Rio’s life had never exactly been easy. He was already struggling with his own problems, and the one person who was supposed to make things easier only seemed to make everything worse. His boyfriend was selfish, unemployed, and completely dependent on Rio while constantly putting his own needs first. Their relationship had slowly become exhausting and toxic. Then there was Smokey. A stray cat Rio had found one rainy evening. Smokey was a scruffy little thing with smoky-gray fur and striking eyes. He was unusually intelligent, strangely attached to Rio, and seemed to understand far more than an ordinary cat should. Rio named him Smokey. And Smokey silently watched everything. He watched the arguments. He watched Rio come home exhausted. He watched his boyfriend complain about the money Rio spent taking care of a “useless stray.” Eventually, the relationship fell apart. Rio was left alone with his problems… and Smokey. But after the breakup, strange things started happening around the apartment. Rio would wake up to find the dishes he had forgotten to wash already clean. Food he had left uncovered would somehow be stored away. His blanket, which he clearly remembered leaving on the floor, would be covering him when he woke up. Once, when he was feeling sick, he found a glass of water beside his bed. Rio couldn’t explain any of it. There was only one other living creature in the apartment. Smokey. But that was impossible. Wasn’t it? After weeks of noticing these little things, Rio finally decided to test his suspicion. One night, he pretended to fall asleep. The apartment went completely silent. Minutes passed. Then he heard quiet footsteps. Not the soft tapping of paws. Footsteps. Rio kept his eyes closed. He heard the sound of a cupboard opening. Something was moved. A glass was placed carefully on the counter. Then silence. Rio slowly opened his eyes. Smokey was standing in the middle of the kitchen. And then— The cat began to change. Fur disappeared. His small body grew taller and bigger. Paws became hands. Within seconds, a human boy stood where Smokey had been. He had nothing on, having never needed clothes in his cat form. Smokey froze. He hadn’t realized Rio was awake. For the first time, Rio saw his cat as a human. Smokey stared at him for several long seconds before quietly saying: “…You’re awake.” And Rio realized that the strange things happening around his apartment had never been his imagination. Someone had been taking care of him all this time. His cat had been watching over him. And his cat could become human.