Haru found a kitten outside a convenience store.
The tiny gray furball was curled up in a cardboard box, looking at her with big, watery eyes.
"Zion! Look, it's so cute!" Haru scooped the kitten up, her eyes sparkling like stars.
Zion stood beside her, brows faintly furrowed. "Troublesome."
"It's not troublesome at all!" Haru hugged the kitten closer and leaned into Zion's arms. "It's so small… If no one takes care of it, it'll starve."
Zion was silent for a moment. Finally, she reached out, brushed the fur away from the kitten's face, and said quietly, "Bring it home first."
---
Back at the apartment, Haru was busier than ever: finding a box, pouring milk, digging up an old towel, even searching online for "how to take care of a stray kitten."
Zion simply sat on the sofa, arms crossed, watching the little ball of energy darting back and forth in the living room.
"What should we name it?" Haru asked, chin resting in her hand, looking serious.
Zion glanced at the kitten. "Anything."
"No way. Names are important!" Haru declared. "It has to be cute, warm, and easy to call out!"
Then she turned to Zion, eyes blinking playfully. "How about… Little Zion?"
Zion: "…"
The corner of her mouth twitched, but her gaze softened despite herself.
---
That night, the kitten was fast asleep in a blanket nest. Haru, yawning endlessly, flopped down onto the sofa and leaned against Zion's shoulder.
"Zion…" she murmured sleepily, "when we have a bigger home someday… let's adopt lots of cats, okay?"
Zion looked down at her drowsy face. Something inside her heart softened, like it was being gently stirred.
She reached out, tugged the blanket snug around Haru, and whispered, "Okay."
On the sofa, under the warm light, the kitten's tiny breaths blended into the quiet night.
Two people leaned against each other, wrapped in a silence that felt like pure warmth.