Chiro and the Wisteria Flowers: My Cutest Companion in the Universe

It's a bit late to mention this, but two mysterious characters often appear in my manga.

Today, I've put together some manga and text to explain who they are.
I would be happy if you could read it.✨

Chiro came to our house in May when I was in junior high school.

I was told he was a mix between a Shiba Inu and an Akita. He was a boy with a dark coat, not a bright brown. I believe he was about three months old when we adopted him from an acquaintance's house. On the day he was brought over by car, Chiro was exhausted and felt sick from the unfamiliar motion.

There are so many things I remember.

Chiro loved to lie on folded cardboard, spending his time in a languid mood.
Chiro would get excited and couldn't wait when I held his leash.
Chiro would look at me whenever he heard the sound of a plastic bag, wondering if he would get something.
For some reason, Chiro would always look away whenever I pointed a camera at him.
He also became completely afraid of water because he fell into the garden pond when he was small. That's why he would always hide in his doghouse and refuse to come out when it was time to wash him (though he ended up getting washed anyway).

Chiro's fur would become patchy when he was shedding his winter coat.
When he was hospitalized due to illness, the vet even complimented him, saying, "He has such a good temperament."
On snowy days, he would walk energetically even with a light dusting of snow on his head.
Every time he rode in a car, he still got motion sickness.
His tail was always curled up.

Everything about him was cute. He was the cutest in the universe.

One spring, I had a vague thought. This might be the last year I get to take Chiro for a walk.

He wasn't feeling unwell. I just had a feeling, for some reason.
So, I wanted to cherish my time with Chiro that year, and we went for walks more often than usual.

There is a small shrine in my neighborhood. There is a wisteria trellis in the grounds, with a single bench underneath.
I would walk there with Chiro, and while looking at the wisteria flowers, I would give him water and treats.
I visited many times while the flowers were in bloom.
That is why, in my mind, Chiro and wisteria flowers are always a set.

That summer, Chiro began to grow weak. He started spending most of his day sleeping.

One night, when I returned from work, Chiro was awake and sitting up. I think he knew it was me by the sound of my footsteps. He had his back straight and was looking directly at me.
Since he had been sleeping all the time lately, it was a sight I hadn't seen in a while.
I wondered if he was feeling better today. When I stroked his head thinking that, Chiro seemed relieved, lay back down, and fell asleep.

A few hours later, Chiro went to heaven.

That day, I was the last one in the family to come home. That is why I believe he mustered all his strength to wait for me so we could say our final goodbye.

Was I a good owner? Was Chiro happy when he came to live with me? I still don't know the answer.

However, I believe that living with an animal means touching life itself. Just by existing, they teach us things.

Even now, I miss him so much. Sometimes, I go to visit him in my heart. The Chiro inside me is always smiling.

I'm sure he's doing well in another world.

*The manga was drawn using Shin-Usami-shiki No. 6 (partially hand-drawn).

And now, the secret story behind the birth of the other "mysterious pink creature" that appears in the manga (though it's not much of a secret).

Recently, I've been meeting quite a few unusual people.

Some see things others can't, or are involved with UFOs.
I hope to talk about that in a different way someday.
I've always had a bit of a longing for aliens and UFOs, but since I don't have the ability to "see" them myself, I was envious of them.

So, I created this character because I thought it would be nice to have an alien partner of my own.

It's a bit late, but they will continue to pop up from time to time.

#MangaYouCanReadOnNote

Thank you as always✨