===== Chapter 25   [ Part 3 ] =====

7 : 34 P.M. 

The bright, glorious sun has definitely set at this moment of time; darkness shrouding the outside world with a few glimmers of stars and artificial lights helping you see through your path.

Of course, it was already night; but even so, you have no fear as you thoughtlessly venture through the small town you are currently residing.

In your entire lifetime, there has never been serious crimes committed in your vicinity. Apart from that, you were already accustomed going out late at night to buy some necessities and food; and so far nothing has happened to you.

Of course, you don't mean to imply that just because you haven't experienced any danger before, it will always stay like that for you in the future. You still have to be on guard with your surroundings, not simply waiting for anything to happen.

Your (E/C) eyes curiously survey around.

While you are walking in peace, you suddenly come across a cat. Sitting below the street light, he weakly meows to any passerby that may pass him. As if hoping for a kindhearted person to be included among them and hoping that they'll extend a hand.

You're the only one who took notice of him though. Your heart swelling in pity by the sight of his current pitiful condition.

He looks just so thin, dirty, and hungry.

"Meow," he calls out to you with its olive slit eyes.

You were hesitant to approach him, afraid that the white kitten would scamper away or scratch you in fear. So you made the decision to crouch and wait for the kitten to make the first move.

As if understanding your sentiment, it doesn't take too long for you to wait as the little kitten carefully walks its way to you instead.

Its enchanting olive eyes, glinting from the streetlight; he stares up at you for a long time before letting out a meow again.

You then carefully pull out your hand, wanting to pat his head, and he just blinks its eyes in return.

As soon as you place a hand on its head, you thought for a second that he will bite you, but surprisingly he doesn't do anything. The kitten instead purrs, even leaning closer to your touch as if wanting for more.

Your heart flutters as you cannot help but fawn over the little kitten's gentle nature. "Aren't you such a cutie?" you coe.

A smile stretches out of your face while you continuously and fondly stroke his white coat. It is certainly dirty, but that doesn't hinder you from touching as the white kitten is so cute to resist!

You spend a good amount of time with the kitten before you eventually recall your original purpose. Oh, right... my necessities, you sigh.

You reluctantly release your hold on the cat before standing up from your crouching position. A sad smile's plastered on your face.

"Meow," the kitten longingly calls out to you, placing his soft paws on your shoe while waiting for you once again to shower him your love.

Your heart almost melt at the cute sight, but you refuse to give in to your urges. "I'm sorry.. But I still have somewhere to go..."

You helplessly sigh when the white kitten just innocently looks at you.

"Don't worry. It won't take that long. I'll be back. Just stay here, okay," you softly assure under your breath while you mentally resolve to buy the kitten some food while you're at the convenience store.

Pulling your foot away from the kitten, you turn back and start to run towards the closest convenience store.

Once you are finally at the convenience store, you start buying all the things that you need to buy. And of course, you didn't forget to buy some cat food for the adorable kitten.

Currently, you're waiting for your turn to purchase your order. Your thoughts, straying away, as you thought of the kitten from the streets. It only takes a man, however, to snap you out of your thoughts as he rudely pushes you, forcing himself to cut through the line.

"Hey, you! Watch where you going!" you yell at him.

"Huh?? Is there.. a person?" the man murmurs, surprised by your loud voice.

The dark-tinted sun glasses conceal his eyes from your view. His coal black hair's long as it reaches to its shoulder. You blink your (E/C) eyes at the young man as his appearance seems somehow familiar, but you don't understand why would he be so familiar to you.

"You're cutting through the line," you inform him. Your tone is not as harsh as before once you perceive the cane in his hand.

"Oh, sorry.." the young man says before calmly walking away like that just didn't happen.

You observe him go to the back of the line. Despite his vision impaired, he has no troubles walking. His white cane is stretched out; but other than that, he seems normal.

It's not too long before it is finally your turn.

You give the cashier girl your money, and she soonafter neatly places all your orders in a brown paper bag. Quite hastily, you take the change and the receipt from her before pressing your paper bag close to your chest and scampering to the exit.

You spare no time as you immediately head back to where you last left the white kitten.

[ Timeskip ]

Finally arriving at the lamp post, you didn't immediately run to the kitten like you were obviously planning to. Because as you reached there, you find yourself instead getting genuinely shocked by a certain individual's presence.

Currently crouching, he strokes the kitty with a doting expression over his face. His emerald eyes seem to glow with delight. No matter how much or how loud you call his name; he ignores you as he showers all his attention toward the kitten.

Hesitantly, you dare to poke the chestnut- haired man in the back. "Chaos?" you question.

He suddenly pauses in his movements; and for a second your heart almost halts.

You were expecting him to scream in fear again as he tilts his head toward you, but instead, you were greeted with the brightest smile you encountered in your whole lifetime.

