Chapter Text
A routine was what most people would call it — waking up at the same time, eating, showering, dressing, going to work, working, going home, eating, showering, dressing and sleeping at the same time. Yet, to Toya, it was merely autopilot, missing the desire to do anything else than that, survive.
Everyday was the same, and he didn't mind.
It was the price to pay for rebelling.
For going against his own bloodline.
At least, that was what he wanted to believe... or that he grew up, matured! that this was how adult life was supposed to be.
But these were nothing but cruel lies, and the truth could be even crueler, Toya just wished to ignore it.
It didn't matter how much thought and effort Toya put into these feelings, he would never be able to properly name them. It was just his mind trying to entertain him, as he walked through the busy streets of Shibuya he already knew so well.
The classic sound of the big city, wasn't it? noisy loud cars, a mix of different voices that sang a melody without actual words, bright lights of various colors that practically blinded... it always made him realize his problems weren't that important, that he was probably just ungrateful.
He had a job that sustained him financially, somewhere to sleep, food to eat... what everyone wished for nowadays.
He knew it was a privilege to live like that at his age.
Still, the briefcase in his hand grew heavier with each step he took, the feeling of finishing another workday no longer being rewarding, just a chore. Such realization made Toya take a deep breath he didn't know he needed.
He had to understand he would gain nothing from thinking that self-deprecating way! after all, he was no poet to ponder the meaning of life.
As he got closer to where he lived, the place he couldn't actually call home, he noticed his surroundings getting darker, less people walked by, to the point that he could hear his own footsteps against the pavement.
But, suddenly, a sound not so distant made him stop immediately — A faint groan of pain, almost animalistic — was what got him looking around, curious. Until, quickly enough, his grey eyes layed down on a pile of trash against the wall of a typical residence, amongst it, a rather small figure, the dim light from the lamppost nearby illuminated its deplorable situation...
It was a dog.
And an injured one.
He was surprised, but his face didn't change even a millimeter.
That scene was too raw, almost pitiful to look at for much longer.
Yet — he didn't look away.
Toya noticed how each breath was taken so painfully, to the point where it was growling, even if unconscious.
Being honest, he had no idea why he was still there staring.
Normally, he would just ignore it and go home. It didn't matter how inhumane it was, since thinking realistically, he couldn't do anything to help. His apartment didn't allow any type of pet. And he didn't have anything to treat the animal properly, as he rarely injured himself, and never that badly.
But his chest tightened at every wine.
It was trying so hard to survive...
Toya was lost, and had no idea what to do next.
If he left, he would leave the dog to die, low chances of someone else helping it. But, if he took the dog, managed to successfully hide it from the proprietary and took care of it... He would have to abandon it when fully healed!
Wait — Exactly! He could just, unfortunately, leave it on the streets again... The animal probably lived his whole life there, and the problem was leaving it injured, not recovered and well enough to survive alone.
Perhaps, the dog even had an owner! If Toya left the animal in the same place, they might find it.
It was simpler than he thought... better than turning his back on the dog, living with the weight of knowing that he could have done something to help. After all, he knew two siblings that never would do that, ignore someone in need.
Toya didn't waste any time; he had already made up his mind.
───
Somehow, he managed to enter the building and made it to his apartment without being seen.
He tried his best, wrapping the animal in his coat, the black at least disguising the blood, and thankfully Toya didn't stain his own white dress shirt while holding the dog in his arms.
As he set foot further in his small apartment, he left the animal on the floor of his living room, still thinking about how he opened the door while holding a dog, a briefcase and his keys.
Thankfully, the animal was still breathing, but it was best if Toya was quick with "treating" it.
The thing is — he didn't know exactly what to do. He could've taken the dog to a vet, probably. But his minimum wage job wouldn't make that possible... So he would just try something.
He based his approach on imagining how he would treat a child with a scraped knee, wondering what he would do.
With that in mind, he searched for a clean cloth in the cabinets of his kitchen, surprisingly finding one! slightly wetting it material in the sink, he approached the animal and sat on the rather cold floor.
It was better than nothing, he hoped.
As gently as he could be, Toya started cleaning its wounds. Being closer, he could see better; they were just superficial cuts, which was a relief... but there was definitely still pain.
The way the white material turned pinkish, then deep red, was overwhelming. It reminded him of a time that whenever he thought he had forgotten, would suddenly come back, even if in the back of his mind.
Toya was no stranger to blood, nor bruises.
This made him sympathize with the animal's pain.
but then he acknowledged the fact that — even with all those actions and movements, the animal still didn't wake up. Even when he first took it in his arms, it barely moved at all.
Probably numb from pain and exhaustion, Toya assumed.
—I... hope you get well soon.
Toya muttered after he finished cleaning the animal, his voice almost timid, dry. He didn't have the habit of talking out loud, or the habit of talking at all... only when necessary. To him, there was no reason to prolong a conversation if there was nothing more to be said.
A sigh escaped his lips as he stood up.
In the end that was his maximum! but he still wanted to do a little more, leading him into grabbing a spare blanket from his room, just to leave it on the floor of the living room. Folded two times, trying to mimic a bed. He took the animal in his arms one last time and placed it on top of the soft and warm fabric of the blanket.
He stared at the scene in front of him, and was relieved that the dog somehow seemed more at peace.
Normally, now, he would take a shower and eat, but honestly, he didn't have the appetite after all that.
───
After a cold shower, he sat on the edge of his bed, still drying his hair with a towel.
He thought he would feel more relieved after that supposed good deed, but, he remembered that feeling was for those who didn't think about the consequences of tomorrow.
A stray dog was in his living room.
Doing something purely on impulse without any logical reasoning was truly terrifying.
He had forgotten how that felt.
What worried him was the fact the animal had nothing to eat or drink if it woke up! and that if it actually woke up... he was concerned if it barked or ruined something in the apartment.
But obviously he only thinks about it now, right? What a great choice he made.
Toya tried accepting there was no way back now, what was done, was done... he hoped that this excuse would lessen the guilt.
Even distressed, he couldn't help himself.
As the time Toya usually sleeps was approaching, he chose that this would be his last act of kindness for the day.
Before going to sleep, he left a bowl of water near the animal, at least thirsty it wouldn't be.
After one last glance at the dog, he went back to his room, not looking back.
───
Toya was surprised he managed to sleep when he opened his eyes the next morning, blinking slowly while his mind adjusted to waking up to another day.
Without needing to wait for his eyes to adapt to the light — he woke up before the sun after all — he quickly got up from the mattress, knowing that if he hesitated for another second, he wouldn't move an inch all day.
There wasn't even a need for an alarm anymore, his body already used to waking up always at this specific time.
His routine.
He let his feet touch the hard floor, his legs sore from being still for so long, despite that, he stepped outside his room.
The silence that embraced his apartment calmed his heart. All the nervousness from yesterday seemed like just a distant memory he already left for oblivion.
As he walked towards the bathroom, he had the urge to stop.
His eyes stopped in his kitchen.
The bare minimum he could manage to express was the slightly widening of his pupils, yet his face remained stoic.
Toya noticed all the cabinets of his humble kitchen opened, several food wrappers and crumbs scattered on the floor... a complete mess.
—Ah.
A voice he did not recognize nor ever heard.
—I didn't think you would wake up so early...
The unknown man spoke, in the middle of all the chaos, his tone too casual for comfort, however — he appeared as nervous as Toya was (even if his own face didn't showed it).
Except Toya didn't know if it was actually a man... the ears and tail made him doubt it slightly.
It was just as he thought... it would be starving when it woke up.