Chapter 3

……

…You are a lot like me, aren’t you?

…You were told to be an obedient lapdog, and when you didn’t live up to those expectations, you were thrown away like something no one wanted.

…You were abandoned, but despite your wounds, you continued to wander about.

…And by a stroke of good luck, you were found by someone who is very, very warm and kind.

…They say that the world is as kind as it is cruel.

…I’m truly grateful that it was Hiyori-kun who found us.

…Wouldn’t you agree, Bloody Mary?

Umm… It’s kinda hard to talk with you when you’re chatting with a dog like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Could you rein it in just a bit when we’re in public?

…I don’t think this is so strange.

…There are many people who talk to their dogs, and even hug and kiss them.

…You do it, too, Jun. The other day, when you were in low spirits after making a mistake at work, you went back to your dorm where Mary was and rolled around with her in your arms.

Goddamn! You saw all that, Nagi-senpai? Shit, I’m so embarrassed?!

…God is always watching over everything that we do.

…Though I have yet to become God, myself.

Um? I don’t get what you’re saying at all… But I guess it’s pretty much the norm when it comes to you.

Anyway, I’m seriously grateful you were able to take care of Mary while we were dragging our asses getting back. I’m sure it was rough keeping her fed and taking her on walks, huh?

I mean, she doesn’t really like anyone but us.

…It was fine. She was quiet and well-behaved for me. She’s a very good girl. You must have trained her well.

…Or perhaps it’s because I have the scent of you both on me, and so she was able to tell that we are brethren.

…If that were the case, I would be very happy.

…This time I spent with her was valuable to me, since it allowed me to learn the joys and hardships of taking care of living beings.

Huh, okay then. Glad to hear it.

…Wawah?

Hey, c’mon! Don’t go jumping on me~ ♪ There, there, did you miss me that much?

…Haha. It’s no surprise that Mary likes you more than me. But that’s only natural, since I was with her for only a few days.

…Time is the best medicine, as well as the best weapon.

…It’s hard to win against all the time you’ve spent together.

Mm, dogs have a different sense of time than we do, yeah~

For us, it’s just been a couple days. But for this little girl, it must’ve felt like it’s been a whole decade.

She can’t help if she wants to throw herself at us and beg for attention.

…That’s true. An adult’s sense of time also differs from that of a child’s, though not as greatly as that between humans and dogs.

…If we don’t take that into account this time, we will make many miscalculations.

…Thank you, Jun. You always help us remember that which we’ve forgotten.

Huh… Yeah, I dunno why you’re thanking me, but I’m happy to be of assistance.

Ohh, how dare you!

Who do you think you are, Jun-kun?! What gives you the right to snatch up my beloved Nagisa-kun and Mary from me? Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are?!

Why’d you say it three whole times…?

Oh! But wait! But if I own Jun-kun, and he owns Nagisa-kun and Mary, then doesn’t that mean I actually have everything all to myself?

All right then, Jun-kun!

Your Ohii-san’s going to be your owner from here on out! You should be rolling around in the dirt with how excited you are! Now come here, let me hug you ☆

I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about, but please get off me. You act almost exactly like a dog, you know that…?