The next morning, Arashi woke up.
Ren, as usual, was snoring loudly beside him — completely unaware of the world.
The weather hadn't changed at all. The sky was still gray, the air cool, and the faint sound of thunder echoed somewhere far away.
Arashi got out of bed, washed up, and then headed downstairs.
Lyanna was standing near the door, holding her bag.
She looked up as he appeared. "Good morning, Arashi! I honestly thought I'd have to leave before seeing you — but you're awake."
Arashi stretched slightly. "Yeah… though I slept pretty late. Around 4:38, I think."
Lyanna sighed, shaking her head. "You two are unbelievable. I don't even know what kind of creatures you guys are."
Arashi chuckled softly, but his attention drifted toward the window.
Outside, the wind had grown stronger. The trees swayed, clouds roared, and raindrops began to fall again — light but constant.
He stepped outside, letting the cold air hit his face.
Lyanna frowned. "Hey, don't go out right now! You'll catch a cold!"
But Arashi just smiled faintly. "No… today's weather feels perfect. One of the best days of the year."
Lyanna stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
"Perfect? It's gloomy, freezing, and looks like a storm's about to start," she said, crossing her arms.
Then, narrowing her eyes, she added teasingly,
"Sometimes I really don't get you, Arashi. Everyone else hides from weather like this… and you walk straight into it — smiling. It's kind of weird, you know?"
Arashi chuckled softly. "Yeah, whatever you say. But for me, this weather is perfect," he replied, his tone calm but certain.
"Anyway, where's everyone else?"
Lyanna adjusted her bag. "Ayane went with her mom — something about family issues. The others are upstairs, packing their stuff."
"Oh, I see," Arashi said quietly.
He stepped out into the drizzle, lifting his arms slightly as he looked up at the sky.
Raindrops began to fall onto his face, tracing down his cheeks like faint glimmers of light.
Lyanna watched him from the doorway, a strange feeling crossing her chest.
At first, it seemed weird — the way he stood there in the rain, almost lost in his own world.
But then she noticed his expression.
That smile.
It wasn't the faint, guarded smile he usually gave everyone — the one that always felt distant or polite.
This one was real. Warm. Unfiltered.
For the first time, she saw Arashi genuinely smiling.
She couldn't help but smile too, whispering to herself, So even he has moments that make him happy…
"Alright," she said aloud, turning toward the hallway. "I'll go check on the others."
Arashi nodded without looking back. "Sure, go on."
He stayed there, standing in the rain, letting the cold wind and water wrap around him. It felt peaceful — like the world had slowed down for just him.
But as the minutes passed, the rain began to grow heavier, turning into a steady downpour. Arashi sighed and turned to head inside — until a faint sound stopped him.
"Meow…"
He froze. The cry was soft, barely audible through the rain.
Looking toward the street, he spotted a tiny kitten sitting helplessly in the middle of the road — completely drenched, trembling, and barely able to move.
Arashi's eyes widened. Without hesitation, he dashed back inside, grabbed an umbrella, and called out,
"Mom! Get a dry towel ready, quick — I'll be right back!"
Before anyone could ask what was going on, he was already out the door, running into the storm.
Arashi rushed through the rain, water splashing under his shoes. He reached the small kitten and held the umbrella over it, shielding it from the heavy downpour.
The tiny creature was trembling, soaked to the bone, its faint meows barely audible through the rain.
A few meters away, someone else had noticed the scene.
Ayane — who was returning home with her mother — had stopped by the corner, her eyes widening at the sight.
Her mother followed her gaze. "Ayane, who's that boy?"
Ayane hesitated, her voice soft. "That's Arashi… Ren's cousin."
Her mother's eyebrows rose slightly. "He's out there in this weather… just to save a kitten?" she murmured, a faint look of surprise and admiration crossing her face.
Ayane didn't answer. She simply watched in silence — eyes fixed on Arashi as he carefully lifted the kitten into his arms. Something about the scene made her chest tighten.
He didn't even think twice, she thought. He just… acted.
Arashi ran back toward his house, the umbrella tilted to keep the kitten dry.
As soon as he entered, he grabbed the towel his mother had prepared and rushed straight to the bathroom.
He quickly filled a small basin with warm water, checking the temperature with his hand to make sure it wasn't too hot. Then he gently set the tiny cat inside, washing off the dirt and rain with slow, careful movements.
After that, he warmed up a little milk in the kitchen, setting it beside the sink.
When he returned, he noticed the scratches along the kitten's back — deep and painful-looking. Its eyes were half-shut now, its breathing slow and weak.
