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The rain poured relentlessly, drumming against the pavement and forming tiny rivers along the street. You tugged your jacket tighter around yourself, sighing at your luck. Of all days to forget your umbrella, it had to be today. The streetlights flickered, casting long, wavering shadows, and the occasional car sped past, splashing water into the gutters.
You were almost home when a faint, pitiful sound stopped you in your tracks.
Meow.
You frowned, turning your head toward the source. Another soft meow—high-pitched and desperate—barely cut through the rain. Scanning the area, your eyes landed on a small, shivering figure huddled beneath a bench. The poor thing was drenched, its fur clinging to its frail body as it trembled in the cold.
"Oh, you poor baby," you murmured, stepping closer and crouching down. The kitten flinched, its squinted eyes peeking up at you with a mix of fear and exhaustion. It was so tiny, no more than a few months old, and completely alone. Your heart clenched at the sight.
Carefully, you reached out a hand, moving slowly to avoid scaring it further. "Hey, it's okay," you cooed, your voice gentle. "I'm not gonna hurt you. Let's get you out of this rain, yeah?"
The kitten hesitated but was too weak to resist when you scooped it up. It was light—too light—and barely let out a weak meow of protest before curling slightly against your chest. Its little body radiated cold, and you instinctively shielded it from the rain with your jacket.
You hesitated for a moment, holding the drenched kitten carefully in your arms. The rain continued to pour, but you barely noticed the cold as your mind raced with conflicting thoughts.
You weren't sure what to do. Hoshina wasn't exactly a fan of cats. In fact, he was pretty vocal about his dislike for them. What if he got upset? What if he refused to let it stay? Or worse, what if someone already owned it and was looking for it? You glanced around, but there was no sign of anyone nearby. Still, you felt a twinge of guilt. Maybe you were taking someone's pet. Maybe it had a home, and it would be heartbroken without its owner. But… the kitten looked so tiny and helpless, shivering in the rain, and you couldn't just leave it there.
You're doing the right thing, you told yourself, even as doubt lingered in the back of your mind. You could always check tomorrow if someone was looking for it, but for now, it needed warmth and safety. And maybe, just maybe, you could convince Hoshina.
After a deep breath, you made your decision.
Determined, you picked up your pace and hurried home. You weren't sure yet what you were going to do with the kitten. But it was so small and cute… Maybe there was a way to convince your boyfriend. It could have a small basket on the side of your bed. In the living room, you could… No, you should wait for Hoshina's approval before making plans to buy cat supplies. Besides, first of all, you needed to dry and feed it. That was much more important right now.
The warmth of your apartment was a welcome relief. As soon as you stepped inside, you carefully unwrapped the kitten from your jacket. It was still shaking, its fur clumped together from the rain.
Let's get you cleaned up, little—" you held the kitten up to get a look at its sex, "—little guy." It was a boy.
You quickly gathered a towel and a small basin of warm water. The kitten let out a tiny grumble when you began to clean it, but you kept whispering reassurances. The cat's fur was dark black, except for its tiny white paws, the end of its tail, and the small patch of white that surrounded its nose. As you gently dried it off, you noticed how the black fur shimmered faintly with a deep purple hue under the light. Its eyes remained mostly closed, but its little fangs peeked out when it gave another tiny, exhausted mewl.
You chuckled softly. "You kinda remind me of someone."
Once the kitten was dry and warm, it curled up in the towel you'd laid out for it. Its breathing steadied, and for the first time, it looked at peace. Smiling, you grabbed your phone and snapped a quick picture. The image made you laugh—the squinted eyes, the little fangs, the grumpy expression.
Without thinking twice, you sent the photo to your boyfriend, Hoshina.
A moment later, your phone buzzed with his reply.
"What the hell is that? It's ugly."
You snickered, quickly typing back.
"It looks just like you."
His response was instant.
"EXCUSE ME???"
