The first thing Jihoon registered when he woke up was a small weight on his chest.
Blinking away the sleep, he glanced down and found Hodu curled up on top of him, paws tucked neatly under its tiny body.
Jihoon sighed.
"Guess we're skipping personal space now, huh?"
The kitten merely flicked an ear in response, its breathing slow and steady.
Jihoon yawned, stretching his arms before carefully lifting Hodu off his chest and placing the kitten on the pillow beside him.
The moment he got out of bed, however—
Meow.
Jihoon turned.
Hodu was sitting upright, blinking at him expectantly.
Jihoon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "What? You want breakfast?"
Meow.
"That was a dumb question, huh?"
He chuckled, grabbing the small pack of kitten food the vet had given him.
Pouring it into a shallow dish, he set it down, watching as Hodu immediately trotted over and started eating.
Jihoon smirked. "At least you're not picky."
Just as he was about to grab his own breakfast—
Ding!
A familiar notification flashed before his eyes.
[New Kindness Challenge]
Caring for something is also an act of kindness. Make sure Hodu is comfortable in his new home.
Reward: 20,000 KRW
Jihoon exhaled, smirking to himself.
"Now you're giving me rewards for being a decent pet owner?"
Still, he figured it wouldn't hurt to make Hodu's new home more comfortable.
After breakfast, Jihoon grabbed his phone and did a quick online search on how to take care of a kitten.
"Let's see… litter box, scratching post, proper bed…"
Glancing at his makeshift shoebox bed, Jihoon sighed.
"Yeah, I should probably upgrade that."
It wasn't long before Jihoon found himself at a pet store, scanning the aisles filled with everything from tiny cat toys to elaborate climbing trees.
He picked out:
✔ A cozy round bed with soft lining.
✔ A proper litter box to avoid future messes.
✔ A small scratching post so his furniture wouldn't suffer.
✔ A few simple cat toys, including a tiny stuffed fish.
As he placed everything on the counter, the cashier—a woman in her 40s with a kind smile—chuckled.
"New cat?" she asked, scanning the items.
Jihoon nodded. "Yeah. Found him in the rain yesterday."
Her smile widened. "Ah, a rescue. That's wonderful. Cats bring a lot of warmth into a home."
Jihoon smirked. "We'll see if I survive the adjustment period."
The woman laughed, handing him his bags. "Just be patient. He'll show his appreciation in his own way."
Jihoon glanced down at the small stuffed fish toy in the bag.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "I hope so."
Ding!
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 20,000 KRW
Back at home, Jihoon set up the litter box in the bathroom, placed the new bed in a warm corner near the window, and arranged the scratching post near the couch.
As he unwrapped the small stuffed fish toy, Hodu curiously padded over, sniffing the new surroundings.
Jihoon waved the toy slightly. "What do you think?"
The kitten tilted its head.
Then, with sudden enthusiasm, Hodu pounced on the toy, batting it across the floor.
Jihoon blinked.
"…Well, that was fast."
Hodu continued playing, its small paws swiping at the toy, occasionally rolling onto its back in excitement.
Jihoon chuckled, watching from the couch.
For something so tiny, Hodu sure had energy.
He took a sip of coffee, feeling a strange sense of contentment.
A few weeks ago, he never would have imagined having a pet.
And yet—here he was.
His apartment, once quiet and uneventful, now had the soft sounds of paws tapping against the floor, tiny meows filling the space.
It wasn't bad.
Not bad at all.
A few hours later, Jihoon was sitting on his couch, scrolling through his phone, when he felt something soft curl up beside him.
Glancing down, he saw Hodu nestled against his side, its tiny body relaxed, its breathing slow.
Jihoon smirked.
"You sure got comfortable fast."
Hodu let out a tiny sigh, completely at peace.
Jihoon set his phone down, leaning back against the cushions.
Maybe this whole pet ownership thing wasn't so bad.
It wasn't just about feeding or cleaning up.
It was about companionship.
About having someone there, even in the quiet moments.
As he sat there, watching the soft rise and fall of Hodu's tiny body, his phone buzzed once again.
Ding!
[Daily Kindness Reflection]
"Sometimes, the best kind of warmth isn't something we give—it's something we receive in return."
Jihoon exhaled, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.
One small act at a time.
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