Act I

Introductions

*The Alanson's Residence*

"Take care, Alex," the aged man told the young boy as he released from the hug.

"Take care, dad," the young boy replied to the man, who was clearly his father.

The man had light brown hairs, black eyes, a low voice, and had a non-bulky seemingly muscular build, and approximately was around thirty five years of age, also had some amount of facial hairs in the form of an amish beard.

The boy looked around eleven years of age, had dark brown hair, light brown eyes, and was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of trousers.

Seemingly, the father was heading to work in a little time, as implied by their talk. The son however looked slightly off at this, but was still smiling as he said goodbye to his father and the father went outside the house. The boy made a small sigh, his smile faded the moment his father went out of the sight. Then sighing once again he closed the door and went towards his room.

After he was in his room, he took a notepad-like device, lied on bed, opened a file which seemed to be a comic book, and began to read this.

It was summer vacation, so school wouldn't be open until a couple months later. As for most children of his age, this was time to play with his friends, visit their relatives, or some similar activities, but for little Alex that wasn't the case. Being raised without a mother, and with a father who's mostly at work, Alex had developed a very antisocial behavior, so he didn't like that much to make friends with other children, and mostly preferred to be by himself, or spend time with his father whenever he could afford to.

Besides, his father was a businessman so he didn't have much time to take him anywhere, so visiting any of their relatives was rarely convenient for them. But seemingly, he had learned to live with this life-style, no matter how lonely he sometimes felt.

So, no wonder that he spent most of his free time either online, playing games, or reading comics. And even this made him a little frustrated sometimes, cause he actually wanted to spend more quality time with his father than he was usually able.

After some time reading on his notepad, suddenly a synthesized female voice came from the computer-like device nearby, possibly an AI.

"Alex, it's time for you to study."

"Please Excela," Alex made a grunt of annoyance. "I'm at the best part at the moment."

"No excuses," the AI replied, her tone suggesting that she was being stern. "If you won't study, you won't perform well in your sixth grade."

"Ah, fine," Alex replied as he closed the comic book he was reading, and opened another book which seemingly looked like a history textbook. Then with a small sigh of frustration he sat up on the bed and tried to focus on his study, but not before he muttered. "I sometimes… just hate you, you know?"

"I know," Excela replied with a small chuckle. "I know why you would say that, but that's for your own good."

Alex just rolled his eyes as he carried on with his studies, as even though he didn't like the idea of being cut off while he was reading the most interesting part of his comic book, but still a part of him was grateful for having her around. She was like the really strict mother he never asked for, but at the same time she was a really close friend to him as well.

After studying for almost an hour and a half, he felt slightly hungry and implied by grumbling his belly made. Luckily there were always some snacks in the kitchen he could munch on at the time, until his father came home and prepared dinner for him. So, he got up from his place and went straight towards the kitchen taking out a pack of snacks which would be ready to eat after heating this a little in the oven. And thanks to Excela the AI, that task was so safe that even a child of Alex' age could do this without much problem.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Oneforall Manufactures: Violet City Trade Branch**

Alex's father was busy in his regular scheme of working. Being the manager of the country's biggest trade branch wasn't an easy task at all. It required his attention most of his time, if not all the time. It was probably the biggest reason he was unable to spend much time with his son. A slight sigh escaped him in the worry of his child.

It's been more than six years since his wife died in an accident, leaving him without a spouse and her son without a mother. Maybe a part of his playful side was lost alongside his mother.

"Maybe it's all my fault," he said, mostly to himself. But before he could go into any deeper thoughts on the matter, he heard the phone rang and picked the call.

"Hello… Okay sir… I will be there in a moment," he answered whatever was being said on the other side, and got up from his chair and towards some other room.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*The Pet Shop*

*"Welcome to Violet City Grand Pet Shop."*

*"You won't be disappointed by what our Pet Shop has to offer. No matter your preference, you'll always find what tickles your fancy, either you're looking for a cute ningen toddler to adopt as your own child. marrying humans is too old fashioned for your taste, anything in between. Just don't violate the rules and you'll have the best experience."*

The Pet Shop was always a busy place, always full of customers who were there to buy a variety of what the shop has to offer. In fact calling that place a shop would be an underestimation, because the place was larger than a supermall and one wouldn't be wrong to call it a low-key palace.

The inhabitant lived a rather decent life per say inside the establishment. It was made sure that all of their needs are met and all kept in good care. It could easily be mistaken as a well established foster home if one would ignore the fact that all the occupants were little more than merchandise to be sold one day to willful customers. It's not to say that their safety wasn't important at all. In fact, there were some strict rules in regards to buying and taking care of them and breaking any of the rules could end up horribly for the buyers.

In the section of young ningens, a couple could be seen compensating for the toddler ningen bird they bought. It was called a white harpy, with wings instead of arms with her back mostly covered with white feathers, the same as his wings. He seemed quite happy as the female of the couple lifted him in her arms.

In a distance another ningen could be seen looking at them a little wistfully as she waved her hand at the harpy. She was a ningen cat, known as black lynx, key feature being black fur which had covered her back and the backside of her arms in contrast to her fair skin, with her heterochromatic eyes (one being yellow, and other being green) to add to her already cute look.

"Sayonara, Yoki," she waved at the harpy, keeping her happy demeanor even though she felt quite sad inside, because she knew she would never be able to see her friend, namely Yoki ever again. The harpy waved back at her happily as the couple took him away, and a voice fading in the distance was heard by Kibo.

"Kibo~ Sayonara..."

