The sky, once a soft shade of afternoon blue, had turned dark and heavy, thick rain clouds rolling in without warning.
Jihoon sighed as he quickened his pace, pulling his jacket closer around him.
The sudden downpour was relentless, fat raindrops hitting the pavement with sharp, rhythmic splashes.
People hurried past him, some with umbrellas hastily opened, others dashing into the nearest shops to seek cover.
Jihoon had been on his way home after a peaceful stroll through the city, but now he found himself stranded under the awning of a small convenience store, waiting for the worst of the rain to pass.
He glanced up at the sky.
Looks like it won't stop anytime soon.
Just as he was about to check his phone for the weather forecast—
A faint, pitiful sound caught his attention.
A soft meow.
Jihoon turned his head, scanning the wet pavement.
There, near a pile of stacked cardboard boxes, was a small, shivering kitten.
It was drenched, its tiny fur soaked through, its ears flattened against its head as it tried to curl into itself for warmth.
Jihoon frowned.
Where had it come from?
Did it belong to someone, or was it a stray?
Ding!
A system notification flashed before his eyes.
[New Kindness Challenge]
A helpless soul is in need of warmth. Find a way to help the stray cat.
Reward: 35,000 KRW
Jihoon sighed, shaking his head.
"Guess I don't have a choice," he muttered to himself.
Not that he was planning to leave the cat out in the rain anyway.
Jihoon slowly crouched down, extending a careful hand.
The kitten flinched slightly, its tiny body trembling.
"Hey there," Jihoon said softly, keeping his voice calm and steady.
The kitten blinked up at him, its big, round eyes full of hesitation.
It was small, no older than a few months, its fur a mix of white and orange, now matted and soaked.
Jihoon sighed. It must be freezing.
He carefully shrugged off his outer jacket, holding it out like a blanket.
"Come on, let's get you warm," he murmured.
The kitten hesitated for another second before sniffing at the fabric, then, slowly, it stepped forward.
Jihoon gently wrapped the jacket around the tiny body, making sure it wasn't too tight.
The kitten let out a soft, tired meow but didn't resist.
Ding!
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 35,000 KRW
Jihoon sighed in relief.
Step one: complete.
Step two: figuring out what to do next.
Jihoon glanced around.
He wasn't far from home, but walking all the way back in the rain with a soaked, shivering kitten wrapped in his jacket didn't seem ideal.
There was, however, a small veterinary clinic just down the street.
Maybe they could check if the kitten was okay.
With a careful grip on the tiny bundle in his arms, Jihoon dashed through the rain, the cold wind biting at his face.
By the time he reached the clinic's entrance, he was soaked, water dripping from his hair and jacket.
The kitten, now nestled against his chest, had stopped shivering as much, but it still let out a tiny sneeze.
Jihoon pushed the door open, stepping inside.
The moment Jihoon entered, the warmth of the clinic hit him, a stark contrast to the storm outside.
A woman in a white coat looked up from the reception desk, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of him.
"Oh! You're completely soaked," she said.
Jihoon shook off some of the rain, then carefully unwrapped his jacket, revealing the small, damp kitten inside.
"I found this little guy outside," Jihoon explained. "He was freezing."
The vet immediately softened, stepping forward to take a look.
"Poor thing," she murmured, carefully lifting the kitten into her arms. "Let me check if he's okay."
Jihoon watched as she carried the kitten into a small examination room.
A few minutes later, she returned.
"He's a little underweight and cold, but otherwise healthy," she said. "No major injuries."
Jihoon exhaled in relief. "That's good."
The vet smiled. "You did the right thing bringing him here. Most people wouldn't have stopped to help."
Jihoon shrugged casually.
"Well… I guess I have a soft spot for helpless things."
The vet chuckled. "Are you thinking of adopting him?"
Jihoon blinked. "Huh?"
She gestured toward the kitten, now curled up in a warm towel, blinking sleepily.
"If he's a stray and no one claims him, he'll need a home," she said. "Unless you were just planning to drop him off?"
Jihoon looked at the tiny creature.
For some reason, the kitten had latched onto him, its tiny paws gripping the towel, its eyes following Jihoon's every movement.
It looked safe. Comfortable. Trusting.
Jihoon sighed.
"…I guess I could think about it."
Ding!
[Bonus Reward Unlocked!]
A life saved is a kindness that lasts a lifetime.
+15,000 KRW
Jihoon smirked.
Of course, the system had to say something about this.
Jihoon sat in the waiting area, watching as the rain continued to pour outside.
The kitten, now warm and drowsy, was curled up in a soft blanket on his lap.
Jihoon gently rubbed the top of its head, feeling its tiny body rise and fall with steady breaths.
"I guess you're stuck with me now," he murmured.
The kitten let out a soft purr in response.
Jihoon chuckled.
Maybe taking care of a cat wouldn't be so bad.
Ding!
[Daily Kindness Reflection]
"Kindness isn't just about helping others—it's about opening your heart to something new. Sometimes, the ones we save end up saving us."
Jihoon leaned back, gazing at the storm outside.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.
One small act at a time.
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