It was supposed to be a normal Thursday.
Leo had just finished tying his shoes when Kai burst into the room with a shout:
"BRO. PET DAY."
Leo blinked. "...What?"
Kai, panting like someone who had just sprinted across three corridors, shoved his phone into Leo's face.
There, on the school app, was a banner:
> 'Animal Affection Week: Bring Your Pet to School!'
> "For stress relief and emotional bonding. Approved by the Student Wellness Committee."
Below that: a list of approved animals, a dress code for dogs (seriously), and a waiver form.
Leo blinked again. "That's… real?"
Kai grinned. "It's the best thing this school has ever done."
---
By mid-morning, the campus looked like a cartoon zoo had exploded.
Students were walking tiny dogs in ribbons, carrying fat cats in baby harnesses, and one guy from Class C had brought a literal parrot that kept yelling "DUMP HIM!" from its perch.
Leo made his way to the main quad, just trying to stay out of the way.
That's when he saw her.
Hana.
Wearing a track jacket over her uniform, a towel around her neck—and at her side was a Shiba Inu.
Tan, fluffy, and looking like it had just eaten someone's homework.
Leo stopped.
The dog stopped.
They stared at each other.
Then Hana waved. "Yo."
Leo walked over. "You brought… him?"
"This is Maru," she said, patting the dog. "He bites."
As if on cue, Maru barked. Then wagged his tail.
Leo crouched down, extending a hand.
Maru sniffed it, then licked.
"I thought he bites?"
"He does. Just not you, apparently."
Leo smiled. "He's cute."
"Don't let it fool you. He's chaos in fur."
---
They ended up walking around together, Maru trotting ahead like a furry dictator.
Every few minutes, students would stop to ask if they could pet him.
"He looks like a meme!" one girl squealed.
Another guy offered Maru a tiny bowtie.
Hana, true to form, accepted it like she was training him for battle.
"You should see him jump hurdles," she told Leo. "He's better than half our team."
"He's got your energy," Leo said.
Hana smirked. "You trying to say I bark at people?"
"No, just that you both… lead by intimidation."
She laughed, loud and real.
It made Leo's chest feel warm.
---
They sat near the garden afterward, Maru collapsed at their feet, tongue lolling.
Leo glanced at Hana.
"You seem… happier today."
She picked up a blade of grass and twirled it. "Hard not to be. He's the only creature that doesn't judge me when I talk to myself."
"...You talk to yourself?"
"All the time."
Leo smiled. "What do you say?"
"Depends," she said. "Sometimes it's 'Hana, don't punch the wall,' other times it's 'You got this, idiot.'"
He chuckled. "You don't seem like you need pep talks."
She turned to him, suddenly serious.
"I do. Every day."
The air shifted.
Leo looked at her—not just the loud, athletic Hana—but the girl who hid behind action and laughter.
And for a moment, he saw something softer.
More fragile.
She broke the silence. "Hey."
"Yeah?"
"If you ever… you know… feel like the walls are closing in—"
Leo blinked. "That's oddly specific."
"Just. Call me. I'll come running. Me and Maru both."
Maru barked softly.
Leo smiled.
"I might take you up on that."
"You'd better."
---
Later that afternoon, they joined a small pet parade.
Maru, now wearing sunglasses someone gave him, led the charge.
Yuki was there too, with a fluffy Persian named Queenie.
Rin showed up late, with a goldfish in a tightly sealed tank ("He doesn't bark, but he judges hard.").
Sora had a rabbit. It was asleep. On her head.
And somehow, the whole group ended up walking together.
Kai filmed everything like he was making a documentary.
Leo glanced around.
Four girls. One chaotic dog. A sleepy rabbit. A glaring fish. A fluffy diva.
And him.
And for the first time, the noise around him didn't feel overwhelming.
It felt... right.
---
That evening, he opened his notebook.
Wrote two lines:
> "Some days, you don't need magic. Just a dog who bites everyone but you."
He smiled.
Closed the book.
And fell asleep with Maru's bark echoing in his dreams.