When Yuna arrived home, she was greeted by an unexpected scene of chaos. The vase that usually sat in the center of her coffee table was tipped over, its water and flowers scattered across the hardwood floor. A tissue box teetered on the edge of the sofa, moments from falling, and her blanket, usually draped neatly over the back of the couch, lay crumpled on the floor.

In the middle of it all, frozen in place like a child caught in the act, was the black bunny. His large, glossy eyes were wide as he stared at her, ears twitching slightly as if bracing for a scolding. His small paws were still, but his posture betrayed his tension.

Yuna blinked, taking in the mess with a soft sigh. But instead of frustration, she felt a small smile tug at her lips. She wasn't angry at all. In fact, she was relieved. The mess meant that Jungkook had ventured out of his hiding place under the table while she was gone, exploring the house. That was a good sign—he was beginning to feel more comfortable, more curious.

Setting down her bag, she walked further into the room, her gaze still on the little black bunny. "I'm home," she said softly, her voice gentle and warm. "Looks like you were busy today."

Jungkook didn't move. He stayed perfectly still, waiting.

In his boredom and restlessness, he had unintentionally made a mess earlier, scattering her belongings around him without realizing it. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity at the items he had disturbed.

Yuna's tone didn't sound like she was angry, but he wasn't sure yet. His heart raced as he braced himself for a punishment. But no scolding came.

Instead, Yuna bent down and began picking up the flowers, placing them carefully back into the vase. She dabbed at the spilled water with tissues, her movements calm and unhurried.

Every now and then, she glanced at Jungkook, still frozen in place. While most of his black fur was matted with grime, the cleaner patches gleamed softly under the room's gentle light, highlighting the contrast between his untamed appearance and the potential for something beautiful beneath.

"You're quite the little troublemaker, huh?" she said with a quiet chuckle. "But that's alright. It's good you've been moving around. A little exercise is just what you need."

Jungkook blinked, watching her cautiously. Her patience was baffling to him. In the hybrid store, messes meant punishment—demeaning performances. The owner had to be careful not to punish him physically or leave marks on his skin that might detract from his appeal. Instead, any sign of disobedience would lead to a swift reprimand, often involving humiliating tricks like begging for treats or licking the audience's feet, all while he felt the pressure of their eyes on him.

But here, in this strange house with this strange woman, the rules seemed different.

Slowly, he began to relax, his tensed muscles easing as he realized she wasn't going to punish him like that.

Yuna continued cleaning up, humming softly to herself. After placing the vase and flowers back on the table and rearranging the blanket on the couch, she straightened up and smiled down at Jungkook. "There," she said, wiping her hands. "All cleaned up."

As she glanced around, she noticed that the bowl of vegetables she had left for him that morning was now empty. Yuna's smile softened as she continued, "Are you hungry? I'll get you something."

She walked into the kitchen, where she began preparing fresh veggies for him—besides the usual lettuce and carrots, she added cucumbers, bell peppers, and a few sprigs of cilantro, all carefully chopped to a size easy for a bunny to nibble on. As she worked, she glanced back at the living room, noticing Jungkook had quietly shuffled his way under the table, retreating to a place that seemed safe and out of sight.

Returning to the living room with the bowl of vegetables, she set it down on the floor near the couch. "You can eat whenever you're hungry," she said softly, her voice calm and gentle, as if she didn't want to startle him. Jungkook remained under the table, but his eyes followed her every movement.

Yuna returned to the kitchen, pulling out ingredients for her own dinner. She made something simple—a bowl of rice with stir-fried chicken and vegetables. When she brought her plate to the dining table, she glanced over at Jungkook every now and then, noticing him peeking at her from beneath the table.

His small body was curled up, his black fur barely visible in the shadow, but his eyes shone with curiosity. Unbeknownst to her, his stomach grumbled at the enticing smell of meat wafting through the air.

As she ate, Yuna began speaking, more to herself than to Jungkook. "You know, today was pretty rewarding," she said between bites. "The students were really engaged in the discussion. They asked all kinds of questions about hybrids—what their lives are like, how society treats them, and how we can change things." Her voice grew more animated, clearly passionate about the topic. "I'm proud of them, actually. It's not every day you see young people willing to challenge the way things are."

