The paw prints on her heart

As I began accompanying Yuki home, we said our goodbyes to Rika and Hikaru. I was more nervous than I thought I would be. It's not a big deal after all; we're just walking together, right? Nothing has to happen. Right? Right? I looked up for a moment to calm my anxiety and took in the stunning sunset! The sky reminded me of one of my mother's abstract paintings; I can't remember the exact name, but it had similar tones of purple, blue, and red.

Right then, I felt as if the whole world had been shifted into the most beautiful fairy tale imaginable. Was it the surreal sky in front of us? Or was it simply the result of Yuki's presence? I was not sure. As we continued to walk together, I noticed our footsteps were slowly getting synchronized. And I liked that a lot.

"Wow! The sky looks so beautiful!" Yuki stated as she took her phone from her purse and positioned it to capture the perfect shot. I turned to her and started smiling, as I could see the joy on Yuki's face. She looked so proud of herself as she turned around to show me the photo.

"What do you think, Akio? I believe it turned out great!” she exclaimed. I got closer and leaned over to look at the screen. It was indeed a good photo. I quickly nodded and smiled.

"Yeah, I like it! You have a good eye for photography, Yuki" I said. Her beautiful brown eyes were sparkling as her short, fluffy hair was being tousled by the breeze. I wish I could take a picture right now. She looked stunning!

If only I had enough courage to tell her how I really felt! But instead, I decided to continue walking. We chatted for a while, talking about our favorite music and the latest movies we wanted to watch. I listened to her attentively, smiling and nodding at her every word. I didn’t know what to say or do. Not only that, but I also wanted to impress Yuki, make her like me, and somehow make this walk memorable. I loved hearing her voice, seeing her expressions, and feeling her presence.

And, of course, knowing her, we just had to talk about cats too! I told her I was fascinated by their eyes and how they seemed to just glow in the dark! She laughed at my remark. Personally, I believe cats are secretly cyborgs, but I didn't have the courage to tell Yuki that.

"Well… I've always loved cats. They have adorable faces, soft fur, and cute paws! Cats are very loyal; they bond with their owners, and they often comfort them." Yuki responded with a gloomy tone in her voice.

"Also, cats are quite independent, too! I love how they have their own unique personalities. I admire how they are not afraid to be themselves or to stand up for what they want." Yuki continued with an even sadder tone in her voice.

"They can be quite mysterious too! Not to mention very unpredictable. Cats love to explore new places and try new things. It must be fun being a cat!" Yuki stopped walking and looked at the sky for a moment.

“They are amazing creatures, don’t you think?” Yuki then looked at me with sadness in her eyes. I stared at her for a few seconds, then gave her a bittersweet smile and said:

"Yes… I do!" At that moment, I realized that what she said about cats also applied to her. I think I'm starting to understand Yuki more now.

And I wonder just how many cats she has at home. She must have at least two or three. Or maybe more! Hmm, it's hard to tell. Should I ask her? I need to ask her!

"How many cats do you have at home, Yuki?" I asked excitedly. At that moment, she stopped walking and faced me. In the corner of her beautiful brown eyes, tears were starting to form. Oh, no! Did I say something wrong?

"Yuki... I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you cry. I…"

"It's not your fault. Not many people know about this story anyway. Up until a few months ago, I had a cat named Michi, and he was like my best friend. One day, he just disappeared. " She quickly wiped away her tears, trying to compose herself.

"I left Michi in the backyard, like I always did, but when I returned from school, he was simply gone. There was no sign of him anywhere. We searched the neighborhood for weeks, put up flyers, and checked the shelter, the vet, and pet stores. We checked everywhere. No one had seen Michi ever since." Yuki wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to hide her tears.

"I'm sorry for being so weak and crying over something silly like this!" Yuki said, avoiding my gaze.

"No. Don't be sorry. I believe it's better to share your worries than keep them to yourself. And you're not weak! Don't ever say that! For months, you've been hiding all of your troubles and dealing with them on your own! That takes strength! We're friends, aren't we? This is what friends do. They listen to each other's problems and help solve them together. Please talk with me more; I am here for you!"

I felt really sad. Up until now, I never realized she was hurting or how much she needed someone to listen to her. She slowly nodded and began telling me how Kuuki's story gave her hope for a miracle. I encouraged her not to give up on finding Michi. Yuki said she was sure that Michi was still out there somewhere, waiting for her to find him. And I suggested we go out and look for him together when we're free.

"Thank you for listening, Akio! It means a lot to me!" She smiled again, more brightly this time. And I felt my heart skip a beat. At that moment, I felt a deeper connection forming between us.

"Do you want to hear a cat joke?" I asked Yuki, trying to cheer her up as we continued walking together.

"Sure!" she smilled

"What happens when two kittens go on a date?" I asked.

"Hmm... I don't know." Yuki answered.

"They hiss." I proudly delivered the punchline.

We both laughed as we continued walking. I wanted to "hiss" too, but with a "k" instead of "h". I wondered what she would do if I kissed her right now. No! That's wrong! I must confess first, then kiss! You're getting ahead of yourself, Akio! Think with your brain! This is not the right time for kisses!

The city's lights started to twinkle one by one, illuminating the evening sky. The chirps of crickets filled the air. As we approached Yuki's house, we started to slow down our pace.

"Well, this is my stop. Thank you for walking me home, Akio! And thank you for everything! See you tomorrow!" We exchanged a friendly wave and a "good night" before Yuki went inside.

And now the day was over, leaving behind memories of the magnificent beauty of a sunset shared with the girl I cherish.