You giggled, glancing at the kitten, who was now purring softly. It was safe now, and for the first time that night, you felt completely at ease.
"I found it completely drenched under a park bench. It seems to be quite young, so I had to take it home. Poor little thing… I washed and dried it, and I think it's about to fall asleep soon. Could you maybe, please, please bring some cat food on your way home?"
"…Fine."
"Thank you <333"
You put your phone away, starting to stroke the kitten's fur absentmindedly. To your delight, it began to lean into your touch, seeking the warmth and comfort of your presence.
An hour later, you were comfortably settled on the couch, the warmth of the apartment contrasting sharply with the cold rain outside. The kitten had nestled itself into your lap, purring contentedly as you stroked its fur. It was hard to believe just a few hours ago it had been shivering under a bench in the rain. Now, it seemed to be at peace, its little eyes half-lidded as it snuggled closer to you.
This is nice, you thought, smiling as the kitten purred even louder at your gentle touch. It leaned into your hand, clearly enjoying the attention, and you couldn't help but melt at how sweet and innocent it was.
Your peaceful moment was interrupted by the sound of the front door creaking open. You looked up to see Hoshina stepping inside, his expression unreadable as his eyes immediately landed on the kitten in your lap.
He stopped in his tracks, staring at the small black cat with a frown tugging at his lips.
The kitten, almost as if sensing his gaze, looked up and met his eyes. There was a brief, tense silence, and then, to your surprise, the kitten's body stiffened. Its little eyes narrowed into what could only be described as a glare. For a moment, it almost seemed like it was glaring back at him.
You couldn't help but laugh.
"See? Doesn't he look just like you?" You gestured toward the kitten, which still had that look in its eyes. "He has the same dark fur with a purple sheen, just like your hair when the light hits it. And those white paws? They look just like your... let's say, unique 'fashion choice' with your socks."
Hoshina didn't seem to share your amusement, his gaze still fixed on the kitten with a mix of annoyance and confusion. The two stared at each other for a beat longer before he sighed and shook his head.
"Seriously? You're comparing me to that thing?" he muttered, crossing his arms.
You smiled, trying to keep the conversation light as you gently petted the kitten.
"You don't think you two look alike? Look at the fangs. And the squinted eyes."
Hoshina just grumbled and walked over to the kitchen. You didn't push it any further. Instead, you got up, carrying the kitten after him, and watched as he poured some cat food into a container, placing it on the ground with a bowl of water next to it. You set the kitten down in front of its food, and it rubbed against your leg with a happy purr. As it eagerly started eating, you decided to broach the subject carefully.
"So..." You glanced over at Hoshina as he rummaged through the kitchen. "What do you think should happen to this poor, abandoned kitten? He seems to like it here... I mean, he's already made himself at home in my lap."
Hoshina paused, glancing at you for a moment before sighing again.
"Well..." he started, "I guess it can stay the night. But tomorrow, we need to look around the neighborhood for any missing pet flyers. If someone's looking for it, we need to find them. I don't want to just assume it's ours."
You nodded, understanding. You had considered putting up a "found" poster for the kitten, but you were worried someone might call to claim it as their own, even if it wasn't actually theirs. It seemed simpler to just search for any missing pet notices yourself.
"That sounds fair," you agreed. "But what happens if we don't find any flyers? If we can't find the owner?"
Hoshina leaned against the counter, his expression thoughtful. "I'll think about it," he said simply. "We'll figure it out when the time comes. And... we'll decide what to do then."
You looked down at the kitten, which was now happily licking its paws after finishing its meal. You weren't sure what the future held for the little creature, but you couldn't deny the bond that was already forming between you.
"Okay," you replied softly, gently stroking the kitten's fur again. "But I hope we can figure something out. He's already starting to feel like part of the family."
Hoshina gave you a sidelong glance but didn't say anything. Instead, he let out another sigh, though this one seemed softer, like he was resigned to whatever decision you'd make.
