"Don't lie."
The little boy tried to sound upset, but the pink spreading across his cheeks and the small smile forming on his lips completely betrayed him.
"I don't lie! See? My pants aren't on fire,"
the girl said seriously, pointing at her tiny trousers as proof.
The boy let out a small laugh at her logic. His tears were already drying up.
"Thank you… and I know you stole the name Shiro from Shin-chan."
The girl pressed her finger to her lips.
"Shhh! That's a secret. I helped you, so now you have to keep my secret."
The boy felt strangely warm and comfortable with this innocent deal.
"Okay, I'll keep your secret, Chibi."
"Chibi? What's that?"
She tilted her head, confused.
"It means small. Like you."
He pointed at her gently.
"I help you and you call me Chibi? Fine! Then you're… Kitten."
"Kitten? Why?"
The boy looked genuinely surprised but delighted. No one had ever given him a sweet nickname before.
"Because your eyes look like a cat's—like plants and the sun!"
She said it proudly, though she clearly didn't remember the real color names.
"It's green and yellow, Chibi. Not plant and sun."
He corrected her, smiling shyly.
"Yes, yes! That's exactly what I said!"
She nodded very seriously.
Before the boy could respond, Shiro lowered his huge head in front of the little girl, letting out a soft whine as he carefully sniffed the boy.
The boy tensed, scooting back a little when the massive dog came closer.
"Don't worry," the girl assured him. "Shiro is just checking if you're okay."
The boy looked at the dog—big, warm, and gentle—and slowly reached out to pat Shiro's head.
"I'm fine, Shiro. Thanks… to you too."
"Great!" the girl cheered. "Then let's go get ice cream!"
At the word ice cream, Shiro's tail started wagging wildly, and the boy's eyes brightened instantly.
"Can I have some too, Chibi?"
he asked softly, hope and hesitation mixed in his voice.
"Of course!"
She held out her small hand.
"Come, Kitten. You, me, and Shiro—we'll all have ice cream."
The boy placed his hand in hers—not because he needed help standing, but to make sure she was real. That this moment was real.
Hand in hand, the little girl and the little boy began running toward the ice cream shop.
And behind them followed Shiro, the gentle giant, tail wagging as if celebrating the beginning of something special.