Chapter 1: When We meet
The forest was alive with the soft colors of afternoon. Sunlight slipped through the tall green trees, painting the ground with golden patches. Birds sang in the distance, and a cool breeze carried the smell of wildflowers.
Aoi walked slowly, a little ahead of her parents who were busy setting up food for the picnic. She wore a light white dress, and her sandals brushed against the soft grass. Her curious eyes followed every butterfly, every falling leaf. She loved exploring, even if it meant stepping a little deeper into the quiet forest.
But then… she stopped.
Her breath caught in her chest.
By the trees, half hidden in shadow, stood someone. A boy.
No—he was not normal.
His head was that of a wolf: tall pointed ears, a long snout, and golden eyes that glowed faintly in the light. His fur was rough and dirty, as if he had not rested in many days.
His body looked human in shape—broad shoulders, long arms, strong legs—but it was not bare skin. Patches of gray fur covered his arms and chest. His hands looked almost human, but his fingers ended in sharp claws. His chest rose and fell heavily, as though he was both hungry and tired.
For a moment, Aoi’s heart raced with fear.
(“Is he dangerous? Will he hurt me?”)
But when she looked closer, she saw something different. His golden eyes were not filled with anger. They were full of fear… and loneliness.
The boy—no, the wolf-boy—stood frozen. His claws curled in the dirt, but his body shook slightly, as if he expected her to scream or run away.
Aoi’s small hands trembled, yet she felt something deep inside her heart. She could sense it—he was not a monster. He was suffering.
She took a small, careful step forward.
Her voice was soft, almost like the wind:
“Don’t be afraid… I won’t hurt you.”
The wolf-boy’s golden eyes widened. He blinked, stunned, as if no one had ever spoken to him like that before.
The forest was silent now. Even the birds had stopped singing, as if the trees themselves were watching.
Aoi glanced back at her parents far away at the picnic blanket. They were laughing together, not noticing her. Then she looked again at the strange boy with the wolf head.
The golden light of evening was fading when Aoi finally walked back to the picnic spot. But this time, she wasn’t alone.
Behind her, the strange wolf-boy followed slowly, his steps heavy and unsure. His claws dug lightly into the ground, and his ears twitched nervously at every sound. He kept his head lowered, like a guilty child who expected to be punished.
Aoi’s parents looked up in surprise.
Her mother’s eyes widened.
“Aoi… what is that?” she whispered, quickly moving to stand in front of her daughter.
Her father grabbed a wooden stick from the firewood pile, his voice sharp.
“Stay back!”
The boy froze, his golden eyes wide. His claws trembled at his sides, and he lowered his ears, a clear sign of fear.
But Aoi quickly ran in front of him, spreading her small arms like a shield.
“No, Papa! He’s not bad! Please—don’t hurt him!”
Her parents stared at her in shock.
Her mother frowned. “Aoi… he looks dangerous.”
But Aoi shook her head, tears forming in her eyes.
“No! He’s just… hungry and tired. Look at him—he’s not trying to fight us. He’s scared.”
The wolf-boy lowered his head even more. His stomach growled softly, the sound breaking the silence. His fur was dirty, his body thin from hunger.
Her father hesitated. He could see what Aoi meant—the boy wasn’t attacking. His hands were empty, his claws still.
Aoi’s voice softened, pleading.
“Please, let him stay with us. Just for tonight. I know… I just know he won’t hurt anyone.”
Her parents looked at each other. They trusted their daughter, but fear was still in their eyes. Finally, her mother sighed.
“Alright. But only because you believe in him, Aoi.”
The wolf-boy blinked, shocked. He had expected anger, rejection, maybe even death—but instead… kindness.
That night, they gave him food—simple rice and vegetables. He ate slowly at first, as if afraid it was a trick, but then his hunger won. Tears glistened in his golden eyes as he whispered in a voice rough and broken:
“…Thank you.”
Aoi smiled brightly at him, her heart warm. She knew it now. She was right. He wasn’t a monster.
He was just a boy who needed someone to believe in him.
