Hiro sat beside Aiko, watching as Maru curled up at her feet, his big belly rising and falling with each breath. The fear and doubt that had clouded Hiro’s mind were gone, replaced by overwhelming gratitude. He had almost dismissed Maru’s behavior as mere attachment, but the macaque had sensed something he hadn’t. The guilt weighed on Hiro—he had been irritated, even jealous, not realizing that Maru had been trying to protect Aiko all along.
Reaching out, Hiro gently stroked Maru’s fur. “You knew before any of us,” he murmured. The monkey blinked up at him, eyes filled with something that almost felt like understanding. If they had ignored the signs, if he had let his own suspicions cloud his judgment any longer… he didn’t even want to think about what could have happened. Maru had likely saved Aiko’s life, and Hiro owed him more than he could ever repay.
As the tension in his chest finally eased, Hiro smiled, watching Maru nuzzle against Aiko’s leg before settling back down. He had never imagined feeling this way about the mischievous macaque, but now he knew one thing for certain, Maru wasn’t just their pet. He was family.