"Hey… stay with me, okay?" he whispered, voice soft but urgent.
He quickly dried the kitten with a towel, then used hair dryer on the lowest setting to gently warm its fur. The faint hum of the dryer filled the bathroom, mixing with the sound of rain outside.
When the kitten was finally dry, Arashi knelt beside it, dipped his fingers into the warm milk, and slowly helped it drink.
"Good… just a little more," he murmured quietly, smiling faintly as the kitten weakly licked the drops from his hand.
Afterward, he wrapped the small creature in a soft blanket, tucking it close so it could stay warm. The kitten's breathing steadied, its tiny body finally relaxing in his arms.
Arashi exhaled deeply, relief softening his face. He placed the kitten gently in a small box, covering it with the edge of the blanket.
For a moment, he just stood there — watching over it — before whispering to himself,
"You're safe now."
Ayane's mother and Arashi's mother were watching the whole scene from the half opened door.
They didn't interrupt.
They just watched.
The dim bathroom light spilled faintly into the hallway.
Inside, Arashi's face looked calm — but there was a tenderness in his eyes.
Ayane's mother finally spoke in a low voice, barely above a whisper.
"Is that… your son?"
Arashi's mother nodded slowly, a faint smile forming.
"Yes. That's my Arashi."
There was silence for a moment. Only the sound of rain and the faint hum of the dryer filled the air.
Then Ayane's mother sighed softly, her gaze still fixed on the boy.
"He's kind… but not in a way most people notice," she said. "There's something heavy in his eyes — like someone who's lost something, yet still chooses to protect what's left."
Arashi's mother looked at her, her own expression gentle but a little sad.
"He doesn't talk much about what's in his heart," she replied. "But whenever he sees someone — or something — in pain, he can't ignore it. It's just… how he is."
Ayane's mother smiled faintly, her tone thoughtful.
"The world needs people like him," she said. "People who don't wait for someone to tell them what's right."
For a few seconds, both women simply stood there — watching as Arashi wrapped the small kitten carefully in a blanket.
In that quiet moment, Ayane's mother glanced at her daughter, who was standing a few steps behind them, eyes wide and silent.
Her mother whispered gently, almost to herself,
"Kindness like his… leaves a mark — even when it's not meant to."
After that both women left him alone.
After drying the kitten and wrapping it carefully in a blanket, Arashi carried it to his room.
He nudged Ren with his foot.
"Idiot, wake up! How long are you planning to sleep?"
Ren groaned and pulled the blanket over his head.
"What the hell, man? It's too early."
Arashi didn't reply. Instead, he held up the small bundle in his arms.
"Look at this."
Ren blinked a few times, still half-asleep.
"What is that?"
When he finally realized, his expression turned to disbelief.
"Wait— you brought a dying animal into my room? Are you out of your mind?"
Arashi stayed calm, his tone steady.
"It's not just an animal, Ren. It's a living being — like us. It feels pain, fear, warmth… just like we do."
Ren sat up, rubbing his eyes in frustration.
"Bro, you don't get it. It's already dying. Saving it won't change anything."
Arashi looked at him for a moment, then gave a faint, sad smile.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe it won't survive. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try."
His voice quiet but filled with meaning.
"These little things — helping, caring — they're what make God happy. I did what I could. Whether it lives or dies now… that's not in my hands anymore."
Ren stayed silent, staring at the kitten.
Arashi continued softly, his gaze distant.
"But think about it, Ren. Maybe if God likes this small act, He'll reward it in a way I don't expect — maybe today, maybe years later. Who knows?"
He paused, then looked straight at his cousin.
"If you were in this cat's place — hurt, dying, alone — wouldn't you wish someone tried to save you, even if there was no guarantee you'd survive?"
Ren didn't answer. He just looked at Arashi.
Outside the room, Ayane had been standing silently, listening to every word.
Something about Arashi's calm, steady voice… it felt different — deeper than she'd ever heard before.
When he said, "Even this small act could make God happy," something inside her chest stirred.
She didn't fully understand it, but it hit somewhere she didn't expect.
Quietly, she took a small breath, placed her hand on the door, and pushed it open.
Ren looked up first, surprised.
Ayane's eyes, however, were fixed on Arashi.
"Can I… see it too?" she asked softly.
Arashi blinked in surprise, then smiled slightly.
"Of course. Why not?"
He gently lifted the blanket.
The little creature inside was no longer the muddy, lifeless thing he'd found earlier.
Its fur — now clean — revealed a soft golden-brown coat, shining faintly under the room light.
It wasn't an ordinary stray.
