"drip-drop!"
Sullen rain patters against the concrete streets of a gloomy Tokyo. Pattering against Kenji Suzuki's face as he walks the despair out of his soul. Droplets form upon his face, unknown to the world if they are tears or mere rain. The sound of music escapes the white headphones in his ears as a sad melody drums along.
To a passerby, Kenji looks like a typical middle school student on his way home. Although, the opposite is the absolute truth here. Kenji's wet black hair droops over his brow, already soaked from the steady rainfall. His slender frame stands hunched as emotions pour from his heart to his head. Thoughts of life in turmoil swirl endlessly through his mind.
'Why couldn't Mom be there for my graduation? I know times are tough right now, but the only reason I put up with those guys harassing me every day was for the smile on her face seeing me walk across that stage.'
'I just wanted a single ounce of her time. Why does the world have to take my happiness away for some dirty landlord to get a few bucks out of my family's pocket? We have nothing. You'd take away our home for a few ounces of paper?'
'I hate this world. Isn't it a simple thought that money isn't the way to happiness? Why can't my Mom cook me dinner? Why can't she spend time with her only child? Why can't she just be happy with me?'
As his thoughts continue swirling, an unforeseen string of fate tugs at his mind bringing him back to the world. The pattering of rain has slowed, and a single beam of sunlight extends from the sky to the street. Light reflects upon an object residing in the road. A cardboard box, with scribblings of writing drawn in sharpie covering it. Kenji's curiosity piqued, he begins walking toward it. Little did Kenji know, this small action would forever change his life.
"Huh? What's this?"
Kenji reaches the box, wondering what it contains as movement rattles against its walls.
"I hope it's not a snake or something scary."
He flips open the lid of the box, revealing its contents.
"Oh, that's not so bad."
The now-open box reveals its contents to Kenji. Inside resides a tiny black kitten drenched and clawing for an escape. Its attempts are for naught as the rain seems to have severely weakened it.
With the sudden opening of the box, the Kitten gives an astounding look at Kenji. It then patiently sits, looking up at Kenji with curious eyes. Before resounding with a cry.
"Meow?" The Kitten says in a pleading tone.
"Poor thing. Looks like you're all alone too." Kenji says, looking at the Kitten with a dreary expression.
"Meow..." The Kitten responds in agreement.
"I guess you're a smart one." He replies.
'I've never had a pet before, so I have no idea what my Mom will say about this, but I don't care. This may be the only time in my life that someone needs my help.'
Kenji picks up the box with both hands, hefting it up slowly. However, the world has other plans as the box's bottom, worn from the rain, splits apart, plopping the poor Kitten down onto the cold pavement.
"Oh! I'm sorry little guy..." Kenji says apologetically.
The Kitten trots towards Kenji cautiously.
In response, he scoops the Kitten into his arms.
Stroking the cat's damp fur as it coils into the warmth of his chest.
"I'll take you home soon. It's much warmer there." Kenji coos.
'At least I hope it's warmer. I'm not sure if Mom paid the utilities this month.'
'I wish things were like before.'
Kenji reminisces about his childhood.
His family used to have homecooked meals every night. His mother had been the picture-perfect stay-at-home Mom for almost the entirety of his childhood. While his father had been the breadwinner, working as middle management for a local law firm. At night, they would both tuck him in for bed, reading him bedtime stories before his little eyes shut tight.
"Who would've thought that it would all disappear so quick." Kenji mutters to himself.
His father left his family when Kenji was the ripe age of 10. Dying due to an accident with a drunken driver after a last-minute shopping trip on the day of Kenji's birthday. Leaving his family the whopping some of his meager savings. They didn't last long, soon his mother was taken away too. Forced into the workforce and only being home in between shifts to catch some sleep. Since then, Kenji was left to his own devices, forced to vie for a few minutes of his mother's attention. Always striving to be able to go back to the old days.
One lonely tear streaks down Kenji's face as he looks down to the Kitten.
"You won't leave me, right?"
"That's right. We'll spend so much time together, and neither of us will have to be alone again."
The Kitten's head rubs against Kenji's arm as if responding to his wishes.
Kenji's eyes go blue at the sight, and a tinge of happiness begins to crack against his throat as another tear streaks down his face.
He quickly wipes the tears away, using his shoulder as a tissue.
In front of him is a small apartment building. A two-story dwelling with 10 units divided by one floor. Rundown from years of disrepair. Several doors barely sitting on their hinges from one to many forced entries by disparaged lovers. Window bars cover the windows, placed next to each door.
Kenji walks by the doorways on the bottom floor as he approaches a set of steps leading to the second story. The concrete steps resound as his feet trudge up the steps.
'I really hope we have power.'
Kenji reaches the last doorway on the second stairway.
Unit 10B.
To its dismay, Kenji switches his grip on the Kitten as he brings his pair of keys forward. After fidgeting with the lock a few times, the door slowly creaks open. A cold gust of air meets Kenji's face as he enters, closing the door behind him.
'I guess that answers that question.'
"Time to get you all cleaned up." Kenji coos to the Kitten.
Kenji walks to his room and places the Kitten gently down against his bed.
"Meow." The Kitten awakened by the sudden removal of warmth.
"I'll be right back. I just need to get something to dry us both off." He replies.
After a few moments, Kenji returns to the room with a bundle of towels. He throws one onto his bed as he brings the other to the Kitten and begins to dry it off.
After the Kitten's damp fur becomes free of the cold rain, he dries his own hair.
"I need a change of clothes. My uniform is soaked."
Kenji quickly disrobes himself, throwing the wet uniform in his laundry basket. Then grabbing a pair of warm pajamas to offset the cold apartment.
Once inside the warm pajamas, a feeling of exhaustion surges through his body.
"Damn, I'm tired. Maybe I'll just lay down for a bit."
Kenji slowly enters his bedsheets, laying his head against his pillow with a sigh.
"Meow!" The Kitten resounds.
"Oh, my bad! You must be cold out there," Kenji replies apologetically.
He gently picks up the Kitten, placing it underneath the warm comforter and close to him for double the warmth.
"What a day...At least I found you..." He says, stroking the Kitten at his side.
Kenji's eyelids droop close as a wave of sleep envelops him.
"Wake up! I'm hungry, you lazy bastard. It's already noon. Are you going to sleep the whole day away!?" A foreign voice shouts at Kenji.
"Huh? Who's there?" Kenji questions the voice.
Opening his eyes, he is greeted by the black Kitten staring at him ferociously.
"I said wake up!"
"HUH!?" Kenji shouts in shock.