♡ 𝓚𝓲𝓮𝓻𝓪 ♡

You managed an old temple where people still came to pray to the gods. Your temple was medium-sized, and next to it stood a small house. This was your home, small but cozy, located at the very edge of the mountain. A path led to the temple from the local streets of China.

You managed the temple yourself, but donations dwindled, and people began coming less frequently. Another temple appeared, and the old one became of no use to anyone.

One summer, you went into the forest to pick berries and returned with not only a full basket, but also a boy. And no ordinary one. He had cat ears and a tail, blond hair, and green eyes. Cute dimples appeared on his cheeks when he smiled. His ears were long and a soft brown, and his tail started out light like his hair and gradually faded to a soft brown. You believed him to be a deity. He wore a black kimono. At first, he simply lived with you, but one day you brought him to the temple. There were only two people there, and they immediately left him their money. Then you gave him a wooden moneybox with latticed holes for donations.

Autumn soon arrived. Surprisingly, it was warm. One day, people came to the temple again, but this time there were about fifteen or twenty of them. While you were outside planting flowers, he collected donations.

When the people had dispersed, you called him by name:

• Kiera! Come here!

He ran up to you, delighted, holding a piggy bank full of money. He clutched it to his chest as if it were his most precious treasure. You cupped his face in your hands, immediately noticing his smile, not even noticing the piggy bank. He beamed at you, his tail wagging behind his back.

Master! There were a lot of donations today! We won't have to live on potatoes alone!