It was a Persian cat — beautiful, delicate, and breathing slowly but surely.
Ayane's eyes widened.
"It's… a Persian?" she whispered.
Even Ren leaned forward, speechless.
The kitten meowed weakly, its eyes now full-open, and for the first time, Arashi let out a long breath of relief.
"She's going to be okay," he said quietly, almost to himself.
When he looked up again, Ayane was already looking at him.
Their eyes met for a brief moment — and she smiled faintly.
"Every day," she said, "you show a side of yourself I didn't know existed."
Her tone softened but carried something unsteady — almost vulnerable.
"Why are you this kind, Arashi? You know things — people — can betray you, right? Even this cat could someday scratch the hand that saved it."
Arashi replied.
"I'm kind when I choose to be — not because anyone deserves it, not because I expect anything in return, but simply because I want to be. It's my choice.
You can betray me, use me, take advantage of me — that's your choice.
But my kindness won't change just because the world fails to meet my expectations.
You know, everyone is searching for a good person, but they rarely find them… because it's not easy.
And if you can't find one — then be one."
For a moment, the room went completely silent.
Only the sound of the rain outside filled the space — soft, steady, endless.
Arashi's words hung in the air like something too heavy to ignore.
Ren looked at him, speechless.
He wanted to say something sarcastic — like he always did — but nothing came out.
He glanced at the cat, then at Arashi, and quietly turned his gaze away.
Ayane, on the other hand, just stared at Arashi.
Her expression softened, almost unreadable — a mix of admiration, confusion, and something deeper she couldn't name.
She wanted to say "you're strange" again, but the words didn't come.
Instead, she just whispered, almost to herself,
"You really are something else, Arashi."
Arashi smiled faintly, brushing the cat's fur.
"Not really," he said quietly. "Just trying to be human."
Ayane looked at him for a long moment before turning toward the window, hiding the small, unexplainable smile forming on her lips.
Ren sighed and muttered under his breath,
"Man… you always make things complicated."
Arashi just chuckled softly.
"Maybe. But at least I make them worth remembering."
Later that afternoon, the rain finally slowed to a gentle drizzle.
Everyone began preparing to leave — the laughter of the cousins echoing through the hall as they packed their bags.
Ayane helped her mother with a few things before turning to the others.
Unlike before, she didn't just wave from afar — she properly greeted everyone, sharing a few smiles and light conversations.
When it was time to go, most of the cousins said their goodbyes and left.
But Ayane, Arashi, and Ren stayed behind.
The house felt quieter, calmer.
Outside, the sky was still gray, but a faint light began breaking through the clouds.
Arashi leaned against the doorway, watching the others disappear down the road.
Ren stood beside him, hands in his pockets, looking a little bored.
Ayane glanced at both of them, a small, thoughtful smile on her face.
"Well," she said softly, "looks like it's just us now."
Arashi turned his head slightly, his tone calm.
"Yeah… just us."
Ren sighed dramatically. "Great. Two weirdos and me. What could possibly go wrong?"
Ayane laughed quietly, the sound soft and genuine.
For a moment, everything felt simple — peaceful.
Two days later, on Tuesday, the rain was gone.
The little Persian cat had fully recovered, now wandering around the living room like it owned the place.
Arashi watched it play near the window, a faint smile touching his face.
Maybe it wasn't just the cat that had been saved that day.
Maybe, in some quiet way, something inside all of them had changed too.
Arashi's mother and aunt were prepared to leave for the market.
"We'll be back soon," his mother said, putting on her shawl. "Take care of Grandpa, okay?"
"Yeah, I got it," Arashi replied casually, waving a hand.
Ayane was scrolling through her phone on the sofa while Ren was in the hallway tying his shoes.
"Where are you off to?" Arashi asked.
"School group project," Ren said with a smirk. "Or maybe just pizza — depends who you ask."
"You're an idiot," Arashi muttered.
"Thank you, I try," Ren said, laughing as he left.
The afternoon sun was dull and heavy behind the clouds, turning the whole house a shade of grey.
Arashi's grandfather sat on the old wooden chair near the window.
"Arashi," he called softly. "Can you come here for a second?"
Arashi was outside, near the porch, trying to pull the small cat off the fence before it hurt itself. Without turning, he shouted back,
"Just a minute, Grandpa! I'll come in a second!"
He got busy untangling the cat's paw from the wire, and by the time he finally freed it, his attention shifted completely.
That one minute stretched longer… and longer… until it was forgotten.
Then—
A loud thud echoed through the house.
Ayane's voice broke the silence first, shaky and frightened.
"A-Arashi!"