For the first time in years, Lee Jihoon's mornings felt different.
Gone were the days of dragging himself out of bed, barely awake, rushing to get ready for work.
Now, he woke up to the soft weight of Hodu on his chest, the tiny kitten curled up comfortably as if Jihoon was its personal cushion.
And every morning, without fail—
Meow.
Jihoon cracked open an eye.
Hodu was staring at him, ears perked up, tail flicking slightly.
Meow.
Jihoon sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Breakfast."
Carefully, he lifted the tiny cat off his chest and rolled out of bed.
As he prepared Hodu's food, a familiar notification flashed in his vision.
Ding!
[Daily Kindness Challenge]
Acts of kindness extend beyond strangers—show appreciation to those who support you.
Reward: 25,000 KRW
Jihoon blinked.
"…Show appreciation?"
He leaned against the kitchen counter, watching as Hodu happily ate his food.
Who had supported him recently?
Then, it hit him.
Min Seoha.
She had gone out of her way to bring supplies for Hodu, check in on him, and even take the time to make sure Jihoon was adjusting to pet ownership.
She hadn't expected anything in return.
Jihoon exhaled, smirking to himself.
"…Alright, System. I'll bite."
Later that afternoon, Jihoon walked into a small café near the veterinary clinic.
A mix of coffee and warm pastries filled the air as people chatted quietly at their tables.
Glancing around, he spotted Min Seoha sitting by the window, sipping on a cup of tea while scrolling through her phone.
Jihoon walked up to her table.
"You always look like you're on a secret mission."
Seoha looked up, surprised, before smirking. "And you always show up unannounced."
Jihoon slid into the seat across from her. "Consider this my new hobby."
Seoha chuckled, setting down her phone. "So? What brings you here?"
Jihoon placed a small paper bag on the table.
Seoha raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"
"A bribe," Jihoon deadpanned.
She rolled her eyes. "Be specific."
Jihoon leaned back. "It's a thank-you gift."
Seoha blinked. "For what?"
"For everything."
She hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching for the bag, pulling out a small keychain in the shape of a cat.
It was simple, made of smooth leather, with tiny stitches outlining its paws and tail.
Seoha stared at it for a moment, running her fingers over the details.
Jihoon cleared his throat. "I saw it at a shop and figured, you know… since you're basically Hodu's unofficial aunt or whatever, you should have something cat-related."
Seoha let out a soft laugh, still looking at the keychain.
"…You actually bought this for me?"
Jihoon shrugged, playing it cool. "Don't let it get to your head."
Seoha smirked. "Too late."
Ding!
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 25,000 KRW
Jihoon internally shook his head.
Who knew buying a keychain would get him free money?
As Seoha attached the keychain to her bag, Jihoon waved down a waiter to order a coffee for himself.
"So," Seoha said, resting her chin on her hand. "How's Hodu?"
Jihoon sighed. "Still a menace."
Seoha chuckled. "Scratching up your furniture?"
"He's got a scratching post. He just chooses not to use it."
She smirked. "Welcome to the world of cat ownership."
Jihoon shook his head. "I should've gotten a fish."
Seoha laughed. "Too late for regrets now."
As their conversation drifted into random topics—work, life, Hodu's latest antics—Jihoon felt something strange.
It wasn't like before, where every conversation felt like a transaction—where talking to someone was just a necessary social obligation.
Now, it was easy. Natural.
He wasn't just talking to someone.
He was connecting.
And maybe, just maybe, he didn't mind that.
After finishing their drinks, Jihoon and Seoha stepped outside.
The air was cool, the sky painted in soft evening hues.
Seoha held up her bag, admiring the tiny cat keychain dangling from the strap.
"You know," she said, "for someone who acts tough, you're actually pretty thoughtful."
Jihoon scoffed. "Don't start making things weird."
She laughed. "Too late."
They stood there for a moment, the silence comfortable.
Then, Seoha stretched. "Well, I should get going. But seriously—thanks for this."
Jihoon smirked. "Yeah, yeah."
As she walked away, Jihoon's phone buzzed again.
Ding!
[Bonus Reward Unlocked!]
A small gift can carry great meaning. Thoughtfulness is a kindness too.
+10,000 KRW
Jihoon exhaled, shoving his hands into his pockets.
The system really had a way of making things sound deeper than they were.
Still…
Maybe this kind of kindness was just as important.
Not the big, dramatic gestures.
But the small things—the little moments of warmth that reminded people they weren't alone.
Jihoon turned toward the street, heading home.
Where Hodu would probably be waiting to knock something off the table.
But somehow… that didn't sound so bad.
As Jihoon entered his apartment, Hodu immediately ran up to him, brushing against his legs.
Jihoon sighed, bending down to scratch behind his ears.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm back."
Hodu purred, rubbing against his hand.
Jihoon chuckled.
Maybe this was the reward that mattered the most.
Ding!
[Daily Kindness Reflection]
"Kindness isn't about grand gestures—it's about the little things, the thoughtful moments that remind someone they matter."
Jihoon leaned against the counter, watching as Hodu curled up on the couch.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.
One small act at a time.
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