Jungkook's ears twitched as he listened. Yuna's words echoed in his mind, striking a chord, but skepticism still clung to him like a shadow. It was rare for him to hear humans speak about hybrids with such care, let alone hope for their future.

All of his life, he'd been nothing more than an object—a toy for the rich. But something about Yuna's tone—the sincerity in her voice—piqued his interest. She seemed to genuinely care about hybrids, and that was different from anything he'd known.

After Yuna finished her meal, she washed the plates and turned to Jungkook with a gentle smile. "I'm going to take a shower now," she said casually, not expecting a response. It was just her habit to talk to animals and trying to be inclusive, regardless of whether they understood her words.

She walked upstairs, leaving him alone in the living room. Jungkook watched her disappear from sight, and when he heard the soft sound of water running, he felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. The house was peaceful—nothing like the cold, sterile environment he'd come from. It was almost... comforting, yet he still couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty.

Slowly, he crept out from under the table, his nose twitching as he approached the bowl of fresh vegetables Yuna had left for him. He nibbled on a piece of bell pepper but paused; his human nature craved something more substantial—meat. But in his current form, the vegetables would have to do. At least here, he wasn't treated as a mere object or a prized possession, and the food wasn't being forced on him. It was a choice, and that alone was new to him.

After a while, Yuna returned downstairs, her damp hair tied into a messy bun and a pair of glasses perched on her nose. She wore comfortable long-sleeved clothes, looking far more relaxed than she had during the day. In her hands, she carried a stack of papers and a laptop. 

As she entered the room, Yuna noticed that the pee pad had been used; Jungkook had left a small spot of pee and a few drops of poop. A delighted smile spread across her face. "Wow, you really know how to use a pee pad! Good job! You're so smart!"

Embarrassment washed over Jungkook. He hadn't had a choice but to do his business there, so he quickly retreated back under the table, seeking the safety of his little sanctuary.

Yuna replaced the pee pad and then settled down at a small table opposite where Jungkook was. She flipped through the papers, pulling out one to read aloud as she began marking her students' work. "Hybrids being treated as property is the greatest injustice of our time. The laws are outdated, and it's time for change. Hybrids deserve the right to live freely and to make their own choices, just like any human being."

Jungkook's ears perked up, drawn to the words. The term "property" felt like a heavy weight around his neck, dragging up painful memories from his past. It reminded him of the life he had endured. This student—someone Yuna was teaching—was discussing the fight against that very idea.

Yuna continued reading aloud, her tone filled with a subtle sense of pride. "If hybrids are viewed as property, they will never experience true freedom. They will remain bound by the restrictions humans have imposed on them, unable to choose their own path or their own lives. I believe this is a fundamental violation of their rights. As someone who values equality for all living beings, I feel it is our duty to challenge these outdated laws and to fight for a future where hybrids can live independently, make their own decisions, and be seen as equals, more than mere possessions. I intend to take a stand and contribute to that change in any way I can."

Her voice softened as she finished reading, the words lingering in the air.

Without realizing it, Jungkook had stepped out from under the table, his ears high and alert. He found himself captivated by the words, something stirring deep inside him—hope, though faint. He was still unsure if he could truly believe in the words.

Yuna glanced up from the paper, her eyes widening slightly when she saw him. He was standing on his hind legs, his ears twitching attentively, as if he had been listening to every word she read aloud. Her heart skipped a beat in surprise, not quite believing what she was seeing. For a moment, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind—could he really be just a regular bunny or is he actually a hybrid?

She quickly shook her head, dismissing the thought as a mere coincidence. 'No, I'm sure it's just the sound,' she thought to herself, forcing her attention back to the papers in front of her.

After spending some time marking all the papers, Yuna gathered her things and stood, stretching her arms above her head. "Well, that's the last of it," she said with a sigh, closing her laptop. As she moved to the corner of the room, the soft bubbling of the fish tank filled the air. She sprinkled some food into the water, watching the fish dart toward the surface, their scales glimmering in the light.

Turning off the lights, Yuna glanced one last time at Jungkook, who was sniffing around the dining table, hoping to find any leftover scraps of chicken from her dinner earlier. Unbeknownst to her, his small nose was eagerly searching for the scent of food.

She simply smiled, unaware of his quest, and whispered softly, "Goodnight," before heading upstairs. The sound of her footsteps grew faint as the house settled into quiet, leaving Jungkook alone once more.