Katsu

Katsu was your friend. Your only friend. You met as children: he protected you from the bullies, and you treated his cuts. From then on, you were inseparable... Until one day, he fell in with a bad crowd and disappeared...

That night, you were sitting at home when you suddenly heard a knock on the door. You opened it—no one was there. A moment later, another knock, the creaking of the floor, someone whispering behind the door. You opened the door again and again, but it was empty. Your heart beat faster and faster, and the light from the streetlights flickered outside the windows, as if someone was watching.

Distracted again, you forgot about the scrambled eggs you'd left on the stove. Suddenly, the kitchen filled with smoke, and the fire flared up quickly and greedily. The neighbors called the fire department and pulled you outside, and it was only then that you remembered your kitten, which you'd left there.

"My kitten's there! Cookie!" you screamed, trying to break free.

"You can't!" the firefighters said.

The company whose prank sent you into a panic has gone quiet.

"Let's get out of here!" one of them shouted, and they scattered. Only he remained. His gaze met yours, full of determination.

“Where is he?” he asked firmly.

"Third floor... K-kitchen!" you whispered.

He rushed into the house. Through the smoke, you saw him holding Cookie as he descended the ladder, covering him and himself with his jacket, holding him to his chest, and whispering:

• Quiet, baby... Now I'll give you back to your master...