Mama opened the door with a soft smile, and standing just outside was Yui's mama, holding a small bag in one hand. Peeking out from behind her leg was Yui — her chubby cheeks rosy, her dark hair tied neatly in a ponytail.
I saw her and my heart jumped.
"Yuiiiii!" I shouted with joy and ran toward her.
She stepped out from behind her mama and ran too — and just like that, our hands found each other. We held on tight and jumped up and down, giggling.
"Yui! Yui come to Hideki home!" I said, still bouncing.
"Yeah!" she grinned. "Yui come to Hideki home!"
Mama laughed gently. "Come on, sweetheart, let's invite her inside."
I nodded quickly, still holding Yui's hand, and turned to lead her in.
"Come! Come inside!"
Inside the house, everything felt even warmer than before.
I walked her straight to the piano room where Papa was.
"Papa! Papa!" I called. "Yui come!"
Papa turned from his seat and smiled as we walked in. Yui stepped forward shyly, her small fingers still wrapped around mine.
She gave a little bow and said softly, "Hi, Hideki's Papa."
Papa's eyes lit up. His smile grew wide.
"Wowww... so polite!" he said warmly. "You're a good girl, aren't you, Yui?"
Yui nodded proudly.
"Yui is good girl," she said.
Papa laughed gently and clapped his hands once. "I can see that."
I squeezed Yui's hand again, my heart full and happy.
She was here. In my home.
And the day was only just beginning.
"Yui... Yui... let's go see Tama-chan," I said, tugging her hand excitedly.
Yui nodded and smiled. "Mmm!"
We walked out into the garden together, our little feet padding over the warm floor as sunlight danced on the stones.
I looked around carefully, then cupped my hands to my mouth.
"Tama-chaaaaan!" I called, loud and happy.
Yui giggled and followed me, calling too. "Tama-chaaaaan!"
For a moment, the garden was quiet.
Then—
rustle rustle
A soft crackling sound came from the bushes.
We turned toward it.
Out stepped Tama-chan, just as lazy and calm as always. She stretched her front legs long, arched her back, and yawned — a big, slow, sleepy yawn.
Then she began to walk toward us, tail flicking, steps soft like clouds.
"Tama-chan..." I whispered with joy, kneeling down.
Yui crouched beside me, her eyes wide with wonder.
"She came..." I said softly.
And Tama-chan, like always, walked right up to us — like she knew she was loved.
I pointed at Yui with a big smile.
"Tama-chan... Yui," I said proudly.
Then I pointed at Tama-chan.
"Yui... Tama-chan."
Yui giggled, her eyes wide with happiness.
"Kawaii... Tama-chan kawaii desu," she said, hands on her cheeks.
I nodded quickly, my voice full of feeling.
"Tama-chan... Yui... Hideki friend."
I put my hands together.
"Yui and Tama-chan... Hideki friend."
Yui looked at Tama-chan with soft, careful eyes. She reached her hand out a little... then stopped. Her fingers shook just a bit.
She looked at me. "Can I... pet?"
I saw she was nervous.
So I took her hand gently in mine and guided it slowly forward.
"Let Tama-chan sniff first," I whispered like Mama always does.
Tama-chan sniffed Yui's hand once... twice... then—
FLOP.
She rolled over with her belly facing up, her eyes half-closed, like she was saying: "Okay. You may pet now."
Yui gasped.
Her eyes sparkled like stars. She reached out again — this time with no fear — and softly stroked Tama-chan's belly.
"She's so soft..." she whispered.
Then she looked at me, eyes shining.
"Hideki... Tama-chan soft..."
I smiled so big, it made my cheeks hurt.
All of us — me, Yui, and Tama-chan — sitting under the soft sun.
My friends.
Together.
After petting Tama-chan for a while, Yui and I looked at each other...
Then—at the same time—we both flopped onto the grass beside her.
We lay on our backs, arms stretched out, just like Tama-chan.
"Like Tama-chan," I whispered.
"Like Tama-chan," Yui whispered back.
Tama-chan didn't even move. She just blinked at us slowly, like she approved.
Inside the house, Mama peeked through the window, her smile soft and full of love.
Papa, standing beside her, lifted his phone and snap!
He took a picture of the three of us lying in the sun — two small children and one very sleepy cat.
I turned my head to Yui and whispered, "Yui, wait here."
She blinked. "Where you go?"
"I be back," I said, jumping up and running inside.
I found Papa in the hallway.
"Papa! Treats! For Tama-chan!"
He chuckled and reached up to the high cabinet.
He already knew.
He handed me the little bag with the crinkly sound.
I held it close to my chest and ran back outside, my feet fast with excitement.
Yui sat up when she saw me.
"Hideki?"
I held the bag up proudly. "Yui... Yui... Tama-chan tabete!"
Her eyes lit up. "Mmm!"
I opened the bag carefully and poured a little into her small hand.
She looked down at the treats — then at Tama-chan, who was still lying flat like a pancake.
Yui scooted closer, slowly, gently... holding out her hand full of treats.
Tama-chan sniffed once... then again.
Then she sat up, tail curling, and let out a soft meow.
Yui giggled, her hand still steady.
Tama-chan leaned in — munch, munch, munch.
She ate them right from Yui's palm.
Yui gasped in delight.
"She eat it!" she whispered.
I nodded so fast. "Yui give treat. Tama-chan happy. Hideki happy."
We both smiled at each other.
And Tama-chan?
She purred.
After Tama-chan finished every last treat, she gave one final flick of her tail.
Then, without a sound, she turned and padded back toward the bushes — her quiet, cozy spot beneath the leaves.
Me and Yui both sat up on our knees and waved with both hands.
"Bye-bye, Tama-chan!" I said.
"Bye-bye, Tama-chaaan!" Yui echoed beside me, her voice soft and shining.
Our smiles were so big, they felt wider than the whole garden. The sun was up high, bright and hot — but our smiles were brighter. Even the sky couldn't compete.
Then I turned to Yui, my heart bouncing in my chest.
"Yui... Yui!" I said. "Hideki have present!"
Yui looked at me, blinking once. "Present?"
I nodded quickly.
Her ponytail bobbed as she tilted her head. "For Yui?"
I smiled so big I could hardly speak. "Come! Come, come!"
She stood up, brushing off her little skirt, and followed me back to the house. The sunlight danced in her hair like gold as we ran side by side.
We climbed the steps together. I led her to my room — the little world that holds my toys, my plushie, my drawings... my heart.
I dropped to my knees and started searching, digging gently through the drawer near my futon.
My fingers found it — the special drawing.
I turned and held it out to her with both hands.
"Yui... this is Hideki feeding Tama-chan," I said, pointing to the picture I made.
It was us in the garden, and Tama-chan with her tail curled up, eating treats from my hand.
Yui stared, her eyes wide and sparkling. Then I pointed to the empty spot I left on purpose, right next to me.
"And this..." I said softly, "Yui is here. Feeding Tama-chan too."
She looked at the blank space.
Then at me.
Then back at the paper.
Her lips made a tiny "O" shape... and then she smiled.
The kind of smile that goes all the way to her eyes.
I handed her my crayon box, opening it carefully like a treasure chest.
She reached in, thought for a moment... and chose the pink crayon.
She leaned close, her little fingers holding the crayon with care.
Then—soft and slow—she began to draw herself.
Yui. In pink. Smiling. With Tama-chan.
I sat beside her, watching quietly, hugging my Shiba Inu plushie.
And in that little room, full of sunlight and crayons and quiet smiles...
The picture became whole.
Not just a drawing anymore.
But a memory.
And a gift.
And a story of friendship.
Drawn in pink.