Never
leaves.

The first night, Hachia walked his owner to the door and sat. Rain found the stone before anyone found a reason for him to go back in.

A light went out across the street. Cars stopped coming. The road turned black and loud with water. Hachia put his paws in the same wet place and watched the dark his owner had walked into.

Other cats took the dry rooms. Hachia took the step. When the rain came harder, he shook once, lowered the green hat, and set himself again.

He does not count the hours. He does not practice leaving. Loyalty, for him, is a small body held still against a long night.

If you come home late, do not look for Hachia down the road. He is already on the step, facing the way you left.