When I reached Anna-san, I could see more clearly what she was holding in her arms. It was a jet-black cat with a small red collar around its neck. At first glance, it looked domesticated, probably a stray pet. She was carefully wrapping her arms around it.
I knelt down beside her, resting one knee on the ground, and looked closely. The animal was breathing heavily and had bloodstains on its back, but no obvious wounds. Still, its condition was worrying.
As I checked the cat, I addressed the people who had gathered in a circle around us.
"Excuse me... can you tell me what happened?"
"A car ran over the kitten," replied an elderly woman in a dull voice.
"The driver tried to brake, but it was too late... and then he just drove away."
"I see..." I muttered with a frown.
I glanced sideways at Anna-san. She looked worried, biting her lower lip slightly as she gently stroked the cat. It was clear that she was affected by what had happened, even though she barely knew the animal.
"Yamazaki-san," I said softly, "we must take it to the vet immediately. It can't wait."
She hesitated for a moment, then looked at me with a sad expression.
"I'd like to, really... but my parents asked me to do something important. I have to go now, I can't put it off. Besides... I don't know this area very well. I wouldn't know where to take it..."
Her words were full of frustration, and I could see that it wasn't easy for her to say that. But her sense of responsibility was strong. Still, I couldn't let guilt overwhelm her.
"Don't worry," I replied with a slight smile.
"I'll take care of it. I've known this area since I was a child, I know exactly where to take it. You go ahead, do what you were asked to do. I'll keep you posted."
Her eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn't expected me to offer so readily. Then she nodded, a little relieved, and smiled back at me.
"Then... I'll leave it in your hands, Nakagawa-kun. Thank you."
The people around us also began to act after hearing our conversation. The elderly woman gave me a small blanket to wrap the cat in, while some other neighbors collected some money among themselves and handed it to me.
"For the vet's expenses, son. Thank you for helping."
"Thank you all so much, really."
Anna-san petted the cat one last time, and after standing up, she gave us one last look.
"From the collar... it must have an owner. I hope it can be saved. Well, I have to go..."
She started running in the opposite direction, but before she got too far away, she turned and waved her hand vigorously.
"Let me know how it goes, please!"
"I will!" I replied, waving back.
I adjusted my shopping bags and carefully held the cat wrapped in the blanket. Although it seemed stable on the outside, the most worrying thing was what I couldn't see: the internal damage. I couldn't waste any more time.
I ran to the nearest veterinary clinic. When I arrived, I quickly explained the situation at the reception desk. The vet and his assistant quickly took the cat to an examination room.
With my heart still racing, I sat down in one of the chairs in the waiting room. I took the opportunity to send a message to my sister telling her what had happened. Luckily, my mom wasn't working overtime and was about to come home, so they both sent me words of encouragement and wished the cat well.
"Wow... I didn't think this day would take such a turn. Where could its owners be?" I wondered, looking at the money the neighbors had given me and what was left in the shopping bags.
I thought of something my sister had once told me: that cats sometimes leave home for days and then come back as if nothing had happened. Maybe its owners don't even know what happened. Maybe they're at home, waiting for it, convinced that it will come back at night as usual.
A few minutes passed in silence until, suddenly, I heard the hurried patter of footsteps at the entrance.
A girl of about five or six appeared, panting from running. She was wearing a little polka dot dress and looked like she had been crying. Her gaze searched desperately around the room until it met mine. She ran straight towards me.
"Um... Have you seen Kuro? An older sister told me you had him..." she asked in a trembling voice.
"Kuro...?" I repeated. The name didn't ring a bell, but...
'The cat. He was black and wore a collar. Of course, it must be him.'
"Are you his owner? The vet is treating him right now. I brought him here after the accident."
The girl nodded vigorously, on the verge of tears. Just then, another figure appeared running behind her.
"Mia! Where are you? Mia!"
"Kaa-chan, here!"
The woman, with an expression of pure relief, hugged her daughter tightly and then addressed me.
"You must be the boy that young woman told us about. Thank you so much for bringing Kuro back."
"No problem... I just did what I had to do. Although I'm still not quite sure what happened, could you explain it to me?"
