"A New Family"

The storm outside had passed, leaving behind a calm and peaceful atmosphere that seemed to seep into Suzuya's apartment. As he looked at the nekos, who were still huddled together in the cardboard box, he couldn't help but smile. They were cautious at first, watching him warily as he approached them. But when he brought them food, their curiosity got the better of them, and they cautiously emerged from the box. As they ate, they kept a watchful eye on Suzuya, their big eyes taking in every detail of their surroundings. Suzuya laughed and brought them blankets, which they gratefully accepted. He also brought them some of his old clothes that didn't fit his own body, but were perfect for the tiny nekos. Hanbee, the bravest of the four, was the first to let Suzuya pet him. Suzuya's eyes widened in awe as he stroked Hanbee's soft fur, marveling at how cute the four of them were. As they ate and played, Suzuya got to know their names: Nakarai, Mikage, Tamaki, and Hanbee. Nakarai, who seemed to be the most curious, asked Suzuya about the bruises on his body. Suzuya hesitated, not wanting to reveal the truth, and so he lied, telling Nakarai that he had fallen. Nakarai looked concerned, but didn't press the issue. As the evening drew to a close, Suzuya decided to tuck the nekos in. He brought them to his bed and gently laid them down, kissing each of them on their forehead. The nekos blushed at the affectionate gesture, but seemed to enjoy it. As they settled in, they all fell fast asleep. The next morning, Suzuya woke up and heated up some leftover food he had. He didn't know how to cook, so he was limited to reheating things, but the nekos seemed to appreciate the effort. One by one, they emerged from the bedroom, stretching and yawning as they made their way to the food. Suzuya gave each of them a shower, laughing as they struggled to stay clean. As they dried off, he talked to them and occasionally petted their soft heads. They seemed to be enjoying his company, and Suzuya felt a sense of joy that he hadn't experienced in years. Just as Suzuya was finishing up the nekos' morning routine, his phone rang. It was Tooru, who was crying and apologizing for what had happened yesterday. Suzuya listened patiently, consoling Tooru and telling him that everything was okay. When Tooru asked if he was busy, Suzuya mentioned that he had found some kittens and was taking care of them. Tooru's tears seemed to dry instantly, and he asked to see pictures of the kittens. Suzuya promised to send some later. As he hung up the phone, Suzuya walked back to the living room to find the nekos watching a show on his TV, cuddled up on the couch under a blanket. Suzuya sat down next to Mikage, petting him as he purred and blushed. Tamaki curled up on Suzuya's other side, purring and blushing as he rubbed his head on Suzuya's arm. Nakarai and Hanbee were sleeping, exhausted from their first day with Suzuya. For the first time in a long time, Suzuya felt truly happy. He looked at the nekos, who had brought so much joy into his life, and knew that he would do anything to protect them. As he sat there, surrounded by his new family, Suzuya felt a sense of peace that he had never known before.