"Yeah, yeah, just don't expect me to get attached to it," he muttered, though his tone lacked any real conviction.
You smiled, feeling the warmth of the moment, even if it was filled with the usual playful tension between you two. You were glad the kitten was here—whatever happened tomorrow, you'd figure it out together.
And hopefully Hoshina would come around.
Later that evening, you and Hoshina sat together on the couch, the warmth of the apartment making the rainy night outside feel like a distant memory. The kitten was curled up in your lap again, its tiny body rising and falling with each steady breath. You absentmindedly ran your fingers through its soft fur, earning a deep, rumbling purr in return.
Hoshina, on the other hand, sat beside you, arms crossed, clearly still skeptical about the new addition to your home. He hadn't said much since dinner, just the occasional glance at the kitten followed by a sigh, as if he was already regretting letting it stay the night. After all, it was taking up nearly all of your attention
A small smirk tugged at your lips. "You know," you teased, "I think he likes you."
Hoshina scoffed. "It hasn't looked at me once since dinner."
You glanced down at the kitten, which was currently nuzzling into your stomach, completely unbothered by Hoshina's presence. "...Okay, fair point," you admitted with a soft laugh.
Stretching, you gently lifted the kitten and placed it in Hoshina's lap. He stiffened immediately.
"...What are you doing?"
"I'm going to take a shower," you said simply, standing up. "Keep an eye on him for me."
The kitten didn't move at first, settling into Hoshina's lap as if testing the new surface. Hoshina eyed it warily, as if it might suddenly attack him, but for now, the little furball remained still.
"See? Not so bad," you said, ruffling Hoshina's hair playfully before heading toward the bathroom. "Try bonding with him!"
Hoshina muttered something under his breath, but you were already gone.
The second the bathroom door clicked shut, the kitten's body tensed.
Hoshina barely had time to process the shift before the tiny ball of fluff let out a low, warning hiss. He blinked. "...Oh, so that's how it is?"
The kitten suddenly leapt from his lap, landing exactly where you had been sitting moments ago. It circled the spot a few times before curling up, tail flicking in irritation as it glared at him.
Hoshina narrowed his eyes. "You little—"
The kitten let out another hiss, baring its tiny fangs.
Hoshina scoffed. "Oh, what? You think you can just take her spot and act all high and mighty?" He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping mockingly. "Well, guess what, furball? I was here first."
The kitten's eyes narrowed further.
Then, without warning, it lifted a tiny paw and swiped at him.
Hoshina barely dodged in time, pulling back with a startled grunt. The claws weren't out enough to draw blood, but the message was clear.
"...Oh, you wanna go?" he muttered, puffing out his chest in a ridiculous display of dominance. "I'll have you know I've fought kaiju bigger than you."
The kitten swiped again.
Hoshina let out an indignant sound, narrowing his eyes. In retaliation, he—childishly—hissed back.
The kitten bristled, its fur puffing up slightly.
Hoshina smirked, thinking he'd won.
The kitten, deciding it had enough of his nonsense, smacked his arm again—harder this time.
"Ow—hey!"
The two glared at each other in complete silence, locked in an intense battle of wills.
Neither moved. Neither blinked.
The war had begun.
The warm steam from your shower still clung to your skin as you stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying your hair as you walked back into the living room.
The moment Hoshina saw you, he let out a loud, dramatic groan.
"Finally! Do you have any idea what I just went through?" he huffed, throwing his hands in the air. "That little demon attacked me!"
Before you could even ask what he meant, the kitten—who had been curled up in your spot on the couch—perked up at the sound of your voice. In an instant, it leapt down, trotting over to you with its tiny tail held high. It rubbed against your leg, purring so sweetly that it was almost comical.
You smiled, bending down to scoop it up. "Aww, did you miss me?" you cooed, gently scratching under its chin as its purring grew even louder. The kitten snuggled into your arms, completely at ease.
