Evening and Winter (夕方と冬)

It's Cold...

A week had passed where Taylor had been staying in the hospital and Eve was too scared to visit her father, the image of him unconscious on a hospital bed already makes her anxious. Chifuyu being away from home often for investigations doesn't help, he was Eve's only source of security and comfort else than her father, and Chifuyu went out to investigate that day, leaving Eve alone in her house. Eve was dazing out the window of her room, lonely despite the birds on the roof in front of her were singing under the afternoon sun.

"I can't be a brat... but being alone just made me think of the bad things..." Eve thought as she breathed a long sigh.

"Why the long face?"

"AAAA! Chifuyu-kun?!!" Eve fell backwards when Chifuyu's face suddenly appeared from the top of the opened window, and Chifuyu laughed in satisfaction before jumping to sit on the stool of the opened window.

"Did I scare you that bad?" Chifuyu had a net-windowed bag strapped on his shoulder, "Lucas isn't here today, isn't he?" he asked Eve as she stood up and patted her short gown, with a pout on her face.

"It's his day off today, and he's really busy taking care of the younger ones at the orphanage." Eve responded.

"Right, the orphanage..." Chifuyu seemed to forget that Lucas still lives at the orphanage until now, "Here, I want you to meet my friend." Chifuyu unzipped his bag as he kneeled down to the floor, then a black and white sable ferret jumped out to sit on his right shoulder.

"A ferret...?" Eve was surprised, "I didn't know you had a pet," she was curious of the animal.

"His name's Maru," Chifuyu gently scratched the ferret's head, then placed the ferret on the floor to let it slowly approach Eve.

"'Round'...?" Eve understood the meaning of the name, as she extended her hand for the animal to sniff.

"Yeah, he likes to round up when he sleeps, that's where he got his name." Chifuyu snickered, "He's very vocal, he squeaks a lot and he dooks loudly, he even snores when he sleeps." He turned his ferret on its back to rub its belly, and Maru began laughing instantly.

"Why did you bring him here?" Eve was confused.

"I rarely had time for him since I had to investigate until your old man recovered, so I thought Maru could keep you company here instead. I brought his food, potty container, and toys with me." Chifuyu responded as he played with Maru using his hand, the ferret was squeaking joyfully. "Don't worry, he's well trained. Just keep the windows and closets of the room I'm using downstairs closed, if you do lose him in there, just shake his food container and he'll come." Chifuyu explained as the ferret jumped to sit on his shoulder.

"Are you sure that's okay?" Eve was doubtful.

"Of course, you can talk to him and play with him if you're bored. I can set up everything in the room if you want," Chifuyu stood up and walked out of the room with Maru on his shoulder and Eve following behind him. Chifuyu closed all the cupboards and locked the window shut, then placed the carrier down next to the bed and arranged Maru's potty bucket and toys in the room. "There, you can just come in here if you want to hang out with him." Chifuyu finished with a grin, as Maru yawned near his ear with a mild squeak.

"Okay," Eve smiled back as Chifuyu approached her.

"You can bring him around the house if you want, but make sure he stays in your arms or on your shoulder." He placed Maru on Eve's shoulder, and the ferret stayed to sniff Eve's ear as she touched the ferret's back. "I'll be off to continue my investigation now, I'll see you later." Chifuyu smiled as he scratched Maru's head for the last time before walking out of the room and back to Eve's room.