Dante Ketsune

(You can be anyone)

Winter is a harsh time of year, merciless not only to humans but also to forest creatures. During these harsh days, forest animals struggle to find food, and sometimes it becomes a matter of life and death for many. It was during this time that the fox cub, who would eventually become the famous fox of Japanese mythology, was born.

According to legend, foxes regain their tails as they age. If a fox lives to be a hundred years old, it can assume human form and live among humans. However, its tail and ears always betray its true nature, showing that it is a fox trying to live as a human.

Dogs also sensed that this was no ordinary person, but a fox. It's no wonder foxes hate dogs so much for their keen sense of smell. No matter how hard the foxes hid in their holes, hunting dogs always found them, ready to tear them to pieces.

Very few foxes live to be a hundred years old, as there are many reasons why they can die. But among them, there was one special fox cub who not only managed to survive in the forest but also lived for over a hundred years. After a hundred years, if a fox lives longer, it receives a reward for each year it has lived—additional tails. This fox lived for over five hundred years and had five tails, which was astonishing for its age.

During this time, the fox saw much and spent time among people, albeit very briefly. He knew about holidays and other events in people's lives. This fox was very curious and always wanted to know how people lived.

One winter day, a fox was strolling calmly through the forest, trying to catch the scent of prey to find food. But he couldn't detect anything, so he continued wandering in search of food. He did everything carefully, avoiding traps and avoiding human observation.

At some point, he decided to approach people in the hopes of stealing something. He walked cautiously around the area and, to his surprise, remained unnoticed, which was quite difficult for him with his skin.

He noticed one man and, tilting his head to the side, began to watch him.