"Of course," she said as she stood up.
Kuro hadn't come home for a few days. She was inconsolable, so we went out to look for him. Just as we were giving up, a girl your age approached us and told us that a boy had taken an injured cat to the vet, and she gave us directions.
"Could you take care of Mia for a moment? She's very tense and nervous, and I don't want her to hear anything upsetting."
"Sure, no problem."
"Thank you, really."
With that, Hiori-san quickly went over to the receptionist, probably to find out more details about Kuro's condition. As I followed her with my eyes, I felt a gentle tug on my shirt sleeve. When I turned around, I saw that it was little Mia-chan holding on tightly.
"Kuro... is he going to be okay?" she asked in a trembling voice, barely holding back her tears.
I crouched down to her height and gently stroked her head.
"Yes, don't worry. The adults are taking care of it, okay? He'll be fine."
She nodded slowly, as if trying to convince herself. Then, without saying anything else, she sat down next to me. I was quite surprised. Children are usually wary of strangers, but Mia seemed to trust me without reservation.
"Hey, Mia-chan... Are you sure it's okay to sit here? Doesn't it make you nervous to be with me?" I asked, trying to sound cheerful.
She looked at me with those big, sincere eyes that children have when they still believe in everything.
"When we were coming here, Kaa-chan told me that you must be a good person... she said that since you brought my kitten here, you must be a good onii-chan. Just like that pretty onee-chan who helped us."
"Oh, really? I'm so glad you trust me," I said with a smile.
"Um," she nodded and, without further ado, took my hand gently.
That simple, sincere gesture melted something inside me. Maybe it was because I had spent so much time doubting my own actions, feeling insecure. That someone so small believed in me so easily... it was comforting.
"What's your name, onii-chan? My name is Hiori Mia."
"Oh, right, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Nakagawa William, nice to meet you, Mia-chan."
"Naka... gua... irriamu?" she asked with difficulty, twisting her mouth in an adorable gesture of concentration.
I couldn't help but laugh a little.
"You can just keep calling me onii-chan, no need to rush with my name, okay?"
"Okay!" she said cheerfully, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"By the way, Mia-chan, you mentioned an onee-chan a while ago. Was she the one who told you about me?"
"Yes, she was a black-haired onee-chan, very pretty. She said you were her classmate."
'So it was definitely Anna-san...', I thought. She had taken the trouble to help this family even as she was leaving. I never ceased to be amazed by her ability to care for others.
While we waited, Mia and I shared more than just words. She told me more about her life: she lived alone with her mother, Hiori Kana-san. Her parents had separated a few years ago, although Mia still didn't fully understand why. She told me that when her mother saw her sad, she had given her Kuro to cheer her up. Since then, he had become her best friend.
To make the wait more bearable, we played simple finger games, shared some of the candy I had bought at the supermarket, even though I knew my sister would kill me if she found out, and ended up watching Mahou Shoujo videos on my cell phone. She was sitting on my lap, saying that the chair was uncomfortable. At first I hesitated, but her pleading little face was impossible to resist.
She was so comfortable, leaning her back against my chest, that I couldn't help but smile. I had grown fond of her much faster than I expected.
But everything changed suddenly.
After a while, I saw Hiori-san walking back down the hallway with the vet. They were walking slowly. Her eyes were red, her expression somber. My stomach sank. "No... please no..." I thought desperately.
Mia noticed them too. She sat up a little and held my hands tighter, realizing her mother's state. Her little body trembled, as if her heart was warning her of what she was about to hear.
The vet stopped to one side. Hiori-san crouched down in front of her daughter, took a deep breath, trying not to let her voice break.
"I'm so sorry, Mia... but Kuro won't be coming back to us. He's gone to heaven... and now he'll be your guardian, along with Grandpa."
A thick, absolute silence fell over us.
Mia didn't say anything. She didn't move. She didn't even blink. She just squeezed my hands tightly. Her mother was also crying, distraught over her daughter's pain.
And then, as a reflex, without thinking, I hugged her tightly from behind. I wanted to protect her from everything, even if only for a few seconds. My heart ached to see her like that. I couldn't help but empathize deeply with her. I knew very well what it was like to lose something you love.