Hoshina stared at the scene in disbelief. "Are you kidding me?"
You looked up at him, confused. "What?"
His eyes twitched. "What?! You're just gonna believe it over me?!" He gestured wildly at the kitten. "That little thing has been hissing, glaring, and swiping at me ever since you left!"
You glanced down at the kitten, which blinked up at you with the most innocent, wide-eyed expression imaginable. Then it nuzzled against your chest, purring like it was the sweetest creature on Earth.
You giggled. "Hoshina… I think you're imagining things. Look how cute and harmless he is!"
"Cute and harmless—?!" He cut himself off with a groan, dragging a hand down his face before crossing his arms with an exaggerated pout. "Oh, I see how it is," he muttered. "It acts like an angel when you're around, but the second you're gone, it turns into a menace. It's pretending!"
You held back another laugh. "So, you're saying he's manipulative?"
"YES!"
You snorted, shaking your head as you sat back down on the couch, the kitten still snuggled in your arms. Hoshina slumped next to you, grumbling under his breath as he shot the kitten a suspicious glare.
The kitten, smug in its victory, stretched lazily before curling up in your lap once more.
"You are imagining things," you said teasingly, stroking its fur. "Maybe if you were nicer, he'd warm up to you."
Hoshina scoffed. "Nice? I was nice! I let it sit on my lap, I didn't push it off, I even let it steal your spot on the couch!" He gestured at the kitten dramatically. "And how did it repay me? With claws!"
The kitten lifted its head just slightly, meeting Hoshina's glare with half-lidded eyes. Then, very deliberately, it turned back to you, rubbed its tiny head against your stomach, and let out a long, satisfied purr.
Hoshina groaned. "You see that?! That was on purpose!"
You bit your lip, trying—and failing—to suppress your laughter. "I think he just really likes me."
"Yeah, no kidding."
As much as Hoshina complained, he didn't get up. He just leaned back into the couch, still sulking but clearly resigned to his fate. You smiled, leaning slightly against him as you continued petting the kitten.
Despite his grumbling, Hoshina didn't move away. He just sighed dramatically and mumbled under his breath, "Unbelievable…"
The kitten purred louder.
The soft hum of the television played in the background, though neither you nor Hoshina were really paying attention to it. The kitten had fully settled in your lap again, paws tucked neatly under its little body as it laid there contently.
Meanwhile, Hoshina sat beside you, arms crossed, glaring at the tiny creature as if it had personally wronged him.
You suppressed another laugh at his childish sulking. "You know, you're being a little dramatic."
"Dramatic?" He shot you an incredulous look. "You didn't see what it did to me the second you left. That thing is evil."
As if proving his point, the kitten flicked its tail and stretched, making sure to extend one of its tiny paws just far enough to lightly press against Hoshina's leg before settling back down.
Hoshina tensed. "Did you see that?"
You glanced down. "See what?"
"It touched me! On purpose!"
You covered your mouth to stifle a giggle. "Wow, how terrifying," you teased. "Maybe he's just warming up to you?"
"Warming up—" He cut himself off with an exhausted sigh, slumping further into the couch. "You're impossible."
Smiling, you continued stroking the kitten's fur, feeling its soft warmth against your fingers. The little guy had truly relaxed now, looking completely at peace in your home.
It made you hesitate.
You knew what Hoshina was going to say next. He had let the kitten stay the night, but that was only temporary. Tomorrow, you'd both have to look around the neighborhood, checking for any missing posters.
You chewed your lip before speaking. "So… what do you think we should do if we don't find its owners?"
Hoshina let out a thoughtful hum. "Dunno. I guess we'll figure it out when the time comes."
That wasn't a no.
You looked down at the kitten, watching as its little ears twitched in its sleep. You were already attached, you knew that. The thought of giving it away to just anyone made your stomach twist uncomfortably.
