🌸 Eight-year-old Sakura was very shy.She didn’t dare raise her hand in class, and during breaks, she always read alone.How she wished she had a friend.

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On her birthday, her mom took her to an animal shelter.In one corner, a scrawny orange cat watched her timidly, not coming forward like the others.In him, Sakura saw a reflection of herself.She carefully reached out a finger.The little cat hesitated, then gently bumped it with his head.This was the one! She named him Pudding.

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Just like Sakura, Pudding was quiet at home.But he was always there for her.When Sakura drew, he would curl up beside the paper.When she was scared at night, he would sleep on her pillow, rumbling with a soothing purr.

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One day, some classmates at school unintentionally made fun of Sakura, and she came home heartbroken.She held Pudding, pouring out all her sadness.He didn’t run away. He just listened quietly, using his furry cheek to wipe her tears.

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The next day, Sakura mustered her courage and decided to enter the school’s storytelling contest.On stage, she was so nervous her mind went blank.Just then, she saw her mom at the back of the room, holding Pudding by the window, waving at her.Pudding looked right at her and let out a tiny, acknowledging meow.

In that moment, it was as if Sakura could hear him saying, “You can do it. I’m right here.”She took a deep breath and fluently told the story of her and Pudding.She even won first prize.