The morning sun cast a golden light over the orphanage garden as Hiro sat cross-legged on the grass, a small pile of sunflower seeds in his hand. Chūta perched on his knee, his tiny cws clutching a seed as he nibbled happily. Hiro couldn’t help but smile at the sight, but his thoughts were far from calm.

  The events of the previous day lingered in his mind. The ethereal voice, the strange connection to Chūta, and the overwhelming green light from the tablet—none of it made sense. Yet here he was, feeling a new and inexplicable bond with the flying squirrel.

  As Chūta finished his seed and scurried off toward the woods, Hiro felt a peculiar tug. It wasn’t physical, but more like an awareness—a faint sense of the squirrel’s emotions. Contentment and curiosity radiated from the small creature, along with a vague impression of its location, flitting through the trees just beyond the garden.

  Hiro frowned, his thoughts racing. What is this? he wondered. Is this what the voice meant by a "summoner link"? The sensation wasn’t unpleasant, but it was unsettling in its crity. He could almost picture Chūta darting between branches, as if the squirrel’s movements were pying out in the back of his mind.

  Shaking his head, Hiro stood and dusted off his pants. As he turned to head back to the orphanage, he caught sight of Kaya watching him from the kitchen window. Her expression was unreadable, but for a brief moment, her eyes narrowed. She could have sworn there was a faint orange glow pulsing in Hiro’s usually bright green eyes.

  By the time he stepped into the kitchen, the glow was gone. Kaya frowned, brushing it off as a trick of the light, but the image lingered in her mind.

  That evening, after dinner, Kaya knocked softly on Hiro’s door. He looked up from where he sat on his bed, Chūta curled up on a cushion by the window.

  “Come in,” he said.

  Kaya entered, her expression calm but curious. She sat beside him, her tone gentle. “How are you feeling?”

  Hiro hesitated. “Fine, I guess,” he said, though his voice cked conviction. “It’s just... a lot.”

  “What happened with the tablet?” Kaya asked carefully. “Do you remember anything?”

  Hiro shook his head. “Not much. I remember grabbing it, and then... nothing. Just this voice in my head, asking if I wanted to start a ‘summoner link’ with Chūta.”

  He gnced toward the squirrel, who twitched an ear in his sleep. “Since then, I’ve been able to... feel him, I guess. It’s like I can sense his emotions and where he is. But I don’t understand why.”

  Kaya listened intently, her expression thoughtful. “Can you feel him now?” she asked.

  Hiro nodded. “Yeah, he’s asleep. He’s... peaceful.”

  Kaya’s gaze sharpened. “How much can you tell about Chūta right now? Can you try to focus on him?”

  Hiro blinked. “I guess I can try.” Keeping his eyes open, he concentrated, reaching out mentally toward Chūta. As he focused, a warm sensation spread through him, and his vision shifted slightly. An orange pattern flickered to life in his eyes, catching Kaya completely off guard.

  “Hiro, your eyes,” she murmured, leaning closer.

  He didn’t notice her reaction, his attention fully on the connection. “He’s in a tree,” Hiro said, his voice distant. “On the edge of the orphanage property. He’s curled up on a branch, sleeping. It’s... probably a cute sight.” He chuckled softly, holding up his hands as if to mimic the squirrel’s position. “I feel like I could even see him right here in my hands!”

  In that instant, a puff of smoke erupted in his palms. Hiro yelped as Chūta appeared, sprawled on his back, snoring loudly. The boy leapt off the bed in fright, dropping the squirrel onto the bnket.

  Chūta stirred, letting out a series of angry chirps as he gred at Hiro. Scrambling to his dresser, Hiro grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and held them out apologetically. “I’m sorry! Here, take these!”

  The squirrel’s mood shifted immediately as he began stuffing the seeds into his mouth, the angry chirps repced by contented munching. Hiro let out a shaky ugh, running a hand through his hair. “Well, that was... unexpected.”

  He turned to Kaya, expecting her to say something, but she was frozen in pce. Her wide eyes stared at Chūta, then at Hiro, as if her mind couldn’t process what had just happened. “Kaya?” Hiro called gently. When she didn’t respond, he tried again. “Kaya?”

  After several seconds, she snapped out of her stupor. Without a word, she stepped forward and wrapped Hiro in a tight, desperate hug. Her arms trembled slightly as she clutched him to her chest.

  “Kaya?” Hiro said again, his voice muffled against her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

  She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she ran her fingers through his hair, her voice trembling as she finally spoke. “Hiro, we will figure out what is going on,” she whispered. “And I will make sure, no matter what, that you are safe.”

  Hiro’s eyes widened, but he quickly rexed into the embrace. The warmth and sincerity of her words eased some of the tension he hadn’t realized he was carrying. “Thank you,” he murmured, his own voice soft.

  They stayed like that for a long moment, the room quiet except for Chūta’s satisfied munching. For the first time in days, Hiro felt a sense of reassurance. Whatever was happening to him, he wasn’t facing it alone.