"Hello?"
Asuka quickly approached the telephone pole and looked down at the white puppy in the abandoned box.
"Woo~"
When the white puppy saw a human approaching, it assumed the girl in front of it was interested and tried its best to show its cute side.
"Woof!"
It busily pawed at the cardboard box with its front feet, its little tail wagging wildly, almost like it was trying to bloom.
Unfortunately, Asuka didn't understand what the little white dog meant. She stared at it with a serious expression, clutching her stomach, and said plaintively:
"Hello, do you have any food? I'm so hungry."
Little White Dog: ?
You, a human, are asking a stray dog for food?
It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on the puppy's head. Its once-cheerful tail drooped between its legs. It cast a disgusted glance at Asuka, turned its back on her, and lay down in the box with an expression of utter disdain.
"Hello? Do you have anything to eat?" Asuka, unaware of the dog's thoughts, gently poked the little white dog's hindquarters with her finger.
"Ugh!"
The little white dog ignored her, turned its head to bare its teeth briefly, and then lay back down.
Seeing this, Asuka seemed to understand. She crouched down beside the little white dog in despair, then glanced at it again. Observing its resolute indifference, a realization seemed to dawn on her.
"So, you have nowhere to go... and neither do I."
"Ugh?" The little white dog trembled at her words, feeling oddly teased. It cautiously raised its head to sneak a glance at her.
Asuka looked genuinely downcast. Her big, beautiful eyes were slightly closed, giving her a pitiful appearance.
"Woah..."
The little white dog sighed, almost as if it were human.
It jumped out of the box, rubbed its front paws on the cardboard, and licked them clean. Then, it rested its head on Asuka's lap, stretching out its tongue to lick her hand gently, as if to console her.
"Um?"
Asuka tilted her head slightly, feeling something, and her gaze met the little white dog wagging its tail.
"What are you doing?"
Little White Dog: ?
"Moving around like this... don't you feel hungry?"
The little white dog: ...
The puppy swore to never again try to comfort this peculiar girl. Its Chihuahua instincts kicked in as it turned, whimpered, and leapt back into its box, clearly expressing its dissatisfaction.
But Asuka didn't understand. She picked up the little white dog, sniffed it, and muttered:
"You smell strange... can you be eaten?"
Little White Dog: !!!
"Woah!"
The terrified puppy wriggled free of her grasp, grabbed its cardboard box, and ran for its life without looking back.
"Eh? Why are you leaving?" Asuka tilted her head, puzzled by its sudden departure.
She stood and followed it, uncertain why, but feeling that the puppy might serve as emergency food in the future.
The little white dog finally stopped in front of another telephone pole after a good run. Feeling safe now that Asuka wasn't chasing, it set down its box.
"Woof..." It returned to the box, assuming its position and wagging its tail expectantly at approaching footsteps.
Then...
"Woof~!"
Why is it this woman again?! The puppy's instincts screamed danger, and it tried to flee again with its box, but a shadow loomed faster. Asuka was already standing before it.
She crouched down, her presence overshadowing the trembling little dog. The puppy froze, almost forgetting to breathe.
What does she want now? She's not going to eat me, is she?! I'm not even a year old!
"Hey, big sister, you can't bully the puppy!" a young, clear voice suddenly rang out.
Asuka turned to see who spoke. A handsome boy in a blue shirt was staring at her with a stern expression, his gaze fixed on the puppy in her hands.
The boy in blue was Toru Kazama.
"Oh." Asuka, unfamiliar with him, obediently put the little white dog down.
The puppy seized its chance, glanced gratefully at Kazama, grabbed its box, and bolted.
Stay away from this crazy woman!
Asuka turned her attention to the boy and approached him.
Kazama's pulse quickened as she drew near, his nerves stretched taut.
Asuka squatted down to his level. Her big eyes closed slightly, and she spoke with a hint of grievance in her voice:
"Kid, do you have any food? I'm so hungry..."
"Ah? Food?" Kazama hesitated.
"Sister, why are you asking me for food? Don't you have any money?"
Asuka shook her head. Her stomach growled audibly, and she looked ready to eat anything in sight.
Kazama appeared troubled. "Well... big sister, don't you have any family?"
"Family?" Asuka tilted her head. "What is family?"
Kazama froze. Being praised as a genius child by his friends and family, he instantly guessed that Asuka was likely an orphan.
Setting aside his earlier concerns about her treatment of the puppy, he tugged at his hair, trying to think of a solution.
Finally, his expression turned resolute.
Kazama looked her in the eye and spoke firmly:
"Sister." He offered her the basket of groceries he carried.
"Can you wait here? I need to deliver these vegetables to my mom first."
Asuka, confused but idle, nodded in agreement.
Kazama beamed and ran off. "Sister, wait for me here!"
"Mom, I'm back!" Kazama rushed into their upscale apartment, handing over the groceries to his mother, a poised and gentle woman.
"Wow, Toru, you bought everything! You're such a great helper!" she praised, smiling warmly.
Scratching the back of his head shyly, Kazama hesitated before blurting out:
"Mom, can I ask you for a favor?"
"Hmm? What is it, Toru?" She began cleaning the vegetables in the kitchen.
"Well... I saw a really pretty big sister while I was shopping. She said she didn't have a family and was really hungry... Can we..."
"Do you want to invite her over for a meal?" his mother guessed, smiling.
"Ah! Can I, Mom?" Kazama's face lit up.
"Of course! I'm so proud of my thoughtful, caring little boy!"
"Thank you, Mom!" Kazama exclaimed, running out the door. "I'll bring her over now!"