"I was thinking," you started carefully, "that we could put up 'found' posters, but… I don't really want to just give him to the first person who calls, y'know? What if someone just claims to be his owner, even if they're not?"
Hoshina exhaled through his nose, considering your words. "That's fair," he admitted. "Better to check if someone's actually looking for it first."
You nodded, relieved he understood. "So… we check the neighborhood tomorrow?"
He gave a small nod. "Yeah. If no one's missing it, we'll talk about it then."
You smiled softly. That was good enough for now.
Hoshina stretched his arms above his head with a yawn before tilting his head toward you. "But just so we're clear—if no one comes looking, that doesn't necessarily mean we're keeping it."
You raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what if I really want to?"
Hoshina hesitated, lips pressing into a thin line before he groaned, rubbing a hand down his face. "Ugh. We'll talk about it then, okay?"
That wasn't a no either.
Satisfied, you leaned into his side slightly, feeling the warmth of his body against yours. The kitten, nestled between you both, let out a small, happy sigh.
Hoshina huffed. "You're lucky I love you."
You grinned. "I know."
The kitten purred louder. Again.
It had been a week.
A whole, exhausting week of searching.
And despite all of Hoshina's best efforts—including sending his entire division on a "top-priority mission" to locate any missing cat posters—there had been nothing. No flyers. No desperate owners. No one looking for a tiny, black-furred menace with deceptively cute white paws.
Absolutely no one missed this cat.
Because, as he had suspected all along, it was a demon.
Hoshina scowled from his spot on the couch, arms crossed as he watched the little devil stretch lazily in your lap, purring without a care in the world.
"Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath.
You, on the other hand, looked delighted. You had been cautiously hopeful at the start of the week, but by now, you were fully attached. The second it became clear that no one was coming for the kitten, you had started browsing pet supply websites, already making lists of what to buy.
Meanwhile, Hoshina had been silently praying that some poor soul somewhere would realize they had lost their cat and come running to take this tiny terror off his hands.
Yet here you were.
A full week later.
And the cat was still here.
And worse—it was winning.
You glanced up at Hoshina, noting the way he was glaring at the kitten like it had personally ruined his life. Smiling, you reached down to scratch under its chin, making it purr even louder.
"You know what this means, right?" you said teasingly.
Hoshina sighed dramatically, tilting his head back against the couch. "Yeah, yeah, I know."
Your grin widened. "Say it."
"Tch." He clicked his tongue, running a hand through his hair before groaning in defeat. "Fine. The demon can stay."
You gasped, hugging the kitten closer. "Really?!"
He gave you a flat look. "Do I have a choice?"
You giggled, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "Nope!"
He sighed again, but this time, there was no real irritation behind it. He watched as you cooed at the kitten, holding its tiny paw and wiggling it playfully. The little thing looked so smug, as if it knew it had won.
"...But just so we're clear," Hoshina muttered, narrowing his eyes at the furball. "This doesn't mean we're friends."
The kitten blinked at him slowly. Then, very deliberately, it rolled onto its back and stretched—exposing its belly in a show of pure, lazy confidence.
Hoshina's eye twitched.
"Unbelievable."
But when you beamed at him, looking so happy, he sighed and finally leaned back into the couch, muttering something under his breath about "being too soft."
The kitten had officially won.
Hoshina and the cat still don't get along.
It's been an entire year, and somehow, their petty rivalry has only escalated.
Whenever you're around, the kitten—now fully grown but just as smug—acts like the picture of innocence. Purring sweetly, rubbing against Hoshina's leg just enough to make you think they've finally bonded. But the moment you leave the room, the silent war continues.
And it's a war.
Hoshina tries to cuddle you? The cat immediately squeezes in between.
Hoshina sits next to you on the couch? The cat jumps onto his lap uninvited, flexing its claws just enough to be annoying.
Hoshina leans in for a kiss? The cat meows loudly as if on cue, its tail flicking against his face.