"Onii-chan... my kitty... Ku... ro..." she murmured, her voice broken. Then she burst into tears and clung to my chest as if clinging to a lifeline.
I hugged her tighter, without saying a word. I just offered her a warm refuge, while her mother joined in the comforting, stroking her head.
I don't know how long we stayed like that. But eventually, Mia stopped crying. Her little face, swollen from tears, was pale, and her eyes showed the kind of sadness that only a child could feel without fully understanding it.
After wiping her face, we went to see Kuro one last time. Mia said goodbye to him between sobs. When she was done, she ran to me and asked me to carry her. I exchanged a glance with Hiori-san, who nodded with a gentle smile.
I took her in my arms. She rested her head on my chest, perhaps seeking the warmth that Kuro could no longer give her. We went out to the small park near the vet's office, just to clear her head a little.
"Mia-chan... are you feeling a little better now?"
"Uhm," she nodded, though her eyes were still a little sad. "But... I'm going to miss Kuro so much."
"That's normal. When you lose someone important, there's always a void. But over time, that void is filled with the memories and love you felt for them."
We walked a little longer among the trees and the sound of birds. She remained silent, thoughtful.
"Onii-chan... do you have any pets at home?"
"No, we never had any. My younger sister wanted one once, but we never agreed on it."
"Do you have a sister?" she asked in surprise.
"Yes. There are three of us at home: my mom, my little sister, and me, the older brother."
"What about your dad?"
I hesitated for a moment. It was difficult to explain to such a young child.
"Well... he also watches over us from heaven. Like Kuro."
When she heard that, her eyes widened and, without saying anything, she hugged me tightly. Maybe that was her way of comforting me. That pure gesture moved me.
"Thank you for your concern, Mia-chan. But I'm fine, really."
"Really?"
"Yes. Right now, you're the important one, okay?" I replied, tapping her forehead lightly with my finger.
She laughed softly and nodded, showing a slight smile.
"I want to meet your family, Onii-chan. Can I?"
"Of course. You'll get along well with them. I'm sure they'll spoil you a lot."
"It's a promise, okay?"
"Okay."
That promise, sealed with a smile, marked a small bond between us.
When we returned to the clinic, the sun was already beginning to set. The warm golden light bathed the roofs and trees, tinging everything with a gentle melancholy. Hiori-san was waiting for us at the entrance with a calm smile. Everything was in order: the paperwork, the farewell, the sadness. It was time to leave.
Out on the street, as we walked, I told Hiori-san what Mia-chan had said to me: that she wanted to meet my family. She liked the idea very much. We exchanged phone numbers to arrange a future visit. Everything was settled... or so I thought. I put Mia-chan down from my arms, smiling.
"See you later, Mia-chan. We'll see each other again, okay?"
But she didn't answer. With her head bowed, she clutched the sleeve of my shirt tightly. Her little hands were trembling slightly.
"...Don't go..." she said in a trembling voice, almost a whisper.
I couldn't refuse. That sincere request hit me harder than I expected. I asked Hiori-san for her address so I could walk them home, and to my surprise, they lived only two blocks from my house. That coincidence quickly made me think of another possibility.
I took out my cell phone and called my mom. I briefly explained the situation, and after listening to me, she gladly agreed.
"How about coming over to my house for dinner? It's already quite late, and Mia-chan must be hungry, right? My family would be delighted to have you."
"To Onii-chan's house? Kaa-chan, can we go?" said the little girl, her eyes shining with excitement.
"All right," replied Hiori-san with a kind smile. Nakagawa-kun, we're in your care.
"Yay!" Mia-chan exclaimed, raising her arms.
She asked me to carry her again, with the naturalness she had begun to show me from the very beginning. Hiori-san took my grocery bags, insisting that it was no problem, and I lifted her into my arms. Thus, we walked together to my house, chatting lightly.
When we arrived, Lissette was waiting for us at the door. When I introduced her as my younger sister, Mia-chan couldn't hide her amazement and curiosity. Hiori-san laughed softly when she saw her expression. After greeting everyone, we went into the living room, where Mom welcomed us with dinner already served.
