CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO;
morning jitters

"I can't believe you, dad." you cry out as you hurriedly run towards the front door, slipping into the first pair of slippers you felt beneath your feet.

Your dad had accidentally left the door open when he came back inside to fetch something he forgot, and your cat, Ai, got out.

He was very apologetic, and even though he'd help you look for her without you asking, he had to go to work.

It was 6AM on a Saturday, the sun was barely peeking over the horizon. Contrary to the peace the morning brought, you were in a state of panic.

"Ai!" you call out, not caring whether or not your neighbors were still sleeping.

Despite the cold air and occasional breeze biting at your skin, you were sweating a lot due to the stress— Ai couldn't have gotten far, but there were no signs of her.

You bent forward, your hands gripping your thighs as you tried to catch your breath. Suddenly, a blurred motion catches your peripheral vision, thinking it was Ai, you turn quickly.

"Rin?" you call out instinctively, your brain hasn't even processed his face.

He stops and plucks his airpods out, now looking at you, "Y/n." his brows clash.

He usually took this route in his morning jogs, and he has never bumped into you before. You usually leave your house at 7AM during school days, however on weekends you tend to sleep in, hence why you've never run into him.

You scan his attire, he sported a black thermal shirt under a navy blue jacket, paired with dark joggers and running tights. "Morning jog?"

"Obviously," he exhales sharply, "What about you? Waking up early to start life anew?" he sarcastically throws a question.

"No, I'm looking for my cat." you nervously say, raking your fingers through your hair while closing your eyes to take a deep breath.

Rin noticed your troubled expression, "What does she look like?"

"She has cream-colored fur, but a slightly darker shade of beige on her face. She also wears a (fav color) collar, it has her name on it, which is Ai." you answer him.

The both of you agreed to search in opposite directions, you were too worked up to even feel surprised that Rin was helping you.

itoshi rin

6:34 AM

hey

6:41 AM

hello yes

why?

have you found her
yet?

i'm not sure if this
is her

[picture of ai sitting on
top of a swing.jpg]

THANK GOODNESS

YESM

THSATSHER

IS THAYZ THE NEIGHBORHSOOD
PLAYGROUDN

??

can you type properly?

and yes, it is the neighborhood
playground

i'll keep an eye on her

THANSKUSOKCU😭😭😭😭

IMRUNNING😭😭.pls

Ai was now sitting comfortably in Rin's arms, unaware of the stress she's put her owner through at daybreak.

Rin looked down at the cat, lips slightly pouting to the side. "You're cheeky," he grumbles. The cat tilts her head and brings up a paw to Rin, to which he responds by leaning forward.

"AI!" you yell from afar, and your cat quickly turns to look at you. She immediately leaves Rin's arms and sprints toward your direction.

Rin snorts to himself, noticing your oversized Winnie the Pooh shirt paired with Doraemon pajama-shorts, "Whose slippers are those?"

An embarrassed flush makes its way to your face, now realizing how ridiculous you might've looked to him. "The other one is my dad's...and the other my mom's." you sigh.

A long silence stretched between the two of you, he was sitting on the swing while his hands were buried into the pockets of his jacket.

"Is your favorite color (fav color) or something?" he suddenly inquires.

"Yes, why?"

"Nothing," he shrugged, "I just noticed a few of your things, now the cat's collar."

You pursed your lips in, he noticed?

He stands up and approaches you, rubbing Ai's head with the back of his finger. "I'll get going. Don't be an irresponsible owner next time." he raises a brow at you.

"Hey! It wasn't my fault!" you frown.

Rin just stares at you for a quick second before retrieving his hand, "Bye." he turns around and walks away.

You tried your hardest to push down the ticklish feeling climbing up from your stomach towards your heart.

itoshi rin

6:58 AM

thanks for helping

👍

bruh..

what

is it hard for you to
spell out "you're welcome"

ur wlcm

LMFAOOOOO

GET OUT!!

i'm already outside

omg r u a boomer or smt

no i just didn't want
to humor you

😐😐😐

i'm the funniest friend
you have aren't i

i don't remember you
being my friend

.

WHAT THE HELL💔

we've hung out so
many times💔

like i had a choice

YOU ARE literally 6ft
and a muscle man

just push me away or
something

oh trust me i would
if i could

WHAT.

kidding

FINE WE'RE NOT FRIENDS

didn't you used to like me
Seen, 7:05 AM

7:11 AM

thank God i don't
anymore 🤢🤢🤢

lol

I VERY VERY MUCH
DISLIKE YOU NOW

mutual

it was just me being
silly :]]

ok

weirded me out

STOP

CANNWE NOT TALK
ABOUT IT ITS SO
EMBARRASSING

i am a changed person

really

YES REALLY ASHSKDD
AJKZHAKZIXNZS

ok whatever

7:16 AM

did you want anything
from mr. nakamura's
store

why?

just wanted to know

yeah

some new survival
game

what's it about?

i just said it's a survival
game

I MEANT THE SPECIFICS

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

oh

the usual, zombies and
shit

but it's kind of different
i guess

how

you can turn the zombies
back into humans i heard

WHAAATTTT

LOL what's the game
called

last breath