"(Y/N)!" he exclaims in delight, greeting you.

Your eyes blink at his sudden change of personality. It's the first time he looks happy upon seeing you. Usually he'll start cowering as he desperately tries to stay away from you.

"You're not scared?" you faintly question as you mentally prepare yourself to walk away as soon as he remembers that he's scared of girls.

"Should I?"

Chaos's brows furrow as he continues stroking the kitten who then keeps on purring from his gentle touch. Those emerald eyes are just staring right at you, pondering the reason why he must be scared of you.

You stay silent as you waited for him to process your words, but nothing seems to come up his mind. He just gives out an awkward smile.

"I don't get it, (Y/N)."

"I'm a girl," you stammer, preparing for the worst.

Chaos suddenly laughs, startling you. "A girl?" His face then darkens, but a strange expression suddenly vanishes just after a second of appearing.

"Oh, what's that?"

The man points at the paper bag you're holding, ignoring the words you just said. You were slightly confused by his action. You don't know if that's intentional, but you still resolve to entertain his question.

"Just some stuff..."

You take a seat on the ground as you begin to retrieve the catfood from the paper bag. "But I also brought some cat food for this kitty right here."

The chestnut haired man smiles as he takes the cat food from you, almost thanking you himself for your kind gestures towards the cat.

As he personally feeds the food himself to the kitten, your presence is once again forgotten. You curiously observe him as he gushes over the kitten's cuteness.

You ponder to yourself if it's the cat's doing on why he's behaving so strangely. Maybe it is. He isn't scared of you right now, and that must be a good thing, huh?

But as you observe his emerald-green eyes flickering so bright with love, you realize that this is the first time you see him filled with so much emotions.

You can't help but smile.

Well, I mean.... who can't resist cats. They're just so adorable.

You turn your attention to the kitten who is finally done eating his food. Pulling out a hand, you stroke his head then to his ears. The kitten is happy and satisfied, purring, as it soon rolls its soft body on the ground.

You softly giggle at the kitten's friendly nature.

The man who was once pressing the kitten's paws turns his eyes to you. He was slightly surprised to see you so close.

While he's scared of girls, the enjoyment of seeing a cat so near overcomes his fear. Looking at you right now, you don't seem scary as hell like before.

The smile on your face is so genuine, and your eyes just hold a sparkle of glee; it somehow makes him smile.

Not before long, you finally have to leave.

Reluctantly, you release your hold on white kitten as you stand from your crouching position with the brown paper bag ready in hand.

"You're leaving?" Chaos questions as he looks up at you; he is still stroking the tummy of the delighted cat.

"Yeah... Dad's waiting for me."

There is then silence hanging in the air as the guy returns his attention once again to the animal. You purse your lip as you wonder to yourself if you should go now or say a farewell.

"Are you going to adopt the cat?" you ask after a moment of thinking. The kitten is obviously in need of a home. As much as you would like to take care of it, owning a cat is a lot of responsibilities.

Chaos blink his eyes. Adopt a cat?

He suddenly carries the kitten and hugs it close to his chest before looking at you, giving you a closed-eye smile.

"Maybe."

His smile seems brighter than before, clearly pleased by the idea.

You are slightly startled as you silently wonder to yourself if the man hadn't thought of adopting cats. If he likes cats that much, then he should have already owned about hundreds already, right?

You chuckle at your joke.

"I see... then I'm glad that someone is going take care of the cat." You smile at him before waving your hand as a sign of farewell. "Goodbye."

Chaos friendly smiles back at you as he gently grabs the paw of the kitten, compelling it to wave back at you. A laugh leaves your lips at his childish antics. "Goodbye," he says in a lighthearted tone.

The time spent with him isn't awkward as you have expected to be. Thanks to the cat, the conversation between you is not tense.

Nodding back at him, you begin to walk away.

The chestnut haired man soon leaves; the white kitten in his arms as it sleeps. Entering the convenience store, the guy does not seem scared as before whenever he encounters women in his path.

"Murder!" he calls. A smile instantly forms on his face upon seeing the shoulder-length black haired man in his seat.

"You have a cat with you...?" the man curiously asks; his voice, soft and suspecting. Despite not being able to see, he can sense that something is different with the tone of his associate.

"(Y/N) recommended me to adopt it." Chaos grins as he feels so so happy.

The kitten slightly moves in his sleep, making him suddenly stiffen. He doesn't want to disturb its sleep. When he sees that the kitten is alright, he turns to Murder with that smile again.

The blind man does not reveal any emotion; he just sits in his place as he calmly rests his chin on the palm of his hand.

"(Y/N), huh... is she?" Murder asks; his question is left incomplete, but Chaos totally understands. He answers; his emerald eyes sparkling.

"Yes, it's her."