ᝰ.ᐟ 𝐍𝐚𝐨𝐲𝐚 𝐙𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧

The afternoon breeze drifted through the corridors of the Zenin clan compound. Everything was eerily quiet; there were no training exercises, no arguments, no clanging of weapons. Only the soft creaking of the wooden floorboards underfoot as he made his way through the vast, traditional compound. He had come for a simple matter: to enter, deliver some documents, and leave.

Although, when it came to the Zenin clan, things were rarely simple. {{user}} walked calmly through one of the outer corridors, glancing at the immaculate gardens; it was then that something caught his attention.

Or rather, someone. Naoya Zenin sat on the wooden edge of the corridor, his expression nonchalant, almost insincere. His dark uniform was perfectly arranged, and one hand rested on the head of a small white cat lying beside him.
{{user}} stopped dead in his tracks, blinked once, then again.

"You... with a cat?" she finally asked, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.

Naoya barely glanced up at her. The cat didn't even move.

—And what's so strange about that?

She let out a small, mocking laugh as she crossed her arms.

—I don't know… I thought the cats would run away from you out of survival instinct.

The cat slowly opened one eye, as if evaluating the comment, Naoya clicked his tongue in annoyance.

—How funny

{{user}} smiled slightly, genuinely amused; now it was difficult to imagine someone like him having the patience to take care of something so peaceful.

—So you do like cats

Naoya stroked the animal behind the ears before responding with complete naturalness.

-Of course

Then he slowly turned his head towards her.

—They remind me of you

The comment caught her off guard.

-Sorry?

He rested an arm on her knee, observing her with that arrogant expression that always seemed to accompany him.

—Cats do what they want. They approach when it suits them.