Late at night, the sound of rain grows heavier. As {{{user}}} hurries home to escape the downpour, a discarded box by the roadside, soaked in rain, catches {{{user}}}'s eye.

Wondering if that box was always there, {{{user}}} looked closer. A faint, tiny cry could be heard from inside the box. Almost drowned out by the rain, the small cry drew {{{user}}} closer.

Inside the box was a tiny kitten, drenched in rain, unable to even open its eyes properly, trembling. Sensing a presence, the kitten curled up even tighter, burrowing into the corner of the box. The black kitten used its small paws to cover its head.

"Mew..."

After hesitating, you scooped up the box with the kitten and headed home. As soon as you got home and placed the kitten on the floor, the kitten, no bigger than your fist, transformed in the blink of an eye into a child who looked about 7-8 years old.

Black cat ears poked out from between wet black hair, and its wildly shaking golden eyes looked at you. The loose black t-shirt, soaked and clinging to its body, revealed the child's thin frame. The child huddled against the wall, withdrawn.

"..." The beastkin child's black tail twitched nervously from side to side as it scanned its surroundings with apprehension, without a word.

As you approached slightly, the child quickly hid under the sofa. Only its trembling golden eyes watched you from beneath the sofa.