It's constant, and you find it absolutely hilarious. Hoshina, on the other hand, does not.
And every time, Hoshina just stares at you in disbelief, as if expecting you to finally admit the cat is out to get him. But instead, you just laugh, scratching under the cat's chin as it purrs triumphantly. And that—more than the hissing, more than the tiny claws swiping at him—is the real problem. Because before this tiny furball came into your life, Hoshina was the one who got all your attention.
Now? He had to share. And he hated it.
"I miss when I was your favorite," he grumbles one evening, watching from the other side of the couch as you absentmindedly stroke the cat in your lap. "You used to cuddle me all the time."
You smile, looking up at him. "You still get plenty of cuddles."
"Not enough." He frowns, crossing his arms. "Not since it showed up."
You roll your eyes, reaching out with your free hand to poke his cheek. "Oh my god, are you actually pouting?"
He scoffs, looking away. "No."
You stifle a laugh. He absolutely is.
Of course, you also know that the cat is just as bad.
It acts cute and innocent around you, but you've seen the way it reacts whenever Hoshina tries to pull you into his arms—how its ears flatten, its tail flicks, and how it immediately inserts itself between the two of you, refusing to let him have a moment of peace.
And if that wasn't enough proof that this was all about winning your attention, there had been multiple occasions where you definitely saw the cat hiss at him—or even swipe a tiny paw in his direction. But every single time, you had waved it off with a breezy, "Oh, he's just playing! He wouldn't attack unless you did something wrong."
Much to Hoshina's horror, you genuinely believed that.
"It hates me," he groans after yet another incident, rubbing the spot where the cat had lightly batted at him. "I swear, it's out to get me."
You hum, scratching under the cat's chin as it purrs in your arms. "Maybe he's just responding to your bad vibes."
"Bad—what?!"
Though, to be fair…
There was that one time the cat took things too far.
A particularly heated stare-down had ended with Hoshina actually getting scratched—right across his cheek. Just deep enough to draw blood. It hadn't been serious, but you had gasped so dramatically that even Hoshina had been startled.
Before he could even complain, you had grabbed the first-aid kit and fussed over him like he was dying. "You poor thing," you had murmured, pressing a white plaster onto his cheek before kissing his forehead for good measure. "He didn't mean it, yeah? You just startled him."
Hoshina had stared at you, completely unimpressed. "It literally lunged at me."
"An accident," you had insisted, coddling him even more.
And, of course, that was the moment the cat had finally shown restraint.
For days afterward, it had stayed away from him. No hissing. No swiping. Not even an annoyed flick of the tail.
You had been convinced the cat felt guilty.
Hoshina, meanwhile, was convinced it was just biding its time before attacking again. "It's a demon," he had grumbled. "It doesn't have feelings."
You had just smiled, scratching under the cat's chin. "Maybe he just realized he went too far."
And now, here you were.
"This little bastard does it on purpose," Hoshina grumbles, watching as the cat curls up directly in the middle of your shared bed, effectively stealing his usual spot.
You shake your head, grinning. "You just don't want to admit that you have a tiny, evil doppelgänger."
"Tch." Hoshina clicks his tongue, crossing his arms. "It's not my doppelgänger. I'm way cooler than this little menace."
You tilt your head, still grinning. "Hmm… I dunno. Same dark hair, same smug little fangs, same grumpy face—"
Hoshina glares. "Okay, first off, I do not have a grumpy face."
You give him a look.
The cat does too.
"Tch. Stupid cat," Hoshina mutters under his breath, glaring at his tiny rival one last time before turning away.
But the second he thinks you're not looking—
He subtly tears off a small piece of chicken from his dinner plate and sneaks it under the table.
The cat, ever the opportunist, immediately snatches it up with a smug flick of its tail.
You pretend not to notice, hiding your smile.
Despite all his complaining, you know deep down that Hoshina has secretly grown fond of the little demon.
Though, of course, he'd never admit it.