The group chat was still buzzing with Ken's memes and Riko's teasing comments when Eadlyn stepped out of the train station. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the park, painting everything in hues of gold and green. He walked through the park near his station, the cool evening breeze brushing past him like a whisper.
Streetlamps began to flicker on, their glow soft against the deepening blue of the sky. The scent of damp earth and distant flowers filled the air, mixing with the faint sound of children's laughter from the playground.
That's when he saw her.
Sayaka crouched near the bushes, her uniform slightly wrinkled, her eyes darting around as though searching the shadows. Her usual composure was replaced by something raw—worry, etched across her features like lines on a map.
"Sayaka?" he called gently, not wanting to startle her.
She stiffened, then turned, her tension easing just a little when she saw him. "Ah—Eadlyn. Sorry, I didn't expect to meet you here."
He stepped closer, noticing the way her fingers clenched around the fabric of her skirt. "Everything alright?"
She hesitated before admitting, "I... lost Nao-chan."
Her voice dropped to a whisper, the name carrying a warmth that surprised him. "My cat. She slipped out of the house earlier, and I've been looking for her since."
A soft ache tugged at Eadlyn's chest. She looked composed as always, but the worry in her eyes was unmistakable—not the kind that demanded attention, but the kind that made you want to help without being asked.
"What does she look like?" he asked, keeping his voice calm.
Sayaka described her—white fur, tiny paws, a black ribbon tied neatly like a bow tie. "She's small, but she's got this way of looking at you like she knows exactly what you're thinking."
Eadlyn nodded. "Let's search together."
Sayaka blinked, surprised. "You don't have to—"
"I want to," he replied simply.
And with that, they divided the park: Sayaka scanning the playground area while Eadlyn walked toward the stone benches. The sky darkened as they searched, cicadas humming in the trees, their calls mixing with the distant sound of a wind chime from somewhere nearby.
Minutes passed.
At 6:00 p.m., they crossed paths again, both with empty hands. Sayaka brushed back her hair, frustration evident in the tightness of her jaw. "She must be scared..."
"Then let's try where you last saw her," Eadlyn suggested. "Cats retrace familiar places."
They walked to the spot Sayaka had mentioned—the wall beside the old slide—and there she was.
Nao-chan sat perched atop it like a tiny queen, her tail curled neatly around her paws, the black ribbon still intact. She looked down at them with an air of feline indifference, as if she had been waiting for them to notice her all along.
Sayaka gasped. "Nao—!"
But the moment she moved, the cat darted away.
Eadlyn reacted instantly. "I'll get her."
He jogged after Nao-chan, weaving between benches and bushes until he finally cornered her near the swings. The cat hissed once, her tiny body tense, but then she seemed to recognize him. She paused, her golden eyes studying him with curious intensity.
"Got you," he whispered, gently scooping her up.
Nao-chan didn't struggle. Instead, she nuzzled against his palm, her purr vibrating softly against his skin. It was such a small thing, but it made something in his chest tighten—not because of the cat, but because of what it meant to the person waiting for her.
He texted Sayaka the location.
She arrived in seconds, breathless from running, relief breaking across her face like dawn. The moment she saw Nao-chan safe in his arms, her shoulders finally relaxed. "Thank you... truly."
"It's nothing," he answered, though the warmth in her voice meant more to him than he let on.
As they walked out of the park, Nao-chan decided she wasn't done causing chaos. She climbed onto Eadlyn's shoulder, settling there like a fuzzy parrot. He froze, helpless.
Sayaka burst out laughing—a sound so natural and bright it caught him off guard. "She likes you."
"I think she likes mocking me," he deadpanned, but he didn't mind. Watching Sayaka laugh, seeing her composure melt into something warm and genuine—those moments mattered.
They walked together until their paths diverged, the evening quiet around them. The streetlights flickered on one by one, casting pools of gold on the pavement.
A cat returned home. A strange tension eased. A small connection deepened.
Sometimes, the simplest acts become the most memorable.