Akira knew it was just after New Year's, and most kids around this ti would be carrying so New Year's money.
After the boy handed over the coin and turned to leave, Akira called out from behind him.
"Hey, hey, wait a sec."
The boy turned around with a puzzled expression. Akira smiled and spoke gently, "I want the other half. I want the other half." He raised the 500-yen coin up to eye level.
The kid looked at the 500-yen coin in Akira's hand, then at the 1,000-yen note in his own. "What's the difference?" he asked curiously.
"I just want the other half," Akira replied, without offering any explanation.
The boy shrugged, handed over the 1,000-yen bill, and took the 500-yen coin instead, muttering under his breath, "Idiot." After making sure there was no issue, he quickly ran off.
Shouko stared at her fingers, holding them up and counting silently, trying to calculate the difference between a 1,000-yen bill and a 500-yen coin. The more she counted, the more confused she beca.
Akira laughed softly and patted her head. "Okay, Shouko, let's go play. Shin-chan and the others should be there too."
She looked up at him with a silly expression and asked curiously, "Akira, why did you want that 1,000-yen note so badly?"
Akira didn't want to ruin the image Shouko had of him, so he took her hand and quickly changed the subject. "Because paper money doesn't fall out as easily. Let's go to the park!"
When the two of them arrived at the children's play area in Futaba Park, they saw Shin-chan and the others gathered around a wall, their heads lowered, clearly focused on sothing.
Shouko stepped forward curiously. "What are you all looking at?"
"It's Shouko and Akira! Co look at this!" Sakurada Nini pointed to what they were all gathered around.
In the middle of the group was a red, chubby Shiba Inu puppy, sitting obediently inside a cardboard box. On the front of the box was a handwritten note:
"Please adopt . I'm three months old. I've been deword and vaccinated three tis. I'm a boy."
The Shiba Inu wagged its tail energetically, eyes shining as it looked at everyone.
Shin-chan squatted in front of the box, reading the note out loud with a few stumbles. Then, with a disappointed look, he said, "Too bad it's a boy… I like girl dogs. Otherwise, I'd bring it ho to play with Shiro."
Akira stared at the puppy, then glanced around the area. Whoever had abandoned it here must've been gambling on fate—hoping it would et soone kind before a troublemaker ca along. A good-hearted kid might take it ho, but a mischievous one could easily ruin its chances of surviving even the day.
Toru Kazama stepped forward and gently lifted the puppy out by its front legs. It didn't resist or bark—just wagged its tail harder, looking up with innocent eyes.
"What a good boy," Toru said sympathetically. "He's so well-behaved… it's awful soone just left him here."
Without missing a beat, Shin-chan offered a solution: "Then you should raise him!"
Toru scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah… but my place is a luxury apartnt. Pets aren't allowed."
Shouko hadn't taken her eyes off the puppy since it was lifted out of the box. She moved forward to pet it, but Akira gently stopped her. He was still unsure if the dog would bite.
Shin-chan turned to Nini and asked, "How about your place, Nini?"
Nini rubbed her hands together and lowered her gaze. "We already have two cats at ho. Mom definitely won't let get a dog."
Shin-chan's face lit up. "Oh! I've got it!" he said confidently. "We'll sneak it into Masao's house without telling him!"
"Shin-chan! I'm right here!" Masao deadpanned, exasperated.
A-Dai chid in calmly, "Shin-chan already has Shiro. Nini's got cats. Toru can't keep it. My sister won't let either. Masao's out too. That leaves… Akira's family?"
Everyone turned to look at Akira.
He glanced at the puppy still wagging its tail in Kazama's arms. It had been quiet and obedient this whole ti. If there was nothing wrong with it, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to take it ho. His mom had been feeling a bit lonely lately too…
Akira released Shouko's hand and stepped forward. He took the puppy gently from Kazama's arms. The pup was warm and soft, its round belly rising and falling as it breathed. It didn't struggle—just wagged its tail harder.
Suddenly, Akira felt a sharp gaze. He turned to see Shouko glaring at him.
"I'll take it ho to ask my parents," Akira said to everyone, holding the puppy. "Let check with them first."
Shouko pouted, crossing her arms. "You didn't let hold it earlier, and now you're hugging it like it's yours."
Akira chuckled and said, "I was worried it might bite you. I only picked it up after I saw it was safe." He gently placed the puppy into her arms.
Kazama gave him a long, silent look.
Shouko's eyes lit up as she held the puppy close. Akira quickly added, "It's fine to hold it, but don't press your face into its fur. It might still be dirty."
Shouko nodded happily, and after saying their goodbyes, the two of them walked ho, the puppy nestled in Shouko's arms.
They walked slowly to the door of the Miyamura house. Akira knocked. After a mont, his mother, Miyamura Shizuka, opened the door.
"Didn't you just go out?" she asked. "Why are you back so soon?" Then her eyes fell on the puppy in Shouko's arms.
"What's with the puppy? Where did you find him?" she asked, walking over to take it from Shouko's arms and giving it a once-over.
Akira explained, "Soone abandoned it in the park. It's a three-month-old male."
Shizuka played with the puppy a little, watching its calm and gentle deanor. Clearly, she was already growing fond of it.
Then she looked at Akira seriously. "Do you want to keep it? Your father and I will support you if that's what you want. But if we adopt him, you must promise—you can't ever abandon him."
Akira glanced at Shouko, then looked his mother in the eyes and nodded firmly.
Shizuka smiled, scratching the puppy's head. "You little rascal… trying to win over Shouko like this. But she clearly likes you, so fine. I'll agree."
She handed the puppy back to Shouko and wiped her hands. "Wait here. I'll grab my wallet and the car keys. We'll take him to the vet for a check-up."
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Hey guys I'm back, though not yet. Still saving a money to buy a phone.
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