We sat down at the table. The food flowed along with the words: I told them everything that had happened, how we found Kuro, Anna-san's help, the neighbors' reaction, the sad outcome... everyone listened attentively, and Mom kept looking at Mia-chan tenderly.
Once we finished dinner, I took Mia-chan and Lissette to my room. I lay down for a while as they explored my things, playing and laughing together.
It was a relief to see Mia happy again, even if only for a little while. Even Lissette, who was sometimes reserved with strangers, was very affectionate with her.
An hour later, Mom called us from downstairs. It was already nighttime, and it was time to say goodbye. We accompanied our guests to the door.
"See you later, Hiori-san. And you too, Mia-chan, let's play another day," said Lissette, looking at the little girl asleep in her mother's arms.
"Thank you for everything. It was a pleasure to meet you," said Hiori-san with a slight bow.
"You're welcome. You're invited back anytime," Mom added with a smile. Then she turned to me.
"William, walk them home. Even though it's close, it's already late."
"Sure, Mom."
On the way, we walked quietly under the dim light of the streetlights.
"By the way, Naka... no, William-kun," Hiori-san began. "I'd like to ask you something."
"Yes?"
"You see, I would like you to continue to be there for Mia. Even though you've only just met, she is very fond of you. She sees you as her older brother. I don't want her to lose that bond."
I paused for a second. I looked at her and then at Mia, asleep in her arms.
"That makes me happy... and don't worry. My family loves her very much too. Even Lissette was happy when Mia called her Liss onee-chan. I'll gladly continue to take care of her."
"Thank you very much... Oh, by the way, the young lady who helped us find you... is she in your class? Could you thank her for us?"
"Right! I haven't said anything to her... yes, don't worry, I'll tell her."
Shortly after, we arrived. Seeing that she was still asleep, Hiori-san tried to wake her up gently.
"Mia, sweetie. We're here. Say goodbye to onii-chan."
Mia slowly opened her eyes. She looked at me, and I bent down to stroke her head.
"Goodbye, Mia-chan. I'll visit you tomorrow and bring you some sweets, okay?"
"...Okay. See you tomorrow, onii-chan..."
"See you later, Hiori-san. Get some rest."
"Thank you, likewise. We'll be waiting for you."
I took a few steps when I heard her voice again.
"Onii-chan, take good care of yourself! Oh! And I really like chocolate!"
I laughed and turned my head.
"Hehe! Okay! I'll bring lots of chocolate! Be patient!"
She waved her hands vigorously, saying goodbye. I did the same, and then they both went into their house.
*
A new day was beginning. It was the last day before the weekend, and the atmosphere in the classroom was lively. Some were making plans, others were joking around... everyone wanted to enjoy the break that was coming up.
"Hey guys! Ahhh... I almost fell asleep again," I greeted them with a big yawn.
"Good morning. Hmm, you should do something about that habit," said one of my friends, laughing.
"How late did you stay up reading yesterday?" asked another.
"Hi, William," greeted a classmate from her seat.
While everyone was getting ready for the first class, my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about how to approach Anna-san to thank her, on behalf of Mia's family, for her help. The logical thing would be to do it at lunchtime, but...
"What if they're all together? What if her friends look at me strangely? Anna recently joined Luucy-san's group, and since then no one, especially no boys, has approached them."
Theo-san, Luucy-san, and the others in the "golden group" imposed a certain invisible barrier. Kaito, for example, who always talked about Anna, never approached her directly. It was clear: no one wanted to take any chances.
"What if I draw too much attention to myself? AHH!"
As my head was spinning with crazy ideas, a silhouette stopped in front of my desk.
I looked up... and froze.
"Good morning, Nakagawa-kun... I hope you'll tell me everything, in great detail."
It was Anna-san.
The entire classroom fell silent. All eyes were on us. The surprise was total. No one expected her, so calm and reserved, to speak to me like that... and in such a familiar tone.
Even her friends, including Theo-san, looked at us with genuine amazement.
"Oh no... what have I gotten myself into?"