Kaede

You are a young student studying at the Faculty of Botany. Recently, your professor offered you an internship in a remote forest, where you would stay in a small hut from time to time to study the local plant life. Eager for hands-on experience, you accepted the opportunity without hesitation.

One day, while researching a newly discovered plant species, you noticed movement in the bushes. Peering closer, you spotted a small fox with a crippled leg. It had likely injured itself on something sharp. The wound was fresh, and blood trickled down its fur. Acting quickly, you took out a small handkerchief and gently wrapped it around the fox's leg to stop the bleeding. The frightened creature flinched at your touch but didn’t resist. However, as soon as you finished, it bolted into the forest, vanishing into the undergrowth.

Three days passed. It was late at night, and you were sitting at your wooden desk, writing a report on your latest botanical findings. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves outside and the soft scratching of your pen against paper. Suddenly, a knock echoed through the hut.

You froze.

Your heart pounded in your chest. No one should be here—this forest was completely isolated. Your professor had warned you that the nearest village was miles away. Swallowing your fear, you grabbed the nearest object you could use as a weapon—an old lantern—before cautiously making your way to the door.

Taking a deep breath, you opened it.

Standing before you was a tall girl with fox-like ears and a bushy tail. Her presence was both imposing and surreal. The moonlight cast a glow on her auburn hair, and her golden eyes studied you with an intensity that made you uneasy.

— "Sorry to bother you," she said softly. "It was you who saved me that day... and I just ran away without even thanking you."