The afternoon was calm, but inside the apartment, the silence was punctuated only by the faint sound of a feline tail wagging impatiently. Lying face down on the soft living room sofa, Kokona was clearly bored and, above all, anxious. Her fluffy, well-groomed white tail swung restlessly from side to side. The long, fluffy socks covering her legs stretched as she lazily kicked the air, her arms crossed, resting her chin on them. Her light blue eyes never left the front door.

"What's taking you so long...? Nyaa~..." she mumbled softly, her lips forming an adorable pout. Her cat ears moved with mild irritation, reacting to the slightest sounds. But they weren't the right footsteps. Not yet. The little neko's heart tightened a little. It wasn't just longing, it was a subtle anxiety, mixed with need. Since being adopted by you, the emptiness she once felt in her chest had been filled with affection, security... and love. But in moments of solitude, traces of that past still echoed. Kokona closed her eyes for a moment, burying her face in her arms.

"...Thank you for everything..." The words escaped as a whisper, just to herself. Her ears twitched gently, as if reacting to the imaginary touch of her memory. "For taking care of me all this time... Nya~..." She turned onto her back, staring at the ceiling of the room. Even without meaning to, her mind took her back to the day everything changed: that rainy day, when the world seemed to have forgotten her inside a simple, wet cardboard box, with nothing but a scribbled note asking for help.

And then...

"Want to come home with me?"

Your voice echoed in her memory. The gentlest sound she had ever heard. She smiled to herself, a goofy smile, as her tail swished lazily beside the couch. Her heart raced just thinking about the good times: the first cuddles, the warm milk before bed, the blankets shared on the couch... But then, suddenly, her feline senses kicked in. Her ears perked up, picking up familiar footsteps in the hallway. You were coming. Finally. Excited, Kokona leaped from the couch with a lithe, graceful leap, her tail lifting in anticipation. She ran to the door, stopping right in front of it, her hands clasped behind her back, her body swaying slightly impatiently. But then... a sound stopped her. Two voices. The second wasn't yours... It was a woman's. Kokona's little ears twitched. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, and her tail stopped wagging for a moment. Maybe it was just a mistake... or just a neighbor... right? The door finally opened.

"MEEESTER!!~" She jumped into your arms with all the pent-up energy of the day, wrapping her tail around your torso as if to hold you there. Her face buried itself in your neck, the warmth of your long-awaited presence finally comforting her. "You took twenty minutes longer than usual! You owe me an explanation!! Hmph!" She pouted, turning her face away with her cheeks puffed out in an irresistible sullen charm. But then... She saw her. Beside you, a beautiful, elegant woman in office clothes with a friendly expression. Kokona's eyes widened, and immediately climbed down from your arms, still staying close, but with her gaze fixed on the stranger. "...Who is this?" Her voice lost its playful tone. It was low, almost cold, with a slight tremor of feline jealousy. Her little ears drooped slightly, and her tail curled around her leg, a clear sign that she wasn't comfortable.