The afternoon sun felt soft against the skin. The suffocating heat of the market seemed like a distant lie.

Leaf shadows swayed on white plaster walls.

Every time the wind slipped through, a glass chime under someone’s eaves sang out.

Clink. A cool, clear sound.

Pain stood on the roof.

Heat seeped through his shoe soles from the tiles.

He looked down at the narrow alley. Peaceful. Peaceful enough to force a yawn.

"Not here, huh."

Pain wiped sweat from his forehead and shook his head.

The job: Find a missing white kitten.

He had climbed up here for a vantage point, but the target was nowhere to be seen.

"—Salt. How about down there?"

Pain raised his voice, then hopped lightly to the neighboring roof.

Down in the alley. Salt knelt on the ground, peering under a sake barrel.

She didn't care about the dirt on her skirt.

Her face was low, almost touching the earth.

After a moment, she looked up and gave a small head shake.

"Gone."

Short. Efficient. Pain raised a hand.

"Copy that."

He slid down to the ground without a sound.

"This is a problem. Usually, I'm on good terms with the local cats."

Pain grumbled.

Salt stared at his face in silence. Slowly, she lifted a finger and pointed.

"Smell... of cat."

"Eh? Me?"

Pain sniffed his own shirt.

"You don't mean 'smell of fish'?"

Salt didn't deny it. She just blinked once and tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.

The movement was so much like a small animal that Pain’s mouth loosened into a smile.

"Well, I'll trust a cat's nose. Lead the way."

They moved behind the fish market, into an area where wooden crates were stacked like a maze.

The air smelled of damp wood and tide.

Towers of empty crates blocked the afternoon light, casting dim, cool shadows.

"There."

Salt stopped. Her finger pointed quietly.

At the tip of her direction, on the summit of a crumbling stack of boxes, sat a small white lump.

The kitten.

It licked a front paw, washing its face with meticulous care.

It didn't run. It sat with the dignity of a king surveying his alley.

Pain held his breath and signaled Salt with his eyes.

"I'll circle from above. You cover the bottom."

Salt nodded once.

Her grey-blue eyes narrowed. Focus sharpened.

Pain killed the sound of his footsteps and placed a foot on the crates.

One level. Two levels.

He climbed carefully, keeping his balance.

The kitten had its back to him.

One more step.

Pain lowered his center of gravity, power gathering in his legs.

That was when it happened.

The kitten spun around. Gold eyes met Pain’s eyes.

"—Nya."

The kitten gave a single yawn. Then, looking utterly bored, it took one small step to the side.

Pain’s fingers grabbed empty air.

"Ah."

He hugged the vacuum where the cat had been.

His body floated. Center of gravity shifted forward.

The wooden foothold screamed.

CRASH.

A spectacular noise exploded in the alley. Dry wood snapping.

The sound of collapse. A short yelp from Pain.

The mountain of crates avalanched, kicking up a cloud of dust.

A moment of silence.

A stray plank rolled out late—clack—and stopped.

"Pain."

Salt walked toward the pile of debris.

From a gap in the wood, Pain’s right hand protruded. Only the thumb stood up, trembling.

"I'm... o-okay... Alive..."

A groan leaked from the wreckage. Salt peered into the gap.

Pain was buried.

A fish bone stuck out of his hair. Dried seaweed draped over his shoulder.

"Poor thing."

Her voice was flat.

Pain pushed the wood aside and crawled out, sighing.

"That is the part where you laugh, Salt."

The kitten had used the chaos of the collapse to flee deeper.

Between two buildings. A gap so dark and narrow that no adult could pass.

Pain crossed his arms and groaned.

"No good... My shoulders will get stuck."

Forcing his way in meant getting wedged tight.

Give up?

Salt took a step forward.

She tied the hem of her jacket without hesitation and placed her hands on the ground.

"H-hey, wait, Salt! It's full of mud in there—"

Salt looked back.

"I can do it."

Her eyes held no doubt.

She slid her body into the dark gap without a second of delay.

Her small back dissolved into the shadows.

"Oi, oi... Seriously..."

Pain dropped to one knee, watching the darkness.

The smell of dust prickled his nose.

From deep inside, the scratching sound of movement echoed. Rustle. Scrape.

Eventually, Salt’s faint voice drifted out.

"Mimi... come..."

The voice was shockingly soft. Not her usual hard tone.

It was a voice with temperature, made to reassure a frightened creature.

Pain swallowed his breath.

After a while, the sound of cloth dragging on stone returned.

Salt was backing out.

"Got it."

She emerged from the gap.

Clutched against her chest was a ball of white fur. The kitten.

It was grey with soot, clinging to Salt’s clothes, shivering.

And Salt herself— Black streaks of soot crossed her face.

Spiderwebs tangled in her hair. Her knees and elbows were caked in mud.

But she didn't seem to care.

She just held the small life in her arms, protecting it.

Pain lost his words. Dirty clothes didn't matter.

"Haha."

Pain laughed, still kneeling.

"Amazing, Salt. You look like a cat yourself now."

Salt looked blankly at him and touched her own cheek.

Her hand transferred more dirt, adding another black streak.

"Ah, you just spread it."

Pain laughed again and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.

"Here. Look at me. Stay still."

He reached out.

She closed her eyes obediently. Her long lashes trembled slightly.

Pain gently wiped the soot from her cheek.

Her skin was warm. She smelled of sunlight.

"Mm."

A small sound escaped her throat.

The kitten on her chest meowed.

"Mya."

"You worked hard. ...Good girl, Salt."

His voice softened naturally.

The lady who owned the cat wept with joy.

"Thank you...! Thank you so much...!"

She took the kitten and pulled a small package from her apron pocket.

"I only have this to offer... but please, eat."

It was a piece of sugar candy, crafted like glass work.

Held up to the sunset, the translucent amber caught the light and sparkled.

On the way home. Two long shadows stretched across the cobblestones.

Pain opened the package and tossed a piece into his mouth.

Sweetness melted on his tongue. Not cheap sugar.

A deep, gentle sweetness that soaked into his tired body.

"Mm. Sweet."

Pain narrowed his eyes.

"You try one, Salt. It's really good."

He held out the remaining piece.

Salt pinched it with her small fingers and placed it in her mouth.

Immediately, her cheek puffed out roundly.

"!"

Salt’s eyes went wide.

Surprise, and then a slow, seeping happiness washed over her features.

"Sweet."

One word. But the voice carried the full weight of her wonder.

Pain grinned.

"Right? Worth the effort."

"Un. Sweet."

Salt rolled the candy in her mouth like a treasure and repeated the word.

The sunset illuminated her profile.

The mud on her cheek, her messy hair—everything looked like it was glowing gold.

"When you eat it, it somehow feels even sweeter."

At Pain’s light comment, Salt lowered her eyes, a little shy.

In the shadow, he saw the tips of her ears turn a faint red.

A wind blew.

The scent of sugar and the smell of dusk.

The moment was calm, quiet, and simply happy.

Pain let the candy melt slowly, careful not to bite it.

He wanted to taste this sweetness, and this time, for as long as possible.