too—maybe three of them.”
Yuto’s eyes lit up.
“Really?!”
This was the first solid lead he’d gotten.
The next day, Yuto set off toward the riverbank. The summer grass swayed in the warm breeze, rustling softly. As they walked, Chibi would occasionally stop, nose twitching as if searching for something.
“Chibi, do you smell anything?”
At Yuto’s words, Chibi suddenly froze. His sharp gaze was fixed on a thick patch of grass a few meters away.
Yuto followed his line of sight.
Then—he heard it.
Faint, overlapping meows.
Heart pounding, Yuto carefully pushed aside the tall grass.
Nestled within was a small bundle of fur—three tiny kittens, huddled together.
“We found them!”
His voice trembled with excitement. The kittens looked weak, their tiny bodies shivering as they pressed close to one another.
Then, one of them—hesitant but hopeful—crawled toward Chibi.
“So you really are family, huh?”
Watching them reunite, Yuto couldn’t help but smile.
But the kittens were frail. They wouldn’t last long without proper care. Without hesitation, Yuto ran back into town, seeking help from the people he had spoken to before.
The townsfolk, moved by his determination, came together. The fish shop owner, local shopkeepers, and kindhearted neighbors provided food, water, and a temporary shelter for the kittens.
From that day on, Yuto worked tirelessly to find them new homes.
He put up flyers, spoke to families, and spread the word.
And after a few days, each kitten found a loving owner.
On the evening of the last kitten’s farewell, Chibi jumped onto Yuto’s lap and purred contentedly.
Yuto ran a hand through the cat’s fur and smiled.
“We did it, huh?”
Their bond had grown stronger than ever.
Their adventure had not only left a mark on the town but had become an unforgettable summer memory for Yuto as well.