The lynx made a small sigh at that, but all in all she knew she should be happy for her friend. After all, she was going to be a part of a family now. She wondered whether her friend would miss her or not, how many relatives he would have, or would he make new friends wherever he was going. Alas, she might never know, so all she could was to hope that her friend would stay happy in the new home with her new family.

She was lost in her thoughts when suddenly she heard a bell going, followed by a friendly call out to her.

"Kibo! C'mon, it's lunch time!"

It was another lynx, but this one had a mix of yellow and black fur with both eyes being dark brown, and suddenly enough a smile crossed her face. "Kitaru!"

And without wasting a second she joined the group of other young ones who were going towards a large room. After all today, her favorite dish was going to be on the menu.

*********************************************************************************************

Act 2

Lonely

Kibo was in a rather off mood the upcoming day. She seemed slightly distressed more than anything even when having her favorite, vanilla ice cream.

On that note, that day was a special day in the Pet Shop because it only came once a month where all the ningen toddlers and young ones were pretty much spoiled with their favorite toys and sweets.

But even this hardly helped her situation. Ever since they had met way back when they were still barely toddlers way back in Gardens, Yoki and she had been pretty close friends. And now when he was gone she was pretty lost to whether that place would be the same as it used to be. But right now, that wasn't the time to worry about that. It was time for their daily linguistic classes and she didn't want to be late.

Like always, linguistic class went well, and like always they had fun learning some new words and phrases. So far she had been the favorite student of the teacher. Not because she was learning the language entirely at another level (actually, she was pretty bad at linguistics as compared to others) but because she was the most well behaved student there. Unlike some other toddlers, she never broke anything, neither tried to become annoying to other students and for that reason everyone in the class really liked her.

The class was over and everyone was now called to another room where they were to be spoiled with gifts and toys and all such, almost any kind of gift a child can ever wish for. It was a way to keep them happy and make that place all the more home-like to them.

So, they would stay happy and wouldn't be spiteful of the shopkeepers and they would always know them to be their well-wishers and would not become spiteful of them.

It wasn't enough to distract him from the freshly formed gap in her heart due to one of her closest friends going away. She was sure that she would move on tho, and would find new friends sooner or later.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So... you want to adopt a toddler ningen?"

The receptionist asked the fatherly man who looked around his thirties, as she began to lead him towards the young ningens place.

"Yeah, actually maybe around 5 to 6 years, so my little boy can have a friend."

"Sounds good," the receptionist said, smiling warmly at that, as they finally reached the children's section, where they could see many little cute ningens.

All were in the range of 5 to 8 years old by their appearance, who immediately began to look at the man confusedly or even expectantly. Seemingly many of them wanted to be adopted and some even raised their hand, like they were longing to be held and cradled by their adopted caretakers/parents. It was gonna be a difficult decision.

"Well, they all seem very excited," the receptionist chuckled slightly at that.

It seemed to be almost an impossible task to choose even one of them. All of them looked super cute and were looking at him with a wide eyed expression at that, making his heart melt at the sight.

*Uh… What I got myself into…?*

A confused chuckle was made by him at that and he felt so unsure of what he should do, or whom he should choose. It was but a few moments later, when he noticed a little ningen who was just sitting there playing with a yarn ball, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. It for some reason peaked his interest and he went towards her.

She quickly looked up to him with a confused expression and her cat ears seemed to wiggle slightly.

"Nani?"

She squeaked a little inquisitively to him, as she stood up and looked at him fully, her tail moving thro and fro slowly at that.

"She speaks in her mother tongue," the receptionist said. "She isn't used to speaking in our tongue just yet."

"Oh...?"

"Yeah," the receptionist nodded and looked at the ningen and told her. "Kibo... Can you try to speak in his own language?"

The ningen in question, supposedly named Kibo nodded at that and looked at the man again, as the man spoke.

"So... How are you... Kibo, that's your name, right?"

She opened her mouth and spoke up with a broken yet all the same rather cute accent.

"Mhm… I'm- Kibo… Kibo feels… a little sad," she spoke, her tone sincere and pure. "Kibo's friend... taken to… to a new house."

It took him a moment to understand what she was saying and then nodded at that. "So, your friend was adopted and you're missing him?"

She nodded in response to that and smiled expectantly at him. "Are you… gonna take Kibo… new home too?"

The man seemed to think for a moment before he nodded and finally he had made a decision at whom he wanted to adopt.

"Yes, I'm taking you to your new home."

In response, the little ningen looked at the man happily and exclaimed.

"Yay! Kibo wa shiawase desu!"

"Huh?"

"She says she's happy," the receptionist told him. "So, I assume that you have made your decision?"

"Yes, I have," the man said, as ningen clinged to his leg, wagging her tail thro and fro, looking at him with her cute heterochromatic eyes open wide. The receptionist smiled at that.

"Very well," she said, "Let's get to paper work then."

She said, as the man, along with his newly adopted ningen, headed to a desk where he was handed a tablet with an agreement document already opened. The agreement was simple, that as a guardian to the little ningen, he had to keep her safe from every kind of harm. And acknowledgement that any kind of exploitation would lead to pretty serious consequences. Being the gentleman he was, the elderly man acknowledged his agreement and signed it, and compensated for adoption.

After that was done, the man said to the ningen happily.

"C'mon Kibo… It's time to take you to your new house."

"Hai!"

The ningen replied happily as she held his hand while they walked outside the Pet Shop. As she walked, she looked around in amazement and at times some confusion, which only seemed to emphasize the fact that she had rarely been outside that place. Even so, she looked happy, probably at the thought of making new friends and such.