“Miss Yura, wait a moment.”

After the class ended, someone grabbed Eunha as she was about to leave the training room. It was a middle-aged woman with short hair, one of the academy students taking the same class.

“Take this.”

She handed Eunha a paper bag.

Inside, layers of plastic containers filled with side dishes were neatly stacked. Through the translucent lids, appetizing side dishes like kimchi and pickled vegetables were tightly packed.

Since Eunha started living alone, she had been receiving side dishes like this every two or three days. However, Eunha couldn’t casually accept the paper bag extended to her.

“I received side dishes the last time, didn’t I?”

“Ah, we just sent the leftovers to our kids, so don’t feel burdened.”

Saying that, she forcefully placed it into Eunha’s hand.

“Oh, how was the dried anchovies I gave you last time? Our daughter complained it was too spicy because there were too many chili peppers.”

“No, it was delicious.”

“Ah, Yura is better than our daughter.”

She laughed while lightly patting Eunha’s back. Although it was an abrupt physical contact, it didn’t feel uncomfortable.

“……I’ll enjoy it.”

Eunha looked at her with a faint smile.

A hat pressed down and white sneakers.

Reflected in the elevator mirror, Eunha looked like an ordinary college student.

Someone said that humans are creatures of adaptation. At first, her appearance seemed very unfamiliar even to herself, but now it had become quite familiar.

It felt like she had been living this way for a very long time. Eunha stared at the paper bag in her hand. The elevator was filled with a delicious scent.

“This is the 17th floor.”

Exiting the elevator, Eunha stood in front of the entrance door. With a beep and the sound of the door lock, the door opened.

Seeing no pair of men’s shoes in the shoe rack, it seemed that Eunha’s ears were back in time for the appointment.

“I’m back.”

A tissue, lifting its head at the sound of Eunha’s voice nearby, hurriedly approached. Without taking off her shoes, Eunha sat down and crouched on the spot, gently stroking the tissue. Its tail swayed leisurely.

“Are you welcoming me?”

Eunha smiled lightly.

Even though the tissue didn’t initiate a ‘Welcome back?’ conversation, it was enough. The feeling of someone welcoming her home. Eunha had forgotten this warm and comfortable feeling for a very long time.

Matching gazes with the tissue and tilting her head slightly, Eunha faintly lifted the corners of her mouth. With a neatly folded eye shape, she softly spoke.

“With you around, it feels like my home is filled.”

At the moment Eunha’s hand, which had been gently stroking the tissue’s back, touched its buttocks.

“……!”

The swaying tail suddenly froze.

Lifting its hindquarters that were stuck to the floor, the tissue quickly moved away into the living room. Simultaneously, a message window appeared in Eunha’s view with a forceful momentum.
“Miss Yura, look at this audacious dog wandering in the darkness! He dares to refuse my sister’s touch as if it’s outrageous, grabbing his waist as if he can’t believe it.”

“Sister, we don’t need such a disobedient dog anymore. Let’s send him to the shelter right now.”

Eunha withdrew her hand, which was floating in the air after losing its target for a pat.

“Poor thing.”

She constantly stuck ‘Missing’ posters to find Tissue’s original owner, but there had been no contact yet. Jihwi is looking into a suitable shelter, so the days when Eunha can send Tissue away won’t be long.

At least while he’s here, she wanted to take care of him. They had become quite close, she thought.

“Tissue, let’s take a bath.”

“……!”

… Sometimes, he sends a wary look, but that’s all.

And that night.

“Tissue, come here.”

A carpet laid on the bedroom floor. Sitting on it, Eunha lightly poked the spot next to her. However, in the blue eyes of the one staring at Eunha, there was a faint suspicion.

Seeing that Tissue didn’t approach easily, Eunha seemed to have noticed the brush hidden behind her back.

“It’s okay. I’ll be gentle, so it won’t hurt at all.”

“……. ”

“Come on. Good boy?”

“……. ”

Only then did Tissue slowly approach Eunha. Although the look of suspicion hadn’t completely disappeared, he came quietly and lowered his tail in front of Eunha, looking very gentle.

At the moment of seeing him reject the bathwater, it wasn’t a job to forcefully wash him. So, it would be better to at least give him a brushing.

“Right.”

Eunha, who softly murmured, first gently stroked his head before starting to comb his fur with the brush.

The tail, shaking slowly in contrast to the indifferent face, was so cute that she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

While carefully brushing Tissue’s fur with the brush, Eunha slowly pursed her lips.

“I got praised at the academy for being good at brushing. They said I have talent for it.”

Was that really true? Eunha, not stopping the brushing, added quietly.

Of course, there was no response from Tissue. But Eunha, with her loosened lips, spoke again.

“I hope so.”