Why does everything have to be the same!? We can have something different."

Did those days really blurred until they became the same for her? Did they became boring for her? Did Meiko became bored of them?

Len had to admit that their new lives are a little... boring compared to their old lives, but he never realized that it was a bigger impact on Meiko than he thought. Did Meiko cared about the fame only? Did she no longer cared about their friendship? Did they became boring to her?

Len guessed that maybe they were paying too much attention to their new careers for quite a while, but... he never realized that he neglected his friend's feelings.

Maybe they weren't hanging out enough. Would Meiko never have left if they watched more movies, played more video games? Would she had never left if Len had been more friendly? More forgiving? Were they not enough for her? Was Len not enough for her?

They've been friends for years, and Miku no longer wants Meiko around. Meiko accepted it. She didn't really fight back for a place here since then. She just left, screaming.

Len doesn't know what to do. All he can do is pretend like everything is okay, that Meiko haven't left. That's what Rin have been doing lately.

Don't forget about the special pudding chocolate bar! Len read the text message from his sister once again as he came out of the convenience store with a large plastic bag bursting with plenty of snacks just for movie night in one hand and an umbrella in the other.

With the yellow umbrella above his head, Len planned to just walk back home but there was a little meow from an alleyway. He told himself that he should ignore it and just walk back home, but the soft mews was beckoning him.

"Help me... Help me..." That's what those meows kept telling him, so Len broke down.

It'll be a couple of minutes. Len told himself.

Though the dim lights, Len could spot the kitten's bright blue eyes from the cardboard box. Trying to balance the open umbrella under his arm, Len took out a fish sausage from the bag. It was suppose to be one of Luka's snacks, but he's certain that she wouldn't mind a little donation for the defenseless.

Unwrapping the little package, he could see the little kitten perk up and slowly approach him, nibbling on the snack. Len can't help but to smile, and yet he need to remind himself at the reality of the situation.

He can't take care of the kitten, even if he wants to. Even if the 'manor' allowed pets, Len doesn't have enough time to take care and spend time with the kitten without getting help from his friends.

Maybe there's some kind of animal shelter around here. Len tried to rest the umbrella against his back, hoping it's protecting the both of them.

He reached for his back pocket for his phone, but he froze at the wet footsteps behind him. Fear prickled within him, hearing them get closer and closer to him.

Len wants to believe the person wanted something else, but he remembers that the only thing in this alleyway was some trash cans, the kitten, and him.

Maybe he wants the kitten. Len tried to hope for himself, but at the same time, he could only think of the worst.

He needs to get out of here. Quick.

Scooping up the kitten into his arms, Len attempted to leave the alleyway, even with the scary man there.

The only contact Len made with him was a slight brush against his shoulder. Absolutely no eye contact. All Len could had noticed was the purple hoodie on him.

Len could finally breathe as he was illuminated by the convenience store's lighting, feeling the rain hit his head.

He lost his umbrella back there, but that's the last thing he cares about right now.

He has the kitten and a plastic bag full of snacks, and he doesn't know what to do about him.

Ichimatsu picked up the yellow umbrella, looking back at the alleyway's entrance where that blond kid was.

Not surprising... I scared him off. Ichimatsu let out a sigh. I should expected that at this point.

He stared at the umbrella for a moment, reconsidering his choices: Keep the umbrella, just put it in the convenience store's umbrella stand, or bring it back to that kid?

The second choice seems to be the best if he doesn't want to be arrested or interact with the kid, but... Ichimatsu really wants to see that kitten, even for a few seconds. He could take the risk.

Surprisingly enough, it wasn't too hard to find the kid. Even though the crowd, Ichimatsu was able to spot him with how much yellow he wears. He didn't even know it was possible for someone, besides Jyushimatsu, to wear so much yellow.

For a split second, his eyes were met with a pair of blue ones, only for the blond to turn around and run off, bumping into the crowd.

Ichimatsu let out a sigh, feeling like he should had also expected this. No one would ever want to approach trash like him.

He should just gone with that second option. In fact, he could just do that right now and pretend none of this happened. It should save him some embarrassment and energy, but... he didn't do that.

Maybe he felt like he should get some kind of punishment today because he kept walking forward, weaving through the crowd. His eyes were still on the frighten blond, though he noticed the traffic lights.

For a moment, as the kid neared the crosswalk, Ichimatsu believed that he should have given up already-

"Ah!" That ball of yellow slipped on a particular slippery puddle of water, and would had cracked his head open on the pavement if Ichimatsu haven't took a step forward, letting him fall against his chest.

Ichimatsu grasped his shoulder, keeping him steady. Under his touch, he could feel the kid stiffen up, obviously afraid of him.

Just get it over with already.

"Hey, let's trade."

"Huh?" He didn't need to see his face to see he was confuse.

"Kid, give me the cat and I'll give you the umbrella back."

It was simple, or at least, it should be simple, but somehow, Ichimatsu messed it up.

"I'm not a kid!" The blond sharply turned around, finally face to face with him.

Even face to face, Ichimatsu still can't tell if the blond is actually an adult or some teenager who's trying to act tough. There was a small part of him that felt a bit guilty. Only a small part though.

He stared at him, and for a moment, the blond tried to stared right back, though the shivering didn't made him look any better if intimidation was his goal.

"Look, I just want the cat. I promise to give you back the umbrella." Ichimatsu just want this to be over with, and for a moment, the blond wants to fight back...

Then the kitten sneezed.

His blue eyes widen, as if he realized something. Looking ever so melancholic, he held the kitten up to him. "Fine... You can take care of him, right?"

"Yeah." Ichimatsu simply said, trading between them.

As Ichimatsu slipped the kitten into his hoodie's pocket, he could see the blond was still looking at him with an unreadable expression. A little frown decorated his lips as his big, blue eyes tried to blink away his tears. A small part of him wants to know what's bothering him.

Still, even with that in mind, he turned and left, leaving him alone. Hopefully, Ichimatsu never has to see him again, for his sake.