Rain had returned to the city—not dramatic, not angry, but gentle and consistent. A kind of rain that seemed less like a storm and more like a soft reminder to slow down. The streets shimmered under a muted gray sky, lights reflecting off wet pavement, car tires whispering as they passed through shallow puddles.
Jihoon walked beneath the hood of his jacket, his arms wrapped around a paper grocery bag. Inside were simple things—bananas, a loaf of milk bread, instant soup packs, and a small pouch of tuna treats for Hodu. The bag grew slightly heavier with each block, the bottom corners softening from the mist in the air, but he didn't rush. He liked walking in the rain.
There was something meditative about it. The world seemed quieter. More thoughtful. Fewer honking horns, fewer conversations. Just footsteps, rainfall, and the occasional chime from a shop door opening and closing.
He passed familiar shops—most of them with their shutters pulled halfway down. The florist at the corner was already packing up, her hands brushing petals off damp stems. A man walked by pushing a bike with one hand and holding an umbrella with the other.
As Jihoon reached the alley beside the florist's shop, a faint sound made him stop in his tracks.
A mewl.
Soft. High-pitched. Fragile.
He turned his head, unsure if he'd imagined it. Then it came again, just barely rising above the patter of the rain—coming from somewhere behind the recycling bins. His brows furrowed as he slowly stepped into the alley.
The smell here was stronger—wet cardboard, soil, a bit of rotting food from the uncovered compost bin. Water ran along the sides of the alley like small streams. Jihoon's sneakers splashed lightly as he stepped through.
Behind a stack of bins and under a damp cardboard flap, he found it.
A kitten.
So small it could have fit in both his hands, soaked from head to tail, with tufts of orange and white fur stuck together in clumps. Its body was curled tightly, paws tucked in, eyes wide and frightened. Its whiskers twitched as it stared up at him.
Jihoon crouched slowly, heart clenching at the sight.
"You poor thing," he murmured. "How long have you been out here?"
The kitten didn't move—just blinked, trembling.
Jihoon stayed still for a moment. Then he reached into his bag and took out the pouch of tuna treats. He opened it slowly, letting the scent drift, then carefully laid a few pieces on a dry patch of cardboard nearby.
He didn't speak. He didn't reach out. He just sat there, letting the kitten decide.
The rain continued to fall around them, soaking the alley in a quiet, endless rhythm. Jihoon could feel it soaking into his sleeves, but he didn't care. His eyes never left the tiny creature curled in the shadows.
Minutes passed.
Then, hesitantly, the kitten inched forward. Paw by paw. Its head lowered, nose twitching. When it finally reached the tuna, it began to eat—quick, cautious bites, like it didn't trust the food to stay.
Jihoon stayed perfectly still. Even breathing slower than usual.
"You've been out here alone, haven't you?" he said gently.
When the kitten finished, it looked at him again—less afraid this time.
Jihoon reached into his tote and pulled out a thick, soft cloth bag—the one he usually used for produce. He unfolded it and set it beside the kitten.
"I don't know if you'll let me… but I can't leave you here."
His voice barely carried over the rain.
He reached out slowly—fingertips first, then his palm, then his arms cradling under the kitten. The little body tensed but didn't resist. It was too tired. Too cold. Too small.
Jihoon wrapped it gently in the cloth, holding it close to his chest, shielding it from the rain with both arms.
The kitten didn't mewl. It just curled into the warmth like it was something it had been searching for.
Ding!
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 40,000 KRW
Jihoon stood, holding the small bundle carefully. He turned out of the alley and began walking home, the rain now feeling lighter—as if it had done its part and was ready to rest too.
By the time he reached his apartment, the sky was a shade darker, and the air had turned crisp. He stepped inside and gently toed off his shoes.
Hodu sat near the door like a small queen on watch duty. She blinked at him, then at the bundle in his arms.
Jihoon crouched down. "This one needs help," he said softly. "Just for a little while."
Hodu padded forward and sniffed. Her ears flicked. She gave a slow mrrow, then turned away with a dramatic flick of her tail—heading straight for her perch by the window. It wasn't approval, but it wasn't rejection either. Jihoon would take it.
He placed the kitten inside the soft storage box lined with an old towel, then filled a small dish with water and scattered the rest of the tuna beside it. The kitten stirred, lifting its head slightly. Then, as if reassured by the quiet, it slowly curled into a tighter ball, eyes beginning to close.
Jihoon watched in silence, the sight filling his chest with something he couldn't name.
His phone buzzed.
[Daily Kindness Reflection]
"Some souls don't ask to be saved. They just need someone willing to stop in the rain."
He placed his phone facedown and leaned against the wall, watching both cats—one sleeping, one pretending not to care—and let out a long breath.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.
One small act at a time.
End of Chapter 56
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