ZERO SHIFT

Josuke and his group trudged through the dense forest, the air heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth. It was a place of eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the call of distant birds. As they moved forward, their eyes scanned the shadows between the trees, always alert, always ready. The mission was clear: stop the opposing team from reaching the spider before they did, a task that was becoming more and more critical as they drew closer to their goal.

The forest seemed endless, stretching in every direction like an impenetrable maze, but Josuke's confidence never wavered. His relaxed gait and calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the tense expressions of the others, who were constantly checking over their shoulders.

"Keep your guard up," Arthur murmured, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. "We don't know what's lurking in these woods."

Josuke nodded, but his thoughts seemed elsewhere, distracted by the forest's peaceful ambiance. Lily, walking beside him, was equally lost in thought, her senses alert yet calm.

Suddenly, a faint rustling sound broke through the quiet. The leaves stirred violently, and the group halted. Everyone tensed, weapons ready, eyes narrowing. Josuke instinctively reached for his sword, his senses sharpening.

"Get ready," Arthur hissed, his hand gripping his staff tightly. "It's probably an ambush."

Josuke and Lily were already crouched, eyes darting to the source of the noise. The rustling grew louder, drawing closer. Then, with a soft thud, something leapt from the bushes. It was fast, too fast for a person, and for a split second, Josuke thought it might be some kind of beast.

But then, from the underbrush, a small, fluffy creature emerged. It was a cat, its fur a perfect blend of black and white. Its little paws padded silently on the ground as it looked up at the group, wide-eyed and curious.

Josuke's eyes softened. "A cat?" he said, half in disbelief.

Lily's face lit up, a wide smile spreading across her face. "Oh my gosh, look at her! She's so cute!" She immediately dropped to her knees, reaching out to pet the cat.

Josuke, equally enchanted, crouched down beside her. "She's adorable," he murmured, reaching out a hand to gently stroke the cat's silky fur.

Arthur sighed deeply, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Guys, come on," he said in a tone that suggested he was already tired of the situation. "We can't waste time on a cat. We've got to keep moving. The other team is going to reach the spider before us if we don't hurry."

Josuke barely registered Arthur's words as he continued to pet the cat. "You're just a hater, Arthur," Josuke said, his voice playful. "You hate cute animals, that's why your life is so grey."

Lily nodded, grinning. "Yeah! You need some more color in your life, Arthur!" She flashed him a teasing look before returning her focus to the cat. "What should we name her, Josuke?"

Josuke looked down at the cat, who was now purring contentedly in his lap. He smiled, his tone softening. "Sparkle," he said, as if it were the most obvious name in the world. "She's a little sparkling gem."

Lily gasped. "Sparkle! That's perfect!" She reached out, trying to pet the cat too, but Josuke pulled Sparkle closer to him.

"No, she's mine!" Josuke said, mock-defensively. "I found her first, and I'm keeping her."

Lily frowned, crossing her arms. "That's not fair! We found her together. We should both get to pet her!"

Josuke shook his head, his grin widening. "No way, Lily. Sparkle's mine. You can't steal her away."

The two of them began bickering playfully, each tugging at the cat's attention, trying to claim her as their own. Arthur, watching this, couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You two are unbelievable," he muttered under his breath.

Silver, who had been walking silently beside Hinata, glanced at the two arguing over the cat. His expression softened, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Do you like cats, Hinata?" he asked, his voice quiet, yet curious.

Hinata looked over at the bickering duo, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I like them… but not that much. I don't think I could ever argue over one."

Silver chuckled softly. "They're like children sometimes," he said, his voice full of quiet affection for the group. "But I think that's what makes them so interesting."

As Josuke and Lily continued to bicker, their voices growing louder, the cat, Sparkle, seemed to grow agitated. She squirmed in Josuke's lap, her fur bristling as if she couldn't decide who to trust. In a swift motion, she leapt from his lap, darting toward the bushes.

"No! Come back!" Josuke called out, rising to his feet. Lily followed suit, both of them running after the cat. "Please, Sparkle, don't run away!"

Arthur crossed his arms and stood still, watching the spectacle with a bemused look on his face. "I told you this would happen," he said dryly. "Animals don't belong in the middle of a mission."

But Josuke wasn't listening. He was calling after the cat, desperate to get her back. "Sparkle! Please don't leave me! We're friends!"

Lily was right beside him, her expression equally desperate. "Come on, kitty, don't go!" she cried, her voice breaking slightly.

But the cat was gone, disappearing into the thick underbrush, leaving only a faint rustle in the leaves. The group stood in stunned silence for a moment.

Josuke's shoulders slumped in defeat. "She's gone," he said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness.

Lily, equally disappointed, sighed deeply. "I wanted to pet her so badly," she said, her voice soft with regret.

Arthur couldn't help but shake his head. "I told you both, we can't afford distractions." He turned, beginning to walk in the direction they had been heading before the cat interrupted them. "Let's go. We're wasting time."

Josuke and Lily, both clearly disappointed, fell into step behind him. Silver, glancing at them with a look of mild concern, spoke softly. "It's just a cat," he said. "Why are you two so upset?"

Josuke and Lily exchanged a glance, both of them pouting. Josuke sighed. "Because she was cute, Silver. And we were friends for a whole five minutes."

Lily nodded in agreement, crossing her arms as they continued walking. "Yeah. I thought we'd at least get to keep her for a little while."

Silver smiled faintly, shaking his head. "You two are unbelievable. It's just a cat."

But as they walked on, the two friends couldn't shake the feeling that something small, yet precious, had been lost in the woods. And in the quiet after the chaos, they couldn't help but feel a little emptier than before.